Desmond Anderson Primary School

Infobox UK school
name = Desmond Anderson Primary School


established = 1958
type = Primary
head = Mr T Quinton
street = Anderson Road
city = Crawley
county = West Sussex
country = England
postcode = RH10 5EA
LEA = West Sussex
ofsted = 125966
enrollment = 260
gender = Mixed
lower_age = 4
upper_age = 11
website = http://www.desmondanderson.w-sussex.sch.uk/

Desmond Anderson Primary School is a maintained primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11. It currently caters for around 260 pupils

Location

The school is located in the Tilgate neighbourhood of Crawley, West Sussex

History

The primary school was officially opened in Tilgate in 1958, comprising of both an infant and a junior school in one building. The schools were named for Desmond Francis Anderson, a local Lieutenant General. The school provided education for children up to age 11, after which they moved to the Thomas Bennett School which shared the same large campus.

In 1974, re-organisation of local schools led to the schools at Desmond Anderson becoming a first school and a middle school. Pupils remained at the first school until age 8, and at the middle school until age 12. At this time, some extra class bases were built, including a new Science laboratory for older pupils.

Due to falling rolls locally, the schools were both closed in 1992, re-opening as the combined Desmond Anderson First and Middle School under one Headteacher.

Thirty years after its initial change, the age of transfer for pupils in Crawley reverted to age 11, and so the combined first and middle school became a primary school from September 2004. At the same time, work began on a completely new building to replace the existing dilapidated school. The new site opened in September 2005 on the playing fields of the former school. At this time, the new access road to the school was also named for the Lieutenant General as Anderson Road.

Organisation

The current building has 3 wings around a main hall. Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 pupils (those aged 4-7) are taught in the south wing; Key Stage 2 pupils (aged 7-11) are taught in the west wing; provision is made for a Nursery in the north wing, alongside a Special Support Centre for pupils on the autistic spectrum.

External links

* [http://www.desmondanderson.w-sussex.sch.uk/ Desmond Anderson Primary School website]
* [http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/school-list/primary-schools/2244.en Desmond Anderson Primary information on West Sussex Grid for Learning]