History
The school opened on its present site in 1966, with construction started in 1964. It took its name after one of the early townships of Grantham - Spittlegate, Houghton, and Walton. It was known as Walton Girls' County Secondary School and was the third purpose-built new secondary school to open in Grantham. Walton was formerly the Girls' Central School on Agnes Street, off Castlegate. The equivalent Boys' Central School became the co-educational Central School at Manthorpe, in 1978. The former Girls' Central School building, between Agnes Street and Castlegate, became the Stepping Stones Nursery, an annex of Grantham College. The Girls' Central School was not a secondary modern school, and required a good result in the eleven-plus exam to be admitted. It was similar to aSixth form
The school had initially had a small sixth form, for under 20 girls, teaching Art, English and Biology at A level. A sixth form building, incorporating a theatre, was officially opened in June 2010.Headteachers
Previous head teachers include Rosalind Gulson OBE. She received her OBE in the 2006 New Year Honours. * Rosalind Gulson OBE 1983-2011 * Marian Isaac (1917-2005) 1969-83School site
Facilities, on a single site, include a sports field. Additions to the original school building include a Modern Foreign Language block, a maths block of two classrooms, a suite of four maths classrooms and a design technology laboratory , a suite of four specialist Science laboratories, a purpose built Performing Arts studio and PE changing rooms.Curriculum
The curriculum at Key Stage 3 for 11- to 14-year-old pupils covers the National Curriculum subjects. For English, Mathematics and Science pupils are taught in ability groups, as is French in Year 8 and Year 9. Ability groups are reviewed annually and changes are made in each pupil's best interest following a review of her work. Design Technology includes separate courses in Food. Art includes disciplines of Drawing and Painting, and Textiles. Walton's course of study for 14- to 16-year-olds at Key Stage 4 has a number of General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCSE examination subjects which have to be taken by all: English (including English Literature), Mathematics, Science, Citizenship, Religious Studies and ICT. Pupils also take core Physical Education and Careers Education, which are not examined. The pupils also choose other subjects to add to this core. English, Mathematics and Science are taught in ability groups; all other subjects are taught to mixed ability groups. Subjects vary slightly from year to year. The Sixth Form teaches both Business and Technology Education Council, BTEC and GCE Advanced Level, GCE 'A' Level subjects, some of which run in collaboration with the town's grammar schools.Extra-curricular activities
Pupils take musical and artistic activities, sport, where they compete with local regional teams, and participate in a Maths Challenge, Young Enterprise scheme, public speaking and citizenship events. Visits at home and abroad help Languages, History and PE study.Academic performance
Walton Academy, like most schools, performs better academically at GCSE than many comparable coeducational schools. The school gains GCSE results better than most comprehensive schools in Lincolnshire, and is only surpassed some comprehensives in rural areas.References
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