South Luton High School

Infobox_Company | company_name = Barnfield South Academy
company_
company_type = Education
foundation = | location = Luton, Bedfordshire
homepage = http://www.southluton.co.uk/

Barnfield South Academy (formerly South Luton High School) is a secondary school for pupils aged between 11 and 16, located on Cutenhoe Road in the south of Luton, Bedfordshire England. cite web |url=http://www.southluton.co.uk/ |title=Barnfeild South Academy |work=Barnfeild South Academy web site] The school enjoys a rich and varied history having originally being constructed as "Stockwood High School" with individual girls and boys campuses, before merging with "Rotheram High School" to form South Luton High. Students are multi-ethnic, with about 25% still learning the English language. [see above] ] [cite web
last = Harford
first = Mr. Sean
date = 2005-10-06
url = http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/109/s5_109691_20051005.htm
title = South Luton High School Inspection Report
language = English
accessdate = 2006-06-15]

South Luton High School closed its doors in August 2007 and re-opened as Barnfield South Academy on September 1st 2007. The Academy is led by Patrick Hannaway (Principal) and Mark Bennison [Mark Bennison: Website |url=http://www.mrbennison.com ] (Associate Principal) and enjoys a federation with sister Academy, Barnfield West and their sponsor, Barnfield College - a $56m transformation is underway..

[cite news |title=How do we improve struggling high schools? |url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=541&ArticleID=1815841 |work=Luton Today |date=2006-10-12]

History

The origins

On 27 October 1965 "Stockwood High School for Girls" was created with 500 girls registered as pupils in attendance. On the 7 September 1967 Stockwood High School housed two adjoining campuses with male pupils attending the upper Southern site and girls at the North end. Records show 1006 pupils in attendance at both campuses. The school admitted students from nearby schools in Hitchin Road and Old Bedford Roads and cost £500,000 to construct. [cite web |url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=39762&sectionID=5645 |title=Picture the Past - Schooldays 1967 |date=2007-09-18 |work=Bedford Today] During 1980, extensions were carried out to the schools main buildings. [cite web |url=http://www.a2a.org.uk/search/records.asp?cat=004-ca&cid=1-404 |title=Luton: Stockwood High School, Cutenhoe Rd: Alterations and extensions to Crafts Block |work=County Architect's Department Archives] Several years later, the respective schools merged to became a single entity. Evidence of its earlier structure exists in the form of dual assembly halls, toilets and foyer entrances. [cite web |url=http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/bedscc/sdcountyrec.nsf/web/thepage/School+Records+Parishes+L+-+M |title=Records Kept By Schools |work= Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060825115541/http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/bedscc/sdcountyrec.nsf/web/thepage/School+Records+Parishes+L+-+M |archivedate=2006-08-25]

tockwood High becomes South Luton High

Through the 1970s the population of the school increased as Luton underwent major economic development - the Arndale Centre was opened in 1972 and public housing projects such as Stopsley and Farley Hill were constructed. [cite web |url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luton |title=Luton |work=English Wikipedia] In 1988 "Rotheram High School", a school situated approximately a mile away on Farley Hill was closed due to administrative costs and falling attendance numbers. Despite initial protests from parents situated near the Rotheram site, the majority of pupils from Rotheram High School moved to Stockwood High School, which as a result of the merger was renamed "South Luton High School". cite web |url=http://www.southluton.co.uk/aboutus/history.htm |title=History |work=South Luton High School web site]

South Luton High enjoyed increased government funding and attendance during its early years and its pupils earned a reputation for excelling in Physical Education via its football team and infamous cross country route. Pupils also excelled in music with several prominent music students appearing in local news media for their participation in local arts and concert showcases.

tockwood Parent/Teacher Association

The "Stockwood Parent/Teacher Association" was registered as a Charity on 7 April 1976 with a constitution adopted to "...advance the education of the pupils at Stockwood High School by providing and assisting the provision of facilities for education at the school (not normally provided by the Local Education Authority)." cite web |url=http://www.charities-database.co.uk/271253.html |title=Stockwood Parent/Teacher Association |work=UK Charity Finder] Acting under 'Registration Number 271253', the association and its correspondent 'T Tosman', worked to foster extended relationships between staff, parents and associates of the school. The Charity, experiencing dwindling support after the formation of South Luton high ceased to exist on 8 October 1992. [see above] ]

outh Luton the Specialist Arts College

From approximately 2000 and beyond, South Luton High School became associated with the arts via promotions to secure students from beyond the original local catchment area. Teachers with a specialised arts focus or background were specifically targeted. In October 2003 the school applied for the Arts Mark, the first step towards applying for "Specialist Arts College" status. The school also established links with the local business community and registered with the Chamber of Commerce in 2004. [see above] ]

The school made headlines in 2004 when headmistress Sherry Gladwin imposed strict behavioural policies on students. During a visit by Luton Lord Mayor Michael Dollin, a group of students staged a rebellion protest against conditions they considered draconian - such as only being allowed to use the lavatory via a pass. cite news |title=Suspensions after pupils run amok at high school |url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=541&ArticleID=767823 |work=Luton Today |date=2004-04-02] The students were disciplined and a spokesperson for Luton Borough Council said "There was a very small group spoiling things for the rest of the school but, following a minor disturbance on Monday, they have now been severely dealt with, and their parents notified." [see above] ]

In 2004 the school was again lambasted for falling educational achievements within GCSE. [cite news |title=Icknield top of the class |url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=541&ArticleID=1318231 |work=Luton Today |date=2006-01-19]

Motto

The school's current motto is "Learning Through Endeavour, Care and Partnership".

chool statistics

Absence Rate

* 7.4% authorised (7% locally and 6.7% nationally)
* 2.6% authorised (0.8% locally and 1.3% nationally) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/821_4125.stm]

Value Added Pupils Improvement

* The school scored 922.2 against a Local Education Authority score of 985.7 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/821_4125.stm]

GCSE Level Performance

* 173 elegible
* 32.3% were noted for having special education requirements
* 20% attained Key Stage 4 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/821_4125.stm]

Alumni

* Lee Ross whom played "Owen Turner" in UK soap opera "EastEnders" attended Stockwood High School. [http://www.lutononline.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=2278&ArticleID=1784950]

References

External links

* [http://www.southluton.co.uk/ South Luton High School]
* [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe1x1_02.pl?Code=&Mode=Z&School=8214125 Luton High School performance]