# Magna Academy > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Magna_Academy > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Magna_Academy.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Academy > Source revision: 1353041991 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Academy in Poole, Dorset, England Magna Academy Location Ashdown Close Canford Heath Poole , Dorset , BH17 8RE England Information Type Academy Established 1989 Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Department for Education URN 139711 Tables Ofsted Reports Principal Phil Midworth Gender Co-educational Age 11 to 18 Enrolment 877 Colours Blue/Grey/Cyan Website https://www.magna-aspirations.org/ **Magna Academy** is a [co-educational](/source/Co-educational) secondary [school](/source/School) and [sixth form](/source/Sixth_form) located on [Canford Heath](/source/Canford_Heath) area of [Poole](/source/Poole) in the [English county](/source/English_county) of [Dorset](/source/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](/source/Time_capsule) was placed somewhere within the brick walls, the capsule being removed from its previous location in Seldown Boys School. Fifty [ash trees](/source/Ash_tree) 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](/source/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](/source/DfES) School Improvement Award. ### 2000 to 2013: Ashdown Technology College In 2001, under the DfES [specialist schools programme](/source/Specialist_schools_programme), Ashdown became a [Technology College](/source/Technology_College_(United_Kingdom_specialist_schools_programme)) 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](/source/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](/source/High_Performing_Specialist_School). Near the end of the school term, In 2006 Ashdown was redesignated as a Technology College with [Vocational Learning](/source/Vocational_College_(English_specialist_school)) 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](/source/Special_measures) after [Ofsted](/source/Ofsted) assessed the school as "inadequate" for overall effectiveness.[1][2] ### 2013 onwards: Magna Academy Previously a [community school](/source/Community_school_(England_and_Wales)) administered by [Poole Borough Council](/source/Poole_Borough_Council), in September 2013 Ashdown Technology College converted to [academy status](/source/Academy_(English_school)) and was renamed Magna Academy. The school is now sponsored by the Aspirations Trust.[3] In 2015, the academy underwent its first Ofsted inspection. It gained an [Outstanding rating](https://www.magna-aspirations.org/uploads/asset_file/3_1613_ofsted-report-to-parents-14-01-19.pdf), 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.[2] An Ofted inspection in December 2018 again rated the academy [Outstanding](https://www.magna-aspirations.org/uploads/asset_file/3_1613_ofsted-report-to-parents-14-01-19.pdf), 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."[4] In the summer of 2019, Richard Tutt left the academy [5] to pursue a new role with a competitor Trust. After a term under interim management, the academy appointed Natasha Ullah [6] as Principal. Ms Ullah joined the school from the [Thomas Hardye School](/source/The_Thomas_Hardye_School) in [Dorchester](/source/Dorchester%2C_Dorset). She is the first [BAME](/source/Black%2C_Asian_and_minority_ethnic) headteacher to be appointed on England's South Coast. In the wake of the unfolding [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Diana Henderson (10 August 2012). ["Ashdown Technology College in Poole rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted"](http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9867931.Ashdown_Technology_College_in_Poole_rated__inadequate__by_Ofsted/). *Bournemouth Echo*. Retrieved 11 September 2015. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-telegraph-20150908_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-telegraph-20150908_2-1) ["Dorset school praised by David Cameron 'isolates' up to 40 pupils for 'pencil case infringement'"](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). *The Daily Telegraph*. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [https://www.aspirationsacademies.org/](https://www.aspirationsacademies.org/) Aspirations Trust 1. **[^](#cite_ref-ofsted_4-0)** Whittaker, Freddie (14 January 2019). ["Ofsted praises school with silent corridors and high exclusions"](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-praises-school-with-silent-corridors-and-high-exclusion-rate/). *Schools Week*. Retrieved 16 January 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Britain's 'strictest' head teacher to leave Magna Academy after winning promotion"](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17394775.magna-academys-richard-tutt-to-leave-poole-school-in-august/). *Bournemouth Echo*. Retrieved 5 April 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["'Once you celebrate diversity, that attracts more diversity.': BAME principal will begin at Magna Academy in January"](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18127776.first-bame-principal-south-coast-joins-magna-academy/). *Bournemouth Echo*. Retrieved 5 April 2020. ## External links - [Magna Academy official website](https://www.magna-aspirations.org/) v t e Education in Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Primary Atlantic Academy Portland St Mark's CE Primary School St Peter's RC School Secondary All Saints CE Academy Atlantic Academy Portland Avonbourne Boys' Academy Avonbourne Girls' Academy Beaminster School The Bishop of Winchester Academy The Blandford School The Bourne Academy Budmouth Academy Corfe Hills School The Cornerstone Academy Ferndown Upper School Gillingham School Glenmoor Academy The Grange School The Gryphon School Highcliffe School LeAF Studio Lytchett Minster School Magna Academy Oak Academy Poole High School The Purbeck School Queen Elizabeth's School St Aldhelm's Academy St Edward's RC & CE School St Peter's RC School Shaftesbury School The Sir John Colfox Academy Sturminster Newton High School The Thomas Hardye School Twynham School Wey Valley Academy Winton Academy The Woodroffe School Grammar Bournemouth School Bournemouth School for Girls Parkstone Grammar School Poole Grammar School Independent (preparatory) Castle Court School Dumpton School Hanford School Port Regis School Sherborne Preparatory School Independent Bournemouth Collegiate School Bryanston School Canford School Clayesmore School Leweston School Milton Abbey School Ringwood Waldorf School Sherborne School Sherborne School for Girls Talbot Heath School Further education colleges Bournemouth and Poole College Kingston Maurward College Weymouth College Higher education Arts University Bournemouth Bournemouth University Health Sciences University Defunct Beaminster Grammar School Cranborne Chase School Durnford School Foster's School Homefield School Newell House School Oakdale School The Old Malthouse School St George's School St Peter's Primary School Swanage Grammar School Uplands School Weymouth College (independent) [50°44′54″N 1°57′56″W / 50.74833°N 1.96556°W / 50.74833; -1.96556](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Magna_Academy¶ms=50_44_54_N_1_57_56_W_) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Magna Academy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Academy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Academy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.