Kingsmead Technology College

Kingsmead Technology College is a specialist school in technology. Established in 1938, it is located in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. The head teacher is Christopher Andrew Hilton.

Approximately 1,300 mixed gender pupils are educated here. The school's intake is from 11-18 (Years 7-13). Notably the school shares a sixth form with two other comprehensive schools, Blake High School and Norton Canes High School. It also forms part of an unusual collaboration with other neighbouring schools and a college of further education.

History

Since its establishment in 1938, the school has had several name changes. [ [http://www.kingsmead.staffs.sch.uk/aboutus/ "About Us"] , Kingsmead Technology College, "accessed 13 December 2007"] Originally it was known as Littleworth School. In the early days there were separate boys' and girls' schools. During World War II, the school accommodated children who had been evacuated. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/62/a7619862.shtml "Memories of evacuation and Bevin Boy War Service"] , bbc.co.uk, 8 December 2005]

Subsequently the title changed to Kingsmead Comprehensive School and then to Kingsmead High School. It was renamed Kingsmead Technology College when it became a specialist school in 2002.

The school was one of those selected in 2004 to test out a new Geography GCSE aimed at moving away from learning facts to understanding the big issues. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1358985,00.html "Geography teachers urged to inspire pupils"] , Matthew Taylor, The Guardian, 25 November 2004] Also in 2004 the then head teacher Julia Almond was appointed as Staffordshire's new deputy education director. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122901707.html "Almond delight"] , Birmingham Evening Mail, 10 June 2004]

A student and teacher exchange programme was introduced in 1999 with teacher exchange visits with two Zambian schools - Helen Kaunda High School and Mukuba High School in Kitwe. This started a series of partnerships between Zambian and UK schools and there are now over 30 such school partnerships. Students from Kingsmead paid a visit to the Kitwe schools in 2005. [ [http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1123874431 "Zambia/UK student partnerships fostering multi-cultural relations"] , Gethsemane Mwizabi, [Times of Zambia] , 2005]

An investigation was held in September 2006 after leaflets promoting a series of 'adult' club nights for 11 to 16-year-olds, at Cannock's Civic Suite, were distributed outside the school. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/5370090.stm "Explicit flyers given to children"] , BBC News, 22 September 2006]

Academic standards

Absenteeism, authorised and unauthorised, is below both the local and national average by about a quarter. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/860_4070.stm "Kingsmead Technology College"] , BBC News, 11 January 2007]

In their report following the January 2006 inspection Ofsted rated the school as "Satisfactory", point three on a four point scale. [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=281713&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\124\s5_124397_20060220.pdf "Kingsmead Technology College"] , Ofsted, 20 February 2006] In a special visit, in October 2007, to look at the provision of Religious Education, overall effectiveness for this subject was considered to be "Good". [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=319182&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\124\cdd_124397_20071210.pdf "Ofsted survey inspection programme – Religious Education"] , Ofsted, 18 October 2007]

port

In April 1998 it was announced that a gymnasium would be built at the school to serve the whole of the West Midlands. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60917932.html "School gets gym for region"] , Birmingham Evening Mail, 14 April 1998]

In September 2003 the school, received £60,000 of lottery cash to improve the surfaces of its playing fields. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3323255.stm "Schools' £5m sports cash award"] , BBC News, 16 December 2003]

Extracurricular activities

The school performed Macbeth on 3 July 2005 at the The Prince of Wales Centre in Cannock as part of the nationwide Shakespeare festival organised by the BBC. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-132958612.html "Pupils' Shakespeare treat"] , Birmingham Evening Mail, 2 June 2005]

Awards

The school has obtained Investor in People status. [ [http://www.ktconline.org.uk/default.asp "Home"] , Kingsmead Technology College, "accessed 13 December 2007"]

Notable students

Chris Overton played the Young Phantom in Joel Schumacher's 2004 The Phantom of the Opera. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1546084/ "Chris Overton"] , IMDb] He subsequently took the part of Noah Claypole in Roman Polanski's 2005 remake of Oliver Twist. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119374704.html "Chris is Aiming for the Stars; Boy wins film role"] , Lisa McCarthy, Birmingham Evening Mail, 16 July 2004]

References

External links

* [http://www.ktconline.org.uk/default.asp Official site]