Thomas A Becket Middle School
Encyclopedia
Thomas A Becket Middle School is a maintained middle school
for pupils aged 8 to 12. It currently caters for around 780 pupils. It is the largest middle-deemed-primary school in the United Kingdom
in terms of pupils numbers.
The school is located in the Tarring
area of Worthing
, West Sussex
, middle
and High schools. The Thomas A Becket Primary School had previously opened in 1964.
The school is named for the former Archbishop of Canterbury
, Thomas Becket, linking to several local stories that the archbishop
once visited the town.
The school is currently housed in the buildings of a former boys' secondary school.
It is now among the last remaining 8-12 middle schools in England, as most local authorities have abolished the 8-12 middle school (and 5-8 first school) system since the mid 1980s.
The school remains over-subscribed leading the local education authority
to review the catchment area with effect from September 2007.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
for pupils aged 8 to 12. It currently caters for around 780 pupils. It is the largest middle-deemed-primary school in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in terms of pupils numbers.
The school is located in the Tarring
Tarring, West Sussex
West Tarring is a neighbourhood of the Borough of Worthing in West Sussex, England. It lies on the A2031 road northwest of the town centre. It is officially called West Tarring or, less commonly, Tarring Peverell, to differentiate it from Tarring Neville near Lewes, but is usually called just...
area of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
History
Thomas A Becket Middle School opened in 1985 following the merger of two smaller primary schools. At the same time, schools across the borough of Worthing changed to a three-tier system of education, including firstFirst School
First school and lower school are terms used in some areas of the United Kingdom to describe the first stage of primary education. Some English Local Education Authorities have introduced First Schools since the 1960s...
, middle
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and High schools. The Thomas A Becket Primary School had previously opened in 1964.
The school is named for the former Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Thomas Becket, linking to several local stories that the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
once visited the town.
The school is currently housed in the buildings of a former boys' secondary school.
It is now among the last remaining 8-12 middle schools in England, as most local authorities have abolished the 8-12 middle school (and 5-8 first school) system since the mid 1980s.
Organisation
Thomas A Becket Middle School has a recommended capacity of 720 pupils. However, over-subscription in recent years has led to intakes of around 192 children each year, forming 6 classes in each year group. In previous years, the school has catered for 7 class groups in one year of entry.The school remains over-subscribed leading the local education authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
to review the catchment area with effect from September 2007.