Tanfield School
Encyclopedia
Tanfield School is a comprehensive school
in Stanley, County Durham
, England
, by the border to Tanfield Lea
. Tanfield houses both male and female students from the age of 11 to 16. Tanfield have had constant good Ofsted reports, and support Anti Bully campaigns, and other causes including charity work and links with other countries. In early 2009, the school had the popular physical education block and the dining hall refurbished. The school has undergone a massive improvement, with new school uniforms, a new logo and plans for other projects later this year and following years.
In 1919, the school was re-christened "Alderman Wood School" and took on grammar school status. In the mid 1940's its name was changed to Stanley Grammar School. In 1977, Tanfield Comprehensive was formed by the amalgamation of the existing school with Shield Row Secondary School. The school then had about 1,300 pupils and 76 teachers, significantly larger than the numbers some 65 years before. 1986 saw another change with the phasing out of the 6th form and the opening of the Tertiary College at Consett. In 1992 the sign outside read "Tanfield School". 11 May 1998 seems so long ago. Only the present Year 11 pupils who were at that time nearing the end of their first year will remember 'The Great Fire of Tanfield' which led to the demolition of the Tower Block. The 1960s four-storey building used to house all the English, Maths and Science teaching areas. Three years later, the scaffolding was dismantled and the eighteen temporary, demountable, classrooms were lifted from the football and rugby pitches during the summer vacation. We've started a new school year, very grateful for their work, but excited at the prospect of being free from building contractors. In November 2000, OFSTED Inspectors commented, "The school has had to cope with very difficult working conditions following a major fire in May 1998, which resulted in the loss of 24 classrooms, school offices, resources, equipment and pupils' coursework". They congratulated the staff on their resilience, the effective management of the situation and the determination of governors to move forward.
In September 2000, our pupils moved into a new £550, 000 extension to the Technology suite and redesigned Art accommodation. Together they provide new Textiles, Graphics, Pottery and Art rooms which match the best of any school in County Durham, as well as a third, fully equipped ICT computer room. Visitors to Tanfield now enter through the impressive Reception and Administration Area. Along with five purpose-built Science Laboratories and a Science Prep Room, this forms an integral part of a newly constructed building at a cost of £760,000 which opened in January 2001 on the site of the former Tower Block. The Science department celebrated their new facilities with outstanding GCSE and SAT examination results. Tanfield pupils have been proud to study in the marvellous, stone building that began its life in 1912. After intensive internal restructuring and a complete refurbishment at a cost of £1,500,000, we have taken repossession of the building. There is now a Maths suite of five specialist rooms on the ground floor, with the English faculty linked to the School Library and Resources Centre, and a state-of-the-art ICT room with thirty new computers, on the upper floor. A £3,000,000 facelift has taken Tanfield School into the twenty first century with outstanding teaching and learning facilities unmatched in County Durham. Throughout the 20th century Tanfield School has been associated with innovation, dedication and success.
During the past decade, Tanfield has been awarded the International Schools award, Sportsmark award, Artsmark award, Healthy Schools award and financial awards from the Princes Trust and Barclays New Futures. Tanfield School is a Lighthouse School recognised for its work in the community and an EcoSchool working towards improving our environment. We have received a prestigious Schools Curriculum Award.
Tanfield School has resource based provision for students with moderate learning difficulties and can provide a supportive learning environment to students with additional needs that are related to educational progress.
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 Stanley, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, 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...
, by the border to Tanfield Lea
Tanfield Lea
Tanfield Lea is a village north of Stanley, County Durham, England, and south of Tantobie.-Industry:The Ever Ready battery company used to be a major employer in the local area, employing over a thousand workers at its peak. The Tanfield Lea factory was closed in 1996, following the take over of...
. Tanfield houses both male and female students from the age of 11 to 16. Tanfield have had constant good Ofsted reports, and support Anti Bully campaigns, and other causes including charity work and links with other countries. In early 2009, the school had the popular physical education block and the dining hall refurbished. The school has undergone a massive improvement, with new school uniforms, a new logo and plans for other projects later this year and following years.
