English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College

The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is a secondary school and sixth form college located in Hartlepool, County Durham with academy status. English Martyrs (referred to locally as "EMS" and "Martyrs") is the only Catholic secondary school in Hartlepool. The school and college are both located on the same site on Catcote Road, however, a newly built specialist sixth form block provides the majority of A-Level classes, as well as some 11–16 school lessons.

The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College
Address
Catcote Road

, ,
TS25 4HA

Coordinates54°40′32″N 1°14′11″W
Information
TypeAcademy with faith designation[1]
MottoPer Unitatem Virtus
(Latin for Strength through unity )
Local authorityHartlepool Borough Council
Department for Education URN140867 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsM Mekins Cert Ed
HeadteacherMr Stephen Hammond BA (Hons)
Deputy HeadteachersMr Deveny BEd
BEd (Hons)
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1637
Houses5 houses
Colour(s)Red, black, gold & white
       
Specialist SchoolArts College
Young Enterprise centre of excellence 2011
British Council International School Award 2012-2015
Investor in People
Fair trade School
Healthy School
Telephone Number01429 273790
Fax Number01429 273998
Websitehttp://www.ems.hartlepool.sch.uk

In the summer 2013 examinations the school achieved record results - 83% of students achieved 5 or more GCSE grades at C or higher, including English and Maths.

History

St Joseph's Convent School was founded in 1885, and became a direct grant grammar school following the Education Act of 1944. St Francis RC Grammar School was opened in 1956,[2] and two new secondary schools, St Bede's for boys and St Anne's for girls, were opened in 1963.

St Peter's secondary modern school opened in King Oswy Drive in 1960 replacing St Bega's school. The school had approximately 200 students and the headmasters were Mr Timothy McCarthy, followed by Mr Robert Garraghan.[3]

In 1973, the national policy of Comprehensive education led to all the Catholic secondary schools in the town being merged as the English Martyrs' Comprehensive School. These were St Anne's, St Bede's, St Francis', St Joseph's and St Peter's schools, each of which is represented by a star on the school badge. The new site was the buildings of St Bede's and St Anne's[4] and the St Francis site which was closed down in 1985.[3]

List of previous headmasters

Previous headmasters include:[5]

  1. Canon John "Dickie" Bell (1973-1980)
    Bell was the first headmaster of English Martyrs, having previously been headmaster of the subsumed St Francis Grammar School. Prior to that, Father Bell had been Latin teacher at St Francis. After his retirement as headmaster, Canon Bell became parish priest of St Joseph's RC parish church, Hartlepool, until his death, aged 74, in 1991.[6]
  2. David Relton (1980-1995)
  3. Joseph Hughes (1995-2010)
    Hughes joined English Martyrs as headteacher in 1995 after working in schools in Oldham, Stoke-on-Trent, Norwich and Gateshead. During his time at the helm the school went through a string of highs with rising results, strong Ofsted reports and successes in art, sport and theatre. In September 2010 he left English Martyrs to start a new role with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, overseeing more than 160 Catholic schools.[7]
  4. Michael Lee BA (Hons) (2010–2015)
    Lee began his career at English Martyrs teaching history in 1977. His first classroom was on the Normanhurst site, a building which is now the White House Pub. Before being appointed head in September 2010, he had been head of sixth form and deputy headteacher.[8]
  5. Stephen Hammond (2015–present)

Statistics

The following statistics are summarised from the following Evening Gazette,[9][10][11][12] Northern Echo[13] and BBC News articles.[14]
National averages are given in (italics) after the school's score.

YearNumber of children on the school roll% eligible for free school mealsValue added scoreRatio of pupils to teachersTotal school spend per pupil / £Budget spent on supply staff% Gaining 5 A*-C GCSEs incl. English and Maths% of pupils persistent / missing 15%+ of sessions% of pupils staying on in any educationA/AS-Level performance (points)
2014-15[12]1,52011.7% (13.9%)1011.9 (1000)14.1 (15)- (5,944)--4.2% (5.4%)96.2% (90.2%)-
2013-141,55913.3% (15.7%)993.7 (1000)14 (15)5,577 (5,856)1%62% (56.6%)5% (5.3%)--
2012-131,63813.2% (16.3%)1000.3 (1000)14.9 (15.5)5,677 (5,848)1%83% (59.2%)5.53% (6.4%)88.9% (88.3%)-
2011-121,66512.4% (16%)995.5 (1000)15 (15.6)5,438 (6,058)1%68% (59.4%)9.4% (6.8%)90.6% (86%)-
2010-111,700-997 (1000)14.5 (16.3)5,338 (5,051)1%72% (59%)9.3% (9.5%)91% (86%)-
2009-10----4,945 (5,492)1%51% (53.5%)3.7% (4.2%)90.7% (84.7%)-
2008-9--990.1 (1000)[14]---66% (49.8%)[14]2.6% (5.9%)[14]-793.2 (739.1)[14]
2007-8------51% (47.6%)[14]--820.3 (740)[14]
2006-7------54% (46.3%)[14]--789.7 (731.2)[14]
2005-6------51% (45.6%)[14]--773.7 (721.5)[14]

