Jesmond Park Academy

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox school | name = Jesmond Park Academy | image = Jesmond Park Academy logo.svg | motto = Create your future | established = {{Start date|1928}} | trust = [[Gosforth Academy|Gosforth Federated Academies Trust]] | type = [[Academy Converter]] | principal = Steve Campbell | address = Jesmond Park West | city = [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] | county = [[Tyne and Wear]] | country = England | postal_code = NE7 7DP | capacity = 1,904 {{As of|2014|01}} | enrolment = 1,860 | local_authority = [[Newcastle City Council]] | urn = 146752 | ofsted = yes | gender = Mixed | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | website = {{URL| www.jesmondparkacademy.org.uk}} | former_names = {{plainlist| *Heaton Manor School *Manor Park School *Heaton School *Heaton Grammar School *Heaton High School}} }} '''Jesmond Park Academy''' is a coeducational [[secondary school]] and [[sixth form]] located in [[Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne]], England.

The school was formerly known as '''Heaton Manor School'''. It was renamed ''Jesmond Park Academy'' in 2019.

The school building, fully rebuilt in 2004 from [[Private finance initiative|PFI]] funding replaced two separate sites (known as the '''Jesmond''' and '''Benton''' sites) which in turn were made up of a number of different schools.

==History== [[File:Heaton_manor.jpg|thumb|The 2004 school buildings]] Before 2004, Years 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 were housed on the "Jesmond Site" situated in buildings between Jesmond Park West and Newton Road. The main building was built in the 1920s, with a 1960s gym to the west and another addition to the north of the building, which was attached to it by a bridge walkway.

Years 10 and 11 were housed half a mile away on the "Benton Site", a purpose-built 1960s former secondary technical school on Benton Road, opposite the [[Benton Park View]] governmental office complex.

===Heaton Grammar and Heaton High Schools=== Government approval to build a secondary school in Heaton was given by the [[Department for Education|Board of Education]] in February 1924.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=28 February 1924 |title=Heaton Secondary School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/904024887/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[Evening Chronicle|North Mail and Evening Chronicle]] |issue=20561 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The buildings on Newton Road were opened formally by [[Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon|Viscount Grey of Fallodon]] on 18 September 1928,<ref name="HGS21">{{cite book |author= |date=1950 |title=Heaton Grammar School: Coming of Age, 1928–1949 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |publisher=Newcastle upon Tyne Education Committee |page=3}}</ref> although teaching had begun on 5 September.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=6 September 1928 |title=New Heaton School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/803008272/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|Newcastle Daily Journal, North Star and Courant]] |issue=25759 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[George V|King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] then paid a ceremonial visit to the school on 10 October,<ref name="HGS21"/> before opening the [[Tyne Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=11 October 1928 |title=The Queen's Day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/803015390/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Newcastle Daily Journal, North Star and Courant |issue=25789 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=11 October 1928 |title=The Royal Visit to Newcastle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/803015423/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Newcastle Daily Journal, North Star and Courant |issue=25789 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The school building was symmetrical; everything found on one side of the school was mirrored on the opposite side. The western side of the building was '''Heaton Secondary School for Boys''',<ref name="users.bigpond.net.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.hgshhs.info/|title=HGS/HHS Memories|work=hgshhs.info}}</ref> with an entrance on Jesmond Park West, whilst the eastern side of the building was '''Heaton Secondary School for Girls''',<ref name="users.bigpond.net.au"/> with a separate entrance on Newton Road. Another royal visit, by [[George VI|King George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]], took place on 7 April 1943.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=8 April 1943 |title=Royal Visitors' Glimpse Tyneside at Work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802161656/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[Evening Chronicle]] |issue=20883 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On 1 April 1945, the names of the schools were changed to '''Heaton Grammar School''' and '''Heaton High School''' respectively.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=28 March 1945 |title=Schools Get New Names |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/804284265/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|Newcastle Journal and North Mail]] |issue=30802 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In 1958, [[Harry Askew]] became the second headmaster of the grammar school,<ref name="Deane">{{cite news |last=Deane |first=Avril |date=15 November 1978 |title=Early Days |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/804564971/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|The Journal]] |issue=41178 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> which merged with the high school in September 1967 to become the [[Comprehensive school (England and Wales)|comprehensive]] '''Heaton School'''.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=16 November 1967 |title=New values for school |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/804477889/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The Journal |issue=37779 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Allan |date=25 February 1969 |title=My old school isn't what it used to be though that's not necessarily such a bad thing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802327217/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |issue=28564 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Askew remained head teacher until July 1979.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=2 November 1979 |title=Iolanthe calls |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802327217/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |issue=31888 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Manor Park Technical Grammar School=== Following the [[Tripartite System of education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland|Tripartite System]] of state-funded secondary education, '''Manor Park Technical Grammar School''' (or '''Manor Park Technical School''') opened on Benton Road in 1960, replacing Middle Street Commercial School for Boys in [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|Walker]] and Heaton Technical School.<ref name="Jeffery">{{cite news |last=Jeffery |first= Sarah |date=9 April 2013 |title=Memories of a great school |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/manor-park-school-memories-great-2574286 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=24 |access-date=21 November 2024}} (Online article has a different title).</ref> The new school, completely separate from Heaton Grammar and High Schools was initially on the Benton Road site only (1960–1966) then from 1967 expanded to encompass two sites itself. The lower site, which was on Addycombe Terrace, is now the Heaton Centre<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastlecitylearning.co.uk/index.php/venues/25-heaton-centre|title=Heaton Centre|work=newcastlecitylearning.co.uk|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226185701/http://www.newcastlecitylearning.co.uk/index.php/venues/25-heaton-centre|archive-date=26 February 2014}}</ref> (for adult education) and Heaton Community Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heatoncc.org.uk/|title=Home|work=heatoncc.org.uk}}</ref>

