Alexandra Park School
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Park School is a Specialist Science and Maths School
in Haringey
, North London
.
The school provides a comprehensive
education for students aged 11–18. Since opening in 1999, the school has continued to grow and develop; gaining specialist schools status in 2005. Its headteacher is Michael McKenzie.
The school was opened to year 7 pupils on 9 September 1999. For the first year, the school co-existed with the closing College of North East London and students occupied just one floor of the old block (built in the 1960s). The extension in 2006 won a commendation at the Civic Trust Awards.
The expansion of Alexandra Park School has added a number of key elements: a main teaching block for art and design technology, with general teaching spaces and a sixth form suite overlooking a courtyard; a science centre with four laboratories; and a performance arts department, with a drama studio and music practice rooms. The scheme was designed and built to a fast timetable, and incorporated a number of "green" technologies.
The school draws its students from a wide geographical area that includes the relatively prosperous wards in the borough as well as some of the most deprived wards in the country: over 40% of the total intake comes from the latter area. The percentage of students speaking a language other than English is well above average, as is the proportion entitled to a free school meal
and the proportion of students who have a learning difficulty or disability. The school is involved in the National College for School Leadership
, provides extended service and holds the following awards: Investors in People
, Sports Mark and Healthy Schools.
Alexandra Park School offers students opportunities children may not get elsewhere; there are many exchange student programs running including France, Spain and South Africa. Due to their specialist school status, Alexandra Park can offer students an Astronomy GCSE. This started in 2009 offered to year nine students.
, it is located c. 500 yards (457.2 m) away from it, at the edge of Muswell Hill Golf Course. With a main entrance on Rhodes Avenue and another entrance on Durnsford Park, within Muswell Hill
.
In October, the school launched the revolutionary iLearning concept for ICT
across the curriculum. The 5 i philosophy embraces national initiatives and local-school terminology in order to allow students to become independent learners through the use of ICT throughout the curriculum.
inspection in November 2002 the school was judged “A very good school which enables all its pupils to do well. Standards are much higher than might be expected of pupils with similar backgrounds and prior attainment. This is due to good teaching, excellent leadership and management, high expectations of work and behaviour and a real commitment to ensuring that every single pupil benefits from what is provided and is encouraged to give their best.” OfSTED commented that “the quality of teaching is a significant strength of the school”.
In the school's second OfSTED inspection in May 2007 the school was judged "A good school with some outstanding features. Although the school is relatively new, its standing in the community and beyond is well established because of the outstanding leadership of the Headteacher." The report highlights the outstanding features with OfSTED commenting "Care, guidance and support are good and the pastoral provision is outstanding, which contributes effectively to pupils' personal development. Vulnerable students and those with learning difficulties and disabilities are mostly exceptionally well supported. "
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...
in Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
.
The school provides a comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
education for students aged 11–18. Since opening in 1999, the school has continued to grow and develop; gaining specialist schools status in 2005. Its headteacher is Michael McKenzie.
The school was opened to year 7 pupils on 9 September 1999. For the first year, the school co-existed with the closing College of North East London and students occupied just one floor of the old block (built in the 1960s). The extension in 2006 won a commendation at the Civic Trust Awards.
The expansion of Alexandra Park School has added a number of key elements: a main teaching block for art and design technology, with general teaching spaces and a sixth form suite overlooking a courtyard; a science centre with four laboratories; and a performance arts department, with a drama studio and music practice rooms. The scheme was designed and built to a fast timetable, and incorporated a number of "green" technologies.
The school draws its students from a wide geographical area that includes the relatively prosperous wards in the borough as well as some of the most deprived wards in the country: over 40% of the total intake comes from the latter area. The percentage of students speaking a language other than English is well above average, as is the proportion entitled to a free school meal
Free school meal
A Free School Meal, provided to a child or young person during a school break, is paid for by Government. For a child to qualify for a Free School Meal, their parent or carer must be receiving particular qualifying benefits as stated by Government...
and the proportion of students who have a learning difficulty or disability. The school is involved in the National College for School Leadership
National College for School Leadership
The National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services is a British government-funded non-departmental public body which offers head teachers, school leaders and senior children's services leaders opportunities for professional leadership development.- History :Established in 2000...
, provides extended service and holds the following awards: Investors in People
Investors in People
Launched in 1991 Investors in People is a business improvement tool administered by UK Commission for Employment and Skills and supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ....
, Sports Mark and Healthy Schools.
Alexandra Park School offers students opportunities children may not get elsewhere; there are many exchange student programs running including France, Spain and South Africa. Due to their specialist school status, Alexandra Park can offer students an Astronomy GCSE. This started in 2009 offered to year nine students.
Location
Although the school is named after Alexandra ParkAlexandra Park, London
Alexandra Park is an 80 hectare, Green Flag Award and Green Heritage winning landscaped park in the Borough of Haringey in north London.-Overview:...
, it is located c. 500 yards (457.2 m) away from it, at the edge of Muswell Hill Golf Course. With a main entrance on Rhodes Avenue and another entrance on Durnsford Park, within Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a suburb of north London, mostly in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated about north of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. Muswell Hill is in the N10 postal district and mostly in the Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency.- History :The...
.
ICT
Alexandra Park School is now part of the ICT Register, a database which captures ICT and eLearning expertise in schools and learning centres across the world. It is, however, not listed on the London schools page of the ICT Register. It hopes this will contribute to driving up standards of teaching and learning in ICT and encourage students to become independent learners.In October, the school launched the revolutionary iLearning concept for ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
across the curriculum. The 5 i philosophy embraces national initiatives and local-school terminology in order to allow students to become independent learners through the use of ICT throughout the curriculum.
OFSTED inspections
Following the school’s first OfSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection in November 2002 the school was judged “A very good school which enables all its pupils to do well. Standards are much higher than might be expected of pupils with similar backgrounds and prior attainment. This is due to good teaching, excellent leadership and management, high expectations of work and behaviour and a real commitment to ensuring that every single pupil benefits from what is provided and is encouraged to give their best.” OfSTED commented that “the quality of teaching is a significant strength of the school”.
In the school's second OfSTED inspection in May 2007 the school was judged "A good school with some outstanding features. Although the school is relatively new, its standing in the community and beyond is well established because of the outstanding leadership of the Headteacher." The report highlights the outstanding features with OfSTED commenting "Care, guidance and support are good and the pastoral provision is outstanding, which contributes effectively to pupils' personal development. Vulnerable students and those with learning difficulties and disabilities are mostly exceptionally well supported. "
Notable alumni
- Nile RangerNile RangerNile Ranger is an English footballer who plays for Barnsley on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United as a striker.-Early days:...
, footballer, a frequent player in the school football team - Raman Patrick SisupalanRaman Patrick SisupalanRaman Patrick Sisupalan is an English footballer of Indian descent who plays as a midfielder.-Career:Sisupalan spent some years teaching at Alexandra Park School before moving to India to play football...
(teacher), footballer, Viva KeralaViva KeralaChirag United Club Kerala is an Indian professional football club based in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala India. The club was formed in 2004, with Chirag computers as the main sponsors. They play in the I-League, the top tier of Indian Football....
in the I-LeagueI-LeagueThe I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
, occasionally coached the school football teams
External links
- Official school website
- APSA the Alexandra Park School Association