| Motto | Striving for Excellence |
|---|---|
| Established | 1938 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Principal | Cheryl Heron |
| Specialism | Sports College |
| Location | Herbert Avenue Poole Dorset BH12 4HS England |
| Local authority | Poole |
| DfE URN | 113866 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 961 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 12–18 |
| Houses | 4 |
| Website | www.staldhelmsacademy.org |
St Aldhelm's Academy (formerly Rossmore Community College)[1] is a 12–18 mixed specialist school with Sports College status serving the Rossmore, Parkstone, Newtown, Wallisdown and Alderney areas of Poole, United Kingdom. It was previously named the Martin-Kemp Welch School, but was renamed Rossmore Community College in 2001.
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The school opened in October 1938 as Kemp-Welch Senior Council School and taught boys and girls in two different departments—the boys were housed in the west side of the building, while the girls were housed in the east. This was typical for a school of its time and there was a 'quad' in the middle of the school which divided the two schools.
The school became a secondary modern after the Second World War and expanded rapidly in 1963 to house 600 students in both schools. An East Block was built onto the girls' school, housing additional classrooms, art rooms and a music room. The West Block was built across the boys' playground and housed classrooms, science labs and the boys' music room. Prior to this, new work shops and kitchens had been built. The boys' gym was built onto the rear of the boys' half of the main block (now the technology block) and the girls' gym was built on the school field and is now part of the leisure centre.
In 1974 the two schools merged to form one large school and the age was changed from 11–16 to 12–16. Not a great deal changed at the school over the next 15 years and the school fell into a state of disrepair. Pupil numbers dropped in the 1980s and 1990s leaving the school with empty classrooms. The leisure centre first opened onto the former girls' gym in 1992 and the second phase opened in 1998. In 1994 the school opened its sixth form. Despite this, the school was being seen as a 'rough school' with many parents in the local area sending their children to other schools. In 1999 only half of the children from Branksome Heath Middle School (largest in catchment) went to Kemp-Welch with the remainder going to either Poole or Parkstone Grammar School, Poole High or St Edwards Schools.
In 2000 the school was put into 'special measures' by Ofsted and the school aimed to improve itself in time for its next Ofsted visit or face closure. The school changed its name to Rossmore Community College and underwent a major building program to reinvent itself.
Changes included:
For a short time, in the Autumn term of 2001, Maths and English rooms were being refurbished which meant Maths and English were using any other classroom possible in the school, but January 2002 saw the new rooms open which were half the size larger than before with new carpets and furniture.
After 2002 a small number of further changes were made, such as the repainting of the corridors and new carpets in older classrooms. January 2005 saw the new Rossmore Library move from Herbert Avenue to the school (site of former caretaker's house) and in September 2005 the new Technology block opened on the site that was once the boys' gym.in 2010 the school renamed it self St Aldhelm academy and got a new uniform much to the disgust of the neighbouring st aldhelm combined school due to people thinking the schools are related.
In September 2003 the school became a Sports College, one of two in Poole.
Rossmore Leisure Centre is located next to the school. This facility is used for Physical Education lessons, and is also open to the public. It comprises a sports hall, gym, fitness suite and a swimming pool, and is adjoined by a sports field and tennis courts.
The original Leisure Centre was built in 1992 onto the sports block and included the gym, sports hall, fitness studio and a new canteen for the school (used for parties for the public). In 1998 the centre was extended further with a new swimming pool (the Herbert Ballam pool), new fitness studio (the old studio became a bar) and a gymnastics hall which has trained Olympic contestants. The centre was original Kemp-Welch Leisure Centre, but became Rossmore Leisure Centre in January 2003.
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