Misplaced Pages

Ashmole Academy (formerly Ashmole School) is a comprehensive secondary school with academy status in Southgate in the London Borough of Barnet. Under the direction of the headteacher Balbinder Dhinsa, around 1,800 pupils (550 in the sixth form) are educated in ages 11–18.

Pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic heritages and a greater than usual number of pupils speak English as an additional language.

History

The school, named after the 17th-century antiquary and politician Elias Ashmole, was founded in 1958 as the successor of Russell Lane Secondary Modern Boys' School which had changed its name to Ashmole School in about 1949, had Southaw School merged into it in 1971, and became a foundation school in 1999. It achieved specialist status in Science in 2002, and added a second specialism, Music, in 2006. The school moved into a new building on the same site in September 2004 costing £14m. The existing administration block was refurbished and opened as the performing arts centre in June 2005. This was funded by the sale of 38 acres (15 ha) of school grounds for redevelopment as housing.

On 1 October 2010, it became one of the first schools in North London (second in Barnet – after QE Boys) to convert to an academy after an invitation from the Coalition Government.

Academic standards

Ofsted gave an overall rating of the school as Grade 1 Outstanding, the highest available assessment for a UK school, following their 2007 inspection. As of 2024, the school's most recent inspection was in 2021, with a judgement of Good.

Buildings

Sixth Form Centre (2014)

A new Sixth Form Centre, including a Starbucks café, a social learning area and a high-tech study centre was opened in 2014.

Performing Arts Centre (2005)

Originally this block dating to the early-mid 1970s served as administration and was the centre of Ashmole School. From September 2004 - May 2005, the building was refurbished to become the "Performing Arts Centre". This building holds Drama and Music.

Main Building (2004)

The school moved into the new Main Building in September 2004 and it holds the majority of available facilities/subject including: Reception, Sports, English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Languages, IT, Art, Library, Refectory and the Hall.

Curriculum Support (2003)

This demountable was originally for Post-16 students, but became Curriculum Support after the new Sixth Form Centre opened in 2014.

Phoenix Centre (2003)

The demountable was originally intended to be two classrooms, but since the new school, it was used as an Exams Room, and then later, Curriculum Support. Now the demountable is the Phoenix Centre.

Technology Block (2001)

This building holds Science, Media, Food, Graphics, Textiles and Resistant Materials.

Music 2 (MU2) (2000)

The demountable was originally the IT room but then served from 2004 as Curriculum support and then from 2006–2014, Music 2 (MU2) before being demolished to make way for the new Sixth Form Centre.

Notable former pupils

This article's list of alumni may not follow Misplaced Pages's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (June 2023)

• Mark Bunn, footballer
• Gilbert Gabriel, musician
• Julian Kelly, footballer
• Graham King, film producer
• Dee Murray, guitarist
• Daniel Peacock, actor and director
• Megan Prescott, actress and bodybuilder
• Dan Gillespie Sells, musician
• Steve Sidwell, musician
• Rachel Stevens, singer, businesswoman, model and actress
• Andrew Symeou, author
• Phoebe Thomas, actress
• Amy Winehouse, singer

References

1. "About Us". Ashmole Academy. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
2. "General Enquires". Ashmole Academy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Ashmole School Cecil Road, Southgate London N14 5RJ, United Kingdom
3. ^ Brown, Derrick (Autumn 2007). "Message from the Head" (PDF). @shmole, volume 1, issue 8. Ashmole School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
4. Ambridge, Geoffrey (22 February 2006). "Ashmole Sec. Mod. School, London N.20 – 1950–54 – Telling Tales Out of School". Blog. Geoffrey Ambridge. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
5. Galbinski, Alex (30 June 2005). "Land sale paid for £14m new school". Barnet & Potters Bar Times.
6. "Ashmole School becomes an Academy". Ashmole Academy. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
7. "Ashmole School – Inspection report", Ofsted, 20 February 2007.
8. Oppenheim, Brian (2021). "Inspection of Ashmole Academy". Ofsted. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
9. "Williams makes light of thunder to strike winner". Watford Observer. 8 May 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2024. Julian Kelly's goal revived Ashmole's hopes
10. Hodgkinson, Will (15 November 2017). "The songwriting team behind the coolest new West End musical". The Times. Retrieved 24 August 2024. says Gillespie Sells. He left Ashmole comprehensive in north London at 14
11. Handley, Rhys (1 September 2016). "Ashmole Academy opens new primary school at Southgate site to ease need for school places in Barnet". Times series. Retrieved 24 August 2024. secondary school whose former pupils include Amy Winehouse and S Club 7's Rachel Stevens
12. Enfield, Laura (25 August 2015). "Extradited- Enfield's Andrew Symeou tells the story of his Greek prison hell". Enfield Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Despite losing three years of his life, the former pupil of Ashmole School in Southgate has managed to turn his life around
13. Addley, Esther (17 August 2007). "'She has had her troubles but she has been catapulted to being a superstar ... the thing is, she absolutely can deliver'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Education Ashmole school.

External links

• Official website

• Academies in the London Borough of Barnet
• Educational institutions established in 1958
• 1958 establishments in England
• Secondary schools in the London Borough of Barnet
• Southgate, London