Stantonbury Campus
Encyclopedia
Stantonbury Campus is a secondary school
located in Milton Keynes
, England
.
It is the second largest secondary comprehensive school
in the United Kingdom
and in Europe
with more than 2,900 school students aged 11–18 (Years 7-13 / US Grades 6-12).
The campus held Arts College
status as its specialism under the now discontinued specialist school
s programme. The campus is currently in the process planning a modernisation to bring the school into the 21st century, which will see new buildings built and some existing ones refurbished. The campus will also include on site a new Sainsbury's superstore and a new medical health centre.
Stantonbury Campus has a unique ethos which are guiding principles in the management and the day-to-day life of the school. These are based upon equal value for all members of the school community (regardless of whether they are pupils or staff) and determined optimism for all. It has a proud history of educational innovation and has successfully defended the principles of comprehensive education in a climate which has sometimes been hostile to its inclusive and learner-centred ethos.
The Campus has a first name policy which means students call staff by their first name rather than the normal convention of Mr A which is used in most schools. Students also do not have a school uniform and are encouraged to dress sensibly although specific kit is required for Physical Education lessons.
Stantonbury Campus has excellent facilities such as; an athletics track with all athletic sport equipment, a leisure centre complete with a swimming pool, a drama theatre, and proper Science labs.
The school is split into two sides; one side consists of two mains halls, Saxon and Grafton, the latter being split into two buildings, the ‘Activities Block’ (Science and Design Technology Facility) and the Diner (formerly known as “The Pitstop”). The other side has the “Upper Level” building (Science, Drama and Design Technology Facility), the theatre and two halls, Portway and Dansteed. Dansteed was split into two buildings in 2006 due to the increase in the number of students attending the campus when 11 year olds were accepted into the school. In between the two “sides” are Ashurst (sports hall), the Leisure Centre, the Library, The Hub (ICT), Main Reception and the Cooksey halls for Post 16 students.
Grafton, Saxon, Dansteed and Portway are for years 7 to 11, while the Cooksey hall is for year 12 and 13 students. The Heads of Hall are Mark O'Callaghan, Roy Middleton, Colin Armstrong, Joy Cofie and Jon Adamson respectively. Cooksey hall was named after Geoff Cooksey, the first Director of Stantonbury Campus.
Although student’s lessons usually only take place on one side of campus, with subjects such as English and Humanities being taught only by teachers from their own hall, some lessons will take place in various locations across campus. When students reach year 10, they will expect to have lessons more widely spread across campus.
Some of the many buildings include:
The site also includes a swimming pool, sports centre, church, dentist, health centre and local centre.
Arts College
since 1998 and holds the Artsmark Gold mark from the Arts Council of England.
, Germany
, India
, Italy
and Tanzania
.
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk
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...
located in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, 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 is the second largest secondary 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 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...
and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with more than 2,900 school students aged 11–18 (Years 7-13 / US Grades 6-12).
The campus held 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...
status as its specialism under the now discontinued 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...
s programme. The campus is currently in the process planning a modernisation to bring the school into the 21st century, which will see new buildings built and some existing ones refurbished. The campus will also include on site a new Sainsbury's superstore and a new medical health centre.
Ethos
Stantonbury Campus is one of the biggest comprehensive schools in the country. Having been a 12-to-18 school from its inception, it admitted students in Year 7 from September 2006, following reorganisation of secondary education in Milton Keynes. The campus is organised into five halls, four for 11-16 year olds and one for sixth-form students. All pastoral support takes place in the halls, and students have much of their teaching there too. The proportion of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is higher than is normally found. These include difficulties with speech, language and communication; hearing impairment; autistic spectrum disorder; and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals is below the average. The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is similarly below average but, given the size of the campus, this represents a large number of students. Just over 20% of students are from minority ethnic groups. There are considerable numbers of students in the sixth form in receipt of the Education Maintenance Allowance. The campus has been a specialist Arts College (for performing and visual arts) since 1998 and, from 2006, has added two further specialisms - mathematics and computing, and applied learning.Stantonbury Campus has a unique ethos which are guiding principles in the management and the day-to-day life of the school. These are based upon equal value for all members of the school community (regardless of whether they are pupils or staff) and determined optimism for all. It has a proud history of educational innovation and has successfully defended the principles of comprehensive education in a climate which has sometimes been hostile to its inclusive and learner-centred ethos.
The Campus has a first name policy which means students call staff by their first name rather than the normal convention of Mr A which is used in most schools. Students also do not have a school uniform and are encouraged to dress sensibly although specific kit is required for Physical Education lessons.
