Misplaced Pages

Coteland's School Ruskington was a secondary-level community school in the village of Ruskington, Lincolnshire, accommodating pupils aged 11–16 through years 7 to 11. It formally opened as Ruskington Secondary Modern School in 1957, although teaching had begun the previous year. It federated with St George's College of Technology in nearby Sleaford in 2007, and then closed at the end of 2009 to allow the schools to merge into St George's Academy. The buildings and grounds were significantly redeveloped in 2012–2015 to serve as a satellite school for the academy.

History

Origins

The Education Act 1944 made secondary education available to all children up to the age of 15; a "tripartite system" of secondary schools was established to provide curricula based on aptitude and ability: grammar schools for "academic" pupils, secondary moderns for practical studies, and technical schools for science and engineering. Pupils were allocated to them depending on their score in the eleven-plus examination.

In 1947, Kesteven County Council outlined its 15-year plan for secondary education, which included the construction of a new secondary modern school at Ruskington. The buildings were completed in the 1950s and teaching commenced at Ruskington Secondary Modern School in 1956; the buildings were officially opened by Sir John Wolfenden, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, the following year. Built on a 9-acre (3.6 ha) site at a cost of £100,658, the new school buildings consisted of a three-storeys of classrooms and a gymnasium, assembly/dining hall, library and greenhouse. The buildings were built around a prefabricated steel frame and modular concrete blocks clad in brick. Much of the site was devoted to playing fields, which were supplemented by eight grass tennis courts and playground. The first headmaster was George Morris Butler, who served until 1976; he was appointed to the role in 1955, while the school was still unfinished. Councillor J. H. Brighton was the chairman of the governors at the school's opening.

1950s to 1980s: Early years

When Ruskington Secondary Modern School was officially opened in 1957, it had 300 pupils on roll. By 1959, the school's roll had reached 500, and in 1972, the school leaving age was raised from 15 to 16.

To accommodate this growing population, temporary classrooms were added to the site; 8 had been installed by 1976. A library and a new kitchen were also added in the school's first quarter-century. However, a more substantial extension did not materialise for many years; in 1964, the County Council failed to obtain land off Sleaford Road which would have been used for potential future building. By the late 1970s, it was expected that the roll would rise to 600 in 1981. In 1976, the government offered a grant of £300,000 to fund a permanent extension to the secondary modern, but, despite support from the Education Committee's chairman Ralph Bennett, other councillors (including Tom Hall from Ruskington, Eric Fairchild, Reg Brealey and the Finance Committee chairman David Guttridge) delayed take up by referring the plans to the Finance Committee for investigation. Hall, Brealey and Fairchild stated that the added demand could be met by spending £75,000 on more temporary classrooms, and it was noted that implementation depended on the shape of the proposed comprehensive school changeover in the Sleaford area, which Brealey and Fairchild were hotly contesting. Bennett argued that temporary classrooms would not provide the extra gymnasium, toilets and hall which the school needed. 18 teachers from the Ruskington school wrote an open letter criticising Hall's decision, but the County Council ultimately did not take up the funding in the 1976–77 year (by which time they estimated the extensions would cost £529,900). The next new building work would be the opening of a new laboratory in 1981.

In the mid-1980s, the school roll declined; in 1986, a task group set up by the County Council included the secondary modern's closure as one of its options to deal with county-wide declining rolls, though it noted that Ruskington was unusual among small schools because its roll was expected to rise again by over 8% as the local population expanded. In November that year, the County Council's schools sub-committee voted to keep all of the small schools, though there were concerns that the Education Reform Act 1988's provisions to enhance parental choice would further reduce the roll at Ruskington Secondary Modern because more parents would be able to send their children to Sleaford's secondary modern school.

1990s and early 2000s: Threat of closure and rapid improvement

In 1990, the County Council changed the name to Coteland's School, after the lost settlement of Coteland which is attested in medieval documents and was likely located on land in nearby Anwick and possibly in Ruskington.

In 1993, Coteland's was again threatened with closure due to declining rolls, as parents began sending children to other schools; it was operating at half capacity, with 170 pupils on roll. David Veal took over as head-teacher in 1994 and later recalled that there was "a stigma attached to the school", which he suggested contributed to pupils lacking self-esteem and becoming demotivated, a matter compounded by the eleven-plus exam which primary school leavers sat. Budget restrictions had also reduced the number of staff. According to The Independent, Ruskington was then a village of about 6,000 people, "many working in local food-processing factories, in agriculture or in nearby RAF bases on lowish incomes", and "very few professional families" sent children to Coteland's. Many of the most academic pupils from local primary schools were instead choosing to attend the grammar schools in Sleaford after passing the eleven-plus exam; in 1994, there were only three children in the school who were classed as "above-average" in terms of academic ability. By 1998, Coteland's was ranked the second-worst school in Britain when 2% of pupils attained five GCSEs at grades A*–C. But by 2001, this had increased to 38%, making it one of the most improved school's in the country. Veal said this was largely due to changing the "ethos ... so parents can be confident it is somewhere pupils can learn."

