Sedgefield Community College
Sedgefield Community college is an average sized comprehensive school taking girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 18 years.
Sedgefield Community College Website
There are currently 970 students on roll; this number has risen significantly over recent years. About a quarter of the students come from the village of Sedgefield; the remainder travel in from a number of surrounding villages.
The college is one of the village's largest employers with 90+ employees. It is one of the three original Eco schools in the North East.
Sporting activities are wide ranging, judged excellent by OFSTED and recently benefited from a large lottery grant. Music and drama activities are also strengths of the school. Regular concerts and recitals are held at the school and in the local community.
Attached to the college and an integral part of the curriculum is a small farm which houses a range of livestock and a small but growing horticultural area. This facility is open to the community and is set to expand in the near future.
Sedgefield Community College is firmly committed to working with its community and is keen to make links and share its facilities and expertise. As part of County Durham's shared use policy, Sedgefield Community College works closely with Sedgefield Community College Association, which shares the facilities.
Contact: Lynne Ackland, Headteacher, Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield, TS21 3DD
Telephone: 01740 625300
Facsimile: 01740 625334
E-mail address:: office@sedgefield.durham.sch.uk or: l.ackland100@durhamlea.org.uk
Website: www.sedgefield.durham.sch.uk
EVENTS
2006 Year of Excellent Results and No Pies!
I yet again feel very proud and privileged to be the Headteacher of your local Community College. This year our students gained 73% 5 or more A*-C GCSE grades. This is in anyone's book excellent. A massive achievement illustrating a sustained upward trend. We have a fully comprehensive intake which makes our 73% even better. Our students from our wide catchment area did brilliantly. I am also absolutely 'over the moon' that in the 14+ SATs, 20 students gained level 8 (exceptional performance) in Mathematics. Well done to the students and staff.
This improvement must be connected to the healthy eating legislation now in force! I am pleased to say that our catering facilities have complied with the policy for the past 4 years since becoming a Sports College. This does link with our catering update though, where soon we shall be opening a fully fledged Community Café serving healthy snacks and lunches all day and throughout the evening.
Building Schools for the Future continues in its planning stage. The 'State of the Art' facilities planned will be welcomed by villagers.
Teachers and former Year 11 students of the college are recognisable by their large smiles!
I look forward to bringing you more news as the year progresses.
Lynne Ackland
Headteacher
Building Schools for the Future
I am pleased to be given the opportunity to update you on the progress of Building Schools for the Future. As you would expect there are many stages to go through before 'as proposed' we get an almost entirely new school in Sedgefield.
The work is due to begin in early 2008. Don't get too excited though as the process is still ongoing through the proposal stage, the final decisions on which schools are to be fully rebuilt and which externally refurbished is still to be made. We do know that we will get a fantastic new facility for Education and for the Sedgefield, Trimdons and surrounding community.
As an already successful school new premises will help increase achievement even more.
Please contact me if you have any comments on our current proposals, which include:
- Incorporating a central learning centre with flexible spaces to be used for large groups, individuals and seminars. The learning centre would be a library and 'state of the art' ICT facility. Again open to the community.
- A new catering concept with a variety of food 'outlets' providing a variety of foods meeting the new nutritional standards.
- Drama and dance facilities with excellent sound and lighting.
- State of the art classrooms for the future with superb ICT facilities.
We shall be truly a 'School for the Future'. We are looking forward to working with the community we serve and hope you take part in shaping the new facility. I will update again when we have further information.
Lynne Ackland, Headteacher
Lynne Ackland, Headteacher writes:
I have noted with interest the debate emerging on the use of community premises by residents of Sedgefield, Morden and Bradbury.
We support positively any ways to encourage community activities and offer the use of our facilities in particular our sports facilities. These are extensive and support many active pursuits.
We are interested to read comments that mention the 'Community College' as being too far away from the village. Whilst we are not in the village centre, we are located in a residential area close to a large housing estate, so for some people access is easy. We also have more parking spaces and floodlights during darkness. The Community Association have access to a minibus which they would be delighted to use to expand their already regular pick-ups. I think that we need a variety of community venues in Sedgefield, each with its individual nature. I see that one writer referred to the restrictions of the Community College. I would be pleased to know what they are?
We are due to be part of the Building Schools for the Future Programme. When we are rebuilt (details still being looked at) we will have the best facilities possible to share with our community, in conjunction with Ceddesfeld Hall, Parish Hall and other local venues.
