| Motto | Spes et fides (Hope and faith) |
|---|---|
| Type | Comprehensive |
| President | Sarah Amos MA BSc Dip pHD |
| Headteacher | Mr J P Loughton |
| Specialism | Sports College |
| Location | Warsop Lane Rainworth Nottinghamshire NG21 0AG England |
| Local authority | Nottinghamshire |
| DfE URN | 122866 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Staff | 80 FTE teaching staff, ~30 support staff |
| Students | 1,250 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | Blue, Green, Red and Yellow |
| Colours | Navy Blue, Blue, Green, Red and Yellow |
| Website | www.josephwhitaker.notts.sch.uk |
Joseph Whitaker School is a specialist sports college and secondary school in Rainworth near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in England. Over 1,300 students are taught there, by a staff body of over 100 teachers. The current headmaster is Mr Martlew, who recently took over from J P Loughton after his Christmas 2010 retirement.[1]
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The school is named after Joseph Whitaker (1850-1932) a naturalist and sportsman who lived at nearby Rainworth Lodge.[1] and of whom a picture is hung above the entrance to the main hall. A fire in October 1995 destroyed the school hall and the sports hall and Gym of the adjoining leisure centre, which prompted a rebuild the following year.
It is compulsory for all first year students (Year 7) to take the following subjects:
The school recently had a new Art and Design department built, which also houses the school resource center, lecture theatre and sixth form study areas. The department is equipped for all curriculum needs from Year 7 to A level work. The head of art at the school is Sue Sexton.
Drama is taught in the lower school area of the school. This area is all on one level, and it towards the north of the school. The drama department has only two rooms, though both are equipped with lighting and sound equipment. The school's dance studio is often used as an area for students, especially A level ones, to practice their work. The head of drama is Mr Paul Caputa.
English is currently taught in a two story tower block, that is accessed through the school's main entrance. Both English Language and English Literature are taught. Carl Farrell is the head of English.
Humanities includes History, Geography and Religious Studies. These are also taught in the lower school. The head of humanities is Micheal Croft.
IT is mainly taught above the food technology room, however other rooms in lower and upper school are also used. All IT suites are fitted out with computers, to which each student has their own username and password to access their personal account.
The IT team is headed by R Gaunt
This includes:
These are taught in the lower school area, however they are mainly taught on a first floor level, with two classrooms on the ground floor. The MFL department has its own ICT suite, which students may use for homework or general knowledge-building activities. After Mr Marcel Porter's retirement in July 2010, Miss Bedford is the current HoMFL.
Music is taught in the upper school area. It comprises two classrooms, fitted with keyboards and a piano in each. There are also two practice rooms, in the music block, as well a separate building known as M3. This building has a few drum kits which the students use but nevertheless they need maintaining. The music department however holds a variety of other instruments. David Gillot is the head of the faculty as of January 2008.
As the school is a specialist sports college, the sports facilities are very modern. The school has a large sports hall that has room for 5 badminton courts. The sports hall is fitted out with basketball hoops, cricket nets as well as markings on the floor for basketball, football, badminton, tennis and netball. There is also a large gymnasium, a dance studio with lighting and sound, full wall mirror and bar, and blackout curtains. The school recently has had an all-weather floodlit pitch built. The Director of Sport is Mr David Bell.
The technology department is towards the east of the school. It has a newly renovated food tech room, a large graphics room, a well-equipped electronics room as well as two workshops. Textiles has now been reintroduced back into the department by the new food and textiles teacher Miss S Gore. Mr L Gomersall is head of the Technology faculty.
The Science department is at the south end of the school. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are all taught from Year 7 (age 11) to Year 13 (age 18). The school has its own schemes of work at KS3, teaches the AQA GCSE course, and the OCR Science A Levels. The department has eight fully equipped laboratories, along with a computer room and various other teaching rooms. There are two full-time lab technicians.
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