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Wilsthorpe School facts for kids

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Wilsthorpe School
Entrance to Wilsthorpe College.jpg
Address
Derby Road

Long Eaton
,
Derbyshire

England
Coordinates 52°54′11″N 1°17′28″W / 52.903°N 1.291°W / 52.903; -1.291
Information
Type Academy
Local authority Derbyshire
Trust The Two Counties Trust
Department for Education URN 146451 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Headteacher Derek Hobbs
Gender Co-educational
Age 11 to 18
Enrolment 1042

Wilsthorpe School is a school in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England. It teaches both boys and girls from ages 11 to 18. It used to be called Wilsthorpe Community School.

School History

Wilsthorpe School first opened its doors in 1954. Back then, it was known as Wilsthorpe Secondary Modern School. Close by, there was another school called Parklands County Secondary Modern School, which later became a school for younger children. In the 1980s, Wilsthorpe was known as Wilsthorpe Community School.

In 2005, the school became a special "Business and Enterprise" school. This meant it focused more on teaching business skills. With this new status, the school built a special place called The Enterprise Centre. In 2009, this centre was updated to be a modern kitchen and cooking classroom.

The school shares its land with other schools. These include Parklands Infants School and Harrington Junior School. This means some students can stay on the same site from their very first year of school all the way through to the Sixth Form. There are also Brackenfield Special School and English Martyrs RC Junior School nearby.

In 2017, work started on a brand new school building. It was finished by September 2018. The sports hall stayed, but a new gym was built in the new building. The Sixth Form building was also replaced with a new one that opened in 2024.

Wilsthorpe School is now known for being strong in all school subjects. It's also great at Sports and Drama, with special facilities in the new building. In recent years, the school has put on many amazing stage shows. These include Little Shop of Horrors, Singin' in the Rain, Fame, Hairspray, Grease, The Sound of Music, Les Misérables, and West Side Story. They also perform plays like A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was even shown at a famous theatre in Stratford-on-Avon.

Before December 2018, Wilsthorpe was a community school run by the local council. Then, it became an "academy" and changed its name to Wilsthorpe School. It is now part of The Two Counties Trust.

Wilsthorpe on Film

The school was used for filming a movie called This Is England in 2005. The opening fight scene of the film was shot at the school.

School Leaders and Facilities

The current headteacher of Wilsthorpe School is Derek Hobbs. Before him, Jonathan Crofts was the headteacher from 2008 to 2021. He used to be a teacher at Wilsthorpe and then a Deputy Headteacher at another school.

The school has a special sports field called the Bainbridge Astro. It has lights so it can be used at night. This field is named after John Bainbridge, who used to be the Head of Sport and Recreation at the school.

The Enterprise Centre, where students learn cooking and business skills, was officially opened in May 2008 by Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire.

School Performance

In 2018/19, before Wilsthorpe became an academy, the school's results were about average. For example, the number of students taking the English Baccalaureate (a group of important subjects) was higher than average for the local area. Also, the number of students getting good grades (grade 5 or higher) in English and maths GCSEs was similar to other schools in the area.

Past School Shows

Here is a list of some of the great stage shows Wilsthorpe School has performed:

Famous People from Wilsthorpe

Many people who went to or worked at Wilsthorpe School have become well-known. Here are a few:

  • Sir Brian Smedley, a Judge, taught here for a short time in 1957.
  • Lucy Kite, a TV presenter.
  • Mark Draper, a former professional footballer who played for teams like Aston Villa.
  • Lewis McGugan, a professional footballer.
  • Dan Wheeldon, a cricketer.
  • Saira Khan, a TV personality.
  • Perry Fitzpatrick, an actor.

Images for kids

  • Harrington at Wilsthorpe College

    Harrington School – one of the three schools on the one site

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