Queensbury Academy (Bedfordshire)

Queensbury Academy (formerly Queensbury Upper School) is an 11–18 mixed, secondary school and sixth form with academy status in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. It was established in 1972 and adopted its present name after becoming an academy in September 2012. It is part of the Anthem Schools Trust (formerly CfBT Schools Trust).[3]

Queensbury Academy
Address
Langdale Road

Dunstable
,
Bedfordshire
,
LU6 3BU

England
Coordinates51°52′42″N 0°31′42″W
Information
Former nameQueensbury Upper School
TypeAcademy
MottoAchieving potential by learning together
Established1972 (1972)
Local authorityCentral Bedfordshire Council
TrustAnthem Schools Trust
Department for Education URN138571 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalMark Little[1]
GenderMixed
Age range11–18
Enrolment1,046 (2019)[2]
Capacity1,350[2]
Houses
  •      Rowling
  •      Hawking
  •      Sugar
  •      Ennis
Colour(s)Burgundy and Grey         
Websitewww.queensburyacademy.com

History

Kingsbury Technical School (a mixed technical school) and Queen Eleanor's Grammar School for Girls merged in 1972 to form Queensbury Upper School, when Bedfordshire changed from a two-tier school system to a three-tier system.

Queensbury was the second grant-maintained school. The school had been flagged for closure but the community, including the local Member of Parliament, David Madel, fought to keep it open and took advantage of the introduction of the grant-maintained system introduced in 1988. Grant-maintained schools were abolished in 1998, and Queensbury was converted to a foundation school. During its ten years as a grant-maintained school, it grew from having very low enrolment numbers (as the school was due to close) to being heavily oversubscribed.

The school was converted to an academy in September 2012, and was renamed Queensbury Academy.

School site

Because the school used to be two separate schools, the buildings are quite a distant apart and there is some duplication in rooms across the school. There are, for instance, two gyms, main halls and canteens. There are two entrances from different sides of the site, although the main entrance leading to reception in the Central building is on Langdale Road.

Until the completion of Central building, where there is one purpose built staff room, there were also two staff rooms – one per building.

On Langdale Road, there is a staff entrance to East building (the former Queen Eleanor's), and a main entrance to Central building. Opposite Meadway there is an entrance to West building (via Canesworde Road). 'Central' building was added in 1999. The buildings have been updated to include IT suites in all buildings and new signage. Further recent improvements include new windows, a cafeteria area, an environmental centre and a covered outside picnic area for students. The academy also has a fitness suite for students and staff to use.

House system

The school uses a vertical house system to encourage teamwork and competition within the school, with awards and points being given to houses for various events. Each tutor group is assigned to a house. The houses are based in the two main buildings with Ennis and Rowling in the 'East' and Hawking and Sugar in the 'West'. Until 2013, the houses were named (with colours): Mead (green), Canesworde (yellow), Langdale (blue) and Hilton (red), after the four roads that surround the school site. The houses compete against each other during an annual Sports Day and occasional afternoon events; these give "Q Points" depending on a house's finishing position which are used to give a film afternoon reward to the students.

The ties, although the same design and basic colours have a stripe in a colour representing their house. Each house is named after an influential person and these are:

Principals
  • Mark Little (2019-present)
  • Oliver Button (2012–2019)
  • Jill Coughlan CBE (2012), interim
  • Nigel Hill (2003–2012)
  • Lynn Morgan (2003), interim
  • Bob Clayton (1994–2003)
  • Keith Barker (1984–1994)
  • Christina Scott (1972–1984)
gollark: ... and now a copper, this is ridiculous.
gollark: I somehow managed to catch two thunders *five minutes apart* just now.
gollark: Weird, desert is nearly empty.
gollark: It seems to have randomly become unsick anyway, so that's fine.
gollark: I have a sick 4d1h egg; it's really unlikely to die if it becomes a hatchling, right?

References
  1. "Principal's Message". Queensbury Academy. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. "Queensbury Academy". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. "Anthem Schools Trust". Queensbury Academy. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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