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Sirius Academy West (formerly Sirius Academy, Pickering High School, Kingston High School and The Boulevard) is a secondary school in Hull, England. It was renamed Sirius Academy in September 2009 under Building Schools for the Future, with Sports College specialist status.

History

The last headteacher of Pickering High School was Elaine Wadsworth, who was replaced by a principal, Cathy Taylor, when the school became an academy.

In September 2011 the school moved into a new £48.5 million building which replaced an older one, bringing the school within one site, with a new sports hall to support sports college status.

The school's GCSE results have improved over the years.

After becoming an academy the school was originally known as Sirius Academy. However, in 2015 Thomas Ferens Academy joined the Sirius Academy Multi Academy Trust and was renamed Sirius Academy North. Sirius Academy was renamed Sirius Academy West to distinguish the two institutions.

Facilities

School facilities include an all-weather pitch, sports hall, sports lab, hair and beauty salon, industrial quality food technology rooms, dance studio, construction bays and an eco-dome.

Ofsted

The 2003 Ofsted inspection rated the school as Grade 2 "Good", highlighting strengths, and improvements to be made.

Strengths:

• Very good leadership and management by the headteacher and managerial teaching staff
• Good teaching in lessons resulting in good learning and positive relationships
• Provisions made for special education needs (SEN) pupils
• Systems for monitoring pupil progression

Improvements were suggested in:

• Teaching, particularly in mathematics
• The greater use of ICT to assist learning
• Attendance and punctuality
• The modernising of teaching and recreational areas to improve learning and safety

In March 2014 an Ofsted inspection rated the school as "Outstanding" in all areas.

In May 2022 an Ofsted inspection rated the school as "Good". However, it noted that behaviour and attitudes requires improvement.

Former pupils

Kingston High School

• John Alderton
• Tom Courtenay
• Amy Johnson
• Alan Plater

References

1. This is Hull and East Riding (25 February 2009). "Principal's U-turn over academy role". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
2. "Sirius Academy Open For Business". Pickering Ward Liberal Democrats. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
3. "Alderton, John". Who's Who 2008. A&C Black. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8. Education: Kingston High Sch., Hull
4. Greenwood, Lynne (1 April 2011). "My best teacher - Sir Tom Courtenay". Tes Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
5. "Amy Johnson pioneering aviator" (PDF). Hull Local Studies Library, Hull City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
6. Coveney, Michael (25 June 2010). "Alan Plater obituary". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.

Further reading

• A Hull School in Wartime: Kingston High School's Evacuation to Scarborough (paperback) by John D. Hicks ISBN 0-948929-29-4
• Bob Rosner (2005) One of the Lucky Ones: rescued by the Kindertransport.Beth Shalom, Newark (England) ISBN 0-9543001-9-X.

External links

• Official website
• School's Ofsted Report
• GCSE Results in more detail
• (http://www.oldkingstonianshull.org.uk/ Old Kingstonians' Association website)

• Academies in Kingston upon Hull
• Educational institutions established in 1895
• Secondary schools in Kingston upon Hull
• 1895 establishments in England