A new technology block was built at the school (in 1998–99) with three classrooms and a corridor link to the old block; funded by £360,000 from the New Deal for Schools programme, it was the first new building at the school in almost two decades and replaced three mobile classrooms.

2005–10: Federation

In 2002, Ofsted recommended that Lincolnshire County Council review schools with under 600 pupils. Two years later, the council's education officers suggested that some of these schools merge, close or federate to make them more economical. St George's College of Technology in the nearby market town of Sleaford merged with two small village schools—Lafford High School and Aveland High School—in 2005 and 2006 respectively. A plan to merge them into an Academy was announced the following year; Coteland's was allowed to opt-in. When David Veal retired as headteacher of Coteland's in 2007, the school joined the federation; with that, Paul Watson became executive head of all four schools. Following a heated meeting with parents, Watson resigned as head of Lafford in 2008, and the school closed two years later. One writer for The Times Educational Supplement pointed out the GCSE results for the smaller schools would be effectively "cancelled out" by St George's results if they merged, regardless of whether they improve. The County Council's leader, Martin Hill, commented that "It will secure first class secondary provision for both the Coteland's School and the Aveland High School".

2010 onwards: Merger into St George's Academy

A feasibility report indicated that Aveland was not sustainable due to falling enrolment and would have to close; instead the remaining two sites would be redeveloped with £20 million of Government funding as part of the academy conversion. A consultation process took place in June and July 2009 and received 127 responses, 85 of which were positive. In September 2009, the County Council published a statutory notice that St George's, Coteland's and Aveland would close and a new academy would open in their place; Aveland was deemed unsustainable and would be wound down in 2011, but up to £20m could be given the new academy to refurbish the other sites. With the notice period over, the County Council decided to back the proposals on 1 December 2009. The scheme was approved by the Secretary of State for Education and, after officially closing on the last day of 2009, Coteland's was merged with St George's and Aveland to become St George's Academy on 4 January 2010.

The school buildings at Ruskington were demolished in 2012 and work began on a new school as part of the academy development plans. Following extensive redevelopment, the new campus buildings were officially opened on 6 November 2015.

Structure

Coteland's School was a state-run community school serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school was coeducational, with a capacity for 378 pupils.

Headteachers

David Beams was acting headteacher for three years from 1984 to 1987 while Brian Edwards was conducting an inquiry into education across the UK. Having previously taught in Swindon and Watford, David Hector Harvey Beams was the deputy headteacher at the school from 1967 until 1989; he taught at Ruskington Secondary Modern School for another year, before working as a supply teacher from 1990 to 1995. He died, aged 62, at Grantham in 1995.

During Watson's tenure as headteacher of the federated schools, he appointed Ruth Kelly to be vice-principal responsible for the Ruskington site.

