Littlehampton Community School
Encyclopedia
The Littlehampton Community School (normally abbreviated to LCS) was a large, mixed gender community comprehensive school located at the edge of Littlehampton
, in West Sussex
, England
, and was the main secondary school
in the Littlehampton area. The school was one of the largest secondary schools in both West Sussex and England, and was surrounded by housing, providing easy access for local children. The school closed on 31 August 2009, being replaced by The Littlehampton Academy
.
in the late 1960s after the distribution of Circular 10/65
.
In its final years of existence, largely due to the ageing nature of the school, many new buildings were built, including a separate sixth-form college, a specialist business and enterprise centre, and a 'Maths Village'. The latter building, which was originally opened in December 2007, was subject to widespread ridicule within the school, originally due to its rushed construction following the discovery of asbestos in the original maths block, first built more than seventy years earlier as a military hospital in World War 2. The building was then, just days after its opening, raided by thieves who stole a multimedia projector. The library and science block meanwhile were also relatively modern in comparison to the rest of the school, being rebuilt in 1991 following a devastating arson attack on the school.
(Red), Chestnut
(Yellow) and Sycamore
(Blue), (the initials subsequently spelling 'LCS')). The main difference in the latter system was the establishment of five 'Head of Year' posts. The school's uniform at the time of closure was strongly based on the learning teams system, with students wearing sweatshirts and polo shirts in their own team colour (Larch - Red; Chestnut - Yellow; Sycamore - Blue). In addition to this, all students were required to wear smart black trousers and shoes. The school made use of the 'learning teams' in the annual Athletics Morning which was held on the final day of each academic year, where the respective teams from all five years groups joined together to compete.
students in 2008 achieved 5 A*-C grades, including English and Maths, representing a 1% decrease compared to 2007. At Key Stage 5
, 2008 saw the school achieve an A/AS-Level points rating of 649.3, a significant improvement on previous years.
inspection was carried out in February 2008, with the school as a whole receiving a 'satisfactory' grading. However, the sixth-form college received the higher grade of 'good', whereas the school was deemed to be 'inadequate' in terms of students' behaviour and attendance. The report saw very little improvement from the school's penultimate inspection which was carried out in November 2004, which also saw the school receive a 'satisfactory' grading and the sixth form a 'good' grading.
In a monitoring inspection carried out in March 2009, OFSTED found that the school was making "good progress" in improving following the main inspection in 2008.
, the then owner of The Body Shop
. As a result of this donation, a new building that was built with this money was named 'The Roddick Enterprise Centre' (normally abbreviated to 'REC').
The successful implementation of Business and Enterprise specialism meant that the school often entered teams into national competitions. The most successful of these was the school's entry into the 2005 Yell Challenge, which they won and, as a result, set up a new school radio station called "Revamp Radio". It launched on Tuesday 18 September 2006, with help from Arun District Council Chairman Stephen Haymes and kids TV presenter Dave Benson-Philips.
The school successfully reapplied for, and was subsequently redesignated a Business and Enterprise specialist school in November 2007, following the completion of the schools original four year plan.
in a bid to stamp out cyber-bullying
among teenagers. The school produced a "Bully Buster" advice website. The website was featured on BBC South Today after it received recognition from both the police and its feeder schools.
awards, however by far the most popular was the AS and A2 'A' Level. Most students attended the college for two years, however a limited number of students opted to stay on for a further year in order to attain additional qualifications.
and Woodard Schools
becoming its partners. The DCSF
quickly accepted the submitted 'expressions of interest', and asked LCS to develop a feasibility study, moving the development of an academy much closer.
An early suggestion proposed during the feasibility study was to name the new institution after Dame Anita Roddick, a long time supporter of the school, who had recently died. This suggestion was never taken up by Woodard Schools, who opted for the name 'The Littlehampton Academy'.
The feasibility study saw much opposition to the academy proposals becoming evident, with the National Union of Teachers (NUT)
openly opposing the plans, stating that they were "not impressed" by Woodard's lack of detailed discussions on the proposals, and the number of issues which they claim the school's senior management team refuses to address.
The main consultation event was held on Thursday 13 March 2008, and was open to parents, staff, students and wider members of the community, who could put questions to a panel that included the Headteacher, Chairman of the School Governors, a West Sussex County Council Representative, head of the consultation process and representatives from the Woodard Trust. One of the main concerns raised at the event was the possibility of the Academy becoming a faith-designated establishment, a suggestion widely denied by Woodard. The results of this consultation were largely negative, a reaction that 'surprised' the school. Feedback from the evening showed that seven staff were in favour of academy plans with fifty against, whilst 36 parents said they supported the move, compared to 141 who opposed it.
