Manor Community College
Encyclopedia
The Manor - A Foundation School (formerly Manor Community College) is a small comprehensive school
in North Cambridge
for students aged 11 to 16. In 2007 the school appointed 30 year old Ben Slade
as Principal. Slade was formerly presenter of the cult BBC 1 network children's TV programme, Why Don't You?
.
The school also has a strong partnership with Cambridge Regional College
who currently manage the school's sports and leisure facilities. This partnership was brokered by Ben Slade and former CRC Chief Executive Rick Dearing. This has continued and developed further under the leadership of Anne Constantine.
.The Council split the farm into smallholdings, and the name of one of the smallholders, William Downham, is commemorated in a nearby road called Downham's Lane The school was top of a recent proposal for Building Schools for the Future which would have meant new buildings or significant refurbishment in 2013 but plans were shelved by the Coalition Government in 2010.
The school has seen its results double in the last 4 years under new leadership. In 2007 results were 23% 5 higher grades including English and Maths. These rose to 49% in 2010. At 5 higher grades results rose from 32% in 2007 to 60% in 2010 - a remarkable achievement for the students, staff and parents/carers.
The leadership of the new principal was praised in by OfSTED in 2008 just 9 months after taking up post: "The newly appointed Principal provides clear direction for the work of the school. Since September 2007, he has accurately evaluated its work and set about tackling the areas for support with vigour. He has not flinched from the challenges posed by this and is resolute in his pursuit of improved standards and achievement."
OfSTED also commented that "the changes made are recognised by parents, the vast majority of whom are supportive of the school's work. A considerable number commented on the improvements, including the renewed focus on improving standards. The comment, 'the effort of staff and pupils to make a dramatic improvement is working', is typical."
, Cambridgeshire County Council
, Cambridgeshire Constabulary
, an Associate Primary School Cluster, Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies
, Ridgeons Group Ltd and Kings Hedges Neighbourhood Partnership.
The Manor was designated as a specialist performing arts college by the DCSF in 2007 and they were successfully re-designated by the DfE in 2010. They were also awarded ArtsMark Gold by the Arts Council for England and the Prince's Teaching Institute Award for English by HRH Prince of Wales in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
OfSTED returned to re-inspect the school in September 2010. The significant and substantial improvements and "the excellent leadership of the headteacher" were acknowledged in the OfSTED inspection in September 2010. This time HMI concluded that The Manor is "a good school" with "outstanding capacity to make further improvements". This is a significant turn around for the once troubled school.
In June 2011, Slade announced Julie Spence
OBE, QPM, DL former Chief Constable and gender champion as Patron of the school. This is Mrs Spence' first Cambridgeshire-based public role.
In September 2011, The Manor, under Slade's leadership, will be oversubscribed for the first time in 25 years.
The reputation of the school both in the press and in the local and regional community has improved significantly since 2007. He is not afraid to speak out for students. staff or the local community.
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 North Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
for students aged 11 to 16. In 2007 the school appointed 30 year old Ben Slade
Ben Slade
Ben Slade - full name Benjamin Rory Slade - was a lead presenter of the cult BBC Network children's magazine programme, Why Don't You? He joined the series in 1988 as a member of the Cardiff presenting team wearing his trademark flat cap...
as Principal. Slade was formerly presenter of the cult BBC 1 network children's TV programme, Why Don't You?
Why Don't You?
Why Don't You? or Why Don't You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go Out and Do Something Less Boring Instead? was a cult BBC children's television series broadcast in 42 series between 20 August 1973 and 21 April 1995. It went out on weekday mornings during the school holidays...
.
Partner schools
Associate primary schools are: Shirley Infant and Primary School, Kings Hedges Primary School, The Grove Primary School and Orchard Park Primary School.The school also has a strong partnership with Cambridge Regional College
Cambridge Regional College
Cambridge Regional College is a college of further education located in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.-College profile:The college, which has some of the best facilities in the country after a £23 million development programme, is a centre of vocational excellence offering courses in a wide...
who currently manage the school's sports and leisure facilities. This partnership was brokered by Ben Slade and former CRC Chief Executive Rick Dearing. This has continued and developed further under the leadership of Anne Constantine.
History
The school was built around 1959 based on a design by the architects W. Doig and M.R. Francis and, at that time, was a flagship school in Cambridge City. More recently, the buildings have been described by Slade as "a grim 1960s car park" although a great deal of time an effort has been invested in bringing them up to date. The school was named after Manor Farm which was in the area and was owned by Cambridgeshire County Council, who bought the farm in 1909 from the Benson family of Chesterton hallChesterton Hall
Chesterton Hall is a house in Chesterton, Cambridge. It lies in the city of Cambridge in the county of Cambridgeshire approximately 50 miles north-northeast of London. Most of the grounds have long since been sold off and the house is now located on one of the major roundabouts of the city. The...
