Astley Cooper School

Infobox UK school
name = The Astley Cooper School


size = 100px
latitude = 51.77578
longitude = -0.44772
dms = dms
motto = "Prepared for Learning, Prepared for Life"
motto_pl =
established = 1967, 1984
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Comprehensive
religion = Non-denominational
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mrs Anne Smithers
r_head_label = Deputy Headteacher
r_head = Mr Stuart Plunket
chair_label = Chair of Governing Body
chair = Sara House
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Arts College
specialist_pl =
street = St Agnells Lane
city = Hemel Hempstead
county = Hertfordshire
country = England
postcode = HP2 7HL
LEA = Hertfordshire
ofsted = 117552
staff =
enrollment = 781
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = Burgundy, White
and Sky Blue
publication =
free_label_1 = Precursor
free_1 = Grove Hill School
free_label_2 = Precursor
free_2 = Highfield School
free_3 =
website = http://www.astleycooper.herts.sch.uk
website_name = Official website

The Astley Cooper School is an 11-18 comprehensive school on the edge of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. It was established in 1984 following a merger of two local schools, Grove Hill School and Highfield School. It occupies the former Grove Hill site on St Agnells Lane. The former Highfield site, on Fletcher Way, was redeveloped for housing. [ [http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=67949 Hemelhempstead Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More ] ] The school primarily serves the Grovehill, Woodhall Farm and Highfield neighbourhoods of Hemel Hempstead.

The school is named after Sir Astley Cooper, an English surgeon and anatomist. The school celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007. [ [http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/heritage/Social-reform-an-educational-experiment.3411954.jp 'Social reform, an educational experiment' 40 years on school is celebrating success - Hemelhempstead Today ] ]

The school works in consortium with two neighbouring schools, Adeyfield and Longdean, to enhance post-16 provision. Staff development and well-being is also coordinated at consortium level. The consortium is known as the East Dacorum Partnership. [ [http://www.adeyfieldschool.co.uk/year_groups/sixth.htm Adeyfield School - Sixth Form ] ]

The current headteacher is Anne Smithers. Stuart Plunket is the current deputy-head.

The school motto and mission statement is "Prepared for Learning, Prepared for Life".

Achievements and recognition

The school was awarded specialist school status for the arts [http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/excel/ArtsJuly2006.xls?version=1] and has been awarded Artsmark Gold by Arts Council England. The school is a member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

The school has also been awarded the Sportsmark by Sport England as a reward for delivery of the national PE, School Sports and Club Links Strategy. The school has implemented the Football Association's Charter Standard for Schools for football development. [http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/3E34AD40-CA46-4BA8-BF7C-B2E40D1B2E7A/80412/AllSchool0703.xls]

The school has been recognised by Investors in People.

ite and facilities

The school occupies an extensive site in the Grovehill area of Hemel Hempstead. [ [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=HP2+7HL&ll=51.775754,-0.447714&spn=0.007448,0.022831&om=1 Google Maps ] ] The school has well-maintained and equipped teaching rooms including laboratories, ICT suites, workshops, a food technology kitchen and a well-stocked and resourced library. Most teaching rooms are equipped with an interactive whiteboard which has greatly benefited teaching and learning.

The award of Arts College status and its associated funding has allowed the school to greatly improve facilities to enhance students' learning. These new facilities include a high-specification iMac suite and newly equipped art studios, a high-quality dance studio and a new drama studio. The sound capabilities of the main auditorium have been improved allowing it to be used for concerts and shows. The school has also developed art workshops with emerging artist Jane Hodgson centered around the theme of arts and ecology. [ [http://www.janehodgson.co.uk/workshops.html workshops ] ]

The school also boasts a digital recording studio, photography suite, Zen garden, organic vegetable allotment and a post-16 independent learning area. The school has ample playing fields and sport facilities consist of a well-proportioned gymnasium, basketball courts, a fitness suite and a swimming pool. All of these facilities are available for use as teaching spaces and for student and community use. The school participates in the Dacorum Sports Partnership, an umbrella organisation for sports organisations in Dacorum.

Curriculum

The school is an 11-18 comprehensive secondary school welcoming learners of all abilities and many talents. The school follows the National Curriculum programme of study for core and foundation subjects. Students are encouraged to develop as learners and are prepared for GCSE, GNVQ and BTEC qualifications. Participation in a wider consortium allows students to have access to a wide range of post-16 learning opportunities such as AS Level and A Level courses, GNVQ courses and vocational courses.

The school prides itself on its caring approach to education where student wellbeing is supported by a well-structured pastoral support system and a dedicated additional learning needs team.

The school's extra-curricular opportunities allow most of the students to be able to participate in art, music, drama, dance and creative writing clubs alongside many sporting activities.

The school offers arts courses to parents and to the wider community. Present courses include life drawing, digital imaging and photography and air brush for beginners. [http://www.astleycooper.herts.sch.uk/_files/events/adult_leaflet_jan_08.pdf] The life drawing course is led by the contemporary figurative artist Susan James Dean. [ [http://www.susanjamesdean.com/ Susan james dean - contemporary figurative artist ] ]

Uniform

The school introduced a new school uniform in September 2008, it consists of a black blazer with the school logo, a white shirt worn with a burgundy and light blue necktie and black trousers. Black shoes must be warn with the uniform, trainers are not permitted. Students in years 8-11 may continue to wear the previous uniform, which includes a burgundy school sweatshirt and white polo shirt. Optional uniform items are also available including a burgundy rain coat, sports polo shirt, specific sports strips and tracksuits. Uniform items are only available directly from the school.

Visiting Authors Initiative

The school has a well established Visiting Authors Initiative where best selling authors are invited to speak at the school. These sessions are followed by a public book signing (in partnership with Waterstone's) and special workshops for English gifted and talented students. The aims of the sessions are to encourage young people, both at the school and in the wider community, to read more and to become engaged in creative writing. Students and members of the public are given opportunities to question the authors and to receive critiques of their works. Authors who have taken part in the Visiting Authors Initiative include: [ [http://www.astleycooper.herts.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?section=Events+Gallery&sid=57 Astley Cooper School ] ]

*Frederick Forsyth
*Jodi Picoult
*Sophie Hannah
*Joanne Harris
*Mark Billingham
*Michael Dobbs
*Aidan Chambers
*Elizabeth Buchan
*Peter James

The visit by Joanne Harris was featured as an article in the "Times Educational Supplement". [ [http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2447461 TES - Teaching jobs, resources & ideas from the Times Educational Supplement ] ]

Wind turbines

The school was the first in Hertfordshire to install energy saving wind turbines. [ [http://www.solarenergyalliance.com/instaash.htm SEA - Wind - Installations - 6kw at Astley Cooper School ] ] They will generate around 13,500 kWh of electricity every year and cut the buildings’ carbon emissions by nearly six tonnes each year. Over the 25 year life of the turbines, they will displace 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The school has also invested in a web-based monitoring system that will show students how much energy the turbines are generating, along with data on the amount of carbon dioxide being offset. [ [http://dashboards.my-tmac.co.uk/acs/ Energy Dashboard ] ]

External links

* [http://www.astleycooper.herts.sch.uk Official site]
* [http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/gazette-video/Your-School-Astley-Cooper.3712790.jp Guided tour]

References