Development
Over the last ten years the school has grown due to the growth of Newport, the school went from 800 to 1,300 pupils and has had to expand and modernise the building. The first large piece of building work was in 1999 when it was decided to expand the music department, by building a new complex fitted with art gallery, large music rooms, small rooms for 'one to one' development, a theatre and external theatre, plus a recording studio. With the new pupils, the school received additional funding from the government, which the school decided to spend developing the English studies, English department, by building a new block made up of five new classrooms, this development went alongside the new gym and sports hall which was built next to the Army Cadet Force hut. The school was awarded a 'good' Ofsted report in March 2013. The school has built a reputation for its music and its Concert Band and Big Band have won numerous awards and competed in national and international competitions. They consistently win the top awards at the national concert band festivals.Further plans
In March 2014 construction work started behind the current main building of a new teaching block which has replaced a number of the current classrooms, which completed for the start of term in September 2015. This was funded through the UK government's Building Schools for the Future programme.New school building
The new school building, which lies behind the concurrent building, was completed in June 2015. The building is modern, Contemporary architecture, contemporary and much more suited to the greater supply of pupils. The vast central space of the building is open plan and it connects directly to the (original) English block, now the Maths block. Within the new building is a library, unisex toilets and approximately 30 new classrooms: including a design and technology block, a large meeting room, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, STEM and COMMS classrooms and various Information and communication technologies, ICT suites throughout the building.Notable former pupils
*Ricky Bailey - professional rugby league footballer for St Helens R.F.C., St. Helens *Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich MP), Shaun Bailey- Member of Parliament for West Bromwich West *David Johnson (footballer, born 1976), David Johnson - Former Jamaica national football team, Jamaica, Ipswich Town F.C., Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest F.C., Nottingham Forest footballer *Philip Oliver (cricketer), Philip Oliver - English cricketer for Shropshire County Cricket Club, Shropshire, Staffordshire County Cricket Club, Staffordshire and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Warwickshire. *David Pallett - English Darts Player *Adam Proudlock - Former Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., Wolves, Ipswich Town F.C., Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest F.C., Nottingham Forest footballer *James Sutton (actor), James Sutton - TV actor best known for starring in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale *Jason Weaver (cricketer), Jason Weaver - English cricketer for Shropshire''Shropshire Cricketers 1844-1898'', p.39.References
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