Downham Market Academy

Last updated

Downham Market Academy
Address
Downham Market Academy
Bexwell Road

Downham Market
,
Norfolk
,
PE38 9LL

England
Coordinates 52°36′14″N0°23′19″E / 52.6040°N 0.3886°E / 52.6040; 0.3886
Information
Type Academy
Established1956
TrustCET (Cambridgeshire Educational Trust)) 2020
Department for Education URN 139204 Tables
Ofsted Reports
PrincipalNatalie Paine
Staff250
Gender Coeducational
Age11to 16 Downham Market Academy
16–18 Downham Market Academy Sixth Form
Enrolment1420 pupils
HousesKeystage 3 (Years 7-9):
  • X Band
  • Y Band
  • D Band
  • M Band

Keystage 4 (Years 10-11):

  • X Band
  • Y Band
Website http://www.downhammarketacademy.co.uk

Downham Market Academy (formerly Downham Market High School) is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, situated in Downham Market, Norfolk, England. The academy was launched on 1 July 2013, sponsored by the CWA Academy Trust founded by the College of West Anglia. [1] Downham Market Academy is currently rated "Good" across all categories, based on the 2022 Ofsted inspection. [2]

Contents

Teaching is shared between two sites, with the main Bexwell campus housing pupils years 7–11 (ages 11–16) and the Downham Market Academy Sixth Form (formerly Downham Market College) campus offering A-levels to sixth form pupils years 12–13 (ages 16–18). Downham market academy sixth form (Now known as Athena six form) is officially part of the school and attached to the building.

History

The Bexwell site dates back to 1956 and was originally organised as separate boys' and girls' secondary modern single-sex schools. With building adaptations at the time of re-organisation in 1980, these former schools are now designated the Junior and Senior sides of the Bexwell site. The Upwell block was added as a consequence of the closure of Upwell Secondary in 1982 when around 220 additional pupils were added to the school roll. The Malcolm Arnold Room was opened by the composer Sir Malcolm Arnold in 1984. Other buildings on the Bexwell site include the Technology Block (1997), the Arts Block, housing History, Music and Drama (2001) and the English Block (2005). [1]

Ryston was formerly the premises of Downham Grammar School, built in 1930 in the extensive grounds of the White House dating back to the 17th century. The house was formerly occupied by the headmaster of the school and, later, by the sixth form. It became surplus to requirements and was sold back into the residential sector in 2000. Since reorganisation, two new blocks have been added on the Ryston site. The Art and Business centre was opened by Gillian Shepherd MP, Minister of State for Education.

The academic years 1980/81 and 1981/82 saw the phasing out of the previous grammar and secondary modern pattern of education and, from September 1982, Downham Market High School became a fully amalgamated county, co-educational, secondary, comprehensive, day school. Year 7 pupils were based at Ryston after reorganisation in 1980, due to Bexwell insufficient space for five year groups, and Ryston's additional space for the then much smaller sixth form. Ofsted stressed the importance of uniting Key Stages 3 and 4 on the same site and this was duly achieved with the opening of the New Block on the Bexwell site in 2001. In September 1983, the existing transfer arrangements into the school were re-organised so that all pupils entered at 11+ and not, as hitherto, with pupils from the surrounding village primary schools entering at 11+ and pupils from Clackclose County Middle School and Hillcrest First and Middle School entering at 12+.

The school gained Grant-Maintained status in 1992 (which lasted until the change of Government in 1997) and was extended with new buildings, sports hall and swimming pool. Technology College status was gained in 1996 by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. The school became an academy in July 2013, sponsored by the College of West Anglia's CWA Academy Trust. [1]

Drama and music

The drama department is active in the academy, offering a range of extracurricular activities and producing a variety of productions each year. Sixth Sense Theatre Company is part of the drama department in the academy and teaches senior pupils the art of touring a production. Every summer the company tours a production; in recent years they have performed in Scotland, the Channel Islands and Australia.

The music department runs several orchestras and arranges instrument tuition for pupils. The department stages a number of concerts throughout the year including the annual Christmas and recital concerts.

Leavers videos

In July 2015, the Academy became notable for a viral video produced for the departing Year 11 students, which featured many of the current staff members lip-syncing to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now". The video quickly gained attention, reaching 14,000 views in two weeks. It was directed by current Media Studies teacher Ian Gooda and ex-students Sam Lance and Lois Nash. [3] A sequel was released in July 2016, featuring Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For A Hero". [4] A third video was released in 2017, this time parodying the American television show Friends , and its theme tune "I'll Be There for You". It was again produced by Ian Gooda, Sam Lance, Lois Nash and Jamie Robinson. [5] The videos continued to be produced annually until the final effort in 2019.

Sports

Sports facilities on site include football and hockey pitches, tennis courts, basketball courts, cricket nets and a leisure centre (run by the Borough Council) which holds a sports hall, gym and swimming pool, which the school regularly use.

