Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School
Encyclopedia
Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School
is a comprehensive school
in the town of Birtley
in the Gateshead
area of Tyne and Wear
, England
, which has just over 1,500 students. It was first opened to pupils in the early 1970s and was rebuilt in September 2007. The new building was constructed by McAlpine
. The school is a specialist Arts College
, with a reputation for excellence in the visual
and performing arts
, and was awarded with a 'Good' (level 3) Ofsted
report in 2009., scoring lower in assessments, tackling weaknesses and community cohesion. However, only a year later in 2010, the school was listed by The Independent
as one of the top 10 comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom
for overall achievement. It is no surprise that pupils from nearby primary and junior schools, such as nearby Ouston, County Durham
endeavour to continue their education at Lord Lawson.
, an influential British
trade unionist and Labour
politician, serving as Secretary of State for War
during the 1940s. Consequently, the school has been associated with left-wing politics, particularly relating to its connections to the mining industry and trade unionism, as well as Lawson's refusal to join Ramsay Macdonald's
National Government
due to his reluctance to work alongside Conservatives
. The school motto, "each other...and our dreams", is a quotation from Lawson's autobiography, A Man's Life.
The houseblocks are named after prominent areas in Birtley and the wider North East. During the 1980s, the Houses were named after notable people from the history of the area surrounding Lord Lawson:
was described as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, with a 99% pass rate at A Level. The sixth form is led by a Head of Sixth Form (who also serves as Director of Post-16 Education) and a Deputy Head of Sixth Form, and sixth form students elect a Head Boy and Head Girl. Occasionally, a Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl are elected, but more often these positions are awarded to candidates who poll second in the Head Boy and Head Girl elections. At the end of Year 13, a leaver's ball
is traditionally held at Lumley Castle
, which is attended by both pupils and staff.
Chris Felton, English radio presenter and producer, currently working for Metro Radio
CFM Radio
and the Magic Network.
Community school
The term "community school" refers to types of publicly funded school in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to a school that serves as both an educational institution and a centre of community life. A community school is both a place and a...
is a 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 the town of Birtley
Birtley, Tyne and Wear
Birtley is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is situated to the south of Gateshead town and is physically linked to Chester-le-Street across the County boundary in County Durham. Until 1974, Birtley and the adjoining areas of Barley Mow, Vigo and...
in the 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...
area of Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, 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...
, which has just over 1,500 students. It was first opened to pupils in the early 1970s and was rebuilt in September 2007. The new building was constructed by McAlpine
Sir Robert McAlpine
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. is a private British company headquartered in London. It carries out engineering and construction for the oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, nuclear, pharmaceutical, defence, chemical, water and mining industries.-History:...
. The school is a specialist Arts College
Arts College
Arts Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, the performing, visual and/or media arts...
, with a reputation for excellence in the visual
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
and performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, and was awarded with a 'Good' (level 3) 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 in 2009., scoring lower in assessments, tackling weaknesses and community cohesion. However, only a year later in 2010, the school was listed by The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
as one of the top 10 comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for overall achievement. It is no surprise that pupils from nearby primary and junior schools, such as nearby Ouston, County Durham
Ouston, County Durham
Ouston is a village in County Durham, approximately 5 miles to the south-west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England...
endeavour to continue their education at Lord Lawson.
Jack Lawson
The school is named in honour of Jack LawsonJack Lawson
John James "Jack" Lawson, 1st Baron Lawson PC , was a British trade unionist and a Labour politician. A miner and later Member of Parliament in County Durham, he served in the governments of Ramsay MacDonald and Clement Attlee.-Background:Lawson was born in the port town of Whitehaven, Cumberland,...
, an influential British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
trade unionist and Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician, serving as Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
during the 1940s. Consequently, the school has been associated with left-wing politics, particularly relating to its connections to the mining industry and trade unionism, as well as Lawson's refusal to join Ramsay Macdonald's
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
National Government
Second National Government 1931–1935
The United Kingdom's National Government was composed of members of the following parties:*National Labour*Conservative Party*Liberal Party*Liberal National Party...
due to his reluctance to work alongside Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. The school motto, "each other...and our dreams", is a quotation from Lawson's autobiography, A Man's Life.
School Houses
The school is broken up into four house-blocks for years 7-11, named after areas in the local Birtley community. They are all assigned their own colour, community space, and have developed various traditions and reputations over time. Each house-block is led by a Head of House and a Deputy Head of House, with student selecting their own Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects.The houseblocks are named after prominent areas in Birtley and the wider North East. During the 1980s, the Houses were named after notable people from the history of the area surrounding Lord Lawson:
- Brookside (formerly Hepburn and Gray)
- Fleet (formerly Collingwood and Bede)
- Talbot (formerly Rutherford and Grainger)
- Grove (formerly Bewick and Stephenson)
Sixth Form
The sixth formSixth 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,...
was described as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, with a 99% pass rate at A Level. The sixth form is led by a Head of Sixth Form (who also serves as Director of Post-16 Education) and a Deputy Head of Sixth Form, and sixth form students elect a Head Boy and Head Girl. Occasionally, a Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl are elected, but more often these positions are awarded to candidates who poll second in the Head Boy and Head Girl elections. At the end of Year 13, a leaver's ball
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
is traditionally held at Lumley Castle
Lumley Castle
Lumley Castle is a 14th century quadrangular castle at Chester-le-Street in the North of England, near to the city of Durham and a property of the Earl of Scarbrough. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
, which is attended by both pupils and staff.
Notable past students
- Bryan RobsonBryan RobsonBryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
, English footballer, and former captain of national team - Gary MadineGary MadineGary Lee Madine is an English footballer who plays for Sheffield Wednesday as a striker.He began his career with Carlisle United, where he made his first team debut in 2007. He was sent out on loan in 2009, first with Rochdale and then Coventry City before joining Chesterfield in 2010 on loan...
, English footballer, currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday*
Chris Felton, English radio presenter and producer, currently working for Metro Radio
Metro Radio
Metro Radio is an independent local radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne and broadcasting to Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland. The station's output is principally contemporary pop and dance music...
CFM Radio
CFM Radio
CFM Radio is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Northern & Central Cumbria and the southern tip of Scotland, with transmitters in Carlisle, Penrith and West Cumbria. Its musical output is popular hits of all genres, with mostly today's hits being featured...
and the Magic Network.
External links
- Official school website
- Ofsted Report – Inspected October 2006
- http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/%28id%29/113555/%28as%29/108403_337067.pdf- 2009 inspection