.The Council split the farm into smallholdings, and the name of one of the smallholders, William Downham, is commemorated in a nearby road called Downham's Lane The school was top of a recent proposal for Building Schools for the Future which would have meant new buildings or significant refurbishment in 2013 but plans were shelved by the Coalition Government in 2010.
The school has seen its results double in the last 4 years under new leadership. In 2007 results were 23% 5 higher grades including English and Maths. These rose to 49% in 2010. At 5 higher grades results rose from 32% in 2007 to 60% in 2010 - a remarkable achievement for the students, staff and parents/carers.
The leadership of the new principal was praised in by OfSTED in 2008 just 9 months after taking up post: "The newly appointed Principal provides clear direction for the work of the school. Since September 2007, he has accurately evaluated its work and set about tackling the areas for support with vigour. He has not flinched from the challenges posed by this and is resolute in his pursuit of improved standards and achievement."
OfSTED also commented that "the changes made are recognised by parents, the vast majority of whom are supportive of the school's work. A considerable number commented on the improvements, including the renewed focus on improving standards. The comment, 'the effort of staff and pupils to make a dramatic improvement is working', is typical."
Today
Slade was successful in his application (to the DfE on behalf of the school's governing body) for a change of status from "Community College" to "Foundation School" and, furthermore, to acquire a Trust, namely The North Cambridge Community Trust. The new Trust was formed on 3rd September, 2010. The Trust partners are Cambridge Regional CollegeCambridge Regional College
Cambridge Regional College is a college of further education located in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.-College profile:The college, which has some of the best facilities in the country after a £23 million development programme, is a centre of vocational excellence offering courses in a wide...
, Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council of Cambridgeshire, England. The council currently consists of 69 councillors, representing 60 electoral divisions. The Conservative Party has a majority on the council, having gained control in the 1997 local elections...
, Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. In addition to the non-metropolitan county, the Police area includes the city of Peterborough, which became a unitary authority area in...
, an Associate Primary School Cluster, Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies
Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies
Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies is an independent sixth form college located on Station Road off Hills Road in central Cambridge, England.The college offers GCSE and GCE courses...
, Ridgeons Group Ltd and Kings Hedges Neighbourhood Partnership.
The Manor was designated as a specialist performing arts college by the DCSF in 2007 and they were successfully re-designated by the DfE in 2010. They were also awarded ArtsMark Gold by the Arts Council for England and the Prince's Teaching Institute Award for English by HRH Prince of Wales in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
OfSTED returned to re-inspect the school in September 2010. The significant and substantial improvements and "the excellent leadership of the headteacher" were acknowledged in the OfSTED inspection in September 2010. This time HMI concluded that The Manor is "a good school" with "outstanding capacity to make further improvements". This is a significant turn around for the once troubled school.
In June 2011, Slade announced Julie Spence
Julie Spence
Julie Spence OBE, was the Chief Constable for Cambridgeshire Constabulary from 10 December 2005 to 5 September 2010.Julie Spence made headline news over demanding more officers due to the recent rise in immigration....
OBE, QPM, DL former Chief Constable and gender champion as Patron of the school. This is Mrs Spence' first Cambridgeshire-based public role.
In September 2011, The Manor, under Slade's leadership, will be oversubscribed for the first time in 25 years.
The reputation of the school both in the press and in the local and regional community has improved significantly since 2007. He is not afraid to speak out for students. staff or the local community.
Notable staff
- Ben SladeBen SladeBen Slade - full name Benjamin Rory Slade - was a lead presenter of the cult BBC Network children's magazine programme, Why Don't You? He joined the series in 1988 as a member of the Cardiff presenting team wearing his trademark flat cap...
is the Principal, appointed in 2007. Previously he was a Vice Principal of a large comprehensive school, a drama teacher and a presenter of "Why Don't You...?" a children's television programme. He was 30 when he was appointed making him the youngest headteacher in the country at the time.
- Previous headteachers include David Cressey, Stephen Mummery, Oliver Gaggs and Paul Lewin - still going strong and writing books at the age of 92!
- 2009/2010 was the school's Golden Jubilee. Over 700 visitors were welcomed back to events organised by long serving members of staff Liz Butter and Jo Arbon.