Despite opposition to the proposal, the government approved the plans for an Academy in September 2008, with West Sussex Council saying they were "confident the academies will enhance educational opportunities". Parents' fears of major changes intensified shortly afterwards when the headteacher, Jayne Wilson, announced she would be leaving the school when LCS closed, with Woodard Schools subsequently announcing that Steve Jewell would become the Academy's principal. The appointment of Jewell led to renewed speculation that the Academy would be a faith designated school, something that Woodard had constantly denied. However, the publication of the academy's prospectus confirmed that the new establishment would indeed be a "Christian designated academy". The prospectus also confirmed that the school would continue in its specialism of Business and Enterprise, whilst also becoming a specialist school in English.
The approval of The Littlehampton Academy
meant that The Littlehampton Community School closed at the end of the 2008/09 academic year, ceasing to exist fully on August 31, 2009.
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
, in 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was the main secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in the Littlehampton area. The school was one of the largest secondary schools in both West Sussex and England, and was surrounded by housing, providing easy access for local children. The school closed on 31 August 2009, being replaced by The Littlehampton Academy
The Littlehampton Academy
The Littlehampton Academy is a large, mixed gender academy, sponsored by Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council, in Littlehampton, West Sussex which opened in September 2009...
.
Establishment
The school opened as Littlehampton Comprehensive School in 1972, following a merger between Andrew Cairns Secondary School for Boys and Maud Allen Secondary Modern School for Girls, brought about following the phasing out of the secondary modern schoolSecondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
in the late 1960s after the distribution of Circular 10/65
Circular 10/65
Circular 10/65 is a Government circular issued in 1965 by the Department of Education and Science requesting Local Education Authorities in England and Wales to begin converting their secondary schools to the Comprehensive System. For most of England and Wales, it marked the abolition of the old...
.
Campus and Buildings
The school was located on a split campus site, named 'Hill Road' and 'Elm Grove' respectively due to their proximity to neighbouring roads. The main 'Hill Road' campus consisted of the English, Science, Humanities, Languages, Core Curriculum, Learning Support, Performance and Physical Education departments, whilst 'Elm Grove' campus was home to the Design Technology department and a disused Maths block. The two campuses were linked by a single pathway, dubbed 'The Flight Path' due to its sheer length which many said resemble an airport runway.In its final years of existence, largely due to the ageing nature of the school, many new buildings were built, including a separate sixth-form college, a specialist business and enterprise centre, and a 'Maths Village'. The latter building, which was originally opened in December 2007, was subject to widespread ridicule within the school, originally due to its rushed construction following the discovery of asbestos in the original maths block, first built more than seventy years earlier as a military hospital in World War 2. The building was then, just days after its opening, raided by thieves who stole a multimedia projector. The library and science block meanwhile were also relatively modern in comparison to the rest of the school, being rebuilt in 1991 following a devastating arson attack on the school.
Student Organisation
In its final years, the school left its historical house system in favour of a year-based system. The house system involved students being sorted into one of five houses (all named after hills located in West Sussex; Amberley, Bignor, Chantry, Highdown and Rackham). In contrast to this, a reorganisation in 2004 saw students being sorted into one of three 'learning teams' (all named after species of trees; LarchLarch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
(Red), Chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
(Yellow) and Sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
(Blue), (the initials subsequently spelling 'LCS')). The main difference in the latter system was the establishment of five 'Head of Year' posts. The school's uniform at the time of closure was strongly based on the learning teams system, with students wearing sweatshirts and polo shirts in their own team colour (Larch - Red; Chestnut - Yellow; Sycamore - Blue). In addition to this, all students were required to wear smart black trousers and shoes. The school made use of the 'learning teams' in the annual Athletics Morning which was held on the final day of each academic year, where the respective teams from all five years groups joined together to compete.
Achievements
Academically, 29% of GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
students in 2008 achieved 5 A*-C grades, including English and Maths, representing a 1% decrease compared to 2007. At Key Stage 5
Key Stage 5
Key Stage 5 is an unofficial label used to describe the two years of post-compulsory education for students aged 16-18, or at sixth form, in the United Kingdom, to align with previous Key Stages as labelled for the National Curriculum....
, 2008 saw the school achieve an A/AS-Level points rating of 649.3, a significant improvement on previous years.
OFSTED
The school's final OFSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
inspection was carried out in February 2008, with the school as a whole receiving a 'satisfactory' grading. However, the sixth-form college received the higher grade of 'good', whereas the school was deemed to be 'inadequate' in terms of students' behaviour and attendance. The report saw very little improvement from the school's penultimate inspection which was carried out in November 2004, which also saw the school receive a 'satisfactory' grading and the sixth form a 'good' grading.
In a monitoring inspection carried out in March 2009, OFSTED found that the school was making "good progress" in improving following the main inspection in 2008.
Specialist Status
In 2003, the school successfully applied to become a Business and Enterprise specialist school. Much of the money that was required was donated by Anita RoddickAnita Roddick
Dame Anita Roddick, DBE was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner, best known as the founder of The Body Shop, a cosmetics company producing and retailing beauty products that shaped ethical consumerism...
