- Norton School
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Norton School 
Established 1905 Closed 2002 Type Comprehensive Location Norton Road
Letchworth
Hertfordshire
SG6 1AF
EnglandLocal authority Hertfordshire DfE URN 117513 Ofsted Reports Gender Coeducational Ages 11–18 Coordinates: 51°59′21″N 0°13′09″W / 51.98922°N 0.21921°W
Norton School was a secondary school in Letchworth, Hertfordshire that was founded in 1905 and which closed in 2002 following a period of being in special measures. It has since been partially demolished and redeveloped as a collection of housing and apartments by Miller Homes.[1]
Contents
History
Originally named Norton Road School, the school was designed by Raymond Unwin. It was built in a quadrangle with a courtyard for open-air teaching and to allow lots of light and movement of air. These principles were later to become standard in school design but were very innovative at the time.[2] Over the decades since its foundation, Norton School saw great expansion as pupil numbers grew, with various teaching blocks being added to accommodate these increasing numbers.
In its last year the school's thirty-two staff comprised thirteen staff on temporary contracts and nine from overseas - eight from South Africa and one from Jamaica. Fifteen of the staff joined the school in September 2001.[3] In its final year Norton School was taken over by The Knights' Templar School in neighbouring Baldock, and was renamed 'The Knights Templar School in Letchworth'. At this time the Norton School uniform of a sweat shirt was replaced with the Knights Templar uniform of jacket (with school badge) and school tie.
Following closure, pupils primarily transferred to Knights Templar School, while others transferred to the nearby Highfield School and Fearnhill School.
Former Headmasters
- Edgar John
- Peter Wall
- Keith Wadsworth
- Amanda Roberts
- Peter Chapman (Headmaster of Knights Templar School, and Associate Head with Amanda Roberts)
Notable former pupils and staff
- Shaun Hutson the horror writer attended the school
References
- ^ "miller @ letchworth". http://www.millerhomes.co.uk/explore/NorthernHomeCounties/10401/. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ [1] Norton Road School on the First Garden City Heritage Museum website
- ^ [2] 'School could close for lack of good teachers' The Guardian 22 March 2002
External links
- 'School could close for lack of good teachers' The Guardian 22 March 2002
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