Gazette ratings

DateOverall
score
Overall
rating
Rank / out of
x state schools
Local rankAttainmentTeachingBehaviourAttendanceOutcomes
July 2016[12]61.10637 / 3,1091-
July 2015[11]48.181,569 / 3,12312-
July 2014[10]58.728092-
September 2013[9]55.371,194 / 3,0791-

Ofsted ratings

DateSchool partOverall
effectiveness
Outcomes, Achievement/
and standards
Behaviour and
safety
Personal development
and well being
Quality of
provision/teaching
Leadership and
management
17 May 2017[15]School OverallRequires ImprovementRequires ImprovementGoodRequires ImprovementRequires Improvement
Sixth FormGood-----
25 January 2012[16]School OverallGoodGoodGood-GoodGood
18 March 2009[17]School OverallGoodGood-OutstandingGoodGood
Sixth FormOutstandingOutstanding-OutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
5 October 2000[18]School OverallGoodGood-OutstandingGoodGood
Sixth FormGoodSatisfactory-OutstandingGoodGood

Aims of the school


The school exists to educate students in the Catholic faith in the widest sense and is committed to represent Christian family values. Its primary aim recognises that it is a faith community, believing that each individual in it is on a pilgrimage of growth. As a Christian community the school tries to embody Gospel values of love, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. Decisions concerning the curriculum and relationships will be based on these values. The Governors will expect applicants to contribute to the development and maintenance of this ethos.

The basic aim of the school is to serve the children of the community educationally, pastorally and spiritually, and to develop in each individual student a full range of academic, sporting and cultural talents; to develop within the school a true sense of community spirit which will form a foundation for the students’ future lives in the wider community, and to do these things in a Christian environment, enriched by our Catholic tradition.

English Martrys School and Sixth Form College's official website [19]

Intake

Main School

Admissions Criteria 2013

The majority of secondary school students come from 6 feeder primary schools, which are:

  • Sacred Heart School
  • St. Bega's School
  • St. Cuthbert's school
  • St. John Vianney's School
  • St. Joseph's School
  • St. Teresa's School

Sixth Form

6th Form College Prospectus 2013-2014

  • If you obtain 5 grade Cs or better at GCSE then you can choose any Level 3 course i.e. an A Level or an Applied A Level course
  • If you obtain 4 grade Cs or above at GCSE then you are advised to follow a double award Applied A Level course, plus additional AS subject/s
  • If you obtain fewer than 4 grade Cs at GCSE then you are advised to follow a Level 2 course – either the BTEC First Diploma in Business or in Health and Social Care

Houses

There are five houses within the school: St John Boste, St Margaret Clitherow, Blessed John Ingram, St Anne Line and St Thomas More. In the same way as the earlier St Francis RC Grammar School had named its houses after the English Martyrs, in 2009 the houses of the English Martyrs School were introduced and named after the following. Prior to this introduction, Saints John Boste, Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line and Thomas More all existed as houses in the school's PE department for use during sports days and athletics tournaments, however they were unconnected to the pastoral or academic care of pupils.

St John Boste

St Margaret Clitherow

  • Saint Margaret Clitherow who was crushed to death by rocks in York in 1586 for harbouring priests.
  • House colour: BLUE

Blessed John Ingram

  • The Blessed John Ingram who was executed in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1594 as a priest ordained abroad, an act of high treason.
  • House colour: GREEN

St Anne Line

  • Saint Anne Line who was hung at Tyburn in 1601 for harbouring a priest.
  • House colour: RED

St Thomas More

Annual School Events

Annual Awards Evening Principal Guests 1981-2012

A tradition of the school since 1981 where awards are given to students of both the school and sixth form college for reasons including: "excellent attendance, reliability, hard work, social and academic progress, caring for others, academic excellence and artistic, cultural and sporting achievements. Recognition is given to achievement at GCSE, 'A' level and GNVQ levels."[19] There are prizes donated by local individuals and groups as well as Huntsman Tioxide, Teesside University and The Daily Telegraph. Each year attracts over 1000 guests and a Principal Guest of Honour "who themselves represent achievement in a range of fields". The evening also features music by the school orchestra and individual student musicians with refreshments to end the night.

