Stantonbury School

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The concept for the school developed in the early 1970s with Geoff Cooksey appointed by Buckinghamshire County Council in 1971, where he worked with Tim Brighouse to create the first new secondary school in Milton Keynes since its designation.{{cite web|title=Geoff Cooksey obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/apr/09/geoff-cooksey-obituary|work=The Guardian|accessdate=14 January 2014|date=9 April 2012}} When the school opened in 1974, it introduced a first name policy which meant students called staff by their first name (rather than the convention used in other schools of addressing teachers as "Sir" or "Miss").

Stantonbury Campus was the first secondary school in the country to not require a uniform,{{cite web|title=Stantonbury Campus uniform plans|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18580051|work=BBC News|accessdate=16 June 2017|date=27 June 2012}} but 38 years later the school introduced a uniform for years 7-9 for the September 2012 term following pressure from governors, from Ofsted and growing discipline issues.{{cite web|title=Stantonbury Campus gives the go-ahead for uniforms|url=http://www.mk-news.co.uk/News/Stantonbury-Campus-gives-the-go-ahead-for-uniforms-29062012.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420233433/http://www.mk-news.co.uk/News/Stantonbury-Campus-gives-the-go-ahead-for-uniforms-29062012.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 April 2013|work=MK News|accessdate=7 January 2013|date=29 June 2012}}

The school has a history of educational innovation and has successfully defended the principles of comprehensive education in a climate which has sometimes been hostile to its inclusive and learner-centred ethos.Moon, B. (ed.) (1983), Comprehensive Schools: challenge and change, Windsor: NFER-NelsonFamously, Stantonbury was among the first schools to use the "opt out" (of LEA control) option introduced by the Thatcher Government to free itself of control by the Conservative-led Buckinghamshire County Council.

As part of its original concept as a "community school", open to the public as well as the students, the Campus has facilities such as an athletics track with all athletic sport equipment, a Leisure Centre complete with a swimming pool, a Theatre, and science labs. The Leisure Centre and Theatre formed a separate charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) - Stantonbury Arts and Leisure Trust, establishing in 2014 and later dissolving in mid-2018. The Leisure Centre and Theatre were taken under the umbrella of Griffin Schools Trust when they took over the school in 2016. {{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

The original Stantonbury timetable was significantly different to other secondary schools, incorporating long 1{{1/4}} hr and 2{{1/2}} hr sessions, and during the 1970s and 1980s, suspending normal timetables every fortnight (later every month) for "Day 10", a day of extra curricular activity which was selected by the student.{{cite web|last=Fielding|first=Michael|title=Alex Bloom, Pioneer of Radical State Education|url=http://www.mantleoftheexpert.com/studying/articles/MF%20-%20Alex%20Bloom%20-%20Pioneer%20of%20Radical%20State%20Education.pdf|work=Mantle of the Expert|access-date=5 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331231919/http://www.mantleoftheexpert.com/studying/articles/MF%20-%20Alex%20Bloom%20-%20Pioneer%20of%20Radical%20State%20Education.pdf|archive-date=2012-03-31|url-status=dead}} At the end of each school year, the timetable was suspended for a week for "Week 10".

Stantonbury School is one of the largest comprehensive schools in the country by pupil numbers (Nottingham Academy is the largest since 2009).{{cite web|title=Largest school in UK to teach 3,520|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/sep/15/largest.school|work=The Guardian|accessdate=7 January 2013|date=15 September 2008}} Having been a 12-to-18 school from its inception, it admitted students in Year 7 from September 2006, following reorganisation of secondary education in Milton Keynes.

