Ashcroft High School

Infobox School
name = Ashcroft High School


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motto = A Learning Community driven by High Expectations and Respect for All
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type = Secondary school
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enrollment = 1027
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location = Luton, Bedfordshire (England)
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website = http://www.ashcroft.beds.sch.uk/

Ashcroft High School is a state secondary school catering for students aged between 11 and 16. Located in the Crawley Green area of Luton, Bedfordshire, the school serves the local areas of Crawley Green and Wigmore. The school's current head teacher is Ms Monica Austin.

School life

Ashcroft is a mixed comprehensive school of about average size. The school has 1027 pupils on roll aged from 11 to 16. The school caters for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students from Years 7 to 11. The school's population is diverse. About 67% of the students are White British; 12% are Asian or Asian British from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, or Indian backgrounds; and 9% are Black or Black British from Caribbean or African backgrounds. Ninety students speak English as an additional language at an early stage of development. The school has an above average proportion of students eligible for free school meals. The percentage of students identified with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above the national average, while the number of students with a statement of special educational need is in line with the national average. [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109707&inspectionNumber=310073&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=%5C%5Cschool%5C%5C109%5C%5Cs5_109707_20071213.xml]

In each year group, there are 8 tutor groups, named A S H C R O F and T. Led by a tutor (teacher), tutor groups play a vital role in students' personal develoment and well being.

The school day starts at 8:40 am and finishes at 3:30 pm. There are six 50 minute lessons across the day with a break between lessons two and three and a lunch break between lessons four and five. Also, tutor groups meet for registration at the start of the day and again at the end of lunch time.

Teaching and support staff:

"Leadership Team:"

Head Teacher - Ms Austin; Deputy Head - Mrs Knighton; Assistant Headteachers - Mrs K Cartwright, Mr K Armstrong; Business Manager - Ms J Ellins; Directors of Learning - Mr G Powell, Mrs G Hastilow, Mr R Blackmore, Mrs J Clarke; Director of Student Achievement - Mr Whitehall (Yrs 10-11).

Other Directors of Student Achievement - Mr D Gould (Yrs 6-7), Mr P Reading (Yrs 8-9)

"Teaching Staff:"

Science - A Parker (Head of Science), S Carter, J Clarke, E De Souza, G Hastilow, M Hutchinson-Smith, M Raza, A Sharma, N Stewart, K Takyi-amuah.

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) - J Lawrence (Head of MFL), M Austin, J Lawrence, S Michel, K Ryan.

English -S Robinson(Acting Head of English), A Daniel, P Deeley, G Kuppen, S Muggeridge, G Powell, S Robinson, F Yasin, E Wilson.

Humanities - S McBride (Head of Humanities), R Blackmore, C Gordon, G Manyukwi, M Philippou, M Rehman, B Shortall, C Tremblay.

Maths - T Divney (Head of Maths), M Ali Abbas, S Forbes-Clarke, D Jones, K Maereka, P Ngandu, P Reading, S Ubah.

Technology - J Dave (Head of Technology), Dianne Carter, K Cartwright, S Davies, N O'Brien, P Powell-Tucker, D Talbert.

ICT - C Pugh (Joint Head of ICT), C Stewart (Joint Head of ICT), C Clancy, M Matthews.

Arts - K Armstrong, E Crawford, R Goode, T Kittappa, S Milella, C Tremblay, A Williams.

PE - S Clayton (Head of PE), H Cox, N Forden, D Gould, J Knighton, G Whitehall, D Bull, T Clarke.

SEN - E McCracken.

"Support Staff:"

Cover Supervisors - E Adams, H Francis.Teaching Assistants - D Wilson, C Adair, J Begum, M Benchoui, M Buchonski, J Chapman, T Hunt, B Kundi, L Lowe, S Palmer, H Rumney, N Sachoo, S Simmonds, C Tuley, S Impey (Food).Technicians - D Carter (Food Technology), D Clay (Technology), M Furey (Science), J Kavanagh (Art), L Vardon (Science).

IT - J Roberts (Network Manager); A Fearnley, N Fisher (Technicians).Data Manager/Timetabler - J Rolls.Clerk to the Governing Body - P Taylor.

Behaviour Support Assistants - J Bates, S Daly, L Porter, B Wacey, S Wise-Sharp.Learning Mentors - N Craddock, E Wallis.

Examinations - B Whelan (Officer/Office Manager), D Day (Assistant).PAs - J Lennon (Head Teacher), L Lewis (SLT), S McDonald (DL/DSA).Business Support Officers - S Whiting (Business Officer), S Burnham, S Copcutt, E Tracy.Administration Assistants - M Cook, K Wright.

Inclusion - L Holland (Coordinator), J Connolly (Admin Assistant).EMAS Coordinator - D Scales.

Health & Social Care Officer - M Goldenberg; Attendance Officer - A Healey.

Learning Resources Co-ordinator - S Kelly; Resources Officer - K Pratt.

Site Agent - P Oakey; Cleaning Supervisor - C Lincoln;

Chef Manager - L Williams; Head Cook - S Ward.

Ofsted

Ashcroft was placed into special measures by Ofsted in October 2003 due to "the quality of teaching and learning, the pupils' behaviour, and the effectiveness of leadership and management being of a poor standard". [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=258553&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\109\s10_109707_20040520.pdf] However, in November 2005, Ofsted deemed that the school had improved under the new leadership of Ms Monica Austin and removed the special measures from the school. They believed that "through her good leadership, determination for the school to provide a better education for its pupils, and the hard work and support of the other senior leaders and teachers, Ashcroft High has improved significantly". [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109707&inspectionNumber=282917&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\109\s8ds5_109707_20070714.xml] At this time, Ofsted said that the school needed to improve by providing for pupils' different capabilities and by giving them clear and incisive guidance about how to improve.

In November 2007, Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of Ashcroft High School as Good. Ofsted wrote the following in the inspection report: "This is a good school. The school motto states that it is 'a learning community driven by high expectations and respect for all'. This is evident across the school. Staff work hard to promote this vision. Good effort is made to seek and take account of parents' and students' views. The quality of leadership and management is good." [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109707&inspectionNumber=310073&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=%5C%5Cschool%5C%5C109%5C%5Cs5_109707_20071213.xml]

Specialist status

Ashcroft used to be a specialist ICT college; however, due to the special measures, this was stripped from the school. The school is not currently trying to obtain a specialist status, but the LEA has expressed a wish for all schools in Luton to specialise.

References

* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=258553&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\109\s10_109707_20040520.pdf Report 2003]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109707&inspectionNumber=282917&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\109\s8ds5_109707_20070714.xml Report 2005]
* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109707&inspectionNumber=310073&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=%5C%5Cschool%5C%5C109%5C%5Cs5_109707_20071213.xml Report 2007]
* [http://www.ashcroft.beds.sch.uk/ School website]