, the then owner of The Body Shop
The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
. As a result of this donation, a new building that was built with this money was named 'The Roddick Enterprise Centre' (normally abbreviated to 'REC').
The successful implementation of Business and Enterprise specialism meant that the school often entered teams into national competitions. The most successful of these was the school's entry into the 2005 Yell Challenge, which they won and, as a result, set up a new school radio station called "Revamp Radio". It launched on Tuesday 18 September 2006, with help from Arun District Council Chairman Stephen Haymes and kids TV presenter Dave Benson-Philips.
The school successfully reapplied for, and was subsequently redesignated a Business and Enterprise specialist school in November 2007, following the completion of the schools original four year plan.
Specialist Services
The school provided many specialist services that were targeted to assist the most needy within the school, these included the 'Learn2Learn Centre' and 'Bully Busters'.The Learn2Learn Centre
Formally known as 'The Bridge', the Learn2Learn Centre was a building based in the oldest part of the school. It was set up in the early 2000s to help students with behavioural problems in the classroom. When a student was placed into the centre, they were set tasks in order to help control anger issues and behaviour. Students that complete tasks successfully were rewarded with activity days.'Bully Busters'
The school's pupils worked with Sussex PoliceSussex Police
Sussex Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing East Sussex, West Sussex and City of Brighton and Hove in southern England. Its head office is in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex.-History:...
in a bid to stamp out cyber-bullying
Cyber-bullying
Cyber-bullying is the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it.-Definition:The term...
among teenagers. The school produced a "Bully Buster" advice website. The website was featured on BBC South Today after it received recognition from both the police and its feeder schools.
The Littlehampton College
The school had a separate sixth-form college building which was located within the school grounds, to the west of the main buildings. The college offered students a range of qualifications, including GCSE's and BTECBusiness And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
awards, however by far the most popular was the AS and A2 'A' Level. Most students attended the college for two years, however a limited number of students opted to stay on for a further year in order to attain additional qualifications.
Transition to Academy & Closure
In 2007, the school announced plans to become an academy in partnership with West Sussex County CouncilWest Sussex County Council
West Sussex County Council is the authority that governs the non-metropolitan county of West Sussex. The county also contains 7 district and borough councils, and 159 town, parish and neighbourhood councils. The county council has 71 elected councillors...
and Woodard Schools
Woodard Schools
Woodard Schools is a group of Anglican schools affiliated to the Woodard Corporation which has its origin in the work of Nathaniel Woodard, an Anglo-Catholic clergyman....
becoming its partners. The DCSF
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
quickly accepted the submitted 'expressions of interest', and asked LCS to develop a feasibility study, moving the development of an academy much closer.
An early suggestion proposed during the feasibility study was to name the new institution after Dame Anita Roddick, a long time supporter of the school, who had recently died. This suggestion was never taken up by Woodard Schools, who opted for the name 'The Littlehampton Academy'.
The feasibility study saw much opposition to the academy proposals becoming evident, with the National Union of Teachers (NUT)
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
openly opposing the plans, stating that they were "not impressed" by Woodard's lack of detailed discussions on the proposals, and the number of issues which they claim the school's senior management team refuses to address.
The main consultation event was held on Thursday 13 March 2008, and was open to parents, staff, students and wider members of the community, who could put questions to a panel that included the Headteacher, Chairman of the School Governors, a West Sussex County Council Representative, head of the consultation process and representatives from the Woodard Trust. One of the main concerns raised at the event was the possibility of the Academy becoming a faith-designated establishment, a suggestion widely denied by Woodard. The results of this consultation were largely negative, a reaction that 'surprised' the school. Feedback from the evening showed that seven staff were in favour of academy plans with fifty against, whilst 36 parents said they supported the move, compared to 141 who opposed it.
Despite opposition to the proposal, the government approved the plans for an Academy in September 2008, with West Sussex Council saying they were "confident the academies will enhance educational opportunities". Parents' fears of major changes intensified shortly afterwards when the headteacher, Jayne Wilson, announced she would be leaving the school when LCS closed, with Woodard Schools subsequently announcing that Steve Jewell would become the Academy's principal. The appointment of Jewell led to renewed speculation that the Academy would be a faith designated school, something that Woodard had constantly denied. However, the publication of the academy's prospectus confirmed that the new establishment would indeed be a "Christian designated academy". The prospectus also confirmed that the school would continue in its specialism of Business and Enterprise, whilst also becoming a specialist school in English.
The approval of The Littlehampton Academy
The Littlehampton Academy
The Littlehampton Academy is a large, mixed gender academy, sponsored by Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council, in Littlehampton, West Sussex which opened in September 2009...
meant that The Littlehampton Community School closed at the end of the 2008/09 academic year, ceasing to exist fully on August 31, 2009.
External links
- The Littlehampton Community School Website
- The Littlehampton Academy Prospectus
- OFSTED Report of Inspection in February 2008
- The Littlehampton College Website
- The Littlehampton Community School's Profile from Direct.gov
- DCSF EduBase