Emmanuel City Technology College
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel College is a secondary school
based in Gateshead
, England
. It was founded in 1990 as a City Technology College
, i.e. a secondary school which is partly funded by donations from business donors who remain involved in management of the college. Emmanuel now instructs up to 1,250 students aged between 11 and 19, and has over 120 staff working on the purpose-built site. It is part of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation
and in each of its four Ofsted inspections it has achieved a status of "Outstanding School".
Students come from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds but predominantly from the inner-city areas within Gateshead
and Central and West Newcastle upon Tyne
.
in 2002 as achieving "consistently outstanding academic results", having received a "glowing" Ofsted
report.
By law, the school must admit pupils of mixed ability, according to a normal distribution representative of the whole population. In common with other City Technology Colleges, Emmanuel College uses non-verbal reasoning tests set and marked by the National Foundation for Educational Research
, a leading independent research organisation, to assess general intelligence, as opposed to prowess in literacy or mathematics. After marking, the NFER places test results into nine separate categories, and informs the school how many are to be taken from each category.
Another condition is that two thirds of places are given to students considered to be from the most socio-economically deprived wards within its catchment area
, with the other third coming from other areas of the catchment area, ensuring a mix not only academically but socially too.
In terms of Sixth Form
admission, the reduced number of places available (130) are first offered to the school's own Year 11
students, but others are invited to apply for places should any become available.
and had allowed its hall to be rented by Answers in Genesis
, an organisation which promotes such views. This led to allegations by Richard Dawkins
, John Polkinghorne
, and others in 2002 that the school taught creationism in science lessons.
However, after re-inspecting the material used to teach science at Emmanuel College, Ofsted
decided that the matter did not need to be pursued further.
The next Ofsted
inspection in 2006 described the school as 'Outstanding' and found no problem with its science provision.
Some allegations centred on the school's Head of Science Steven Layfield who had in 2000, prior to his taking up the post, publicly advocated the teaching of Intelligent Design
in schools. Layfield was at some point a director of creationist body Truth in Science
, but resigned from its board in 2006 to underscore the separation between his private views and the school's teaching of science.
Concerns have also been expressed that students may be made to listen to Christian beliefs to the exclusion of other views on religion. However, other faiths are also studied in Religious Education
, a compulsory subject for each student up to GCSE, mainly Judaism
and Islam
which can be studied through the "largely biblically based" syllabus.
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...
based in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, 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...
. It was founded in 1990 as a City Technology College
City Technology College
In England, a City Technology College is a state-funded all-ability secondary school that charges no fees but is independent of local authority control, being overseen directly by the Department for Education....
, i.e. a secondary school which is partly funded by donations from business donors who remain involved in management of the college. Emmanuel now instructs up to 1,250 students aged between 11 and 19, and has over 120 staff working on the purpose-built site. It is part of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation
Emmanuel Schools Foundation
The Emmanuel Schools Foundation is a charitable trust which has been involved in education since 1989.ESF sponsored four schools: Emmanuel City Technology College in Gateshead , The King's Academy in Middlesbrough , Trinity Academy in Thorne, Doncaster and Bede Academy in Blyth, Northumberland...
and in each of its four Ofsted inspections it has achieved a status of "Outstanding School".
Students come from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds but predominantly from the inner-city areas within Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
and Central and West Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
Intake policy
The college was described by The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in 2002 as achieving "consistently outstanding academic results", having received a "glowing" Ofsted
Ofsted
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 ....
report.
By law, the school must admit pupils of mixed ability, according to a normal distribution representative of the whole population. In common with other City Technology Colleges, Emmanuel College uses non-verbal reasoning tests set and marked by the National Foundation for Educational Research
National Foundation for Educational Research
The National Foundation for Educational Research was founded in 1946 as a centre for educational research and development in England and Wales. NFER's head office is located at 'The Mere' in Slough, Berkshire, England...
, a leading independent research organisation, to assess general intelligence, as opposed to prowess in literacy or mathematics. After marking, the NFER places test results into nine separate categories, and informs the school how many are to be taken from each category.
Another condition is that two thirds of places are given to students considered to be from the most socio-economically deprived wards within its catchment area
Catchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
, with the other third coming from other areas of the catchment area, ensuring a mix not only academically but socially too.
In terms of Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
admission, the reduced number of places available (130) are first offered to the school's own Year 11
Year Eleven
Year Eleven is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the eleventh year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between fifteen and seventeen....
students, but others are invited to apply for places should any become available.
Controversy
The school was at the centre of a storm of protests from scientists and educationalists when it was revealed that some members of the management team, including both the principal and the head of science, were sympathetic to Young Earth creationismYoung Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
and had allowed its hall to be rented by Answers in Genesis
Answers in Genesis
Answers in Genesis is a non-profit Christian apologetics ministry with a particular focus on supporting Young Earth creationism and a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The organization has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, an organisation which promotes such views. This led to allegations by Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
, John Polkinghorne
John Polkinghorne
John Charlton Polkinghorne KBE FRS is an English theoretical physicist, theologian, writer, and Anglican priest. He was professor of Mathematical physics at the University of Cambridge from 1968 to 1979, when he resigned his chair to study for the priesthood, becoming an ordained Anglican priest...
, and others in 2002 that the school taught creationism in science lessons.
However, after re-inspecting the material used to teach science at Emmanuel College, Ofsted
Ofsted
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 ....
decided that the matter did not need to be pursued further.
The next Ofsted
Ofsted
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 in 2006 described the school as 'Outstanding' and found no problem with its science provision.
Some allegations centred on the school's Head of Science Steven Layfield who had in 2000, prior to his taking up the post, publicly advocated the teaching of Intelligent Design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
in schools. Layfield was at some point a director of creationist body Truth in Science
Truth in Science
Truth in Science is a United Kingdom-based creationist organization which promotes the Discovery Institute's "Teach the Controversy" campaign. It uses this strategy to try to get intelligent design taught alongside evolution in school science lessons...
, but resigned from its board in 2006 to underscore the separation between his private views and the school's teaching of science.
Concerns have also been expressed that students may be made to listen to Christian beliefs to the exclusion of other views on religion. However, other faiths are also studied in Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
, a compulsory subject for each student up to GCSE, mainly Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
which can be studied through the "largely biblically based" syllabus.