Rushey Mead School
| Motto | Make a positive difference |
|---|---|
| Type | Comprehensive |
| Executive Headteacher | Carolyn Robson CBE |
| Headteacher | Matthew Parris |
| Chair of Governors | Ann White |
| Location |
Melton Road Leicester Leicestershire LE4 7AN England  Coordinates: 52°39′45″N 1°06′43″W / 52.6626°N 1.1119°W |
| Local authority | Leicester |
| DfE number | 856/4244 |
| DfE URN | 120282 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1395 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Houses | Belvoir, Bosworth, Charnwood, Harborough and Melton |
| Colours |
Black, Royal Blue and Red |
| Website | School homepage |
Rushey Mead School is a mixed comprehensive in Leicester, Leicestershire for students aged 11 to 16. Its logo is a lion with three 'Rushes' on it. The name Rushey taken from the grass rushes which used to grow on nearby Rushey Fields. In 2011, the school was designated as a National Teaching School, among the first 100 in schools across the country.[1] Its motto, Make a positive difference, motivates students to always work hard and care for others. The current Headteacher is Matthew Parris.
History
Rushey Mead was originally a boys' school until the 1970s. The first headmaster was Charles Anson Smith. Under his leadership the school was often in the news, most notably for the "Spirit of Leicester", an ex city double-decker bus which initially took pupils to parts of Europe, unheard of at the time, and later around parts of the UK. In 1985, he was succeeded by Steve White, who remained with the school until 2002.
Pastoral coordinators
Each year group has its own Pastoral Coordinator (PASCO) and head of year.
Mr Furniss - Year 7, Ms Bharakhada - Year 8, Ms Pohe - Year 9, Mr Keegan - Year 10 and Mr Padgett - Year 11.
Staffing and facilities
Rushey Mead has a representative staff to children apportionment, including Asian teachers, in nearly every subject. The school also boasts a good example of an environmentally friendly building in their 'green' academy building (colloquially known as 'G' Block, which is now 'B' Block). Amongst the many features of this building are photovoltaic modules on the roof to power the lights.
In 2012, the school underwent major renovations. Under the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF), it benefited from an £18 million upgrade to its buildings and site, that includes, a new 6 court Sports Hall and an Assembly Hall with retractable cinema seats. The Sports Hall is one of Leicester's best equipped sports facilities, now with professional Continental Basketball hoops that retract from the ceiling, Indoor cricket training facilities, and 6 Tennis or Badminton courts, at a cost of almost £6 million.
Divisions and charities
The school has five Divisions: Belvoir, Bosworth, Charnwood, Harborough and Melton, which play an important part in school life, having two major aims; to increase student awareness of local, national and international charitable causes through charity work, and to promote healthy competition. Staff and students work together through the Divisions to raise awareness and money for a number of good causes. Beneficiaries over the years have included the British Red Cross, Oxfam, Teenage Cancer Trust, Comic Relief, Sport Relief, Matt Hampson Trust, Rushey Mead Foundation, Rainbows and the Leicester charity LOROS (the Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice).[2]
The UKIERI Study India Programme
From 2008, Rushey Mead has been part of the UKIERI Study India Programme, culminating in a visit to India.[3]
On 22 December 2009, four teachers and eight students got the opportunity to visit Kerala, in the south-west region of India. The students stayed for a week, visiting the JNV Chettachal in Trivandrum. They learned the differences in lifestyle, culture, communication and education, learning a lot, while at the same time enjoying the experience.[4][5]
Academic achievement
The school was designated a specialist college in Sports and Science with Maths and awarded High Performing Specialist School Status as a Leadership Partner school. In its November 2007 Ofsted report, the school was rated "outstanding" for overall effectiveness.[6] In 2009, Ofsted highlighted it as one of 12 outstanding schools serving disadvantaged communities.[7]
Notable alumni
- Sara Dhada — BBC Apprentice Series Four
- Jigar Naik — Leicestershire cricketer[8][9]
- Tony Sibson — boxer[10]
- Mark Morrison — R&B singer
References
- ↑ "School Awarded Teaching School Status". School website.
- ↑ "Divisions & Charities". School website.
- ↑ "UKIERI Rushey Mead". UKIERI Rushey Mead Blog.
- ↑ Unnithan, Sangeetha (22 December 2009). "Experience of a lifetime". The Hindu.
- ↑ "Visit of UK Delegates to JNV, Trivandrum" (PDF). JNV Trivandrum. 10–16 December 2009.
- ↑ "2007 Inspection report" (PDF). Ofsted.
- ↑ "Twelve outstanding secondary schools - Excelling against the odds". Ofsted. 24 February 2009.
- ↑ "The Leicestershire CCC Cricketer Archive". Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
- ↑ "Player Archive". The Professional Cricketers' Association.
- ↑ "Our Leicestershire Sporting Greats countdown - 40 to 25". Leicester Mercury. 10 February 2011.
External links
In the News
- BBC Leicester | Your Stories | Pupils visit earthquake hit area
- ITV News | GCSE results day - 54 A and A* grades for twins / Two sets of twins earn 39 A*-As at a Leicester school