Ashmole Academy
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Ashmole Academy
| image =
| image_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.632689|-0.136182|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| motto =
| established = 1958
| type = Academy
Comprehensive school
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label = Head Teacher
| head =Balbinder Dhinsa{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.ashmoleacademy.org/page/?title=Welcome&pid=315 |publisher=Ashmole Academy |accessdate=8 October 2023}}
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| chair_label = Chair of Governors
| chair = Allison Walling
| founder =
| address = Cecil Road
| city = Southgate
| county = London, England
| country = United Kingdom
| ofsted = yes
| dfeno = 302/5406
| urn = 136308
| staff =
| enrolment = 1,774
| gender = Coeducational
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 18
| houses =
| colours =
| publication = @shmole Newsletter [https://www.ashmoleacademy.org/page/?title=%40shmole+Newsletters&pid=492]
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = http://www.ashmoleacademy.org/
}}
Ashmole Academy (formerly Ashmole School) is a comprehensive secondary school with academy status in Southgate in the London Borough of Barnet. Under the direction of the headteacher Balbinder Dhinsa, around 1,800 pupils (550 in the sixth form) are educated in ages 11–18.
Pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic heritages and a greater than usual number of pupils speak English as an additional language.
History
The school, named after the 17th-century antiquary and politician Elias Ashmole,{{Cite web|last=Brown |first=Derrick |title=Message from the Head |work=@shmole, volume 1, issue 8 |publisher=Ashmole School |date=Autumn 2007 |url=http://www.ashmole.barnet.sch.uk/News/Downloads/@shmolevol8.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927003614/http://www.ashmole.barnet.sch.uk/News/Downloads/%40shmolevol8.pdf |url-status = dead|archive-date=2011-09-27 |accessdate=28 June 2011 }} was founded in 1958 as the successor of Russell Lane Secondary Modern Boys' School which had changed its name to Ashmole School in about 1949,{{Cite web | last =Ambridge | first =Geoffrey | title =Ashmole Sec. Mod. School, London N.20 – 1950–54 – Telling Tales Out of School | work =Blog | publisher =Geoffrey Ambridge | date =22 February 2006 | url =http://ashmoleschool.blogspot.com/ | accessdate =29 June 2011 }} had Southaw School merged into it in 1971, and became a foundation school in 1999. It achieved specialist status in Science in 2002, and added a second specialism, Music, in 2006. The school moved into a new building on the same site in September 2004 costing £14m. The existing administration block was refurbished and opened as the performing arts centre in June 2005. This was funded by the sale of {{convert|38|acre|ha}} of school grounds for redevelopment as housing.{{cite web |url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/610132.land_sale_paid_for_pound14m_new_school/ |title=Land sale paid for £14m new school |last=Galbinski |first=Alex |date=30 June 2005 |work=Barnet & Potters Bar Times}}
On 1 October 2010, it became one of the first schools in north London (second in Barnet – after QE Boys) to convert to an academy after an invitation from the Coalition Government.{{cite web |url=http://www.ashmole.barnet.sch.uk/academy.html |title=Ashmole School becomes an Academy |date=1 October 2010 |publisher=Ashmole Academy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927003550/http://www.ashmole.barnet.sch.uk/academy.html |archive-date=27 September 2011}}
Academic standards
Ofsted gave an overall rating of the school as Grade 1 Outstanding, the highest available assessment for a UK school, following their 2007 inspection.[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100909082111/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/%28id%29/75208/%28as%29/101363_276508.pdf "Ashmole School – Inspection report"], Ofsted, 20 February 2007. {{As of|2024}}, the school's most recent inspection was in 2021, with a judgement of Good.{{cite web |last1=Oppenheim |first1=Brian |title=Inspection of Ashmole Academy |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50176776 |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=26 March 2024 |date=2021}}
Buildings
=Sixth Form Centre (2014)=
A new Sixth Form Centre, including a Starbucks café, a social learning area and a high-tech study centre was opened in 2014.
=Performing Arts Centre (2005)=
Originally this block dating to the early-mid 1970s served as administration and was the centre of Ashmole School. From September 2004 - May 2005, the building was refurbished to become the "Performing Arts Centre". This building holds Drama and Music.
=Main Building (2004)=
The school moved into the new Main Building in September 2004 and it holds the majority of available facilities/subject including: Reception, Sports, English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Languages, IT, Art, Library, Refectory and the Hall.
=Curriculum Support (2003)=
This demountable was originally for Post-16 students, but became Curriculum Support after the new Sixth Form Centre opened in 2014.
=Phoenix Centre (2003)=
The demountable was originally intended to be two classrooms, but since the new school, it was used as an Exams Room, and then later, Curriculum Support. Now the demountable is the Phoenix Centre.
=Technology Block (2001)=
This building holds Science, Media, Food, Graphics, Textiles and Resistant Materials.
=Music 2 (MU2) (2000)=
The demountable was originally the IT room but then served from 2004 as Curriculum support and then from 2006 to 2014, Music 2 (MU2) before being demolished to make way for the new Sixth Form Centre.
Notable former pupils
{{alumni|date=June 2023}}
- Mark Bunn, footballer{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
- Gilbert Gabriel, musician
- Julian Kelly, footballer{{cite news |title=Williams makes light of thunder to strike winner |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/5749962.williams-makes-light-of-thunder-to-strike-winner |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=Watford Observer |date=8 May 2002 |quote=Julian Kelly's goal revived Ashmole's hopes}}{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}
- Graham King, film producer
- Dee Murray, guitarist
- Daniel Peacock, actor and director
- Megan Prescott, actress and bodybuilder{{citation needed|date= March 2024}}
- Dan Gillespie Sells, musician{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/the-songwriting-team-behind-the-coolest-new-west-end-musical-633zx2mz6 |title=The songwriting team behind the coolest new West End musical |last=Hodgkinson |first=Will |date=15 November 2017 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 August 2024 |quote=says Gillespie Sells. He left Ashmole comprehensive in north London at 14}}
- Steve Sidwell, musician
- Rachel Stevens, singer, businesswoman, model and actress{{cite web |url=https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/14717317.parents-believe-reputation---new-primary-school-set-open-southgate/ |title=Ashmole Academy opens new primary school at Southgate site to ease need for school places in Barnet |last=Handley |first=Rhys |date=1 September 2016 |publisher=Times series |access-date=24 August 2024 |quote=secondary school whose former pupils include Amy Winehouse and S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens}}
- Andrew Symeou, author{{cite web |url=https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/leisure/books/13625497.extradited-enfields-andrew-symeou-tells-the-story-of-his-greek-prison-hell/ |title=Extradited- Enfield's Andrew Symeou tells the story of his Greek prison hell |last=Enfield |first=Laura |date=25 August 2015 |work=Enfield Independent |access-date=24 August 2024 |quote=Despite losing three years of his life, the former pupil of Ashmole School in Southgate has managed to turn his life around}}
- Phoebe Thomas, actress
- Amy Winehouse, singer{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/aug/17/music.estheraddley |title='She has had her troubles but she has been catapulted to being a superstar ... the thing is, she absolutely can deliver' |last=Addley |first=Esther |date=17 August 2007 |work=The Guardian |access-date=24 August 2024 |quote=Education Ashmole school.}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ashmoleacademy.org/ Official website]
{{Schools and colleges in Barnet}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Academies in the London Borough of Barnet
Category:Educational institutions established in 1958
Category:1958 establishments in England