Wakeman School

The Wakeman School and Arts College (formerly Shrewsbury Technical High School) was a co-educational comprehensive school located in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The school was the only state secondary school in the town centre, located just to the east of the English Bridge.

The Wakeman School viewed from across the River Severn, with the English Bridge to the right.

The Wakeman School and Arts College
Address
Abbey Foregate

Shrewsbury
,
Shropshire
,
SY2 6AA

England
Coordinates52°42′27″N 2°44′49″W
Information
TypeComprehensive
Closed2013
Local authorityShropshire
SpecialistArts College
Department for Education URN123563 Tables
OfstedReports
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 16
HousesQuarry, Castle and Abbey
Colour(s)Green, Black, White
     
Websitehttp://www.wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk/

The school was awarded the ‘Artsmark Gold’ by Arts Council England,[1] and a new ICT facility was completed during the summer holidays of 2008.[2]

In September 2008 the school was granted Specialist School status for Visual Art with Music and Drama in recognition of its particular strengths in these areas. The extra funding available was used to enhance and upgrade facilities for these subjects including setting up a state-of-the-art’ Multimedia Studio.

In March 2011 inspection, Ofsted judged the school to be 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features. The report praised "the outstanding leadership of its headteacher" and wrote "This is a good school which has improved rapidly. All groups of students make at least good progress... Students, parents and carers repeatedly told inspectors that the school is one big, warm family."[3] In 2011 the school progressed to 61.5% of students achieving at least 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and Maths.[4]

In September 2011 as part of its cuts, Shropshire Council decided that the school should close.[5] Despite a ferocious 'Why Waste Wakeman' campaign by staff, students, parents, governors and the wider community[6][7][8][9] the school formally closed on 19 July 2013.[10]

To mark its closure and celebrate its role in Shrewsbury the school created The Wakeman 'Look Up' Art Town Trail [11][12] featuring the work of Wakeman students spanning over 30 years as a lasting legacy to the school.

Following the school's closure, its former site is now used by Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.[13]

Notable former pupils

Shrewsbury Technical High School

Wakeman Grammar School

References
  1. "Wakeman School & Arts College". Wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  3. "Ofsted Report of March 2011" (PDF).
  4. http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/08/26/wakeman-school-hopes-gcse-success-will-save-it/ Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine:
  5. "BBC News - Shropshire Council approves Wakeman School closure". Bbc.co.uk. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  6. "Hall packed in bid to save Wakeman School in Shrewsbury « Shropshire Star". Shropshirestar.com. 5 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  7. "Closure-threatened Wakeman School to be lit up again « Shropshire Star". Shropshirestar.com. 23 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  8. "BBC News - Petition over Shrewsbury school closure plan". Bbc.co.uk. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  9. "BBC News - Wakeman School to close in 75th anniversary year". Bbc.co.uk. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  10. "BBC News - Wakeman School in Shrewsbury closes for final time". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  11. "BBC News - Shrewsbury's Wakeman School hopes to leave art legacy". Bbc.co.uk. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. "Wakeman School & Arts College". Wakeman.shropshire.sch.uk. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  13. "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College to take over Wakeman School site". Shropshire Star. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
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