Notable former pupils

Downham Market Grammar School

Downham Market High School

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downham Market</span> Market town in Norfolk, England

Downham Market, sometimes simply referred to as Downham, is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It lies on the edge of the Fens, on the River Great Ouse, approximately 11 miles south of King's Lynn, 39 miles west of Norwich and 30 miles north of Cambridge.

Ashlawn School, is a large partially selective secondary school located in the Hillmorton area of Rugby, Warwickshire, England that specialises in science, computing and leadership. It is one of only five bilateral schools in England for students aged 11–18. Ashlawn is a member of the Transforming Lives Educational Trust (TLET) family of schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Lynn Academy</span> Academy (english school) school in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

King's Lynn Academy is a 11-16 mixed secondary school in the West Norfolk town of King's Lynn. It is situated on Queen Mary Road in Gaywood; and is one of four schools serving the town and adjacent villages.

Oxford Spires Academy is a state funded secondary school for children aged 11–18 in Glanville Road, East Oxford, England formerly known as Oxford Community School and The Oxford School. Formerly sponsored by the CfBT Education Trust it is currently part of the Anthem Schools Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ely College</span> School in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England

Ely College is a secondary academy school located in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Edward VII Academy</span> Academy in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

King Edward VII Academy is a large, coeducational comprehensive secondary school in Gaywood Road (A148), King's Lynn, Norfolk, England with around 1,300 pupils, including about 300 in sixth form education. Prior to the school year beginning in September 1979, King Edward's school (KES) was an all-boys state grammar school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayesfield Girls' School</span> Academy in Bath, Somerset, England

Hayesfield Girls' School is an all-girls secondary school with a co-educational sixth form located in Bath, England. In August 2011, the school became an academy. The school operates from two main sites, about a seven-minute walk apart. The campus at Brougham Hayes accommodates STEM subjects such as Science, Technology and Maths, and the Upper Oldfield Park campus hosts the Performing Arts, English and Sports faculties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsmouth Academy</span> Secondary, academy in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

The Portsmouth Academy is a secondary school with academy status, located in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on St Mary's Road in the central district of Fratton near St Mary's Church. Originally established as a girls' school, it became co-educational in the 2017/18 school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teignmouth Community School</span> Academy in Teignmouth, Devon, England

Teignmouth Community School is coeducational primary and secondary school located over two sites in Teignmouth in the English county of Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hathershaw College</span> Secondary academy college in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England

The Hathershaw College is a coeducational, Secondary Academy for 11- to 16-year-olds in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.

Wombourne High School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in Wombourne, Staffordshire, England. It is situated on Ounsdale Road in the west of the village, and stands on an adjacent site to the local leisure centre. In addition to its main function as a secondary school, Wombourne High School has a standalone building dedicated to its sixth form, which was opened by the pop star Beverley Knight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wetherby High School</span> Foundation school in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England

Wetherby High School is a coeducational secondary school located in the Hallfield area of Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England.

Chingford Foundation School is a coeducational state secondary school and sixth form located in Chingford in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a specialist Humanities College and has been an academy since October 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of West Anglia</span> College in England

The College of West Anglia is a four-campus college of further and higher education in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, England. The college has three campuses, located in King's Lynn, Milton and Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, as well as a sports campus at Alive Lynnsport in King's Lynn. The college has approximately 7,400 students and 750 staff.

Chantry Academy is a secondary school with academy status in the Chantry area of Ipswich in the English county of Suffolk. The school educates children aged 11 to 16 and has around 750 pupils. The current principal, Craig D'Cunha, took up the post in February 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harton Academy</span> Academy in South Tyneside, England

Harton Academy, formerly Harton Technology College or Harton Comprehensive School, is a mixed secondary and sixth form academy located in South Shields, South Tyneside, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellesdon High School</span> Academy in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Hellesdon High School is a secondary school and, on site, is a sixth form with academy status in Hellesdon, Norfolk, England. The school is part of the Wensum Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Clarkson Academy</span> Academy in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Thomas Clarkson Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England. A new school building has been constructed that was designed by Ken Shuttleworth and Make Architects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fakenham Academy</span> Academy in Fakenham, Norfolk, England

The Fakenham Academy is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located at Field Lane Fakenham, Norfolk, England. The school offers GCSEs and BTECs as programmes of study. Pupils in the sixth form can choose to study from a range of A Levels and BTECs.

Eastern Multi-academy Trust was formed by resolution 9 May 2017, when the College of West Anglia withdrew its membership from the CWA Academy Trust.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Downham Market Academy website About Downham Market Academy, Retrieved on 6 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Downham Market Academy". Ofsted. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  3. ↑ Hepburn, Louise (10 July 2015). "14,000 YouTube hits for Downham Market Academy's tribute to Queen's hit Don't Stop Me Now". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Teachers' pop video treat for leaving pupils". ITV News. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "The One with Downham Market Academy - school staff star in Friends-themed music video".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.