Belfairs Academy (formerly Belfairs High School) is a non-selective secondary school with academy status in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.[1]

Belfairs Academy
Address
Map
Highlands Boulevard

, ,
SS9 3TG

England
Coordinates51°33′01″N 0°38′25″E / 51.55024°N 0.64015°E / 51.55024; 0.64015
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoShaping the Future
Established1955
Local authoritySouthend-on-Sea City Council
Department for Education URN138174 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsDominic Carver
PrincipalBev Williams
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1324
HousesResolute – Defender – Endeavour
Colour(s)   Maroon and light blue
Websitebelfairsacademy.org.uk

Inspection judgements edit

As Belfairs High School, the school was inspected by Ofsted in 2010 and judged Good.[2]

Following conversion to an academy, the school was inspected in 2013 and judged Good.[3]

A short inspection took place in 2016, and found that the school continued to be good.[4][5] As of 2021, this is the most recent inspection.

History edit

In March 1955, UK Minister of Education David Eccles joined local dignitaries at Belfairs High School to open eight schools in the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea.[citation needed]

The opening of these eight schools in the Southend-on-Sea borough would "represent an addition of 3,520 school places." During this period, demand upon the council to increase school locations was driven by a number of factors.[citation needed]

During the war, the County Borough suffered relatively little damage to school buildings. Only two schools were severely bombed, and the post-war urgent need for new school places was therefore only attributable in a small part by war damage. The greatest need has been to provide schools for the increased numbers of children of school age, due to an increased total population, the higher birth rate, and the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15 in 1947.[citation needed]

With an increase in total school places across the borough, a large proportion of these places were created in the development of Belfairs High School. Belfairs was originally conceived as a comprehensive school for 1,600 boys but due to the 'changes in national economy and the need for more school places' the site was developed into two 'Modern Secondary Schools,' Belfairs High School for boys and Belfairs High School for girls.[citation needed]

The two schools were created to serve the area of Leigh-on-Sea, with a zone extending from the western boundary of the County Borough to Southbourne Grove and Crowstone Road. They replaced the former West Leigh High School, which was part of an "all-age" school built before the First World War.[citation needed]

In July 2009, the school was given permission for a £24 million rebuild. Belfairs High School was the only school in Southend to be completely rebuilt under the previous government's 'Building School's for the Future' scheme.[6]

In September 2011, the newly built school building was opened.[citation needed]

In March 2012, Belfairs was granted Academy Status coinciding with a newly appointed head, taking responsibility from Headteacher John Duprey, Beverly Williams.[citation needed]

In January 2015, it was announced that Belfairs Academy and Cecil Jones College would be combined to form an academy trust with Beverly Williams as Executive Headteacher, headquartered at Belfairs Academy Site.[citation needed]

Academic standards edit

Students' achievement is good with 69% of students achieving 5 A*-C GCSE grades (including English and Maths) in 2013 against a national average of 59%.[7]

Notable former students edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Welcome – Belfairs Academy – Shaping the Future". belfairsacademy.org.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. ^ Mcfarlane, Ruth (2010). "Belfairs High School". Ofsted. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. ^ Stoneham, Bill (2013). "Belfairs Academy". Ofsted. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. ^ Lyons, Adrian (2016). "Short inspection of Belfairs Academy". Ofsted. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Belfairs Academy rated "good"". Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Belfairs School rebuilding work is agreed", Echo, 18 July 2009.
  7. ^ "All schools and colleges in Southend-on-Sea - Find and compare schools in England". Find and compare schools in England. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Teacher is proud of Hammer". Echo.

External links edit