Heaton Manor School

Infobox UK school
name = Heaton Manor School


map_type = United Kingdom
latitude = 54.9943
longitude = -1.5889
map_caption = Heaton Manor School
motto = A Learning Community
phone = [phone]
fax = [phone]
established = 1983 (after merger)
type = Secondary School
head = John Dryden (Until Winter 2008)
street = Jesmond Park West
city = Newcastle upon Tyne
country = England
enrollment = 1891
LEA = 391
ofsted = 108531
gender = Mixed
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
publication =
website = http://vle.heatonmanor.newcastle.sch.uk/

Heaton Manor School is a 11 – 18 state comprehensive school in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The school building, fully rebuilt in 2004 from PFI funding replaced two separate sites (known as the Jesmond and Benton sites) which in turn were made up of a number of different schools.

Before 2004, Years 7, 8, 9, 12 & 13 were housed on the Jesmond site situated in buildings between Jesmond Park West and Newton Road. The main building was built in the 1920s and a 1960s Boy's Gym (found to the west of the building) and an addition (known as the "Sixth Form Block") could be found to the north of the building, which was attached to the main building by a bridge walkway. Years 10 and 11 were housed half a mile away on the Benton site, a purpose built 1960s former Secondary Technical school on Benton Road, opposite the large ‘Ministry’ offices – now the HM Revenue & Customs and Department for Work and Pensions offices.

Heaton Grammar & Heaton High Schools

The buildings on Newton Road were opened by King George V in 1928 after opening the Tyne Bridge The school building was symmetrical - everything found on one side of the school was mirrored on the opposite side. The western side of the building was Heaton Grammar School [ [http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/hgshhs/hgs Heaton Grammar School, Newcastle, UK ] ] for boys with an entrance on Jesmond Park West and the eastern side of the building was Heaton High School [ [http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/hgshhs/hhs Heaton High School, Newcastle, UK ] ] for girls, again with a separate entrance on Newton Road.

Manor Park Secondary Technical School

Across on Benton Road was Manor Park Secondary Technical School opened in the 1960s. This school, completely separate from Heaton Grammar & High Schools had two sites itself - the lower site being off Chillingham Road and is now the Heaton Adult Learning Centre. This school was built following the Tripartite System of Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical schooling in England.

Heaton Secondary School

Heaton Grammar and Heaton High merged in September 1967 to form Heaton Secondary School [ [http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/hgshhs/hgs Heaton Grammar School, Newcastle, UK ] ] . For the first time, girls and boys could use either entrance to enter the school. The school was partially opened up, but it wasn't until a couple of years later that the first floor corridors were linked, at the rear of the school by the science laboratories. The 1967 'second years' and 'sixth form' became coeducational grammar, but older pupils remained segregated, as their respective curricula were considered too different. The new first year pupils started with their comprehensive education.

Heaton Manor School

With Newcastle City Council's budget cuts meant that schools with low numbers had to be closed and it was decided to merge Heaton Secondary with Manor Park in 1983 to form a new school - Heaton Manor School. It was a controversial move, as many people saw Heaton Secondary school still as a grammar school and to be seen merging with a former technical school (and Heaton's closest rival in every sense) as a downward progression.

Originally, the sixth form (Years 12 & 13) were going to be housed on the former Manor Park site - but this wouldn't be possible due to the nature of the buildings, so the unusual split of having lower school students with the sixth form on the former Heaton Grammar site.

The former Heaton Grammar site then became known as the Jesmond Site. The site itself isn't in Jesmond at all, the name comes from the street from which it is on (Jesmond Park West). The former Manor Park site became known as the Benton Site (being on Benton Road). The rooms on the Jesmond site had a J- prefix (e.g. J44, JP1, JD1) to distinguish the same rooms over on the Benton site which had a B- prefix (e.g. B75, BP2, BD1)

Before 2001, the Library was found on the upper south-west corridor and there were two halls (East and West). In 2001, the west hall became a new 'Learning Resource Centre' and the former library suite was rebuilt and became a British Airways sponsored suite for those studying Travel and Tourism. The separate Sixth Form Library was moved down to the new LRC, which proved unpopular amongst many Sixth Formers.

Back in 1998, a number of students were featured along with John Dryden and Ann Smedley (Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher respectively) on the front page of the Evening Chronicle with the headline 'Thanks a Mi££ion!' after Heaton Manor had secured money for a complete refurbishment. However, the students (from Year 8) who appeared on the front of that newspaper only ever got to see half of the new school before they left Sixth Form as it took until 2002 until building actually started.

The building of the new Heaton Manor

Building work commenced in 2002 with the new school being built 'upon' the old one - which required the East half of the school to be demolished in the summer of 2003 and work to commence on the footprint of the old east side and the front and back fields. This meant from September 2003 until Summer 2004, the school was truly half old, half new. Three new buildings were open for use and the west side of the old building was still being used. Temporary walkways through the old Headteacher's office connected the old buildings to the new buildings. These temporary walkways were prone to flooding and resulted in the old building being very cold and leaves and mud being deposited across the corridors. After July 2004, the Benton site was closed and soon after demolished and the remaining old buildings on the Jesmond site were fully demolished and the remainder of the new buildings was built. The school was ready for service in September 2004.

Activities

There is an extensive "period seven" programme which offers extra-curricular activities. There are many sports teams as well as "booster" lessons in most subjects. The school magazine (the little issue), debating society, drama, musical theatre (bias club), music lessons, gardening and signing. Heaton Manor is also a member of Amnesty International. The school participates in debating and sporting competitions.

Heaton Manor Union society

The Heaton Manor Union Society is a Period Seven activity that has been offered by the Department of Citizenship since September 2006. It is very successful and boasts strong membership numbers. Our debates are headed by a Speaker, who introduces the two pairs that propose or oppose the Motion - 'This House...' - on a pre-released subject. After a speech from each participant, in which interaction with opponents is encouraged, audience members ask questions. Each team summarises, and a vote is held. The Assessment for Debating judging panel, which consists of Miss M Murphy and Mrs M Robinson, taking it in turns to be head judge, as well as one student judge on a rota, gives feedback and a bonus point for their favourite.

In May 10th 2008, 2 of our members James Bartle and David Larke went to the Oxford University for the Young Debaters National Finals.David finished 143rd on the speaker tab while James came 40th.

Trivia

* The Heaton Grammar School buildings were used as a set for a television programme starring a young Denise Van Outen
* The school magazine, 'the little issue' was featured in the popular television show "Level Up".
* Many stars of BBC TV's Byker Grove attended Heaton Manor School.
* A new housing development has been built on the old Benton Site - using the name Manor Park.
*Simon Donald co-creator of Viz Magazine attended Heaton Grammar School.

References

External links

* [http://www.heatonmanor.newcastle.sch.uk The official website for Heaton Manor School]
* [http://www.heatonmanorunion.org.uk The official website of the Heaton Manor Union Society, the school's Key Stages Three and Four Debating Society]