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Thorp Academy

Thorp Academy is a large 11–18 secondary Academy in Ryton Tyne & Wear, England. The academy was established in the 19th century by Charles Thorp who went on to found Durham University.[1] The site that Thorp Academy now stands on is the site of the original school established by Charles Thorp. In the early 2010's, Gateshead Council merged Ryton Comprehensive School (the current Thorp Academy site) and Hookergate School in High Spen. With the two schools merging, the school was renamed Charles Thorp Comprehensive School. The school later converted into an academy sponsored by Northern Education Trust and was renamed as Thorp Academy.

NET Thorp Academy
Address
Map
Main Road

Ryton
,
Tyne and Wear
,
NE40 3AH

England
Information
Former nameRyton Comprehensive School, Charles Thorp Comprehensive School
TypeAcademy
MottoOutcomes Focused, Child Centred
FounderCharles Thorp
Local authorityGateshead
TrustNorthern Education Trust
Department for Education URN141185 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of LGCJulie Kelly
PrincipalJoanna Macaulay
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Websitehttps://ta.northerneducationtrust.org/

The academy has demonstrated ongoing academic success and in 2019 attained a Progress 8 score of +0.33 which was in the top 10% of schools in Tyne & Wear and the top 11% of schools in North East England.[2] The school has demonstrated academic excellence in a number of subject areas with the progress made by students in Mathematics and Computer Science in the top 10% nationally.[3] The percentage of students attaining a grade 5 or above in English and Mathematics ranks in the top 25% of schools in England.

The academy has the largest catchment area in Gateshead and has 10 core feeder primary schools. Students come from Ryton, Crawcrook, Clara Vale, Winlaton, Blaydon, Greenside, High Spen, Highfield, Rowlands Gill & Chopwell.[4]

History

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The Thorp School, a Church of England Foundation, was built in 1861. In 1890 there were 200 pupils and 7 teachers. The school name was changed to Ryton Comprehensive School (date unknown). In 2005 there were 1270 pupils with over 200 in the sixth form, and 84 teachers.

Ryton Comprehensive School was threatened with closure as part of a review of secondary education in Gateshead in 2009.[5] It was eventually decided that the school should remain open. The school's rating declined during this time from "good, with outstanding features"[6] to receiving a Notice to Improve in 2011[7] which was removed in March 2012 when the school was judged Satisfactory.[8] The school was judged to have serious deficiencies in September 2013.[8][9]

In 2003/4 the school improved some facilities thanks to a £3 million investment by Gateshead LEA[citation needed] and the Big Lottery Fund.[10] That development saw the construction of an additional sports hall, three new science laboratories, a purpose-built drama studio, a suite of music rooms, enhanced art and graphics areas and new modern foreign language classrooms.[citation needed] More recently[when?] the LA[clarification needed] invested £2 million in a new classroom block housing Learning Support and Art/Media.[citation needed]

The school had a ‘Millennium Centre’ which provides facilities for independent study and a library.[citation needed]

In 2011 Hookergate School in High Spen was closed due to falling numbers, and merged with Ryton Comprehensive.[11] The Hookergate site remained open for the academic year 2011–12 to provide education for years 8, 9 and 11.

The school changed its name to Charles Thorp Comprehensive School[12] in September 2011. The uniform changed from a maroon blazer, blue shirt, blue striped tie and grey trousers to a blue shirt, grey jumper and black trousers.[citation needed]

In 2013, the school announced plans to convert to an academy. The sponsor, Northern Education Trust, was confirmed in 2014. The conversion occurred in September 2014 with the school being renamed Thorp Academy.[13]

The Senior Leadership Team is led by CEO of Northern Education Trust, Rob Tarn, alongside the NET Executive Team, Senior Executive Principal, Michael Robson with support from Associate Executive Principal, Karen Hailes and Executive Principal, Nikki Gibb. The NET Executive Team work closely with Principal, Joanna Macaulay and a number of Vice Principals, Assistant Principals and Associate Assistant Principals.

Thorp Academy Campus

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The academy was rebuilt between 2016 and 2019 by Sir Robert McAlpine as part of the Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Scheme.[14] The academy is made up of three main blocks which are built around a quadrangle.

STEM Block (Name change in progress -EBAAC )

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This building is on the northern part of the academy site and houses the main school dining hall as well as the following departments:-

  • Humanities Department (MFL, History, Geography, has been relocated from LRC)
  • Science Department
  • Design & Technology Department

LRC Block

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This building is on the southern part of the academy site and houses the main school hall, the main reception, senior management suite, library, learning support and pastoral support as well as the following departments:-

  • English Department
  • Mathematics Department (Relocated from STEM)
  • Computer Science Department
  • Performance Department (Drama)

West Wing

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The West Wing was constructed following the merger of Ryton and Hookergate Schools and houses the Sixth Form Centre as well as the following departments:-

  • Performance Department (Music and Physical Education)
  • Art Department

Ofsted

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Ofsted Inspection 2019

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In 2019, Thorp Academy was rated "good" by Ofsted in all areas [15] with inspectors stating that "This is a rapidly improving school. Leaders, including governors, provide strong leadership that is unashamedly focused on improving the life chances of every pupil." Ofsted also noted that "The behaviour of pupils is excellent. Pupils engage in mature conversation with their peers and staff. A positive working atmosphere exists in and around school."[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Charles Thorp (1783 -1862), Archdeacon of Durham and Warden of Durham University | Philanthropy North East".
  2. ^ "Thorp Academy - GOV.UK". 3 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Sign in - FFT ID".
  4. ^ "Admission arrangements".
  5. ^ "Teachers in battle to keep Gateshead school". 14 July 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Ryton Comprehensive School : Ofsted Report". Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Ryton Comprehensive rated as 'inadequate'". 7 April 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Gateshead school told to improve after 'inadequate' rating". 21 October 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Serious weaknesses monitoring inspection of Charles Thorp Comprehensive School". Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Details of grants over £100,000 made during the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Pupils celebrate Hookergate School's closure". 22 July 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  12. ^ "New name for Ryton Comprehensive School" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  13. ^ "Northern Education Trust | Outcomes Focused, Child Centred".
  14. ^ "New STEM centre opens at Thorp Academy". Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Thorp Academy". files.ofsted.gov.uk.
  16. ^ "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". 8 October 2020.
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