Consett Academy
Academy school in Consett, County Durham, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Consett Academy is a secondary academy school in Consett, the result of a merger between Consett Community Sports College and Moorside Community Technology College.[1]
| Consett Academy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Ashdale Road , , DH8 6LZ | |
| Coordinates | 54.8412°N 1.869°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy[1] |
| Motto | Inclusion Progression Excellence |
| Established | January 2012[1] |
| Local authority | Durham |
| Department for Education URN | 137638 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Executive Principal | [2][3] |
| Gender | Co-educational[2] |
| Age | 11 to 18[2] |
| Enrolment | 1233[2] |
| Website | http://www.consett-academy.org.uk |
History
Consett Community Sports College
Consett Community Sports College was in the Blackhill area of Consett.[4] The site had originally been Consett Grammar School.[5] At the time of closure Consett Community Sports College had a capacity of 985.[4] The last head was Christine Parker.[4] In 2006 it had 750 pupils.[6]
The school had been previously known as Blackfyne Comprehensive School.[7] In 1970 Blackfyne had 650 pupils and was described as a "Mixed Grammar Technical type".[8]
Moorside Community Technology College
Moorside Community Technology College was in the Moorside area of Consett.[9] It was opened in 1959 as Moorside Secondary Modern School; the head at that time was W. Ellison.[9][10] At the time of closure the school's capacity was 600.[9] Based on the 2007 GCSE results, it was categorised as a failing school.[11] The following year its GCSE results made it the second most improved school in the country.[12]
Consett Academy
The academy was originally planned to be funded under Building Schools for the Future (BSF), but plans were delayed with the cancellation of BSF.[13] In 2010 an Early Day motion called on the government to "release the funding for the much-wanted and prepared-for academy school for the area, putting an end to the anxious wait of all concerned".[14]
The school was sponsored as an academy by New College Durham and Durham County Council.[15] New College Durham is also the academy sponsor for North Durham Academy.[16]
Consett Academy opened in January 2012, initially across the two sites of its predecessor schools.[17] In September 2015 the school moved to purpose-built buildings on Consett's former football ground, co-located with a new city leisure centre.[18]
Academic results
In 2010, 57% of Year 11 pupils at Consett Community Sports College and 63% of those at Moorside Community College attained five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics.[14]
In 2017, 24% of Year 11 pupils attained Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, compared to the Durham local authority average of 35% and the national average of 40%.[2]
The average A level points score for sixth-form pupils in 2017 was 32, in line with the local authority and national averages.[2] The percentage of Consett Academy sixth-formers going on to university in 2017 was 79%, compared to 50% in the local authority and 51% nationally.[2]
Ofsted judgements
At the closure of the preceding schools, Consett Community Sports College had been judged Satisfactory and Moorside Community Technology College had been judged Good.[1]
Blackfyne Community School, the predecessor of Consett Community Sports College, had last been inspected in 2004 and judged Good.[19]
Consett Academy was first inspected in 2013 and judged to Require Improvement.[1] It was inspected again in 2016 and judged Good.[20]
School uniform
There was controversy in 2016 about the school's decision temporarily to exclude pupils for not wearing the correct uniform.[21] Despite this, the school's policies have not changed as of 2024.
Notable pupils and staff
Consett Grammar School
- Alun Armstrong, actor[22]
- Christopher Lowson, bishop[23]
- Sheila Mackie, art teacher at the school; artist[24][25]
- Sir Alan Campbell (politician), British politician, Labour Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.
Blackfyne Comprehensive School
- Paul Collingwood, cricketer[26]
- Denise Welch, actor[27][28]