Noel-Baker Community School
Encyclopedia
Noel-Baker Community School and Language College (as it became known from September 2005) is a mixed comprehensive
secondary school
in Alvaston
, Derby
, UK
. As of 2005, it is currently oversubscribed, with approximately 2000 students on roll, making it the biggest secondary school in the city of Derby. The school takes students from the Alvaston, Boulton
, Crewton and Keldholme areas of the city.
In September 2004 the school was awarded specialist school
status as a Language College
, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The impact of this award has been limited since 2004. Students were required to take on a language at GCSE, but this had proven unpopular and since been withdrawn.
athlete, Derby South MP
and Nobel Peace Prize
winner.
During the 1970s, the school functioned well under the firm leadership of the headteacher, Glynn John (known affectionately by the pupils as 'Nunk').
However, during the early 1980s, after his retirement, the school declined. This was due largely to declining results. The school drastically turned around when a new headteacher, Mr Geoff Wynne stepped in, in the late 1980s. He took the school's GCSE results from 9% A-Cs in 1989 to 32% in 2002 when he retired. The schools GCSE results have continued to improve, moving to consistently above 30% for the key national measure of 5A*-C including English and Mathematics.
Dr. Paul Davies, of Swansea, then took the role of head master, his focus was on securing consistent exam results and behaviour. As Dr Paul Davies was a doctor of Geography he would sometimes cover Geography lessons in order to gain a first-hand insight into students opinions of the school. The success of his brief spell as headmaster was great, as student GCSE A*-C grades saw a gradual percentage increase, although were still quite low compared to other secondary schools in the Derby area. The school has since seen year-on-year development of GCSE results. Dr. Davies left the position of head master to join the Local Authority as Head of Secondary Learning following his departure Margaret Eley took the position of Acting Headteacher in the interim period.
In 2009 Mal Kerr, of Wirksworth, became Headteacher. Mal Kerr is of Irish descent and since his arrival has attempted to establish good relationships with students around the school. This has been noticed by his frequent attempts to meet and greet students.
The school had a satisfactory OFSTED report in 2005, this was built upon in 2008 when inspectors reported that Noel-Baker Community School and Language College was a 'good and improving school'.
The current head of sixth form is Mrs Donna Wilcox an the current sixth form student support manager is Mrs Janet Gostick. Together they hold responsibility for student admissions as well as helping students through daily life, such as UCAS and employment issues. However, the role of UCAS reference writing has been outsourced to other teachers to ensure that they are more personal. The success of this decision has greatly benefited the students.
The construction of the new Noel-Baker will make it the most expensive new-build school in the area in comparison to Merrill Collage's construction which cost £15 million and Derby Moor whose refurbishment cost £19 million.
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...
secondary school
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...
in Alvaston
Alvaston
Alvaston is a suburb and ward of Derby, England. Alvaston is situated on the A6, three miles south-east of Derby city centre. It is bordered to the north by the wards of Derwent, Chaddesden and Spondon, to the east is the City Centre, to the south are Sinfin and Chellaston and to the west the...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, UK
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...
. As of 2005, it is currently oversubscribed, with approximately 2000 students on roll, making it the biggest secondary school in the city of Derby. The school takes students from the Alvaston, Boulton
Boulton, Derby
Boulton is a suburb and local government ward of the city of Derby, England, and is located about four miles to the south-east of Derby city centre. It is closely associated with the neighbouring suburb of Alvaston with which it shares its postal code and postal area address...
, Crewton and Keldholme areas of the city.
In September 2004 the school was awarded 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...
status as a Language College
Language College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The impact of this award has been limited since 2004. Students were required to take on a language at GCSE, but this had proven unpopular and since been withdrawn.
History
The school was founded in 1960 as a Technical Grammar School, with pupils who passed the 11,12&13 plus and pupils from Allenton Technical School. It is named after the late Philip Noel-Baker, OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete, Derby South MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
winner.
