Mayfield School, Portsmouth

The original school building was built in 1932 to the designs of architect Adrien J. Sharp in the Neo-Georgian style. It had a central hall, with classrooms arranged around East and West quadrangles. Additions were made to the rear in the 1950s and 1960s, with a new science and woodwork block and sports hall constructed in the 1970s. The building retained many of its original 1930s architectural features, including parquet flooring, wall tiling, fireplaces, stair balustrades and wooden windows and doors.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Funding for a new building was agreed in 2017, with a plan to demolish the existing building.{{cite news |last1=Salkeld |first1=Millie |title=Portsmouth school to be rebuilt thanks to £22m boost |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/education/portsmouth-school-to-be-rebuilt-thanks-to-22m-boost-1-8234315 |access-date=28 February 2019 |work=The Portsmouth News |date=8 November 2017}} This new school was ready for the 2021 September start of term and staff and students moved in and vacated the old building.{{cn|date=August 2024}} Despite local opposition to demolition, the old building was demolished in early 2022, except for the front portico with its decorative frieze and Portsmouth crest mosaic.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The school is located in the buildings of the former Portsmouth Northern Grammar School for Boys and Portsmouth Northern Grammar School for Girls, which were opened in 1932. (The boys school had begun as the Northern Secondary School in Kingston in 1921). After wartime evacuation, the two secondary schools were re-established in 1946 as a result of the Education Act 1944. The boys' school housed approximately 550 boys in 1970 and was run by the City of Portsmouth Education Committee.

In 1975 the two schools were amalgamated with Brunel School (boys) and North End Modern Girls' School to form the largest comprehensive school in Portsmouth, with approximately 1800 pupils. The roll was later reduced by the setting up of Portsmouth's Sixth Form College with the school losing its sixth form.

In 1999, the school was failing academically and was placed in "special measures" after an Ofsted inspection said it was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3193358.stm Training trios revitalise school, BBC News, 2003] With new teachers the school experienced a slight increase in academic achievement, with a 4% rise in GCSE achievement in 2004, compared with 2003.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/851_4303.stm BBC Education League Tables]

In 2005, 150 students of the school launched a protest against the deportation of a fellow student who had previously immigrated from Syria in 2003 after fearing for her safety.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4217131.stm Students rally over deportation, BBC News, 2005][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4202349.stm Pupils upset over deportation, BBC News, 2005]{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Diane |title='My classmates came to the rescue when I was threatened with deportation' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-classmates-came-to-the-rescue-when-i-was-threatened-with-deportation-926525.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-classmates-came-to-the-rescue-when-i-was-threatened-with-deportation-926525.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2019 |work=The Independent |date=14 September 2008}}

In 2007, the school received the Special Performing Arts Status after raising £50,000. The school spent the money on a new dance and drama studio.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The school adopted a house system in 2011. The houses are Endeavour, Discovery, Intrepid and Victory, all named after historic British ships. The house system was in place prior to this with another house named Cardiff.{{Cite web|title=Our School {{!}} Mayfield School|url=https://mayfield.portsmouth.sch.uk/about-us/our-school|access-date=2020-10-19|website=mayfield.portsmouth.sch.uk}}

• John Armitt CBE, Chief Executive from 1997 to 2001 of Costain Group, from 2001 to 2002 of Railtrack, and from 2002 to 2007 of Network Rail, and chairman since 2007 of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Olympic Delivery Authority
• James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, the UK Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979, completed his secondary education at the former (now Mayfield) Northern Secondary School in 1926.
• Sir Barry Cunliffe CBE, archaeologist
• Sir Roger Fry (educationist) CBE. Founder King's Group 1981. Chairman (1996-2011) and President from 2011 Council of British International Schools.
• Mike Donkin, former BBC world affairs correspondent
• Sir John Pestell, Chief Adjudicator on Immigration Appeals from 1970 to 1987 at Heathrow Airport
• Maj-Gen Brian Pennicott CVO, Colonel Commandant from 1991 to 1996 of the Royal Artillery

• Mayfield High School (London) in Dagenham
• The Portsmouth Grammar School - independent school, and former direct grant grammar school

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mayfield.portsmouth.sch.uk/ Mayfield School Website]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/04/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/851_4303.stm Mayfield School League Tables, BBC News]
• [http://www.edubase.gov.uk/establishment/summary.xhtml?urn=116463 EduBase]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Schools in Hampshire}}

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1932

Category:Secondary schools in Portsmouth

Category:School buildings completed in 1932

Category:Community schools in Portsmouth

Category:Primary schools in Portsmouth

Category:1932 establishments in England