Jump to content

List of middle schools in England

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Larry Hockett (talk | contribs) at 02:29, 26 June 2020 (Reverted edits by 185.69.145.100 (talk) to last version by The joy of all things). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Middle schools in England are defined in English and Welsh law as being schools in which the age range of pupils taught includes pupils who are aged below 10 years and six months, as well as those who are aged over 12.[1]

The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, reached a peak of over 1400 by 1983.[2] In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in just 14 local authority areas.

History

Middle schools were permitted by the Education Act of 1964, which made additional arrangements to allow for schools which crossed the traditional primary-secondary threshold at age 11. Notably, these changes did not define a new type of school, but rather permitted a variation on existing schemes, while providing for regulations which allowed the Secretary of State to determine whether such schools should be treated as primary or secondary.[3] This had not been provided for in the Education Act of 1944.[4]

The move, pushed forward by Alec Clegg, then Chief Education Officer of the West Riding of Yorkshire County Council, was initially part of a process to introduce comprehensive schools in secondary education. Clegg proposed a model of middle schools for students aged 9 to 13, crossing the traditional divide at age 11[5] as early as 1960, with the scheme fully implemented in September 1969.[6] Earlier moves by the local authority in Leicestershire had seen the introduction of two-tier secondary schools for students aged 11 to 14, and 14 to 18 as early as the late 1950s.[7]

The 1964 Act was followed in July 1965 by Circular 10/65 from the then Labour government requesting that local education authorities put forward plans to introduce comprehensive schools in their areas. However, the circular offered only limited support for a change to a three-tier model of middle schools, as the minister had already requested a review of the age of transfer to secondary schools as part of the Plowden enquiry into Children and their primary schools.[8][9] The Plowden report published in 1967 encouraged the development of middle schools for students aged 8 to 12, developing from existing junior schools.[10]

The law required that all schools were classified as either primary or secondary depending on the age range of students.[5] By 1970, over 100 middle deemed secondary schools were in operation with around 30 deemed primary schools.[11] The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, rose continuously over the next decade, reaching a peak of over 1400 such schools by 1983,[2][12] with the primary model rapidly overtaking the secondary following the publication of the Plowden report. However, from that time onwards, the number of middle schools fell each year.

The introduction of the National Curriculum with set Key Stages aligned with the old primary/secondary model further affected the numbers of schools, with a quarter of middle schools closing in the five years after its introduction.[11] Issues of falling rolls, and queries raised about the academic progress of students in three-tier systems led to further closures.[12]

Statistics

In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in 14 local authority areas, ranging from the 117-pupil Glendale Middle School in Northumberland, to the 1000-pupil Biggleswade Academy in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

In the table below, the URN refers to the unique reference number for each school, linking to its page on the Ofsted website. Also from the table below, it can be seen that middle deemed primary schools have now been almost completely abolished across England.

Indicative map of location and number of Middle Schools in England. Blue markers indicate primary middle schools; red markers indicate those deemed-Secondary.

Middle schools

Bedford Borough

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Following consultation in the summer of 2009 the authority intended to re-introduce two-tier provision from 2013, closing all middle schools by 2015.[13] However, on 7 July 2010, it was announced that the change from 3-tier to 2-tier "would be scrapped"; the reason given being cuts in government funding to schools made by the Coalition Government.[14] One Middle School closed in 2011[15] and two more closed in 2014.[16] In July 2015, the borough council announced its intention to support schools in the introduction of a borough-wide move to two-tier provision.[17] As a result, all but one middle school reorganised as primary or secondary by 2019.

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Marston Vale Middle School Stewartby 9–13 Secondary 580 145861 [1]

Central Bedfordshire

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Some locality groups, such as schools in Dunstable, have undergone local re-organisations to remove middle schools. The local authority supports the principle of moving to primary and secondary provision.[19]

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Alameda Middle School Ampthill 9–13 Secondary 690 137249 [2]
Arnold Academy Barton-le-Clay 9–13 Secondary 600 136829 [3]
Biggleswade Academy Biggleswade 2–13 Primary 1090 137947 [4]
Brooklands Middle School Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 470 137636 [5]
Edward Peake Middle School Biggleswade 9–13 Secondary 450 109694 [6]
Etonbury Academy Arlesey 9–16 Secondary 760 137632 [7]
Fulbrook Middle School Woburn Sands 9–13 Secondary 410 137904 [8]
Gilbert Inglefield Academy Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 440 138003 [9]
Henlow Church of England Academy Henlow 9–13 Secondary 510 138027 [10]
Holywell CE (VA) Middle School Cranfield 9–13 Secondary 610 138844 [11]
Leighton Middle School Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 510 109689 [12]
Linslade School Linslade 9–13 Secondary 580 136766 [13]
Parkfields Middle School Toddington 9–13 Secondary 460 109662 [14]
Potton Middle School Potton 9–13 Secondary 220 109676 [15]
Priory Academy Dunstable 9–16 Secondary 680 138181 [16]
Robert Bloomfield Academy Shefford 9–13 Secondary 920 136713 [17]
Woodland Middle School Academy Flitwick 9–13 Secondary 610 136560 [18]

Dorset

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Allenbourn Middle School Wimborne Minster 9–13 Secondary 610 113859 [19]
Cranborne Middle School Cranborne 9–13 Secondary 390 113853 [20]
Dorchester Middle School Dorchester 9–13 Secondary 620 138186 [21]
Emmanuel CofE Middle School Verwood 9–13 Secondary 400 113894 [22]
Ferndown Middle School Ferndown 9–13 Secondary 540 113878 [23]
Lockyer's Middle School Corfe Mullen 9–13 Secondary 490 113862 [24]
St Mary's CofE Middle School Puddletown 9–13 Secondary 510 138189 [25]
St Michael's Church of England Middle School Colehill 9–13 Secondary 530 113891 [26]
St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Dorchester 9–13 Secondary 650 138165 [27]
West Moors Middle School West Moors 9–13 Secondary 200 113861 [28]

Hertfordshire

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Edwinstree CofE Middle School Buntingford 9–13 Secondary 420 117554 [29]
Ralph Sadleir School Puckeridge 9–13 Secondary 340 117543 [30]
King James Academy, Royston Royston 9–16 Secondary 910 137657 [31]

Kirklees

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Kirkburton Middle School Kirkburton 10–13 Secondary 490 107773 [32]
Scissett Middle School Scissett 10–13 Secondary 570 143792 [33]

Newcastle upon Tyne

A new school is proposed to open at Great Park, Gosforth in 2020, which will be a middle school with age range 9-16.[20]

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Gosforth Central Middle School Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 500 108519 [34]
Gosforth East Middle School Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 490 108521 [35]
Gosforth Junior High Academy[fn 1] Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 630 136348 [36]

North Tyneside

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Marden Bridge Middle School Whitley Bay 9–13 Secondary 480 108635 [37]
Monkseaton Middle School Monkseaton 9–13 Secondary 330 108637 [38]
Valley Gardens Middle School Monkseaton 9–13 Secondary 750 108636 [39]
Wellfield Middle School South Wellfield 9–13 Secondary 290 108649 [40]

Northumberland

Northumberland County Council began a process of closing middle schools across the authority in 2006. This was discontinued as a universal policy following funding difficulties but middle schools have continued to close, merge into all through academies or change to primaries with 25 Northumberland middle schools having ceased to be middle schools since 2006 and a further two set to follow in 2019 and 2020.

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Bellingham Middle School Bellingham 9–13 Secondary 130 122350 [41]
Berwick Middle School Berwick-upon-Tweed 9–13 Secondary 300 122354 [42]
Chantry Middle School Morpeth 9–13 Secondary 530 137747 [43]
Corbridge Middle School Corbridge 9–13 Secondary 320 122326 [44]
Dr Thomlinson CE Middle School Rothbury 9–13 Secondary 210 145639 [45]
Glendale Middle School Wooler 9–13 Secondary 120 122352 [46]
Hexham Middle School Hexham 9–13 Secondary 470 122364 [47]
Highfield Middle School Prudhoe 9–13 Secondary 450 122340 [48]
James Calvert Spence College Amble 9–18 Secondary 740 122363 [49]
Meadowdale Academy Bedlington 9–13 Secondary 430 138078 [50]
Newminster Middle School Morpeth 9–13 Secondary 530 137748 [51]
Ovingham Middle School Ovingham 9–13 Secondary 350 122341 [52]
Ponteland Middle School[fn 2] Ponteland 9–13 Secondary 620 143469 [53]
St Joseph's RC Middle School Hexham 9–13 Secondary 340 122369 [54]
Seaton Sluice Middle School Seaton Sluice 9–13 Secondary 310 122334 [55]
Tweedmouth Middle School Berwick-upon-Tweed 9–13 Secondary 310 122348 [56]
Whytrig Middle School Seaton Delaval 9–13 Secondary 220 122335 [57]

Poole

Poole Borough Council closed all of its middle-deemed-primary schools in August 2013.[21]

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Broadstone Middle School Broadstone 9–13 Secondary 490 141184 [58]

Somerset

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Danesfield CofE Middle School Williton 9–13 Secondary 300 123895 [59]
Fairlands Middle School Cheddar 9–13 Secondary 460 123888 [60]
Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School Blackford 9–13 Secondary 590 123897 [61]
Maiden Beech Academy Crewkerne 9–13 Secondary 400 137118 [62]
Minehead Middle School Minehead 9–13 Secondary 550 136774 [63]
Oakfield Academy Frome 9–13 Secondary 600 136970 [64]
Selwood Academy Frome 9–13 Secondary 600 137741 [65]
Swanmead Community School Ilminster 9–13 Secondary 270 123875 [66]

Staffordshire

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Bilbrook CofE Middle School Codsall 9–13 Secondary 140 124453 [67]
Brewood CE Middle School Brewood 9–13 Secondary 420 124452 [68]
Christ Church Academy Stone 9–13 Secondary 560 136961 [69]
Churnet View Middle School Leek 9–13 Secondary 440 124436 [70]
Codsall Middle School Codsall 9–13 Secondary 540 124424 [71]
James Bateman Junior High School Biddulph 9–13 Secondary 340 124428 [72]
Oldfields Hall Middle School Uttoxeter 9–13 Secondary 510 145376 [73]
Penkridge Middle School Penkridge 9–13 Secondary 430 144206 [74]
Perton Middle School Perton 9–13 Secondary 350 124437 [75]
Ryecroft CE Middle School Rocester 9–13 Secondary 210 145375 [76]
St Edwards CofE(VA) Junior High School Leek 9–13 Secondary 750 139171 [77]
Walton Priory Middle School Stone 9–13 Secondary 400 124426 [78]
Windsor Park Middle School Uttoxeter 9–13 Secondary 350 144007 [79]
Woodhouse Academy Biddulph 9–13 Secondary 450 124432 [80]

Suffolk

Suffolk County Council planned to close all middle schools in its authority by 2013, later delayed to 2016. The two remaining schools became part of an all-through academy trust, thereby removing themselves from the local authority-led process to close three-tier schools.

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Horringer Court School Bury St Edmunds 9–13 Secondary 410 124806 [81]
Westley School Bury St Edmunds 9–13 Secondary 490 137180 [82]

Windsor and Maidenhead

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Dedworth Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 460 110072 [83]
St Edwards Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 480 110086 [84]
St Peter's Middle School, Old Windsor Old Windsor 9–13 Secondary 230 110085 [85]
Trevelyan Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 500 110075 [86]

Worcestershire

Name Location Age
Range
[18]
Deemed
status
[18]
Number
on Roll
[18]
URN Website
Abbey Park Middle Pershore 9–12 Primary 200 116774 [87]
Alvechurch Church of England Middle School Alvechurch 9–13 Secondary 430 143507 [88]
Aston Fields Middle School Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 590 116957 [89]
Birchensale Middle School Redditch 9–13 Secondary 500 116967 [90]
Blackminster Middle South Littleton 10–13 Secondary 210 116960 [91]
Bredon Hill Academy Ashton under Hill 10–13 Secondary 470 143395 [92]
Catshill Middle School Catshill 9–13 Secondary 300 116958 [93]
Church Hill Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 310 142543 [94]
Ipsley CE RSA Academy Winyates 9–13 Secondary 560 139020 [95]
Parkside Middle Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 510 116959 [96]
Ridgeway Academy Astwood Bank 9–16 Secondary 460 139029 [97]
St Barnabas CE First & Middle Drakes Broughton 4–12 Primary 340 144334 [98]
St Bede's Catholic Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 620 116998 [99]
St Egwin's Middle Evesham 10–13 Secondary 370 116984 [100]
St John's CE Middle Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 660 139286 [101]
St Nicholas' CE Middle Pinvin 9–12 Primary 310 144257 [102]
The De Montfort School Evesham 10–18 Secondary 940 116932 [103]
Walkwood CE Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 640 139185 [104]
Westacre Middle Droitwich Spa 9–12 Primary 370 116778 [105]
Witton Middle Droitwich Spa 9–12 Primary 470 116779 [106]
Woodfield Academy Redditch 9–13 Secondary 570 138208 [107]

Authorities where middle schools have been discontinued

Many authorities in regions of England previously had middle schools, with either local areas or whole counties since reverting to the more traditional two-tier model. These are listed briefly by region.

East of England

Norfolk closed its last middle schools - which were deemed primary - in 2008.[22] Suffolk began the process of closing its middle schools in 2006, having reduced its numbers from a high of 40 schools.[23] The only middle school in Cambridgeshire (which fed into Bedfordshire upper schools) closed in 2018.

East Midlands

Northamptonshire closed its middle schools in and around Northampton in 2002,[24] with its final two middle schools closing in 2015. Leicestershire had a number of middle schools which covered the 10-14 age range, alongside others which were for Key Stage 3 students (11-14). The last of the middle schools closed in 2017. Nottinghamshire formerly had a three tier system around Newark-on-Trent and in Mansfield, with the latter closing in 2001.[25]

London

The London Borough of Harrow closed its middle deemed primary schools in 2011. The London Borough of Merton had about 14 middle schools for the 9-13 age range, which were converted to deemed-primary (8-12) schools in the 1990s. These schools reverted to primary use by 2002.[24]

North East England

The three authorities with existing middle schools (Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside) all closed several middle schools since 1999.[24] A number of towns such as Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed still have middle schools.

North West England

South East England

Buckinghamshire's last middle schools closed in the 1990s.[24] Isle of Wight middle schools closed in 2011.[26] Kent's last three middle schools (on the Isle of Sheppey) closed in 2009.[27] The Hoo Peninsula middle schools were reorganised in 1994. Milton Keynes' system of middle schools was converted to primary schools in 2008. Oxfordshire closed its last middle-deemed-primary schools in Oxford in 2003.[24] West Sussex closed middle schools in Crawley in 2004, Adur in 2007, Midhurst & Petworth in 2009 and Worthing in 2015.[24] Its last middle school closed in 2017.

South West England

Devon closed its only middle schools, in Exeter, in 2005.[24] Dorset has closed a number of middle schools, including four which closed in 2013, as well as fourteen middle-deemed-primary schools which closed in the borough of Poole.[28] Wiltshire closed its last middle schools in 2005.[24]

West Midlands

Aldridge-Brownhills, Staffordshire (now West Midlands) - includes the towns of Aldridge and Brownhills as well as the villages of Pelsall and Streetly. Adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 (normally on different sites to 5-9 first schools) and retained this system until 1986, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. The authority had been merged into Walsall (which always had the traditional age ranges) in 1974. [108]

Bewdley and Kidderminster, Worcestershire - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972, and the whole area retained this system after 1974 when the two boroughs merged to form Wyre Forest district council. The system was maintained until 2007, when the traditional age ranges were re-established throughout the area.[29]

Dudley, West Midlands (formerly Staffordshire) - incorporating towns of Dudley, Sedgley, Coseley and Brierley Hill. Adopted 8–12 middle schools in 1972 (some on the same site or within the same umbrella as 5-8 first schools) and retained this system until 1990, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. This coincided with a major reorganisation in the borough which saw sixth form facilities largely concentrated in further education colleges rather than secondary schools, as well as several secondary schools being closed or merged.[30]

Halesowen, West Midlands (formerly Worcestershire) - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system after 1974 when the town was absorbed into the borough of Dudley (see above) along with Stourbridge (which, along with Kingswinford, always used the traditional age ranges). Was one of the first local authorities to abolish middle schools when in 1982 the traditional age ranges were re-established. This reorganisation also saw the town's three secondary schools serving the 13-18 age range become 11-16 schools, with sixth form facilities concentrated at the expanded college in the town, while the town gained a fourth secondary school with the conversion of a former middle school into an 11-16 school.[31]

Sutton Coldfield (which was in Warwickshire until 1974) adopted 5-8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and did so for 20 years before reverting to 5-7 infant and 7-11 junior schools in 1992.

Northern Warwickshire (the area covered by the boroughs of North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby – adopted 5–8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system until 1996, when it reverted to the traditional ages of transfer (which had always applied in the south of the county).

Yorkshire and the Humber

Bradford closed its middle schools between 1998 and 2002, having been the home of the first purpose-built middle school in the country.[24] Kirklees local authority closed three middle schools in 2012.[32] North Yorkshire's two middle schools (at Ingleton and Settle) closed in 2012.[33] Leeds and Wakefield previously operated on the three-tier system before reverting during the 1990s.

Notes

  1. ^ Gosforth Junior High is federated with Gosforth High School
  2. ^ Ponteland Middle School is due to become primary from 2020

References

  1. ^ "School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)". The Stationery Office. 1998. pp. 28(4). Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Middle Schools". Hansard, 4 June 1984, vol 61. UK Parliament. pp. cc64–5W. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Education Act 1964". HMSO. 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  4. ^ Derek Gillard (2007). "Education in England - 1945-1978". Education in England: a brief history. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Middle schools decline due to haphazard development". Times Educational Supplement. 13 November 1981. p. 9.
  6. ^ Jessel, Stephen (12 October 1970). "Guidance on setting up middle schools". The Times. p. 2.
  7. ^ "School of the future". The Times. 12 December 1970. p. 13.
  8. ^ Andrew, Herbert; Department of Education and Science (12 July 1965). "Main forms of comprehensive organisation". Circular 10/65: The Organisation of Secondary Education. HMSO. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Government Clarifies Plan for Education Switch" (PDF). The Times. 14 July 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2009. [dead link]
  10. ^ Central Advisory Council for Education (England) (1967). "10". In Bridget Plowden (ed.). Children and their primary School. Vol. 1. London: HMSO. pp. 344–407. ISBN 0-11-270129-9.
  11. ^ a b Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools; Number of Middle deemed Schools, London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2005
  12. ^ a b Barker, Irena (2 February 2007). "Endangered species?". Times Educational Supplement. TSL Education Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  13. ^ "The Decision Has Been Made..." Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  14. ^ "Two-tier education plans scrapped". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  15. ^ "The Future of Woodside Middle School". Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Major schools shake-up confirmed - Education". Bedford Today. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Two-tier change for borough's schools". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Edubase2". Department for Children, Schools and Families. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  19. ^ "Schools for the future". Central Bedfordshire Council. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Great Park Update: June 2017".
  21. ^ "Latest News - Schools for the Future". Poole Borough Council. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  22. ^ "Norfolk schools close in education shake-up". BBC News website. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  23. ^ "SOR background and archive". SCC Website. Suffolk County Council. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wainwright, Geoff. "Information on Authorities with Middle Schools in 2004". Survey of Middle Schools in English LEAs. Learning Community 7 (North Bedfordshire). Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  25. ^ "Berry Hill Middle School".
  26. ^ "Schools Reorganisation". IOW website. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  27. ^ "Security costs Sheppey school £266,000 in three years". Kent Online. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  28. ^ "Age of Transfer". Poole.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  29. ^ Cousin, S (2008). "Work starts on school extension". Worcester News. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  30. ^ "Work in progress list of school changes in Dudley". Dudley Council. Retrieved 3 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ Hunt, Julian (2004). A History of Halesowen. Phillimore & Co Ltd.
  32. ^ "School changes due to the re‐organisation of Whitcliffe Mount Pyramid 2012/13" (PDF). Kirklees Council website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  33. ^ Proctor, Kate. "Ingleton and Settle middle schools closure confirmed". The Westmorland Gazette website. Newsquest (North West). Retrieved 2 February 2013.

External links