=== Heaton Manor School === [[Newcastle City Council]]'s budget cuts meant that schools with low numbers had to be closed,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.heatonmanor.org.uk/Archives/archives.html|title=Archives|last=DISC|first=Direct Internet Services|website=www.heatonmanor.org.uk|access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref> leading to the merger of Heaton and Manor Park schools to form '''Heaton Manor School''' in 1983.<ref name="Jeffery"/>

Originally, the sixth form (Years 12 and 13) were going to be housed on the former Manor Park site, but this was not possible due to the nature of the buildings.<ref name=":0" />

The former Heaton Grammar site (located on Jesmond Park West) became known as the "Jesmond Site", whilst the former Manor Park site (located on Benton Road) became known as the "Benton Site". The rooms on the Jesmond site had a "J-" prefix (e.g. J44, JP1, JD1) to distinguish the same rooms over on the Benton site which had a "B-" prefix (e.g. B75, BP2, BD1)

Before 2001, the library was found on the upper south-west corridor and there were two halls (east and west). In 2001, the west hall became a new "Learning Resource Centre" and the former library suite was rebuilt and became a [[British Airways]] sponsored suite for those studying Travel and Tourism.

Back in 1998, a number of students were featured along with John Dryden and Ann Smedley (Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher respectively) on the front page of the ''[[Evening Chronicle]]'' with the headline "Thanks a Mi££ion!" after Heaton Manor had secured money for a complete refurbishment.

===Building of the new school=== Building work commenced in 2002 with the new school being built "upon" the old one – which required the East half of the school to be demolished in the summer of 2003 and work to commence on the footprint of the old east side and the front and back fields. This meant that from September 2003 until the summer of 2004, the school was truly half old, half new. Three new buildings were open for use and the west side of the old building was still being used.

After July 2004, the Benton Road site was closed and soon after was demolished, to make way for the housing development named after it, as "Manor Park". The remaining old buildings on the Jesmond site were then fully demolished and the remainder of the new buildings were built.

The new school was ready for service in September 2004.

===Jesmond Park Academy=== A 2018 Ofsted inspection judged Heaton Manor School 'Inadequate,' the lowest of four rating classifications.<ref name="Ofsted2016">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Chris |title=Heaton Manor School |url=https://files.api.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/2639363 |website=Ofsted |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=30 November 2018 |year=2016}}</ref> Due to the inadequate judgement, it was announced that the school would become an academy, starting on the 2019–2020 academic year under the [[Gosforth Academy|Gosforth Federated Academies Trust]]. The new academy caused controversy in the local community as it discarded the area that it was located, Heaton, with the new name, Jesmond Park Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/heaton-manor-school-name-change-16303725|title=Heaton Manor School name change confirmed - leaders say Jesmond Park Academy will be a 'fresh start'|date=21 May 2019|publisher=[[Evening Chronicle]]|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>

However, a 2022 Ofsted report for Jesmond Park Academy indicated performance had improved to 'good,' which is the second highest ranking classification, representing a significant improvement in the school's quality.<ref name="Ofsted2022">{{cite web |last1=Kirtley |first1=Malcolm |title=Jesmond Park Academy |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/146752 |website=Ofsted |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=8 June 2022 |year=2022}}</ref>

