Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College
Encyclopedia
Wilsthorpe Community School is a secondary comprehensive school
, in Long Eaton
, Derbyshire
.
School. Neighbouring the school was the Parklands County Secondary Modern School, which became an infants school. During the Eighties it was known as Wilsthorpe Community School and still retains the 'community school' status.
The school gained Business and Enterprise status in 2005. It is currently piloting an Enterprise Award scheme in partnership with the local council, Erewash Borough Council.
The secondary school shares its site with Parklands Infants School and Harrington Junior School, allowing children to stay on the same site from their first year of school all the way to the Sixth Form of approximately 140 students. Also on the same site are Brackenfield Special School and English Martyrs RC Junior School.
Wilsthorpe, along with a number of 'primary partners', is involved in an Independent State School Partnership with nearby Trent College. 'ISSP' is a government-funded initiative.
Wilsthorpe was the first school in the UK to offer facilities for a community policeman on site in 2003.
In 2009 the school opened a new catering facility and installed a new security barrier.
' film "This Is England
" in 2005. The school is the location for the opening/fight sequence in the film.
Wilsthorpe has gained a nation-wide reputation for film-making in recent years, receiving commissions from various organisations, such as Chatsworth House, Derbyshire Constabulary and the National College for School Leadership, to make documentary and training films for them. In 2008, a group of students led 'break-out' sessions at the Tate Britain Education Conference at the Liverpool Tate.
prior to the appointment.
The school has a floodlit astro-turf pitch, named the Bainbridge Astro in memory of a former Head of Sport and Recreation, John Bainbridge.
The Enterprise Centre was opened by the Duke of Devonshire in May 2008.
has been rapidly improving over recent years, having risen by 44% over the past three years, and is the most improved school in Derbyshire (measured over one, two or three years). In 2010 it achieved the best GCSE results in the Derbyshire Local Authority area (91% of students got 5 or more A* - C grades) whilst 59% of students achieved 5 or more A* - C grades including Maths and English. In both these statistics the school achieved the 'best ever' for local schools. Wilsthorpe is part of the Erewash Learning Community and collaborates locally in the Long Eaton Area Partnership (LEAP), with the nearby Friesland and Long Eaton Schools, which enables them collectively to offer a wide range of courses at 16+. The school's Sixth Form is growing and currently exceeds 160. In 2010 76% of A Level grades were A* - C.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, in Long Eaton
Long Eaton
Long Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just north of the River Trent about southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
History
It opened in 1954 as the Wilsthorpe Secondary ModernSecondary 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...
School. Neighbouring the school was the Parklands County Secondary Modern School, which became an infants school. During the Eighties it was known as Wilsthorpe Community School and still retains the 'community school' status.
The school gained Business and Enterprise status in 2005. It is currently piloting an Enterprise Award scheme in partnership with the local council, Erewash Borough Council.
Wilsthorpe, along with a number of 'primary partners', is involved in an Independent State School Partnership with nearby Trent College. 'ISSP' is a government-funded initiative.
Wilsthorpe was the first school in the UK to offer facilities for a community policeman on site in 2003.
In 2009 the school opened a new catering facility and installed a new security barrier.
Film
The school was involved in the filming of Shane MeadowsShane Meadows
Shane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
' film "This Is England
This Is England
-Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst...
" in 2005. The school is the location for the opening/fight sequence in the film.
Wilsthorpe has gained a nation-wide reputation for film-making in recent years, receiving commissions from various organisations, such as Chatsworth House, Derbyshire Constabulary and the National College for School Leadership, to make documentary and training films for them. In 2008, a group of students led 'break-out' sessions at the Tate Britain Education Conference at the Liverpool Tate.
Leadership and Facilities
A new headteacher started at the school in January 2008 when the previous head left to lead The Dukeries College. The new headteacher is Jonathan Crofts, a former teacher at the school, who was Deputy Headteacher at Chellaston SchoolChellaston School
Chellaston Academy, formerly Chellaston Foundation School, is a comprehensive school, technology college and Academy in Chellaston in the Derby area of England, United Kingdom....
prior to the appointment.
The school has a floodlit astro-turf pitch, named the Bainbridge Astro in memory of a former Head of Sport and Recreation, John Bainbridge.
The Enterprise Centre was opened by the Duke of Devonshire in May 2008.
Academic performance
The school's performance at 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...
has been rapidly improving over recent years, having risen by 44% over the past three years, and is the most improved school in Derbyshire (measured over one, two or three years). In 2010 it achieved the best GCSE results in the Derbyshire Local Authority area (91% of students got 5 or more A* - C grades) whilst 59% of students achieved 5 or more A* - C grades including Maths and English. In both these statistics the school achieved the 'best ever' for local schools. Wilsthorpe is part of the Erewash Learning Community and collaborates locally in the Long Eaton Area Partnership (LEAP), with the nearby Friesland and Long Eaton Schools, which enables them collectively to offer a wide range of courses at 16+. The school's Sixth Form is growing and currently exceeds 160. In 2010 76% of A Level grades were A* - C.
Notable Former Staff and Students
- Sir Brian SmedleyBrian SmedleySir Frank Brian Smedley was a High Court judge in the Queen's Bench Division from 1995 to 2000. As a circuit judge, he took charge of the prosecution of the Matrix Churchill trial in 1992.- Early life :...
, Judge, taught here briefly in 1957 - Allan Baker, Wilsthorpe's head was awarded a CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 1977 Queen's Birthday honours for "services to education". - Ian Dunn, stage, film and TV actor
- Lucy KiteLucy KiteLucy Kite is a British journalist, currently working with ITV Central. She is originally from Breaston, Derbyshire,-Broadcasting career:...
, TV presenter - Mark DraperMark DraperMark Draper is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder and represented England at under-21 level. He currently works as the Kit Man at Notts County.-Career:...
, former professional footballer (Aston Villa, Southampton, England U-21) - Lewis McGuganLewis McGuganLewis Shay McGugan is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Championship side Nottingham Forest...
, professional footballer (currently with Nottingham Forest) - Dan WheeldonDan WheeldonDaniel Maurice Wheeldon is an English cricketer. Wheeldon is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium. He was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and was educated at Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College....
, cricketer