Magna Academy

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox school | name = Magna Academy | image = | image_size = | motto = | established = 1989 | closed = | type = [[Academy (English school)|Academy]] | religious_affiliation = | president = | head_label = Principal | head = Phil Midworth | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = | chair = | founder = | address = Ashdown Close<br>[[Canford Heath]] | city = [[Poole]] | county = [[Dorset]] | country = England | postal_code = BH17 8RE | local_authority = [[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council|Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole]] | ofsted = yes | urn = 139711 | staff = | enrolment = 877 | gender = [[Co-educational]] | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | houses = | colours = {{colour box|Blue}}{{colour box|Grey}}{{colour box|Cyan}}<br>Blue/Grey/Cyan | publication = | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | website = https://www.magna-aspirations.org/ }}

'''Magna Academy''' is a [[co-educational]] secondary [[school]] and [[sixth form]] located on [[Canford Heath]] area of [[Poole]] in the [[English county]] of [[Dorset]].

==History== ===1989 to 2001: Ashdown School=== The school was first opened as Ashdown School on 7 July 1989 following the merger of Ashley Cross Girls School and Seldown Boys School. The name 'Ashdown' is a combination of the two previous school names. The construction of Ashdown School began in 1986 in a large field in Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset.

During construction, a [[time capsule]] was placed somewhere within the brick walls, the capsule being removed from its previous location in Seldown Boys School. Fifty [[ash tree]]s were planted around the border of the school's field, to represent the school's new name. On 7 July 1989, the new Ashdown School was opened by [[Princess Margaret]] and headteacher Mollie Snell. Six hundred students attended the opening of the school.

In 1990, Snell retired from her post as headteacher. Ashley Pellegrini, previously deputy headteacher of Mellow Lane Comprehensive School in Hayes, Middlesex, became the new head.

In 1995, the '''Charter Mark Award''' was given to Ashdown for Excellence in Public Service. On 7 October 1997, two arsonists set fire to the school overnight, closing the school for a year. Parts of the building were badly damaged and the music room destroyed. New facilities were constructed in 1999, with a new music room and five new classrooms added. The school received a second Charter Mark Award in 1998.

In 2000, the school was presented a [[DfES]] School Improvement Award.

===2000 to 2013: Ashdown Technology College=== In 2001, under the DfES [[specialist schools programme]], Ashdown became a [[Technology College (United Kingdom specialist schools programme)|Technology College]] and changed its name to Ashdown Technology College. New technology is added in several classrooms, including interactive whiteboards.

In 2005 Ashdown was recognised by the [[Specialist Schools Trust]] as one of the "Most Improved" and "Best Added Value" Schools in the country. The DfES also designated Ashdown as a [[High Performing Specialist School]]. Near the end of the school term, In 2006 Ashdown was redesignated as a Technology College with [[Vocational College (English specialist school)|Vocational Learning]] added to its specialisms. A Sixth Form was introduced. Headteacher Pellegrini was replaced in 2007 by Liz Jones.

In 2012 Ashdown Technology College was placed in [[special measures]] after [[Ofsted]] assessed the school as "inadequate" for overall effectiveness.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9867931.Ashdown_Technology_College_in_Poole_rated__inadequate__by_Ofsted/ |title=Ashdown Technology College in Poole rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted |author=Diana Henderson |newspaper=Bournemouth Echo |date=10 August 2012 |accessdate=11 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="telegraph-20150908">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11851082/Dorset-school-praised-by-David-Cameron-isolates-up-to-40-pupils-for-pencil-case-infingements.html|title=Dorset school praised by David Cameron 'isolates' up to 40 pupils for 'pencil case infringement'|date=8 September 2015|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=11 September 2015}}</ref>

===2013 onwards: Magna Academy=== Previously a [[Community school (England and Wales)|community school]] administered by [[Poole Borough Council]], in September 2013 Ashdown Technology College converted to [[Academy (English school)|academy status]] and was renamed Magna Academy. The school is now sponsored by the Aspirations Trust.<ref>https://www.aspirationsacademies.org/ Aspirations Trust</ref>

In 2015, the academy underwent its first Ofsted inspection. It gained an [https://www.magna-aspirations.org/uploads/asset_file/3_1613_ofsted-report-to-parents-14-01-19.pdf Outstanding rating], the highest award the inspector can give to a school. In September 2015, the academy received national media attention after it removed students from classes for having incorrectly sized classroom equipment.<ref name="telegraph-20150908" />

An Ofted inspection in December 2018 again rated the academy [https://www.magna-aspirations.org/uploads/asset_file/3_1613_ofsted-report-to-parents-14-01-19.pdf Outstanding], endorsing its polarising silent corridors policy. Students were expected to transition between classrooms in silence, arriving at their next lesson calm and ready to work. The policy was also a reaction to the commonly held belief among educators that most bullying at school occurs in the transitions between lessons. According to the report that followed its inspection, Principal Richard Tutt stated that "some of our students have come from schools where they had been subjected to verbal and physical aggression in transitions."<ref name="ofsted">{{cite web|url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-praises-school-with-silent-corridors-and-high-exclusion-rate/|title=Ofsted praises school with silent corridors and high exclusions|last1=Whittaker|first1=Freddie|date=14 January 2019|website=Schools Week|accessdate=16 January 2019}}</ref>

In the summer of 2019, Richard Tutt left the academy <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17394775.magna-academys-richard-tutt-to-leave-poole-school-in-august/|title=Britain's 'strictest' head teacher to leave Magna Academy after winning promotion|website=Bournemouth Echo|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref> to pursue a new role with a competitor Trust. After a term under interim management, the academy appointed Natasha Ullah <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18127776.first-bame-principal-south-coast-joins-magna-academy/|title='Once you celebrate diversity, that attracts more diversity.': BAME principal will begin at Magna Academy in January|website=Bournemouth Echo|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref> as Principal. Ms Ullah joined the school from the [[The Thomas Hardye School|Thomas Hardye School]] in [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]]. She is the first [[Black, Asian and minority ethnic|BAME]] headteacher to be appointed on England's South Coast.

In the wake of the unfolding [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Magna Academy was obliged to temporarily close its doors to students from 20 March 2020. Its early and rapid preparation for closure allowed it to launch a Virtual School on its website at the point of closure.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.magna-aspirations.org/ Magna Academy official website]

[[Category:Schools in Poole]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1989]] [[Category:1989 establishments in England]] [[Category:Secondary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole]] [[Category:Academies in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole]]