Sir John Thursby Community College

53°48′13″N 2°13′04″W / 53.8035°N 2.2179°W / 53.8035; -2.2179

Sir John Thursby Community College
Address
Map
Eastern Avenue

, ,
BB10 2AT

England
Information
TypeFoundation school
Established2006
Local authorityLancashire
Department for Education URN134996 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsRuth Thompson[2]
Head teacherRob Browning[1]
Gendermixed
Age11 to 16
Enrolment974
Colour(s)Black & Silver   
WebsiteSir John Thursby Community College

Sir John Thursby Community College is a mixed 11-16 comprehensive school in Burnley, Lancashire, England. It is named for Sir John Hardy Thursby (1826-1901), a local benefactor. It shares its site with Ridgewood Community High, a special school with places for 90 students.[3]

History

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The school opened in September 2006 as part of a plan to replace all of the district's 11-16 schools, funded by a government public–private partnership programme called Building Schools for the Future. It was formed from the merger of the former Barden High School and Walshaw High School, and occupies the former Walshaw site. Elaine Dawson, who had been the head of Walshaw since 2004, became the new school's first head teacher.[4]

Former schools

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Barden High School was a boys comprehensive school with only approximately 350 pupils in 2002.[5]

Walshaw High School was a girls high school with about 800 pupils and has been described as "a successful and flourishing school".[6]

New building

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The School originally operated from the former Walshaw building, however in 2009 the schools moved a new £33M complex on the same site, with the former Walshaw building subsequently being demolished and new playing fields made in its place.[7] In January 2011, David Burton replaced Elaine Dawson as head teacher.[4][8]

Attainment

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Pupils with equivalent of 5 or more GCSEs grade C or above (inc. English & Maths)
Year (Source) Students % special educational needs England % School %
2004* (BBC)(BBC) (76 175) 251 (7.9 8.0) 7.9 42.7 (11.0 35.0) 27.0
2005* (BBC)(BBC) (62 145) 264 (12.9 15.1) 11.7 44.9 (21.0 28.0) 20.0
2006 - - - -
2007 (BBC) 213 8.4 46.7 27.0
2008 (BBC) 209 15.7 47.6 26.0
2009 (BBC) 175 42.9 49.8 42.0
2010 (DfE) 147 40.9 53.4 47.0
2011 (DfE) 159 21.0 58.9 38.0
2012 (DfE) 182 25.0 59.4 38.0
2013 (DfE) 201 20.0 59.2 48.0
2014 (DfE) 200 11.0 53.4 36.0
2015 (DfE) 194 3.0 53.8 48.0
*Figures for previous school, in this case: Barden (boys) & Walshaw (girls) High Schools

In 2007, the school's value-added measure was 987.5 (national average 1000).[9]

Notable former pupils

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Barden High School

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Walshaw High School

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  • Maya Vaja, radio presenter.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Sir John Thursby Community College - GOV.UK".
  2. ^ "Sir John Thursby Community College - GOV.UK".
  3. ^ "Phase 2 Schools - Ridgewood Community High School". Lancashire County Council. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Burnley headteacher to retire". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Our School... Barden High, Burnley". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Our School..." Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 8 October 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  7. ^ Jon Livesey (21 October 2008). "VIDEO: £33m Burnley superschool takes shape". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  8. ^ "New Burnley 'super school' headteacher (34)". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  9. ^ "League Tables: Sir John Thursby Community College". BBC News. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Head is proud". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 6 February 2016.