Lutterworth College

Infobox UK school
name = Lutterworth College


size =
latitude = 52.46038
longitude = -1.20890
dms = dms
motto = "Dare to Learn"
motto_pl =
established =
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Comprehensive community school
religion = Church of England
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Eddie de Middelaer
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Technology College
specialist_pl =
street = Bitteswell Road
city = Lutterworth
county = Leicestershire
country = England
postcode = LE17 4EW
LEA = Leicestershire
ofsted = 120300
staff = 700
enrollment = 1946
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 14
upper_age = 19
houses =
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.lc.leics.sch.uk
website_name =

Lutterworth College is a comprehensive upper school and sixth-form college on "Bitteswell Road" in the south Leicestershire market town of Lutterworth in district of Harborough. The college's principal is Eddie de Middelaer.

History

The school opened in 1880. It had strong links with the [http://www.sherrier.leics.sch.uk Sherrier] CE Primary School (opposite the school). It was a selective grammar school, with 500 pupils. It became a comprehensive upper school in 1967 as part of the Leicestershire Plan. In 2007 it was decided the school would change it's name from Lutterworth Grammar school to Lutterworth College. This was so more people are attracted to come to the school and it can offer more vocational courses, this means the school gets more money. By doing this the school motto was changed.

tatus

Lutterworth College is home to 1,997 pupils (2005) and is recognised across the country as a Technology College [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/120300] and FA Charter Standard School for its reputations for design and sport respectively. From September 2007, the school was re-named Lutterworth College, to ensure that the school is not confused with a grammar school (although Leicestershire has no true grammar schools), and to broaden the description.

Most students come from the feeder schools of Lutterworth High School and Brockington College, also many arrive each year from Thomas Estley in Broughton Astley.

Controversy

An article published by the News of the World newspaper under the headline 'It's St. Sinians', on April 29, 2007, revealed that for the four years up to 2007, it handed out 345 morning after pills to girls at the school. This ranked it one of the highest distrubuters in the country. The article was followed widely, and covered in the following days by newspapers including the Daily Mail, and Daily Mirror. However the school defended itself in saying that it runs a "strictly confidential" service at the school, which allows students to meet a doctor in school time. The school faced especially strong opposition from pro-life groups, with the UK Life League even publishing the principal's home number and address and compelling people to protest outside it. They have since taken these down, citing that they had moved onto new projects. In the spirit of the school, the students maintained strong support for the head teacher, and the strictly 'confidential service'.

It later came to light that the "strictly confidential" service offered by the school, was in fact introduced 2 years before the current headmaster had begun working there. Furthermore, it was completely controlled by the local Doctor's practice, not by the school. Students went on to form a Myspace page dedicated to supporting their headmaster, and 100s of students signed up. This resulted in the anti-abortion groups' and newspapers' attempts to damage the school's reputation failing, particularly due to widespread local support.

Post-16 education

The school is unusual in that it is heavily reliant on its post-16 students, with some 600 students staying on beyond compulsory education, being similar to a Sixth form college.

During the 2005 Autumn term, year 13 students were encouraged to redecorate a sixth-form community area (situated in a former mobile classroom) known colloquially as "The Huts". It was completed on a budget of £150. This type of project is typical of those carried out by sixth-form students, many of whom are involved in annual projects and one-off events. The Post-16 Committee meet frequently to discuss ideas and share thoughts on the management of the school.

Post-16 students end the school year's education by an end of year Ball at the Walkers Stadium. Student participation and involvement in the school's management is one key idea of the principal.

The school performs well at GCSE (third best in Leicestershire), but less well at A-level (although above average for Leicestershire).

Notable Alumni

* Ian Brightwell
* {cricketer|Nick Cook (cricketer)}
* Jonnie Irwin
* Anthony Thistlethwaite
* Alex Thomas

References

External links

* [http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=760&ArticleID=1611420 Discussing whether to change the school name]
* [http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=760&articleid=2952055 New logo]
* [http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=760&articleid=2848933 Headmaster hands out "morning after" pills]
* [http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=760&articleid=2848933 New e-Learning Centre]
* [http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/template/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=760&articleid=362471 Helping pupils to give up smoking in 2003]
* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=451533&in_page_id=1774 May 2007 Daily Mail article]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/6608297.stm BBC article]
* [http://www.ratemyteachers.co.uk/schools/england/lutterworth/lutterworth_grammar_school Rate My Teachers]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/120300/ OFSTED Report]