Gosforth Junior High School

Infobox UK school
name = Gosforth Junior High School

---

size = 300px
latitude = 55.0080
longitude = -1.6269
dms =
motto = Quae Sursum Quaerite (Aim for the Best)
motto_pl =
established = start date|1937|df=yes
2007 (as Gosforth Junior High)
approx =
type = Comprehensive
religion =
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Hugh Robinson
deputy_head_label = Vice-Principal
deputy head =Kathryn Thomas
r_head_label = Director of Junior School
r_head = David Sheppard
chair_label =
chair =
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist =
street = Jubilee Road
city = Newcastle Upon Tyne
county = Tyne & Wear
country = England
postcode = NE3 1DY
phone = 0191 285 3060
fax = 0191 285 5189
LEA = Newcastle upon Tyne (391)
ofsted = 108520
staff =
enrollment = 358 [cite web |url=http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/3914303/overview/ |title=GJHS School Overview |publisher=DirectGov |accessdate =2008-04-06]
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 9
upper_age = 13
houses =
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 = Federated with
free_1 = Gosforth High School
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.gosforthwest.newcastle.sch.uk/
website_name = GJHS official website

Gosforth Junior High School, formerly known as Gosforth West Middle School is a middle school in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the Junior School of Gosforth High School.

Students usually transfer to Gosforth High School. The school is in the West Gosforth electoral ward. It is one of Newcastle's "Special Educational Needs" centres for Visual Impairment, [cite web |url=http://www.helpinsight.org.uk/ofsted_list.htm |title=Ofsted list |publisher=Help In Sight |accessdate =2008-04-06] along with Regent Farm First School and Gosforth High School. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/senmainstream |title=SEN placement in mainstream schools |publisher=Newcastle City Council |accessdate =2008-04-06]

History

1937–2000

The school started in 1937, as Gosforth Senior Council School, with separate Boys and Girls Departments. [citation |publisher=Tyne and Wear Archives |title=Gosforth West Middle School, Collection RefNumber E.GO2 |accessdate =2008-04-06]

The school changed into a Secondary Modern School in 1944, due to the Education Act 1944. The school name became Gosforth County Modern School / Gosforth County Secondary School.

The school became Gosforth West Middle School, when Northumberland County Council changed to the Three-tier education system in 1973.

2000–present

By March 2005, Gosforth West was experiencing some problems and was placed under "Special Measures" by Ofsted. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle-city-council.gov.uk/press.nsf/newsbyid/62E8CD8B606BEFF280257142002A1C55?opendocument |title=Gosforth West Middle School |publisher=Newcastle City Council |date=2005-05-06 |accessdate=2008-04-06] In July 2006 the school had vastly improved and was removed from special measures. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/press.nsf/newsbyid/450A5C12E3AE213E802571A4002EFB41?opendocument |title=Gosforth West Middle School - Out Of Special Measures |publisher=Newcastle City Council |date=2006-07-07 |accessdate=2008-04-06]

In September 2005, Kathryn Thomas (seconded from Gosforth High School) became the schools Acting Headteacher, replacing Paul Hugall. David Sheppard (also seconded from Gosforth High School) became Assistant Headteacher.

In September 2006, Gosforth High took over the administration duties of Gosforth West Middle School, in a Federation style agreement. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/cab2006.nsf/allbykey/54D62FA12D87E353802571EF00432681/$FILE/5a%20-%20GWM%20&%20GH%20Prop%20Fed.pdf |title=GWMS & GHS:Consultation by Governing Bodies in Respect of a proposed Federation |format=PDF |publisher=Newcastle City Council |date=2006-09-27 |accessdate=2008-04-06] The federation came into action on January 1, 2007. Gosforth West was also renamed as Gosforth Junior High School after the Easter break. The uniform was set to change in September 2007, this included the removal of the tie from the uniform. The PRAISE Code which was introduced at the High School is also in practice at the Junior High School.

Facilities

Gosforth Junior High, unlike East and Central is still using an elderly building. The school is also part of the "Building Schools for the Future" Initiative. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/bsf_pfi |title=Building Schools for the Future (BSF) and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) |publisher=Newcastle City Council |accessdate=2008-04-06] There are currently plans for a rebuild, but no dates are set [cite web |url=http://www.gosforthhigh.newcastle.sch.uk/December_2007_News_Bulletin.pdf |title=News Bulletin |publisher=Gosforth High School |format=PDF |date=2007-12 |accessdate=2008-04-06] .

Gosforth Junior High had concrete tennis courts, until in around 2003 the area of land on which it was situated, was used for an additional building for Archibald First School.

On June 6 2007, David Bellamy opened the school's wildlife garden, in one of the buildings' quadrangles, which has had contributions from local organisations, such as Northern Rock, The Gosforth Round Table and the school's pupils. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/press.nsf/newsbyid/8CD1695B41B694FD802572F0004AEDFA?opendocument |title=David Bellamy to Open School Garden |publisher=Newcastle City Council |accessdate=2008-04-06] [cite web |url=http://aschooltime.com/design/view/vip-opening-day-for-school.html |title=VIP opening day for school's new garden |publisher=The Journal (Hosted at aschooltime.com) |date=2007-08-07 |accessdate=2008-04-06]

Gosforth Junior High has been requesting that a new lollipop person should be hired by Newcastle City Council to tend to the road outside the school, since the previous lollipop man left in 2007, due to ill health. As of 14 June 2008 Newcastle City Council have not filled this position. [cite web |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/06/14/now-can-we-finally-have-a-lollipop-man-72703-21075393/ Now can we finally have a lollipop man? |title=Now can we finally have a lollipop man? |publisher=Chronicle Live |date= 2008-06-14 |accessdate=2008-06-30] The city council are currently considering improvements to the road safety on the road outside the school [cite web |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/07/31/anger-after-gosforth-girl-knocked-off-her-bike-72703-21441148/ |title=Anger after Gosforth girl knocked off her bike |date=2008-07-31| publisher=Chronicle Live |accessdate=2008-08-01] .

Feeder schools

* [http://www.archibald.firstschool.org.uk/ Archibald First School]
* [http://www.regentfarm.newcastle.sch.uk/ Regent Farm First School]

Notable alumnus

* Michael Chopra, centre forward for Sunderland A.F.C. [cite web |url=http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcplayers/michaelchopra.shtml |title=Michael Chopra |publisher=Newcastle Online |accessdate=2008-04-08]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/gosforthwestmiddleschool Gosforth Junior High Information] at Newcastle City Council
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/primary_schools/html/391_4303.stm Gosforth Junior High] at BBC League Tables