De Aston School
Encyclopedia
De Aston School is a voluntary controlled
, mixed comprehensive school
in Market Rasen
, Lincolnshire
, England
with a sixth form college and boarding house. The school has a broad Christian ethos but accommodates those of other faiths or no faith.
. The school provides boarding accommodation for around 80 students, many of whom come from abroad. De Aston is a specialist school
in mathematics and computing
. The De Aston Sports Centre is shared with the school.
The school magazine is called the Inside Story. It is situated in the east of the town on Willingham Road (A631
).
, as part of a legal settlement following a court case involving funds from the medieval charity of Thomas De Aston, a 13th-century monk. Until recently, the school's Foundation Governors also owned the Chapel at the site of the charity's Almshouses at Spital on the Street, a few miles away to the west.
The school's headmaster originally had his own house on the school site. The Victorian Gothic red brick house was built in 1863 and was designated as a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
in 1984. As a grammar school it was administered by the Lindsey Education Committee, based in Lincoln, and became co-educational in 1971.
, Ellenor Beighton, head teacher
, spoke out against the current funding system for schools. Then in July 2001 Former Headmaster Anthony Neal disagreed with School Standards Minister Stephen Timms
over the benefits of specialist schools saying that they create a two-tier system. Homework was being publicly discussed in December 2001 in the wake of Cherie Blair
's request to the Ministry of Defence
for information to help with her son's homework. Neal commented that homework was essential and central to the fact that standards were rising.
Police apologised to the school, in November 2006, after a computer error wrongly put it at the top of a national table for the number of police call-outs.
In March 2011 the school became an academy, although its name has been kept.
rating the school Good, point two on a four point scale, reported that "This is a good school, including the overall effectiveness of the sixth form. Under the inspirational leadership of the headteacher and the governing body, ably supported by senior leaders, the school is rapidly improving and building on its strengths successfully. Their expertise in analysing data and managing interventions to deal with underachievement reflects their exceptional drive to embed ambition and drive improvement. The impact is clearly evident in the improvement of students' achievement over recent years and the significant rise in standards. The proportion of five good passes at GCSE including English and mathematics has been average, but has been improving over the last three years."
In 2009 88 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE
. The school was placed in the top 200 most improved schools nationally.
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
, mixed comprehensive school
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 Market Rasen
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, 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...
with a sixth form college and boarding house. The school has a broad Christian ethos but accommodates those of other faiths or no faith.
Admissions
It has approximately 1,050 pupilsStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
. The school provides boarding accommodation for around 80 students, many of whom come from abroad. De Aston is a specialist school
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
in mathematics and computing
Mathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing Colleges were introduced in England in 2002 as part of the Government's Specialist Schools Programme which was designed to raise standards in secondary education. Specialist schools focus specifically on their chosen specialism but must also meet the requirements of the...
. The De Aston Sports Centre is shared with the school.
The school magazine is called the Inside Story. It is situated in the east of the town on Willingham Road (A631
A631 road
The A631 is a road running from Sheffield, South Yorkshire to Louth, Lincolnshire in England. It passes through the counties of South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The road has many towns on its route including Rotherham, Maltby, Gainsborough and Market Rasen. It is mostly single...
).
Grammar school
De Aston School was founded in 1863 as a small grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, as part of a legal settlement following a court case involving funds from the medieval charity of Thomas De Aston, a 13th-century monk. Until recently, the school's Foundation Governors also owned the Chapel at the site of the charity's Almshouses at Spital on the Street, a few miles away to the west.
The school's headmaster originally had his own house on the school site. The Victorian Gothic red brick house was built in 1863 and was designated as a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
in 1984. As a grammar school it was administered by the Lindsey Education Committee, based in Lincoln, and became co-educational in 1971.
Comprehensive
It became a comprehensive in 1974 (also when Lincoln became comprehensive), amalgamating with Market Rasen Secondary Modern School on Kiln Well Road. At the same time, many new buildings were opened.Events
In March 2001, at the Secondary Heads' Association's conference in NewportNewport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Ellenor Beighton, head teacher
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
, spoke out against the current funding system for schools. Then in July 2001 Former Headmaster Anthony Neal disagreed with School Standards Minister Stephen Timms
Stephen Timms
Stephen Creswell Timms is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for East Ham since 1994. He is a former Cabinet Minister having served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2006 to 2007...
over the benefits of specialist schools saying that they create a two-tier system. Homework was being publicly discussed in December 2001 in the wake of Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
's request to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
for information to help with her son's homework. Neal commented that homework was essential and central to the fact that standards were rising.
Police apologised to the school, in November 2006, after a computer error wrongly put it at the top of a national table for the number of police call-outs.
In March 2011 the school became an academy, although its name has been kept.
Academic standards
After the November 2009 inspection 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 ....
rating the school Good, point two on a four point scale, reported that "This is a good school, including the overall effectiveness of the sixth form. Under the inspirational leadership of the headteacher and the governing body, ably supported by senior leaders, the school is rapidly improving and building on its strengths successfully. Their expertise in analysing data and managing interventions to deal with underachievement reflects their exceptional drive to embed ambition and drive improvement. The impact is clearly evident in the improvement of students' achievement over recent years and the significant rise in standards. The proportion of five good passes at GCSE including English and mathematics has been average, but has been improving over the last three years."
In 2009 88 per cent of students achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE
General 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...
. The school was placed in the top 200 most improved schools nationally.
Notable alumni
- Sir David Chadwick, Secretary from 1927-46 of the Imperial Economic Committee
- Bruce Barrymore HalpennyBruce Barrymore HalpennyBruce Barrymore Halpenny is a widely respected English military historian and author, specialising in airfields and aircraft, as well as ghost stories and mysteries. He is also a broadcaster and games inventor.-Parents:...
- military historian and author - Sir Walter LiddallWalter LiddallWalter Sydney Liddall was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Lincoln from 1931 to 1945.Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, he died aged 78 in Scunthorpe.- External links :...
CBE, Conservative MP from 1931-45 for LincolnLincoln (UK Parliament constituency)Lincoln is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.... - Michael Oglesby, High Sheriff of Greater ManchesterHigh Sheriff of Greater ManchesterThe Office of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester is the ceremonial position of High Sheriff appointed to Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. The appointment is made by the British monarch, in their capacity as Duke of Lancaster, by pricking the Lites...
from 2007-8 - John Scupham OBE, Controller of Educational Broadcasting from 1963-5 of the BBC
- Rod TempertonRod TempertonRodney Lynn "Rod" Temperton is an English songwriter, record producer and musician most famous for writing a number of songs performed by Michael Jackson, including the title track of Jackson's Thriller, the biggest-selling album of all time.-Biography:As Temperton remembers music was in his bones...
- songwriter of ThrillerThriller (song)"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records... - Sir Richard Wakerley, barrister
- Edward Welbourne, Master of Emmanuel College Cambridge from 1951-64
- John Graham WallaceJohn Graham WallaceJohn Graham Wallace was born in Felixstowe and grew up in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. He is an author and illustrator of children's picture books.- Early life :...
, illustrator - Prof Charles Wilson CBE, Professor of Modern History from 1965-79 at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
- Gordon White, Baron White of HullGordon White, Baron White of HullGordon Lindsay White, Baron White of Hull, KBE died in Los Angeles aged 72. He left most of his £70m fortune to his son Lucas...
, co-founder of Hanson plcHanson plcHanson plc is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.-History:Hanson...
Further reading
- Joan Harrop. A history of the development of De Aston School, Market Rasen. Middle Rasen: J Harrop, 1991.