East Point Academy

East Point Academy
Established 2011 (1938 as Kirkley Community High School)
Type Academy
Principal Kevin Blakey[1]
Location Kirkley Run
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0UQ
England
Coordinates: 52°28′06″N 1°43′42″E / 52.46824°N 1.72840°E / 52.46824; 1.72840
Local authority Suffolk
DfE URN 137134 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 630 [2]
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11–16[3]
Website East Point Academy

East Point Academy is an academy located in the Kirkley district of Lowestoft, in the English county of Suffolk. It educates children from ages 11 to 16.

History

Before September 2011, the school was known as Kirkley Community High School being administered by Suffolk County Council,[4][5][6] before converting to academy status as part of the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET).

In December 2014, the Norfolk based Inspiration Trust formally took over the running of the academy and appointed Kevin Blakey as Principal.[1] The main reasons (see 2014 takeover section below) behind this was the failure of the AET to move the academy out of special measures and that the IT were better geographically placed with its Norfolk base to continuously improve the academy, compared to the relative isolation under AET and its other academies. The school will be refurbished with funding from the government which was secured by the AET before it was taken over by Inspiration Trust [7]

According to the most recent inspection in March 2015 (3 months after the IT had acquired the academy) the school leadership was rated as "good" although other criteria "require improvement". Overall the academy has improved from being rated as "Inadequate" to "Requires Improvement".[8]

2014 Inspiration Trust takeover

In July 2014, after 3 years under the management of the AET, it was announced that the academy faced a takeover from the Norfolk-based Inspiration Trust, partly due to the academy making insufficient progress towards moving out of special measures.

A spokesman for the Department for Education (DfE) said: “We have consistently demonstrated that where we find failure we will not hesitate to take action – regardless of the type of school. We are now working closely with AET and the school to ensure pupils’ education is not disrupted.” A monitoring inspection in May 2014 pointed to a “steady improvement” in students’ attainment and progress, saying East Point was making “reasonable progress towards the removal of special measures”.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Chief Executive of Inspiration Trust was approached by the DfE about adding the academy to its growing portfolio, believing that her trust is in a better geographic position compared to the AET, allowing for better cohesion. (At the time, the next nearest AET academy to East Point Academy was in Felixstowe) “There’s a geographic logic to the change. [East Point Academy is] 10 miles from Great Yarmouth, where we have the primary academy. I think that’s what can make the difference.”[9]

In September, the Principal (Neil Powell) and other senior members of staff threatened to quit the Academy if the proposed takeover did materialise. This was mainly due to the disruption it would cause to the ongoing progress towards moving the academy out of special measures.[10]

In December, Vice Principal of Thetford Academy, Kevin Blakey replaced Neil Powell as Principal, when Inspiration Trust completed the takeover.[11] Mr. Powell cited that he will be "staying with the AET"[12] and was installed Principal of the AET sponsored Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough in January 2015.[13][14]

Gene Simmons' Rock School

In Autumn 2005, the second series of Channel 4's Gene Simmons' Rock School was filmed at the Academy (when it was Kirkley Community High School). Auditions were held, and after much deliberation, 11 students were picked and were subsequently taught the basics of rock music by KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Simmons' eventually selected five of the students to perform as a rock group. The show culminated with the group opening for Judas Priest and Anthrax in front of 2,300 fans in LA.[15][16] The lead singer of the band, Lil' Chris, was signed to RCA records.[17]

Notable Alumni

as Kirkley Community High School

Students

Teachers

Headteachers

References

  1. 1 2 MARK BOGGIS. "New head’s vision for Lowestoft academy". Lowestoft Journal.
  2. ↑ http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2464391/urn/137134.pdf
  3. ↑ East Point Academy profile, Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Kirkley High’s academy switch delights headteacher, Lowestoft Journal, 4 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  5. ↑ New academy in Lowestoft ‘will inspire’, Lowestoft Journal, 11 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Green light for Lowestoft academy, Lowestoft Journal, 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  7. ↑ JOE RANDLESOME. "East Point Academy in Lowestoft makes a successful bid for funding". Lowestoft Journal.
  8. ↑ http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2464391/urn/137134.pdf
  9. ↑ "Warned Lowestoft academy set for takeover".
  10. ↑ "Lowestoft academy Headteacher:"I will quit over school trust row"".
  11. ↑ "Latest > New Principal - Inspiration Trust". inspirationtrust.org.
  12. ↑ "Parent Newsletter 19th September 2014.pdf". google.com.
  13. ↑ Unity City Academy website. "Unity City Academy". unityacademy.org.uk.
  14. ↑ Lindsey Sampson (22 January 2015). "New principal for Ormesby Road's Unity City Academy drawn by 'character of pupils'". gazettelive.
  15. ↑ "Programmes - All - Channel 4". Channel 4.
  16. ↑ "Rock School". Channel 4.
  17. ↑ RCA Label Group (UK) | Lil' Chris
  18. ↑ Gods to return to the Waterfront, Lowestoft Journal, 20 June 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  19. ↑ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3482200025.html
  20. ↑ Lowestoft academy will become an outstanding school in next few years, vow principal - News - Lowestoft Journal

External links

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