Valley Gardens Middle School

Infobox School2
name = Valley Gardens Middle School


established = 1957 as a secondary modern
type = Comprehensive school
head_name = Headteacher
head = Michael Homer (Since 2004)
city = Whitley Bay
state = Tyne and Wear
country = England
students = 742 [cite web | url = http://www.valleygardensmiddle.org.uk/item.asp?CID=25528 | title = Number of Pupils | date = | publisher = Valley Gardens Middle School]

Valley Gardens Middle School is located in Monkseaton, Whitley Bay in North Tyneside, United Kingdom. The Headteacher is Michael Homer. It is a middle school in Whitley Bay, with about 730 pupils on roll and SATs results are significantly above the national average. It serves a mainly suburban catchment.

Its motto is 'What do you want to achieve?'

Most students transfer to Whitley Bay High School at the end of Year 8 due to its close proximity.

Prior to school reorganisation in the 1970s the building was a secondary modern; hence it has always had relatively good technology facilities for a middle school.

History

The school has had a varied history. The school was built in 1957. It closed through the summer of 1967 and turned from Whitley Bay County Secondary School into Valley Gardens Middle School . In 2000 the school was threatened with closure after North Tyneside council wanted to turn to a two-tier system instead of the three-tier system that was then used, this did not happen. In 2002 an extra year 5 class was added to take the numbers from 5 classes to 6, at that time every other year had 6 classes already. This move was taken to increase capacity and increase chances of getting into sixth form in later life. Also in 2002 the school governors encouraged the local education authority to provide more classrooms and modernise the buildings. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=633192 | title = School a success after near closure
date = June 22, 2002 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

Bio Sand Water Filters

In early 2007, the school was given a challenge to raise money for water filters for places in Africa. This was being done with Samaritan's Purse. Money for 100 water filters was raised. Many classes appeared in the Whitley Bay News Guardian for their fundraising effects, ranging from tombola's and sponsored walks to bag packs at the local supermarket.

Publications

mighty boosh ruls im old greg iv got a man giner

Size

The school is a medium size with:
* 5 Mobile classrooms,
* 2 ICT rooms,
* 1 LRC(Library),
* 1 Music room,
* 1 Design room,
* 2 Design technology rooms,
* 1 Art room,
* 1 Gym,
* 1 Dining/ Assembly Hall,
* 19 Main school classrooms and
* 6 Year 5 classrooms

Renovation

Recently, the school has been renovated to fit the large number of pupils in the school. A new year five block with state of the art interactive whiteboards in each classroom has been built and was opened by the former Communities secretary, David Miliband. These boards have now been fitted into nearly every classroom in the school. The front of the school has been rebuilt with a new main office, a head teacher's room and a meeting room. Two special needs rooms have been also built to help with the number of pupils on the special needs register. Recently, two out of date mobiles containing 3 class rooms at the rear of the school were demolished and have been replace this with a large mobile block containing: 2 MFL classrooms, a general classroom, Art room, Office and toilets. [cite web | url = http://publicaccess.northtyneside.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?keyval=JUQUFVBHEC000&searchtype=PROPERTY&module= | title = Planning Application| date = 2008 | publisher = North Tyneside Council] Also the former Year 5 block has been renovated for future use. When this stage is completed. The school will be closer to completing it's renovation.

Residential Trips

The school takes pupils on many trips abroad including;
*Germany (Christmas Market)
*France (French Trip and Skiing)
*Canada (Ski Trip 2007)
*Amsterdam (The Amsterdam Trip June 2007), (The Amsterdam Trip June 2008)

It also takes pupils on trips in the UK such as High Borrans.Also, pupils are chosen to go countries including Cyprus and Hungary as part of the Comenius project which the school took part in.

Productions

Nearly every year the school puts on a school production featuring around 60 pupils.
*2003: Oliver!
*2004: Bugsy Malone
*2005: Return to the Forbidden Planet
*2006: No Production
*2007: Tin Pan Ali
*2008: The Wizard of OZ (year 5)
*2008: Stereotypes and Predjudice

Awards

The school has been awarded numerous awards and trophies. One of them is the International School Award, which celebrates the school success in doing international activities such as an International Day in 2005, plus the schools high success in languages. It was presented by former BBC News reader Anna Ford in 2006.

SATs

Valley Gardens normally have SATs results above the national average.
The SATs results for 2006 are listed in the table and graph below. [cite web | url = http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_06.pl?No=3924026&Mode=Z&Type=SC&Phase=p&Year=06&Base=p&Num=392 | title = SATs Results| date = 2006 | publisher = DFES] [cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/primary_schools/html/392_4026.stm | title = SATs Results| date = 2006 | publisher = BBC]

Uniform

The school has an extensive uniform ranging from the normal School Uniform, to the PE kit. Although, there are going to be changes to the PE Kit, for the new school year. [cite web | url = http://www.valleygardensmiddle.org.uk/item.asp?CID=25531 | title = Uniform List| date = 2007 | publisher = Valley Gardens Middle School]

Boys

*School tie
*Grey school trousers
*White shirt
*Navy pullover with school badge
*Grey or black socks, black shoes

Boys PE Kit

*Royal blue shorts
*Royal blue and white hooped rugby shirt
*Royal blue knee length socks
*Football boots With aluminium studs for rugby
*Shin pads
*Mouth guard
*Plain white polo shirt
*White ankle socks
*Trainers

Girls

*School tie
*Navy or black school skirt or trousers
*White Blouse
*Navy pullover with school badge
*White or grey socks, black shoes

Girls PE Kit

*Royal blue and white hooped rugby shirt
*Royal blue knee length socks
*Football boots (optional)
*Shin pads
*Mouth guard
*Plain white polo shirt
*Royal blue shorts
*White ankle socks
*Trainers

Famous pupils and teachers, past and present

* Peter Ramage, Queens Park Rangers.
* Steven Taylor, Newcastle United.
* Andrew Lawrence Took part in the Motos TV UK karting challenge Motors tv

Media

The school has appeared in the media many times for various events including:
* The opening of a new Year 5 block. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1362112 | title = Opening of Year 5 Block
date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]
* A spate of thefts from the school, including a projector and the attempted theft of an interactive whiteboard. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1624178 | title = Thefts from School| date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]
* Winning various awards, including the International Schools Award [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1509197 |title = Award Winning School
date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]
* The schools fundraising efforts, including major charitable donations and fundraising events.One of the more successful being when three pupils - Alex Clowry, Alastair Campbell and Michael Stephenson - raised hundreds of pounds for The Bobby Moore Cancer Trust. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=2970695 | title = Charitable Donations
date = 2007 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Sporting events [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1204358 | title = Sporting Events| date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Concerns over a new fence [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=909681 | title = Concerns over new fence
date = 2005 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Creative Writing [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=2086962 | title = Creative Writing
date = 2005 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Trips in other countries [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1804388 | title = Trips to other countries
date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Mock Trials [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=2121678 | title = Mock Trials
date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Vandalism to the school building and surroundings. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=930874 | title = Vandalism To School
date = 2005 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* In school achievements. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=991565 | title = In School Achievements
date = 2005 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Competitions. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=1241176 | title = Competitions
date = 2005 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian]

* Major occurrences in school. [cite web | url = http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=1113&articleid=633192 | title = Major Occurrences in the School
date = 2006 | publisher = Whitley Bay News Guardian] "(Note: This is local press, mainly the Whitley Bay News Guardian, Valley Gardens Middle School is rarely featured in the national press.)"

References

External links

* [http://www.valleygardensmiddle.org.uk School Website]