John Mansfield School

Infobox UK school
name = John Mansfield School


size =
latitude = 52.59891
longitude = -0.23147
dms = dms
motto =
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established = 1950s
approx = true
closed = 2007
c_approx =
type =
religion =
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Christopher Walford
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chair_label =
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founder =
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specialist =
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street = Western Avenue
city = Peterborough
county = Cambridgeshire
country = England
postcode = PE1 4HX
LEA = Peterborough
ofsted = 110876
staff =
enrollment = 774
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours =
publication =
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John Mansfield School was located in the Dogsthorpe area of Peterborough, England. The school opened in the 1950s, when the estate had just been completed, and was originally an all-girls school for those who failed the 11+. In 1957, it became a mixed school opened to all student form year 7 to post 16. In 2007 the school was closed and merged with two other schools, Deacon's Secondary School and Hereward Community College. The new school was relocated and called the Thomas Deacon Academy of Peterborough.

In the mid 1980's the school became a mixed comprehensive school. During the 1990s and early 00's it suffered from bad press, mainly in the local papers, and bad reputation. It was seen as an underachieving school with troublesome students and an undesirable location. The school worked hard to shake off this image and although exam results did dramatically improve the reputation never completely went away. [Jarvis, Joanne [http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Looking-back-at-50-years.2942473.jp Looking back at 50 years of John Mansfield School] Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 11 June 2007]

The school had a mixed policy when it came to discipline, which was widely criticised in the local media. For example it was claimed that students were often unruly and high obstructive with little in the way of punishment for their actions. However, if a student wore trainers, or even the wrong colored socks, they would be suspended from school for the day.

Several incidents were reported by the main local paper, The Evening Telegraph. Several parents, during the 2000s, went to the paper angry that their children had been suspended due to haircuts. The school was unapologetic for its actions.

In 2003 it was announced that the school would close and students would go to the academy. The head teacher fought against the planned action and had mild support from the local community. Several former students openly welcomed the idea in the local press after an inaccurate letter was published by one of the supporters of the campaign. The school closed its doors in July 2007 for the last time.

Former pupils recently criticized the head teacher on the school's myspace. Much of the criticism was directed towards "his drive to boost his media profile".

The school boasted excellent facilities for performing arts, with two art studios, several music rooms, a dance studio and a drama studio. Other additions to the school included a much improved English/Design Technology/Maths block. It also had three Information Technology suits and was praised for these facilities.

References