The King Edward VI School, Morpeth

King Edward VI School
Established 1552
Type Comprehensive
Headteacher Mr. Simon Taylor Ba. Hons.
Specialisms Arts and Technology
Location Cottingwood Lane
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 1DN
England
Local authority Northumberland
DfE URN 122365
Ofsted Reports
Students 1400
Gender Mixed
Ages 13–18
Website www.kevi.info

King Edward VI School, Morpeth is a voluntary controlled comprehensive school located in Morpeth, Northumberland, England.

Contents

History

The refoundation of the school is frequently associated with William Turner (c. 1508–1568), nonconformist divine, known as the "Father of English Botany", who was a native of Morpeth, and is believed both to have attended the grammar school before going to Cambridge and later to have been its headmaster.

Morpeth Grammar School was involved in the lawsuit of longest duration in English legal history. The case, concerning the recovery of lands granted to the school by Edward VI and later leased to the Thornton family, began in 1710, was reopened in 1833, advanced in 1847, and determined in 1870, concerning the recovery of lands granted to the school by Edward VI later leased to the Thornton family.[1]

The school lost its status as a grammar school in the educational reforms of the 1970s and became a comprehensive under its present name. As part of this, the school had a new building built which still stands today.

Present day

King Edward VI School was awarded Beacon School status in 2003, and Leading Edge status, in 2004.

Management

Current head teacher is Simon Taylor who took over from Jane Mann in 2006. Deputy heads are Mrs D Reeman and Mr N Simpson

Ofsted

At the last Ofsted report, in 2008 the school was awarded outstanding, and particularly commended was its student voice department for the inclusion of students in extra curricular activities and decision making within the school.

Senior students

At the forefront of the school's student council is its head boy and girl. Its senior students are elected on an annual basis.

Results

In 2009 Year 11 students achieved excellent GCSE results, the best in Northumberland. 87% of students achieved 5 or more passes at Grades A*-C, with 75% gaining 5 or more including English and Maths, which was the highest percentage in Northumberland. 97% achieved 5+ A*-G grades, and 100% gained 1+ A*-G grade. Over 250 students from Year 11 have now moved into the 6th Form at King Edwards. In the same year, A Level students at the King Edward VI School produced excellent results. There was an increase in the percentage of A/B grades to 54%, an improvement of 4% over the previous year. The overall A-E pass rate increased to 99%. The average points score per student came out at 840, which was the highest of any school in Northumberland.

Academy Status

On July 14, 2011 it was announced that the King Edward VI School would begin the process to becoming an academy. A consultation process with staff, students, and parents is expected.

Awards

The school is proud of its academic achievements, but the school has also had great success and commendation for its awards away from the curriculum.

Environment awards

The school is currently seeking to gain 'eco-friendly schools status' and as part of this, it has much accreditation for its student-led environmental groups. In 2008, a gardening group was presented with the BT Seen and Heard award by Dame Ellen Macarthur at the Houses of Parliament. Later that year, the school was awarded the North East environmental school award at the Chronicle environment awards, and on 2 November Student Voice assistants from the school are travelling to London for the final of the WOW (Wipe out Waste) awards.

School arms

The school arms are: Argent masoned gules, a tower triple-turreted within a bordure of the second charged with eight martlets of the first.

Notes

Sources