Previously a foundation school administered by Milton Keynes Borough Council, in September 2016 Stantonbury Campus was converted to academy status and was renamed Stantonbury International School. From then until the contract was terminated with effect from July 2021, the school was administered by the Griffin Schools Trust, which reduced its performance from satisfactory to inadequate. The school closed as Stantonbury International on 31 August 2021, and reopened on 1 September 2021 under the Tove Learning Trust as "Stantonbury School".{{cite web |title=Ofsted {{!}} Stantonbury International |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/143134 |website=Ofsted |access-date=30 September 2021 |date=31 August 2021}}{{cite web |title=Ofsted {{!}} Stantonbury International |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/148835 |website=Ofsted |access-date=30 September 2021 |date=31 August 2021}} All permanent staff were transitioned to the new employer.{{cite news |title=Stantonbury International: Trust loses funds for school where pupil stabbed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-55351308 |access-date=30 September 2021 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=17 December 2020}}

The sixth form is based in its own hall in the centre of the campus; with a library, computer network, and a suite of tutorial and teaching rooms. The sixth-form curriculum and range of activities for students are broad: providing a wide range of academic courses leading to A level and AS level qualifications, along with vocational courses.

A 2018 OFSTED report praised the school's performing arts and physical education programs, and the school has had "specialist" status in the arts since 1998.{{cite web|title=Ofsted Report|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/811397/urn/110526.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829212134/http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/index.php?q=filedownloading/&id=811397&type=1&refer=0|url-status=dead|date=27 August 2018|archive-date=29 August 2018}} The school's community theatre is used by a range of national, international and local theatre companies, in conjunction with the school's annual student production and dance/drama performances throughout the year. Students at Stantonbury School participate in regional and national sporting competitions.{{cite web|title=Stantonbury Campus - Our Badminton Superstars|url=http://www.stantonbury.org.uk/wp/?p=4655|date=14 May 2018}}{{cite web|title=Milton Keynes - International Sporting City|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/documents/B145_-_ISC_Nov_2011_complete_report.pdf}} Beyond sports and arts, students have access to a range of traditional academic subjects and are encouraged to excel not only within the classroom but beyond, as part of a holistic approach to education with an emphasis on educating the whole child.{{cite web|title=Ofsted Report 2015|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2555812/urn/110526.pdf}}

In its December 2018 report, OFSTED rated the school as "Requires improvement".{{cite web| url= https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/143134 | title = Stantonbury International (URN: 143134) | date= 10 December 2018 | accessdate=18 October 2019| author = OFSTED}} In January 2020, another Ofsted Report rated the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, and leadership and management "inadequate" and placed the school in Special Measures, citing intimidation of pupils and staff, dangerous behaviour, staff overwhelmed and unsupported amongst other issues.{{cite web |title=Inspection of Stantonbury International |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50152664 |website=Stantonbury International URN: 143134 |author = OFSTED |accessdate=22 August 2020}}

Almost a year after OFSTED's 'special measures' rating, the Department for Education announced that it would (in effect) terminate the Griffin Trust's management of the school with effect from July 2021, saying that the school "would improve more quickly with a stronger trust".{{cite news | title= Stantonbury International: Trust loses funds for school where pupil stabbed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-55351308 |work=BBC News | date=17 December 2020 | access-date= 3 March 2021}} Members of Milton Keynes Council argued for the school to be returned to Local Authority control rather than to another multi-school Academy Trust company, pointing out that the school's enrolment has fallen by over 25% since its control by the Griffin Trust.{{cite news | title=Councillors continue campaign to bring Milton Keynes-based secondary school back under local authority's leadership | url=https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/councillors-continue-campaign-to-bring-milton-keynes-based-secondary-school-back-under-local-authoritys-leadership/ | work= MKFM | date= 16 February 2021 | access-date= 3 March 2021}} Despite this, the school was taken over by Multi-Academy Trust, Tove Learning Trust in September 2021.

Stantonbury Campus has been a specialist Arts College since 1998 and holds the Artsmark Gold mark from the Arts Council of England.{{cite web|title=Stantonbury Campus - Artsmark Gold|url=https://www.schoolguide.co.uk/schools/stantonbury-campus-milton-keynes|work=schoolguide.co.uk|date=27 August 2018}}

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{{Schools in Milton Keynes}}

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Category:Secondary schools in Milton Keynes

Category:Academies in Milton Keynes

Category:Educational institutions established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in England