History
On October 16, 1912, Tanfield Lea Higher Elementary School and Pupil Teaching Centre came into being. Five days later on October 21, it opened its doors to the first intake of pupils. Some of the pupils who arrived that day had simply transferred to new premises from the old Pupil Teacher Centre. However, most of the new intake were twelve years old. Mr. Hardy the first headmaster recorded in the school log that: "The Pupil Teacher and Preparatory pupils attending the Tanfield Lea P.T. Centre (53 in number) and their teachers Mr. Stringer, Mr. Crabb, Miss Clough came to the school and 174 pupils were admitted by examination from 329 candidates". The object of the school as stated in the 1912 prospectus was to: "Provide education, between the ages of 12 and 15 years, for children who, having previously attended an ordinary public elementary school, give sufficient promise of being able to take up an extended curriculum of such a character as is here provided, and whose parents intend them to remain until they are at least 15 years of age. The previous education of the pupils will be continued and widened and a practical training in special subjects added. The education given is indeed intended to afford, in an essentially practical manner, an intelligent preparation for the duties which will be undertaken when school days are over".In 1919, the school was re-christened "Alderman Wood School" and took on grammar school status. In the mid 1940's its name was changed to Stanley Grammar School. In 1977, Tanfield Comprehensive was formed by the amalgamation of the existing school with Shield Row Secondary School. The school then had about 1,300 pupils and 76 teachers, significantly larger than the numbers some 65 years before. 1986 saw another change with the phasing out of the 6th form and the opening of the Tertiary College at Consett. In 1992 the sign outside read "Tanfield School". 11 May 1998 seems so long ago. Only the present Year 11 pupils who were at that time nearing the end of their first year will remember 'The Great Fire of Tanfield' which led to the demolition of the Tower Block. The 1960s four-storey building used to house all the English, Maths and Science teaching areas. Three years later, the scaffolding was dismantled and the eighteen temporary, demountable, classrooms were lifted from the football and rugby pitches during the summer vacation. We've started a new school year, very grateful for their work, but excited at the prospect of being free from building contractors. In November 2000, OFSTED Inspectors commented, "The school has had to cope with very difficult working conditions following a major fire in May 1998, which resulted in the loss of 24 classrooms, school offices, resources, equipment and pupils' coursework". They congratulated the staff on their resilience, the effective management of the situation and the determination of governors to move forward.
In September 2000, our pupils moved into a new £550, 000 extension to the Technology suite and redesigned Art accommodation. Together they provide new Textiles, Graphics, Pottery and Art rooms which match the best of any school in County Durham, as well as a third, fully equipped ICT computer room. Visitors to Tanfield now enter through the impressive Reception and Administration Area. Along with five purpose-built Science Laboratories and a Science Prep Room, this forms an integral part of a newly constructed building at a cost of £760,000 which opened in January 2001 on the site of the former Tower Block. The Science department celebrated their new facilities with outstanding GCSE and SAT examination results. Tanfield pupils have been proud to study in the marvellous, stone building that began its life in 1912. After intensive internal restructuring and a complete refurbishment at a cost of £1,500,000, we have taken repossession of the building. There is now a Maths suite of five specialist rooms on the ground floor, with the English faculty linked to the School Library and Resources Centre, and a state-of-the-art ICT room with thirty new computers, on the upper floor. A £3,000,000 facelift has taken Tanfield School into the twenty first century with outstanding teaching and learning facilities unmatched in County Durham. Throughout the 20th century Tanfield School has been associated with innovation, dedication and success.
During the past decade, Tanfield has been awarded the International Schools award, Sportsmark award, Artsmark award, Healthy Schools award and financial awards from the Princes Trust and Barclays New Futures. Tanfield School is a Lighthouse School recognised for its work in the community and an EcoSchool working towards improving our environment. We have received a prestigious Schools Curriculum Award.
Study Support
Some students need extra support in order to make age appropriate progress through National Curriculum levels 3-7 in the secondary school setting.Tanfield School has resource based provision for students with moderate learning difficulties and can provide a supportive learning environment to students with additional needs that are related to educational progress.