The Telford Langley School Explained

The Telford Langley School
Coordinates:52.6628°N -2.4645°W
Motto:Ensuring Excellence
Established:1956 (as Dawley Modern School)
1965 (renamed Phoenix ComprehensiveSchool)
2013 (converted to academy status and renamed Phoenix Academy)
2015 (renamed The Telford Langley School)
Religious Affiliation:Not applicable
Head Label:Headteacher
Head:Mrs Emma Blount
Founder:Mr George Chetwood
Address:Duce Drive
Country:England
Postcode:TF4 3JS
Ofsted:yes
Dfeno:894/4408
Urn:139766
Enrolment:1000
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Houses:Chetwood, Ellis, Springwell, Webb

The Telford Langley School is a coeducational secondary school with academy status, located in the Dawley area of Telford in Shropshire, England.

Its predecessor, Dawley Modern School, was opened at Pool Hill on 17 September 1956 by Mr George Chetwood,[1] to take children over 11 from four contributory primary schools; there were c. 500 pupils on the roll. By 1965 when comprehensive secondary education was introduced the school was renamed the Phoenix Comprehensive School (its name coming from idea that it 'rose from the ashes' of its predecessor). The number of pupils had risen to 1,159 by 1980. The main hall, canteen, and gymnasium, were destroyed in an arson attack on 29 December 1995. The school was at one point in special measures, but standards have improved to the point where in 2007 the school gained a 'good' Ofsted report. The report noted that GCSE A*-C rates were below the national average but the school was commended for the high amount of progress pupils made between Year 7 and 11.

The school converted to academy status on 1 June 2013, and was renamed Phoenix Academy. The school became part of the Telford Co-operative Multi-Academy Trust. The school was moved from Manor Road to Duce Drive at the site of Paddock Mount in September 2013[2] though the redevelopment of the mount was controversial.[3] In June 2010 a Hollywood-style sign for Dawley was erected on a prominent slope of the mount in protest.[4]

The school was placed in special measures again in April 2015, and changed to a new academy sponsor in September 2015, the Community Academies Trust.[5] As a result of the measures, the school was subject to a re-branding which included changes in staff, uniform, and name. In September 2015, the Phoenix Academy was changed to The Telford Langley School.[6] However, the school was removed from special measures in March 2019.[7]

In September 2021, additions to the existing school building and the construction of a new building finished. This was done as a part of Telford and Wrekin Council's 'Building Schools for the Future' program which put £200 million into upgrading and expanding existing Secondary Schools in the borough, £31 million of which were put into the school.[8]

In July 2022, then-Headteacher Mr Steve Carter retired and Mrs Emma Blount (then-Deputy Headteacher) was appointed as the new Headteacher starting from September of that year.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography of George Chetwood : Dawley Heritage . 2024-05-22 . www.dawleyheritage.co.uk.
  2. News: Local newspaper article on the opening of the new site. 4 May 2014. Shropshire Star. 12 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Video about the felling of the trees on Paddock Mount for the redevelopment. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZFmKR3NP1GI . 2021-12-21 . live. You Tube. Sean Ecclestone. 4 May 2014.
  4. News: Article about the Hollywood style sign. 4 May 2014. Shropshire Star. 14 August 2010.
  5. Web site: Call to 'move on' in row on Telford school name. Shropshirestar.com. 2 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Job cuts at under-fire Telford schools. BBC News.
  7. Web site: Growcott . Matthew . 2019-03-05 . Turnaround for Telford school formerly in special measures . 2024-05-22 . www.shropshirestar.com . en.
  8. News: Hundreds of school places created in Telford. 24 December 2022. Shropshire Star. 20 September 2021.