High Tunstall College of Science

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Location of High Tunstall College of Science

High Tunstall dinner card

High Tunstall College of Science (since 2005; previously High Tunstall Comprehensive School) is a secondary school in Hartlepool, England. The school was originally a boys technical school, but adopted its current form and name in 1973 after changes in the British schools system.

The school is one of five secondary schools in the area and currently fluctuates between 2nd and 3rd in the local area ranking, based on GCSE results. Its Headteacher is a Mrs. M. Bühler-Willey.

High Tunstall originally emerged as the disruptive school in the area of Hartlepool, although due to improvements in the staff and facilities at the school has become one of the less disruptive schools in the area. It is located near to the West Park area of Hartlepool, which is an area with high land values, and so is often associated with upper class students and as of such can be the target of abuse from students attending schools in poorer areas such as the inner city.

According to 2004 government statistics the school has a GCSE record similar to the national level, and at the end of the 2003-2004 year was just 1% above the national average. Tunstall, however, is considerably higher than the town average (6%), although the Hartlepool scores are also improving. The school achieved unusually high A*-C grade attainment in the 2002-2003 year, with a 10% increase on 2001-2002.

The school has a high number of special needs students, with one in five pupils having a special needs record. The school takes on most of the SEN students in the area, and as of such is noted for the facilities available to disabled students.

High Tunstall School consists of four main blocks - one is used primarily for administration, two almost completely for teaching, and another isolated block exists as a combination for the two. The school also has a 25M x 5M swimming pool, a running track and several fields used mainly for Physical Education lessons.

At the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year, the school was designated a specialist school, specialising in Science with a secondary specialism of Maths. The school also had a two-day OFSTED inspection in October 2005.

1 2004 official statistics

[edit] 2004 official statistics

[edit] Background statistics

According to 2004 government statistics, High Tunstall School has just over 1,150 students at the school. Of these 3.8% of pupils have a special needs record with statements, with a further 21.4% possessing a record without statements. This means that over a quarter of students have some SEN involvement, a total well above the national average possessed mainly due to the taking on of most students from local special needs primary schools.

[edit] Statistics based on Year 11 students

Of the 1,171 students attending the school in 2004, 231 started the school year at the age of 15, meaning that they started the year as part of Year 11. 38 of the 231 possessed some form of special needs, 6 with statements. Out of the year group a solid 55% obtained a 5+ A*-C attainment level at the start of the school year, with 96% holding a 5+ A*-G attainment level, and 98% managing at least an entry level qualification. This start of year achievement would leave High Tunstall above average for both the Hartlepool LEA and England.