Pensnett High School

Infobox UK school
name = Pensnett High School


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latitude = 52.49447
longitude = -2.13923
dms = dms
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established =
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head_label = Headteacher
head = Dr Susan Bains
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street = Tiled House Lane
city = Brierley Hill
county = West Midlands
country = England
postcode = DY5 4LN
LEA = Dudley
ofsted = 103864
staff =
enrollment = 650
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
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website = http://www.pensnett.com
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The Pensnett High School is a secondary school located in the Pensnett area of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands of England. There are around 550 pupils aged 11-16 on the roll. It serves a disadvantaged area with high unemployment and is notable for increasing numbers of students from families of asylum seekers who originate from Asia and Eastern Europe. The current head teacher is Sue Bains. [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=298525&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\103\s5_103864_20070718.pdf "Pensnett School of Technology"] , Ofsted, 27 June 2007]

History

Originally known as the "Pensnett Secondary Modern School", it was built during the 1930s at a time when major housebuilding was taking place among the private and public sector across Pensnett. The original school building is still in existence.

Eric Hancock was the Headmaster of Pensnett Secondary Modern School from 1956 until he retired in 1972. Hancock also purchased the old organ from nearby St Mark's Church for use by the school orchestra. [Dudley News, 12 December 1986] He died in December 1986 at the age of 76.

Academic standards

The school was formerly notable for its unusually low academic standards and it was not successful in its resubmission for specialist status. The Ofsted report in June 2006, that graded the school four, "Unsatisfactory", on a four point scale, said "The overall effectiveness of the school is inadequate. The school does not provide satisfactory value for money. These judgements are made because of inadequate teaching in some subjects, leading to a decline in student progress and poor standards.". [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=277016&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\103\s5_103864_20060911.pdf "Pensnett School of Technology"] , Ofsted, 22 June 2006]

Following a reinspection in July 2007 Ofsted graded the school on point 3, "Satisfactory", and said "Pensnett is a satisfactory and improving school. It has made good progress since its last inspection and its reputation is getting better.". However, performance was still "Unsatisfactory" in 'The standards reached by learners' and 'The attendance of learners'.

In September 2007, the school underwent a name change from "Pensnett School of Technology" to "Pensnett High School"

Engineering

Pensnett is a 'Centre of Excellence' for the teaching of NVQ level 2 engineering in schools. [ [http://www.semta.org.uk/NTOPubImages.nsf/vGraphics/SWDP_Part2a/$file/SWDP_Part2a.pdf "Sector Workforce Development Plan for Engineering Manufacture 2001-2005"] , EMTA, 2001]

In 2004, the School won the 'Best Overall Entry' in the Engineering Employers Federation competition where nine schools from across the West Midlands transformed an old Mini or Metro into a car fit for a superhero. Pensnett decided to convert their car into a space ship complete with laser beams and a satellite! ["Pupils create a car that’s out of this world", New Recruit, Autumn 2004, Jonathan Lee Recruitment]

Hansard

In July 2001, in response to a written question by Peter Ainsworth MP to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell included Pensnett School of Technology in a list of those schools which have benefited from the work of school sports coordinators. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010702/text/10702w21.htm "School Sports Co-ordinators"] , House of Commons Hansard Written Answers, 2 Jul 2001 : Column: 77W]

Music during lessons

The School have successfully experimented with playing music during lessons and have found that music can aid learning and improve behaviour. [ [http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2108372 "Tuned in"] , David Newnham, Times Educational Supplement, 10 June 2005]

ports facilities

In April 2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers player Craig Davies opened a £1.3 million community sports hall that can also be used by residents, sports groups and clubs during non-school hours. [ [http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2007/03/27/wolves-ace-launches-sports-hall/ "Wolves ace launches sports hall"] , Express and Star, 4 April 2007]

Notable Faculty

*Sir Geoff Hampton, now a professor at the University of Wolverhampton.

Proposed closure

Just three months later, plans were unveiled to close the school by September 2010 and merge it with The Crestwood School, which stands just over Brierley Hill's border in Kingswinford. If the merger goes ahead, some pupils may also be transferred to Holly Hall School.

References

External links

* [http://www.pensnett.dudley.gov.uk/psot/home.html Official website]