Currently, as well as fields and sports pitches, we offer large meeting hall facilities, gardening and livestock facilities, a purpose built and recently refurbished Drama Studio, state of the art Multi-Gym, outside Tennis (in conjunction with the Sedgefield Tennis Club) and Astroturf facilities. We also have many smaller rooms and classrooms which are all available to be booked through our Community Association. To make a booking please telephone Mrs Gillian Myers on 01740 621097. There are currently 600+ members of the Association and a mass of adult classes and activities. Local people are welcome to pop in for a coffee, jacket potato or snack from our Coffee Bar.
I can't see how, with such fantastic future changes with Building Schools for the Future, the college premises can be or should be excluded from discussions around village facilities.
We are part of the community and wish to work together with the people to get the best and most flexible deal for all ages.
Lynne Ackland December 2005
Excellence at Sedgefield Community College
A time ago I wrote an article for the 'Sedgefield News' about the Community College. In it I urged the people of Sedgefield to be proud of the college and to support us by working with us to improve and develop our school and Community Association. I would like to thank you for your support and confidence.
I am delighted to tell you that in this years GCSE and National Test results we have again exceeded all targets. We have also achieved the accolade of being one of at least the U.K.s top 10 improved schools (awaiting confirmation as we may be the top one).
This year 64% of students achieved 5 or more A*-C Grades at GCSE. Our National target based on the ability of the students was 51%. So we beat it by miles! This result is also based on GCSE and not vocational qualifications. So we don't send students out with GNVQ Arts and Drama and then claim excellent results. We value a broad and balanced education. Students living in Sedgefield did incredibly well with over 80% achieving 5 A*-C Grades.
For the second year running we had the student with the highest mark in the U.K. in ICT. This is out of all schools including the Independent sector. She will receive a scholarship and help from IBM.
These results mean that all of our children got more than they should have, according to their performance at primary school! The primary schools are fantastic so we have done very well indeed to 'add value' to their already superb results. These results also mean that we have the greatest 'value added' of any secondary school in the locality.
In addition 95% of our students left with 5 GCSE grades so those who were not targeted to get A* - C grades got great grades and will be able to follow the careers of their choice. All of our students left with some qualifications so no one was disappointed.
Our SATs results were also excellent. In science we achieved the highest level 5 + in all of Durham 83% in Maths 80% and in English 89%. Our National targets, set by looking at performance in primary schools, were in the mid 70s so again we did incredibly well. Many students gained exceptional grades.
The staff both teaching and associate, the students and the Governing Body are 'proud to bursting' with these results. We have all worked hard to get to our rightful place in the top 10 highest achieving North Eastern Schools.
Be proud!
We have also had fantastic success in our Sport College and Community Association with membership increasing every day. If you would like any more details of Community Association events of about booking the facilities including joining the modern gym, please phone Gillian Myers (manager) on 01740 621097.
I believe that because the education of the pupils and students that attend the school is very important and the school is part of the community. We therefore welcome comments, questions and, sometimes, criticism. This helps us to move forward and increase our already substantial success. Please don't hesitate to ring me on 01740 625300 or E-mail office@sedgefield.durham.sch.uk
Lynne Ackland. September 2005
Vegetable Box Scheme
Sedgefield Community College is a Specialist Sports College. Part of our Sports College ethos is focussed on healthy living and how to take steps to prevent poor health. We recognise that this includes encouraging physical activity, healthy eating and generally a healthy lifestyle.
Some of our students (from all age ranges) identified that for some people living in local villages, getting access to reasonably priced healthy food, particularly vegetables, difficult. For example some families, older people and disabled people may not have access to a car.
The students, working with a Teaching Assistant and Teacher, decided that they could grow some vegetables and start a box scheme delivering to those who find access hard. This ties in with the ‘5 a day’ drive. This would also form part of their ‘Enterprise’ Course.
So far the students have gained a Poly Tunnel from Sedgefield Borough Council (from a nursery closure) which is in the process of being set up. Some seeds have been planted in our greenhouse.
It is hoped the box scheme will begin in the Summer 2005.
The students involved in this will not all be Sedgefield Community College students, but some form other local schools. All the students have special needs (learning or behavioural). Funding for this project is being raised by the students and staff involved.
If you would like more information, please contact me: Lynne Ackland - Headteacher.