In October 2023, the school closed for several weeks after its building was damaged on 18 October by [[Storm Babet]], leaving a danger from metal panels falling onto pupils and staff. The length of the closure was due to a complicated legal dispute over who was responsible for the repairs: PFI contractor [[Equans]], a UK maintenance company owned [[Bouygues]], or someone else.<ref name=guardian-20231110>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/nov/10/newcastle-school-closed-for-three-weeks-over-repair-bill-wrangling |title=Newcastle school closed for three weeks over safety concerns |last=Adams |first=Richard |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 November 2023 |access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>

==Academic performance==

In 2018, the school's Progress 8 score at [[General Certificate of Education|GCSE]] was below average, but the Attainment 8 score was above average.<ref name="FCS">{{cite web |title=Heaton Manor School |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/108531 |website=Find and compare schools in England |publisher=GOV.UK |access-date=30 November 2018}}</ref>

==Activities== There is an extensive "period seven" programme which offers extra-curricular activities. There are many sports teams as well as "booster" lessons in most subjects. Heaton Manor is also a member of [[Amnesty International]]. The school participates in many sporting competitions.

===Debating=== One of the period seven activities that was offered was the Heaton Manor Union Society, which was the school's [[Debate|Debating Society]] for students in [[Key Stage|Key Stages Three and Four]]. The Society was founded in 2006 by the Department of [[Citizenship education (subject)|Citizenship]]. Its weekly meetings involved a debate on a pre-released topic, featuring two pairs arguing for or against the motion respectively. A vote is held, and a team of judges also selected a winner. On 10 May 2008, two of the Society's members participated in the national finals of the International Competition for Young Debaters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icyd.com/|title=首页-爱财有道|work=icyd.com}}</ref> in [[Oxford]]. This was widely regarded as a great achievement, as very few comprehensive schools qualified.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://icyd.com/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=33| title = icyd.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vle.heatonmanor.newcastle.sch.uk/user/59/212828.pdf|title=Society newsletter dated 15 May 2008 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901170121/https://vle.heatonmanor.newcastle.sch.uk/user/59/212828.pdf |archive-date=1 September 2011}}</ref>

Heaton Manor also maintained a Post 16 debating team, "The Head Strong Club". They participated multiple times in the National Institute of Ideas Debating Matters competition, progressing to the National Finals in 2005 having won the North East regional heats,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/newslink/item/1113395751|title=NewsLink - Press Office - Newcastle University|work=ncl.ac.uk|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617064830/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/newslink/item/1113395751|archive-date=17 June 2011}}</ref> as well as competing in the prestigious [[English-Speaking Union Schools Mace]].

==Notable former pupils== {{alumni|date=February 2021}} *[[Sammy Ameobi]], Professional Footballer for [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Jeremy |date=2014-12-08 |title=Watch Sammy Ameobi speak out about the racism he suffered as a schoolboy - and since turning pro |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/watch-sammy-ameobi-speak-out-8242471 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en}}</ref> *[[Tomi Ameobi]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryder |first=Lee |date=2008-07-24 |title=Shola Ameobi to face younger brother Tomi |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/shola-ameobi-face-younger-brother-1472739 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en}}</ref> Professional Footballer for [[FC Edmonton]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-23 |title=Journeyman Tomi Ameobi finds a home in Edmonton: 'I wanted to put down some roots' |url=https://canpl.ca/article/journeyman-tomi-ameobi-finds-a-home-with-fc-edmonton-i-wanted-to-put-down-some-roots |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Canadian Premier League}}</ref> *[[Shola Ameobi]], Professional Footballer for Newcastle United<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ameobi Interview Tele 25.08.01 |url=https://www.nufc.com/html/telegraph_ameobi.html |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=www.nufc.com}}</ref> and [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Louise |date=2013-11-15 |title=Shola Ameobi on brink of World Cup after swapping England for Nigeria |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/15/shola-ameobi-world-cup-england-nigeria |access-date=2023-09-09 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> *[[Elsie Tu]], Social activist and elected member of the [[Urban Council]] of Hong Kong

===Manor Park Technical Grammar School=== * [[Geoff Allen (footballer)]] * [[Derek Forster]], professional footballer with [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in the 1960s/1970s * [[Jimmy Husband]], professional footballer with [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in the 1960s/1970s * [[Stephen Laws (author)|Stephen Laws]], writer<ref>{{cite book |last=Crowther |first=Peter |editor-last=Pringle |editor-first=David |date=1998 |chapter=Laws, Stephen |title=St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers |location=Detroit, MI |publisher=St. James Press |pages=351–352 |isbn=1558622063}}</ref> * [[Jimmy Nail]], actor and singer<ref>{{cite book |last=Nail |first=Jimmy |author-link=Jimmy Nail |date=2004 |title=A Northern Soul: The Autobiography |location=London |publisher=Michael Joseph |page=27 |isbn=0718146530}}</ref> * [[Dennis Tueart]], professional footballer with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the 1960s/1970s * [[David Young (footballer, born 1945)]]