References

Citations

1. Ward & Eden 2009, pp. 34–35
2. "Primary and secondary education". Sleaford Gazette. 16 May 1947.
3. ^ "Opening Ceremony Today of £112,000 School at Ruskington". Sleaford Gazette. 12 July 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
4. ^ "Memories Come Flooding Back as Old Ruskington School Is Demolished". Sleaford Standard. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
5. ^ "George Morris Butler", Lincolnshire Echo, 5 June 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2016. Archived at the Internet Archive on 15 October 2016.
6. ^ "Head for New Secondary School at Ruskington", Sleaford Gazette, 22 July 1955, p. 1.
7. ^ "Ruskington Head Remembers", Sleaford Standard, 11 November 1976, p. 9.
8. ^ "Getting into the Jubilee Spirit", Sleaford Standard, 12 February 1981, p. 27.
9. "Raising of the School Leaving Age", in Susan Wallace (ed.), A Dictionary of Education (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009; online ed., 2014). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
10. ^ "Teachers Hit at School Delays", Sleaford Standard, 18 March 1976, p. 1.
11. "Council Deplores Loss of Land", Sleaford Standard, 31 July 1964, p. 11.
12. ^ "Council Rethink on School Extensions", Sleaford Standard, 4 March 1976, p. 3.
13. Lenton, Bob (10 January 1975). "Schools Plan Delay Stuns Teachers". Sleaford Standard. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
14. "Millionaire in Fight to Save His Old School". Sleaford Standard. 17 January 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
15. "Millionaire in Fight to Save His Old School". Sleaford Standard. 17 January 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
16. "Delayed", Sleaford Standard, 28 October 1976, p. 9.
17. By the end of 1977, the school governors, local authority and parish council were in discussion about building a new shared sports facilities (with bar or lounge) at the site: "Sharing - A Move Ahead", Sleaford Standard, 8 December 1977, p. 9.
18. "New Report Says Three at Risk", Sleaford Standard, 30 October 1986, p. 4.
19. "Schools Axe Won't Fall", Sleaford Standard, 27 November 1986, p. 1.
20. "Schools at Risk Again?", Sleaford Standard, 7 May 1987, p. 3.
21. "School in Name Change", Lincolnshire Echo, 23 January 1990, p. 3.
22. "Monument record MLI83278 – Unlocated settlement of Coteland", Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
23. ^ Cassidy, Sarah (22 November 2001), "The best worst-performing school ... 'change of ethos' turns round second-worst school in Britain", The Independent, p. 12
24. ^ Berliner, Wendy (25 November 2001), "David Veal, secondary head teacher – how one school got out of the relegation zone... with a little inspiration from Becks", The Independent on Sunday, p. 10
25. "Work Beings on New Technology Block", Sleaford Target, 30 December 1998, p. 9.
26. "School Work", Sleaford Standard, 17 September 1998, p. 3.
27. "Schools Get £20m Boost", Sleaford Standard, 23 April 1998, p. 3.
28. "Small secondary schools to shut?". Lincolnshire Echo. 27 April 2004. p. 3.
29. ^ "Lafford School head resigns". Sleaford Standard. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
30. ^ "Plans to merge schools into £24 million academy". Sleaford Standard. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
31. ^ "Head calls it a day after 13 years". Sleaford Standard. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
32. "Ruskington governors agree to join schools partnership". Sleaford Standard. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
33. ^ "£300,000 boost for academy". Lincolnshire Echo. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
34. "Fighting to save Lafford school buildings". Sleaford Standard. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
35. Stewart, William (21 November 2008). "Merger flattens results". The Times Educational Supplement. p. 26
36. Hall, Jo (20 February 2009). "Academy plan for three schools". Grantham Journal
37. "Aveland High School to close if Sleaford academy scheme goes ahead". Sleaford Standard. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
38. "Public consultation on schools' future begins". Sleaford Target. 9 September 2009. p. 4
39. "Aveland High School to close if Sleaford Academy scheme goes ahead". Sleaford Standard. 10 September 2009
40. "Academy proposals given the go ahead". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 1 December 2009
41. "St George's Academy: summary", Edubase (Department for Education). Retrieved 12 February 2015.
42. Ofsted 2012, p. 3
43. ^ "Coteland's School: summary", Edubase (Department for Education). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
44. "St George's Academy officials open newly-extended campus in Ruskington". Sleaford Target. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
45. "Coteland's School: establishment details", Edubase (Department for Education). Retrieved 14 October 2016.
46. "Epworth Appointment", Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph, 6 October 1955, p. 4.
47. ^ "Changes and Differences in the Educational Attitudes of Colleges of Education Students / by B.H. Edwards", University of Nottingham Library Catalogue. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
48. ^ "Fitting Children for Modern Living...". Sleaford Standard. 20 January 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
49. Directory of British Scientists (London: E. Benn, 1963), p. 249.
50. ^ "Coteland's Gets a New Head". Sleaford Standard. 12 May 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
51. ^ "New Head Is an Old Hand". Sleaford Standard. 19 May 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
52. "New Headteacher". Sleaford Target. 1 June 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
53. "Paul Frederick Watson". Companies House. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
54. "Taking College into Next Century". Sleaford Standard. 17 September 1998. p. 11. Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
55. "Principal Nominated as Teacher of the Year". St George's Academy. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
56. "Brief History". St George's College of Technology. Archived from the original on 11 December 2009.
57. "Re: Principal Appointment" (PDF). St George's Academy. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
58. "School Must Know What It Stands for", Sleaford Standard, 26 November 1987, p. 2.
59. "'Major Local Figure' Dies", Sleaford Standard, 11 May 1995, p. 6.
60. "Ex-Headteacher Dies Aged 62", Lincolnshire Echo, 11 May 1995, p. 19.
61. "Beams", Sleaford Standard, 11 May 1995, p. 64.
62. "Coteland's School Ruskington", Department for Education. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
63. "Who's Who", Coteland's School Ruskington. Archived on 29 April 2009.

Bibliography

• Ofsted (2012), St George's Academy: Inspection Report (PDF), London: Ofsted
• Ward, Stephen; Eden, Christine (2009), Key Issues in Education Policy, London: SAGE Publications Ltd., ISBN 9781446243619

• Defunct schools in Lincolnshire