During the 1970s, the school functioned well under the firm leadership of the headteacher, Glynn John (known affectionately by the pupils as 'Nunk').
However, during the early 1980s, after his retirement, the school declined. This was due largely to declining results. The school drastically turned around when a new headteacher, Mr Geoff Wynne stepped in, in the late 1980s. He took the school's GCSE results from 9% A-Cs in 1989 to 32% in 2002 when he retired. The schools GCSE results have continued to improve, moving to consistently above 30% for the key national measure of 5A*-C including English and Mathematics.
Dr. Paul Davies, of Swansea, then took the role of head master, his focus was on securing consistent exam results and behaviour. As Dr Paul Davies was a doctor of Geography he would sometimes cover Geography lessons in order to gain a first-hand insight into students opinions of the school. The success of his brief spell as headmaster was great, as student GCSE A*-C grades saw a gradual percentage increase, although were still quite low compared to other secondary schools in the Derby area. The school has since seen year-on-year development of GCSE results. Dr. Davies left the position of head master to join the Local Authority as Head of Secondary Learning following his departure Margaret Eley took the position of Acting Headteacher in the interim period.
In 2009 Mal Kerr, of Wirksworth, became Headteacher. Mal Kerr is of Irish descent and since his arrival has attempted to establish good relationships with students around the school. This has been noticed by his frequent attempts to meet and greet students.
The school had a satisfactory OFSTED report in 2005, this was built upon in 2008 when inspectors reported that Noel-Baker Community School and Language College was a 'good and improving school'.
Sixth Form
As well as catering for 11-16 year olds (years 7-11), the school also has a Sixth Form for 16-18 year olds. However, there are a select few students who failed to achieve the desirable grades within years 12-13, so carry on their subjects for another year, thus creating a 'year 14'. The Sixth Form offers A-Levels and GNVQs in various subjects. There are currently 150 A-Level students. However, the number of students taking on year 12 studies is on a current incline as the school has began to take on students to resit GCSE Maths and English studies. This has led to a higher than desirable intake of students which resulted in a new study suite being designed in the sixth form block. This was completed in late 2010.The current head of sixth form is Mrs Donna Wilcox an the current sixth form student support manager is Mrs Janet Gostick. Together they hold responsibility for student admissions as well as helping students through daily life, such as UCAS and employment issues. However, the role of UCAS reference writing has been outsourced to other teachers to ensure that they are more personal. The success of this decision has greatly benefited the students.
New Building Construction
A new construction is currently being built to replace the current school. The site for this new school will be placed on the current playing fields. The current building, which is now exceeding 50 years old, will be demolished. The new Noel Baker construction will be prepared for the beginning of the school year in September 2012 at a cost of £34 million. The 1350 pupils of Noel Baker will be combined with 90 pupils from St.Martin's special school - a school which operates to educate special needs students.The construction of the new Noel-Baker will make it the most expensive new-build school in the area in comparison to Merrill Collage's construction which cost £15 million and Derby Moor whose refurbishment cost £19 million.
Notable alumni
- Glenda BaileyGlenda BaileyGlenda Adrianne Bailey OBE is the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, a monthly fashion magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. She was appointed to this position in May 2001. Before joining Harper's Bazaar, she served as the editor-in-chief at the U.S...
- editor of US flagship fashion magazine Harper's BazaarHarper's BazaarHarper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”... - Jordon MutchJordon MutchJordon James Edward Sydney Mutch is an English footballer who plays for Birmingham City. He plays as a midfielder. Mutch made his first-team debut for Birmingham in the League Cup in August 2008, and made his debut in the Football League while on loan to Hereford United, spending subsequent loan...
- Birmingham City football club (midfielder) - Ivan GaskellIvan GaskellIvan Gaskell is a sports reporter for the BBC. He joined BBC Sport in 1997, after working on East Midlands Today for 10 years. He worked on World Cup coverage in 2002 and 2006 , and is a regular reporter on Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score...
- BBC Sports Presenter