Consett Academy is a secondary

academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

school in Consett, the result of a merger between Consett Community Sports College and Moorside Community Technology College.

History

Consett Community Sports College

Consett Community Sports College was in the Blackhill area of Consett. The site had originally been Consett Grammar School. At the time of closure Consett Community Sports College had a capacity of 985. The last head was Christine Parker. In 2006 it had 750 pupils. The school had been previously known as Blackfyne Comprehensive School. In 1970 Blackfyne had 650 pupils and was described as a "Mixed Grammar Technical type".

Moorside Community Technology College

Moorside Community Technology College was in the Moorside area of Consett. It was opened in 1959 as Moorside Secondary Modern School; the head at that time was W. Ellison. At the time of closure the school's capacity was 600. Based on the 2007 GCSE results, it was categorised as a failing school. The following year its GCSE results made it the second most improved school in the country.

Consett Academy

The academy was originally planned to be funded under

Building Schools for the Future Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was the name given to the British government's investment programme in secondary school buildings in England in the 2000s. The programme was ambitious in its costs, timescales and objectives, with politicia ...

(BSF), but plans were delayed with the cancellation of BSF. In 2010 an

Early Day motion In the Westminster parliamentary system, an early day motion (EDM) is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by members of Parliament that formally calls for debate "on an early day". In practice, they are rarely debated in the House a ...

called on the government to "release the funding for the much-wanted and prepared-for academy school for the area, putting an end to the anxious wait of all concerned". The school was sponsored as an academy by New College Durham and Durham County Council. New College Durham is also the academy sponsor for

North Durham Academy North Durham Academy is a secondary school with Academy (English school), academy status based in Stanley, County Durham, Stanley in County Durham, England. The school was formed in September 2011, when Greencroft Business and Enterprise Commun ...

. Consett Academy opened in January 2012, initially across the two sites of its predecessor schools. In September 2015 the school moved to purpose-built buildings on Consett's former football ground, co-located with a new city leisure centre.

Academic results

In 2010, 57% of Year 11 pupils at Consett Community Sports College and 63% of those at Moorside Community College attained five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and mathematics. In 2017, 24% of Year 11 pupils attained Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, compared to the Durham local authority average of 35% and the national average of 40%. The average

A level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational au ...

points score for sixth-form pupils in 2017 was 32, in line with the local authority and national averages. The percentage of Consett Academy sixth-formers going on to university in 2017 was 79%, compared to 50% in the local authority and 51% nationally.

Ofsted judgements

At the closure of the preceding schools, Consett Community Sports College had been judged Satisfactory and Moorside Community Technology College had been judged Good. Blackfyne Community School, the predecessor of Consett Community Sports College, had last been inspected in 2004 and judged Good. Consett Academy was first inspected in 2013 and judged to Require Improvement. It was inspected again in 2016 and judged Good.

School uniform

There was controversy in 2016 about the school's decision temporarily to exclude pupils for not wearing the correct uniform.

Notable pupils and staff

Consett Grammar School

Alun Armstrong Alan Armstrong, known professionally as Alun Armstrong, is an English actor. He grew up in County Durham in North East England, and first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began ...

, actor *

Christopher Lowson Christopher "Chris" Lowson (born 3 February 1953) is a retired British Anglican bishop. He served as Bishop of Lincoln, 2011–2021. Education and ordination Lowson was educated at Newcastle Cathedral School, Consett Grammar School and King ...

, bishop *

Sheila Mackie Sheila Gertrude Mackie (1928-2010) was an English artist, illustrator and teacher from Consett, County Durham. She was born in Chester-le-Street, and studied art at King's College in Newcastle (now Newcastle University). She taught art at Cons ...

, art teacher at the school; artist

Blackfyne Comprehensive School

Paul Collingwood Paul David Collingwood (born 26 May 1976) is an English cricket coach and former player, who played in all three formats of the game internationally for England. He played for Durham County Cricket Club and was the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 winn ...

, cricketer *

Denise Welch Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in ''Coronation Street'' (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2010), and ...

, actor

Consett Community Sports College

References

{{authority control Academies in County Durham Secondary schools in County Durham 2012 establishments in England Consett