===Manor Park School=== * [[John Davison (boxer)]]

===Heaton Grammar School=== {{Category see also|People educated at Heaton Grammar School}} * [[Neil Bartlett (chemist)|Neil Bartlett]], professor of chemistry at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] from 1969 to 1993, notable for his work on [[noble gas compound]]s<ref name="Deane"/><ref>{{cite book |editor-last=McMurray |editor-first=Emily J. |date=1995 |title=Notable Twentieth-century Scientists |volume=1 |location=Detroit, MI |publisher=Gale Research |pages=117–118 |isbn=0810391813}}</ref> * Prof [[Jeffrey Braithwaite]] Health Systems Researcher, [[University of New South Wales]] * [[Bruce Macintosh Cattanach]], geneticist<ref>{{cite book |author= |editor-last=Sheeman |editor-first=Elizabeth |date=2003 |title=The International Who's Who 2004 |edition=67 |location=London |publisher=Europa Publications |page=289 |isbn=1857432177}}</ref> *[[Michael Chaplin (writer)|Michael Chaplin]], writer and television producer. * Prof [[John Frank Davidson]], [[Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering]] at the [[University of Cambridge]] from 1978 to 1993, President of the [[Institution of Chemical Engineers|IChemE]] from 1970 to 1971<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=21 January 2020 |title=Professor John Davidson |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/51922edc-3bb2-11ea-9bc3-b4804128329e |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |page=41 |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref> * Prof [[David Delpy]], Chief Executive from 2007 of the [[Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council]]  * [[Edward Henderson (archdeacon)|Edward Henderson]], [[Archdeacon of Pontefract]] from 1968 to 1981<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=8 October 1997 |title=The Venerable Edward Henderson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752124445/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |issue=44262 |location=London |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |date=10 October 1997 |title=The Ven Edward Henderson |newspaper=[[The Times]] |issue=66017 |location=London |page=23}}</ref> * [[Alan Lillington]], [[100 metres|100m]] runner at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]]<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=30 July 1950 |title=Lillington Wins National Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/798288279/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[Sunday Sun|The Sunday Sun]] |issue=1617 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> * [[Paul Smith (cricketer, born 1964)|Paul Smith]], cricketer for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooke |first1=Robert |author-link1=Robert Brooke (cricket writer) |last2=Goodyear |first2=David |name-list-style=amp |date=1989 |title=A Who's Who of Warwickshire County Cricket Club |location=London |publisher=Robert Hale |page=170 |isbn=0709037309}}</ref> * [[Derek Talbot]], badminton player and [[Commonwealth Games]] gold medallist.<ref>{{cite book |last=Talbot |first=Derek |author-link=Derek Talbot |date=1982 |title=Badminton to the Top |edition=Second |location=Wakefield |publisher=EP Publishing |page=8 |isbn=0715806416}}</ref> * [[Peter Terson]], playwright.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elvgren |first=Gillette |editor-last=Weintraub |editor-first=Stanley |editor-link=Stanley Weintraub |date=1982 |chapter=Peter Terson |title=British Dramatists Since World War II. Part 2: M–Z |series=Dictionary of Literary Biography |volume=13 |location=Detroit, MI |publisher=Bruccoli Clark |pages=513–518 |isbn=081030936X}}</ref> * [[Esmond Wright]], historian and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]<ref>{{cite book |author= |date=1969 |title=Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary |volume=121 |location=London |publisher=A. & C. Black |pages=3412–3413 |isbn=0713609435}}</ref>

===Heaton High School=== * [[Air Commodore|Air Cdre]] [[Joy Tamblin]] CB, Director from 1976 to 1980 of the [[Women's Royal Air Force]]<ref name="Deane"/>

===Heaton Secondary School=== * [[Hilary Boulding]], President of Trinity College, Oxford and former Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama * [[Chris Donald]], Founder of [[Viz (comics)|Viz]] * [[Simon Donald]] co-creator of [[Viz Magazine]] * [[Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere]], [[Director General of MI5]], 2013–20. * [[Paul Smith (cricketer, born 1964)]] * [[Charlie Hunnam]], actor<ref>{{cite news |last=Ford |first=Coreena |date=15 June 2003 |title=Charity Charlie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/902853749/ |newspaper=Sunday Sun |issue=4324 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |page=18 |via=Newspapers com}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website| www.jesmondparkacademy.org.uk}}

[[Category:Secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne]] [[Category:1928 establishments in England]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1928]] [[Category:Academies in Newcastle upon Tyne]] [[Category:People educated at Heaton Grammar School]]