De Ferrers Specialist Technology College
Encyclopedia
Admissions
The school is split into two sites. Dove campus for years 7-9 on Harehedge Lane, and Trent campus, for years 10,11 and the sixth form students, on St Mary's Drive. The school has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 2008.The main campus is in the west of Burton on Trent, north of Horninglow
Horninglow
Horninglow is a suburb of Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire. Horninglow lies to the north west of Burton, and is linked to the town centre by the A511.The parish church of Horninglow is St John the Divine, part of the Diocese of Lichfield.- Area :...
, west of the A38
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
in the parish of Horninglow and Eton; and the other campus is in Outwoods
Outwoods, East Staffordshire
Outwoods is a civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. Once a village it is now a suburb on the flanks of the town of Burton upon Trent separated from the town by the A38 road.-Geography:...
, directly to the west.
The school has been awarded various awards for ICT, and won numerous sports competitions. The Trent campus sports hall was opened by Jonathon Edwards
Jonathan Edwards (athlete)
Jonathan David Edwards, CBE, is a former British triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995....
, the Triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
world record holder.
Former schools
It opened in 1965 as Dovecliff Grammar School on St Mary's Drive. Nearby was Horninglow Secondary Modern School on Harehedge Lane which opened in 1958.Comprehensive
In 1975 it became the Wulfric Comprehensive School when the grammar and secondary modern schools merged, with two separate sites.It became known as the De Ferrers High School in 1985 when it merged with the Forest of Needwood High School in Rolleston on Dove
Rolleston on Dove
Rolleston on Dove, also known simply as Rolleston, is a village in Staffordshire, England near Burton upon Trent. It is probably best known for its one-time resident Sir Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists. His coat of arms are still displayed in the local working men's club...
. Forest of Needwood Secondary School had opened in 1963 as a secondary modern school and was named after Needwood Forest
Needwood Forest
Needwood Forest was a large area of ancient woodland in Staffordshire which was largely lost at the end of the 18th century.-History:Needwood Forest was a chase or royal forest given to Henry III's son Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster, in 1266...
.
James Underwood, a former pupil of "De Ferrers high school" is now an olypic discus thrower.
Partnerships
Like many schools, De Ferrers is in close partnership with its feeder primary schools. Other schools partnered include the Catholic Collège Sacré Coeur in PloermelPloërmel
Ploërmel is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-Character of the town:It is a growing and developing community with a thriving economy and a lively atmosphere. The town is modern rather than romantically mediaeval, but it is clean and attractive and offers a...
.
Controversy
In 2008, a national newspaper reported the history of one of the schools teachers, who had appeared in an adult movie. Movies were allegedly circulating the school through mobile phones.Academic performance
It gets above average results at GCSE, and at A-level, better on both counts than the Abbot Beyne SchoolAbbot Beyne School
The Abbot Beyne School is a comprehensive school in Burton upon Trent in east Staffordshire. It is the successor to Burton Grammar School.-Admissions:...
. It gets slightly better A-level results than the nearby John Taylor High School
John Taylor High School
John Taylor High School is a comprehensive specialist-Science school located in the East Staffordshire village of Barton-under-Needwood, near Burton-on-Trent.Founded in 1957, the school was named in the honour of John Taylor, who grew up in the village....
in Barton-under-Needwood
Barton-under-Needwood
Barton-under-Needwood is a large village in Staffordshire, England, a mile from the A38 between Burton upon Trent and Lichfield. It has a population of about 5000, many of whom commute to Burton or Lichfield or further afield to places such as Derby or Birmingham- Overview :The village has a...
, but lower GCSE results.
Academy Status
In late 2010 de Ferrers was offered the chance to fast-track into becoming an academy, due to its outstanding report from 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 ....
. Although in short term this will have little effect, it will be an important development in the college's future. As well as de Ferrers, John Taylor High School
John Taylor High School
John Taylor High School is a comprehensive specialist-Science school located in the East Staffordshire village of Barton-under-Needwood, near Burton-on-Trent.Founded in 1957, the school was named in the honour of John Taylor, who grew up in the village....
were also offered the chance to become an academy and have accepted.
Dovecliff Grammar School
- Chris Simpkins, Director General since 2007 of The Royal British LegionThe Royal British LegionThe Royal British Legion , sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.-History:The British Legion was...
, and Chief Executive from 1988-2003 of South Holland District CouncilSouth Holland, LincolnshireSouth Holland is a local government district of Lincolnshire. The district council is based in Spalding.It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the Spalding urban district with East Elloe Rural District and Spalding Rural District...