Stantonbury Campus has excellent facilities such as; an athletics track with all athletic sport equipment, a leisure centre complete with a swimming pool, a drama theatre, and proper Science labs.
Hall system
Due to the sheer size of the Campus, it has been necessary to split it into halls, which function as “mini schools”. Each hall has its own Head of Hall, who manages the halls as a head would manage a school. Each hall also has its own Team Coordinator and Hall Administrator, as well as the set year tutors.The school is split into two sides; one side consists of two mains halls, Saxon and Grafton, the latter being split into two buildings, the ‘Activities Block’ (Science and Design Technology Facility) and the Diner (formerly known as “The Pitstop”). The other side has the “Upper Level” building (Science, Drama and Design Technology Facility), the theatre and two halls, Portway and Dansteed. Dansteed was split into two buildings in 2006 due to the increase in the number of students attending the campus when 11 year olds were accepted into the school. In between the two “sides” are Ashurst (sports hall), the Leisure Centre, the Library, The Hub (ICT), Main Reception and the Cooksey halls for Post 16 students.
Grafton, Saxon, Dansteed and Portway are for years 7 to 11, while the Cooksey hall is for year 12 and 13 students. The Heads of Hall are Mark O'Callaghan, Roy Middleton, Colin Armstrong, Joy Cofie and Jon Adamson respectively. Cooksey hall was named after Geoff Cooksey, the first Director of Stantonbury Campus.
Although student’s lessons usually only take place on one side of campus, with subjects such as English and Humanities being taught only by teachers from their own hall, some lessons will take place in various locations across campus. When students reach year 10, they will expect to have lessons more widely spread across campus.
Buildings
The campus is a large site with multiple buildings. In addition to the hall buildings some are used for specific curriculum areas whilst others are facilities buildings (such as The Diner or the Leisure Centre).Some of the many buildings include:
- Dansteed 1
- Dansteed 2 (Art and Maths)
- Grafton 1
- Grafton 2
- Portway
- Saxon
- Activities Block (Science, ICT and ADT)
- Upper Level (Science, ICT, Performing Arts and ADT)
- Leisure Centre
- Ashurst (Sports hall)
- Cooksey (Post-16 + Library)
- Cooksey 2 (Post-16)
- Cooksey 3 (Music block)
- Theatre
The site also includes a swimming pool, sports centre, church, dentist, health centre and local centre.
Effectiveness of the sixth form
Provision in the sixth form is outstanding. Standards are generally above average, and this represents extremely good progress given the wide range of ability of students when they enter the sixth form. This achievement is due to outstanding teaching and learning at this level. The sixth form is based in its own hall with a library, computer network, and a suite of tutorial and teaching rooms. The sixth-form curriculum and range of activities for students are outstanding. They provide a very wide range of academic courses leading to A level and AS level qualifications, along with extensive vocational courses. The personal development and well-being of sixth form students are outstanding, and they engage in many sports, enrichment and community activities. Students say they feel valued and that they are listened to by senior campus leaders. Many students progress to higher education. Students also benefit from the support of skilled learning mentors and other excellent guidance and support provision made by the campus. The leadership and management of the sixth form are good, and some aspects are outstanding, such as the monitoring and tracking of student progress. Self-evaluation is good and improving.Achievement and standards
Students' achievement is satisfactory. When students arrive in Year 7 their attainment is below average and they make satisfactory progress through Key Stages 3 and 4. A noticeable number of students have limited competence in written and oral communication when they start at the campus. The campus has identified this group, which consists mostly of boys, and has begun to support their needs more effectively by extra literacy lessons and in-class support. A number of students arrive after the beginning of Year 7, including growing numbers who speak English as an additional language. They are supported extremely well and make excellent progress. Faculty leaders can demonstrate improvements in standards for these students as a consequence of this support. Standards at GCSE were below national averages in 2007 and 2008, and the campus is seeking to narrow this gap by introducing better tracking and monitoring procedures. Current data show that standards are now better in Key Stage 4 than they were this time last year.The arts
The Arts are a large part of life at Stantonbury Campus. They have a highly successful Performing Arts faculty with excellent facilities including a fully working theatre which is owned by the Campus. Stantonbury Campus has been an specialistSpecialist 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...
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...
since 1998 and holds the Artsmark Gold mark from the Arts Council of England.
Exchanges
Stantonbury Campus operates a number of exchange programmes including international partnerships with schools from; FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
External links
- Stantonbury Campus Home Page
- Ofsted inspection report "A good school".
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk