Ashby School

Ashby School
Address
Map
Nottingham Road

Ashby-de-la-Zouch
,
Leicestershire
,
LE65 1DT

England
Coordinates52°44′54″N 1°27′48″W / 52.74844°N 1.46335°W / 52.74844; -1.46335
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1567; 457 years ago (1567)
Department for Education URN148549 Tables
OfstedReports
Head teacherJude Mellor
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 19
Enrolment1976
Colour(s)Burgundy, Grey and Black
PublicationThe Ashbeian
Former nameAshby Grammar School
Websitehttp://www.ashbyschool.org.uk

Ashby School, formerly known as Ashby Grammar School, is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school and sixth form in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England.[1] The school is situated in the centre of Ashby on two sites.

History

Ashby Grammar School, the original boys' school, was founded in 1567 by Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon.[2] The girls' grammar school opened in 1901. They merged in 1972 and became comprehensive. Ashby School became an academy on 1 October 2012.

Previously an upper school, in September 2022 the school expanded its age range to 11, and became a full secondary school.[3]

Headteachers

Former teachers

  • Sir Mike Tomlinson CBE, Chief Inspector of Schools from 2000 to 2002 (head of chemistry from 1969 to 1977)

School site

Ashby School consists of two main sites, based on Nottingham Road (Blocks A, C, and S) and Leicester Road (Block B). From the 2020 academic year onwards, following Ofsted's safeguarding concerns of students crossing the road between the two sites, Block B became a designated Sixth Form campus. The Nottingham Road site now accommodates years 7-11 exclusively, and was recently extended to accommodate the growing number of students.

In 2019, a new sports pavilion was constructed on site after changing facilities on Range Road burnt down in a suspected arson attack.[4] The new building includes four sets of changing rooms, showers, a performance space, and a small kitchen.[5]

Boarding accommodation

The school provided boarding accommodation for around 70 boys aged 11-19 attending Ashby School, Ivanhoe College and Ashby Church of England School. In 2019, Ofsted gave the boarding school a rating of 'inadequate', stating it was not delivering good help or care to its boarders.[6]

Consequently, boarding provision was removed from the school, and the buildings re-purposed into a sixth form centre with study and dining spaces.

School house system

Until 2019, the school had eight houses: Ashe (grey), Bullen (yellow), Crewe (orange), Erdington (red), Ferrers (blue), Gylby (pink), Hastings (green) and Loudoun (purple).

From 2019, the school has four houses: Bullen (yellow), Ferrers (blue), Hastings (green) and Loudoun (purple).[7]

In 2021, a new sixth form house system was introduced. The new houses are Eagles (red), Falcons (blue), Hawks (green), and Kestrels (yellow). Since 2022, the senior team positions of head boy and head girl have been renamed to house captain.[8]

Performance

In January 2024, Ofsted gave the school a rating of 'Good' across all categories. The school was commended for its leadership, inclusivity, and high quality teaching.[9]

In 2024, at least 70% of year 11 students achieved at least a Grade 4 in both English and Maths GCSEs.

At least 70% of year 13 students achieved three C+ grades in A-Levels, with over 20% of these grades being an A. 24% of year 13 students progressed to Russell Group universities.[10]

Medals controversy

In 2016, Ashby School created controversy when it proposed to auction the medals, including a Victoria Cross, won by Lt Col. Philip Bent that had been donated to the school "to inspire future pupils".[11][12] The medals had been on long-term loan to the Royal Leicestershire Regimental Museum (part of Newarke Houses Museum), but had not been on display there for over forty years.[12] The school planned to use the proceeds to fund the building of a sports pavilion.[11][12] In 2018, the school received funding from the National Healthy Schools Programme for a new pavilion.[13]

Notable former pupils

Former pupils are known as Old Ashbeians.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Boys’ Grammar School

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Girls' Grammar School

References

  1. ^ "Welcome to Ashby School | Ashby School - A Successful 14 - 19 Academy". Ashby School. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  2. ^ Cross, Claire (2004). "Hastings, Henry, third earl of Huntingdon (1536?–1595)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12574. Retrieved 9 November 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ "Age Range Change Across Ashby and Ibstock | Ivanhoe College". Ivanhoe.co.uk. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Arsonists start fire at sports pavilion at Ashby School, police launch investigation". BBC News. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ "New Pavilion to Transform Sports Facilities". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Ofsted report 2024". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ Care and Welfare - House System/Tutor Groups/Year Tutors/Teen Health
  8. ^ "New Senior Team Excited to Welcome Year 7 Students! | Ashby School - A Successful 14 - 19 Academy".
  9. ^ "Ofsted report 2024". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Ofsted/Exams/Performance Tables". Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b "War hero family's anger over school's Victoria Cross sale bid". BBC News. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "School under fire for plan to sell WW1 hero's Victoria Cross". The Telegraph. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  13. ^ Owen, Dave (18 June 2018). "Dilapidated fire hit sports pavilion in Ashby to get £300k revamp". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Angela Piper's Derbyshire Childhood". Derbyshirelife.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Diane Reay : Faculty of Education". Educ.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.