Wakeman School

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox school

| name = The Wakeman School and Arts College

| image = WakemanSchoolLogo.jpg

| image_size = 100px

| coordinates = {{coord|52.70763|-2.74688|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| motto =

| established =

| closed = 2013

| type = Comprehensive

| religious_affiliation =

| president =

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| chair =

| founder =

| specialist = Arts College

| address = Abbey Foregate

| city = Shrewsbury

| county = Shropshire

| country = England

| postcode = SY2 6AA

| local_authority = Shropshire

| ofsted = yes

| urn = 123563

| staff =

| enrolment =

| gender = Coeducational

| lower_age = 11

| upper_age = 16

| houses = Quarry, Castle and Abbey

| colours = Green, Black, White
{{colour box|green}} {{colour box|black}} {{colour box|white}}

| publication =

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| website = http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/

}}

The Wakeman School and Arts College (formerly Shrewsbury Technical High School) was a co-educational comprehensive school located in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The school was the only state secondary school in the town centre, located just to the east of the English Bridge.

Image:WakemanSchoolShrewsbury.jpg, with the English Bridge to the right.]]

The school was awarded the ‘Artsmark Gold’ by Arts Council England,{{cite web |url=http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/ |title=Wakeman School & Arts College |publisher=Wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk |date=2004-01-01 |access-date=2013-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209163603/http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/ |archive-date=2012-02-09 }} and a new ICT (information and communication technology) facility was completed during the summer holidays of 2008.{{Cite web |last=Bishop |first=Steve R. |date=2016-09-18 |title=Shrewsbury from where you are not: Wakeman roof |url=https://shrewsburyfromwhereyouarenot.blogspot.com/2016/09/wakeman-roof.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Shrewsbury from where you are not}}[http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/Letters/letterpdfs/arts_coll.pdf]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}

In September 2008 the school was granted Specialist School status for Visual Art with Music and Drama in recognition of its particular strengths in these areas. The extra funding available was used to enhance and upgrade facilities for these subjects including setting up a state-of-the-art’ Multimedia Studio.

In March 2011 inspection, Ofsted judged the school to be 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features. The report praised "the outstanding leadership of its headteacher" and wrote "This is a good school which has improved rapidly. All groups of students make at least good progress... Students, parents and carers repeatedly told inspectors that the school is one big, warm family."{{cite web|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/1985771/urn/103027.pdf|title=Ofsted Report of March 2011}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2011 the school progressed to 61.5% of students achieving at least 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths.http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/08/26/wakeman-school-hopes-gcse-success-will-save-it/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003311/http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/08/26/wakeman-school-hopes-gcse-success-will-save-it/ |date=2016-03-04 }}:

In September 2011 as part of its cuts, Shropshire Council decided that the school should close.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-14821639 |title=BBC News - Shropshire Council approves Wakeman School closure |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-09-07 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908061945/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-14821639 |archive-date=2011-09-08 |url-status=live }} Despite a ferocious 'Why Waste Wakeman' campaign by staff, students, parents, governors and the wider community{{cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/education/2011/11/05/hall-packed-in-bid-to-save-wakeman-school-in-shrewsbury/ |title=Hall packed in bid to save Wakeman School in Shrewsbury « Shropshire Star |publisher=Shropshirestar.com |date=2011-11-05 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102182351/http://www.shropshirestar.com/education/2011/11/05/hall-packed-in-bid-to-save-wakeman-school-in-shrewsbury/ |archive-date=2015-01-02 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/03/23/closure-threatened-wakeman-school-to-be-lit-up-again/ |title=Closure-threatened Wakeman School to be lit up again « Shropshire Star |publisher=Shropshirestar.com |date=2011-03-23 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102174205/http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/03/23/closure-threatened-wakeman-school-to-be-lit-up-again/ |archive-date=2015-01-02 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-13002866 |title=BBC News - Petition over Shrewsbury school closure plan |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-04-07 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719063828/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-13002866 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-15933504 |title=BBC News - Wakeman School to close in 75th anniversary year |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2011-11-29 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103151528/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-15933504 |archive-date=2012-01-03 |url-status=live }} the school formally closed on 19 July 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-23367811 |title=BBC News - Wakeman School in Shrewsbury closes for final time |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723214538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-23367811 |archive-date=2013-07-23 |url-status=live }}

To mark its closure and celebrate its role in Shrewsbury the school created The Wakeman 'Look Up' Art Town Trail {{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-20725813 |title=BBC News - Shrewsbury's Wakeman School hopes to leave art legacy |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-12-19 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003165637/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-20725813 |archive-date=2014-10-03 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/default.htm |title=Wakeman School & Arts College |publisher=Wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk |date=2004-01-01 |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225104402/http://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/default.htm |archive-date=2014-02-25 |url-status=dead }} featuring the work of Wakeman students spanning over 30 years as a lasting legacy to the school.

Following the school's closure, its former site is now used by Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury Sixth Form College to take over Wakeman School site |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/education/2013/02/21/shrewsbury-sixth-form-college-to-take-over-wakeman-school-site/ |access-date=9 June 2020 |publisher=Shropshire Star |date=21 February 2013}}