Acklam Grange Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Acklam Grange School is a specialist college
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...

 of mathematics and computing, situated at the end of Lodore Grove, Acklam, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...

. It opened in 1952 and has gone through many changes, being first Hugh Bell School, then Stainsby School, and currently Acklam Grange Secondary School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

.

Andrea Crawshaw became headteacher in 2011 replacing John Bate who retired in 2011.

The school is one of the few in the area that have continued to be a part of Building Schools for the Future
Building Schools for the Future
Building Schools for the Future is the name of the previous UK Government's investment programme in secondary school buildings in England. The program is very ambitious in its costs, timescales and objectives, with politicians from all English political parties supportive of the principle but...

 after announced spending cuts by the Government.

Structure

Acklam Grange uses pastoral management schemes that manage the pupils by age. This was chosen instead of a House System
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...

 which traditionally separates students into groups of mixed age.

Rewards for pupils are issued in a tiered system, including certificates, vouchers, and school trips. In Year 11, pupils have the opportunity to become Prefects and Senior Prefects, where they assist in the management of the school and are overseen by a Head Pupil.

Facilities

On the site of the School is the Middlesbrough City Learning Centre, providing specialist ICT facilities for the school and others in the area. The centre is located on the Lodore side of school; there is also the Acorn Centre, a local sports centre, situated at the Heythrop entrance.

New Build

As of 6 September 2010, the new school is open to pupils. Prior to this, pupils had involvement in areas ranging from landscaping to the naming of select areas through pupil voice schemes such as their School Council. This has helped to make the school right for the pupils to ensure that they get the most out of it.

The old school (consisting of the former Oaklands and Stainsby school) is due to be demolished from August 2010 to December 2010. It will be replaced by a carpark and landscaping to lead up to the school from the Lodore Grove entrance by April 2011.

Acorn Centre

The Acorn Centre is a £2.2 million sport and inclusion facility which was opened in late January 2005 following its official launch by Gary Pallister (former Middlesbrough and England International footballer) and Councillor Hazel Pearson OBE. Situated on the site of Acklam Grange School, a specialist college of Mathematics and Computing in West Middlesbrough. The development has been made possible due to receiving significant investment from Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough Council, The West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT) and The Big Lottery Fund.

The Acorn Centre is a Dual Use facility for local school and community networks.

The new building is currently being constructed on the playing fields opposite the school by contractors Wilmott Dixon. The build is expected to open in September 2010 and has cost over £27 million.

Notable past pupils

  • Pete Firman
    Pete Firman
    Pete Firman is an English magician and television presenter.He has appeared in British television magic shows on Channel 4, Five, and Sky1. He is also the presenter of two gameshows on CBBC: Stake Out and Wait For It..!....

     - Comedian/Magician
  • Journey South
    Journey South
    Journey South are an English singing duo, consisting of brothers Andy and Carl Pemberton. They are originally from Middlesbrough, Teesside, and performed in pubs and clubs throughout the United Kingdom for over eight years, prior to achieving third place on the second UK series of television talent...

     - Singing Duo
  • Stephen Mark Barchan
    Stephen Mark Barchan
    Stephen Mark Barchan is a British composer and conductor.-Career:Barchan studied composition with Richard Steinitz and Edwin Roxburgh .Organisations who have presented his music include London Sinfonietta Collective, LSO Discovery, Park Lane...

     - Composer/Conductor
  • Chris Rea
    Chris Rea
    Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...

    Singer
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