Annual School Show

Another tradition of the school is an annual school musical, usually held around the end of November. This features pupils from all years, although older students and sixth formers generally get the leading roles. The music department, orchestra and drama department work together on its production. Tickets are made available to parents throughout the school to buy.

Annual John Bell Lecture

This now traditional once a year lecture is usually given around March in the school's St Anne's hall. The lecture is in honour of Canon John Bell, the last headmaster of St Francis and the first headmaster of the new English Martyrs school, and lasts around 40 minutes followed by audience questions. Complimentary tickets to attend are made available free of charge.

Principal Guests, School Shows and John Bell Lecturers

Academic
Year Start
Awards Evening Principal Guest[19]School ShowJohn Bell LecturerHeadteacher
2017TBA Annie[20] TBA Stephen Hammond
2016Craig Hignett[21] Little Shop of Horrors Tony Green, former Royal Marine and Police Officer[22]
2015Gary Pallister The Sound of Music Michael Lee, former-headmaster of the school (2010–2015)
2014Jeff Stelling The Wizard of Oz Daniel Robinson, Alumnus and only non-American to have flown the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Michael Lee
2013Graham Onions Jesus Christ Superstar David Eagle, Alumnus and member of the sea shanty band the Young Uns[6][23]
2012Stuart Whincup, BBC Look North, with special guest Savannah Marshall. Beauty and the Beast Chris Joseph, Alumnus and autobiographer [24]
2011Tony Mowbray We Will Rock You Jez Lowe, Alumnus and folk musician [25]
2010The Right Reverend Séamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Les Misérables[26] Anne, Tony and Declan Stokle [27]
2009Philippa Gregory Oliver! Father Phil Marsh [28] Joe Hughes
2008Wendy Gibson, BBC Look North Grease Joy Yates, Editor of the Hartlepool Mail [29]
2007Peter Beardsley MBE Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2006Jonny Wilkinson OBE Bugsy Malone Chris Gorman OBE, Alumnus and entrepreneur [30]
2005The Right Reverend Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle The Wiz [31]
2004The Right Honourable The Lord Puttnam CBE FRSA Little Shop of Horrors
2003The Right Honourable The Lord Alton of Liverpool
2002Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
2001Niall Quinn
2000Simon Weston OBE
1999Philip Madoc
1998Kevin Whately Ann Widdecombe DSG PC, Shadow Home Secretary[32]
1997Tessa Sanderson CBE
1996Ronnie Corbett CBE
1995Bob Holness Journey to the Center of the Earth[33]
1994Sir Ron Norman OBE DL and Lady Norman David Relton
1993Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Countess of Swinton DSG DL Baroness Masham of Ilton
1992The Right Reverend Ambrose Griffiths, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Peter Mandelson PC, MP for Hartlepool [32]
1991Jeremy Beadle MBE
1990Frank Carson KSG The Boy Friend[33]
1989Sir John Hall Oklahoma![33]
1988Sir Cyril Smith MBE
1987Peter Egan
1986His Eminence Cardinal Basil Hume
1985Major Sir Denis Thatcher MBE TD My Fair Lady
1984Dr David Bellamy OBE Calamity Jane
1983Brian Clough OBE
1982Lord Longford KG PC
1981Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk
1980New creation.
1979 John Bell
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
School founded.

Notable alumni

NameOccupation/Notable Achievements
Paul ArnisonProfessional footballer
Pete DonaldsonRadio Presenter
Kieran BewActor. Played Beowulf in the 2016 TV series
Paul BrennanActor
Daniel CookMaster of the Choristers and Organist at Durham Cathedral, former Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey
Anthony DayBroadcast Journalist for the BBC
Matthew DolanProfessional footballer - Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Bradford City, Yeovil
Janick GersGuitarist in Iron Maiden
Chris Gorman OBEEntrepreneur, founder of MusicQubed
Michael GoughRetired cricketer and cricket umpire (umpire of the year 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015)
Corporal Owen Paul Green MBE(acting sergeant), Corps of Royal Engineers
Peter HartleyProfessional footballer
Steven HetheringtonProfessional footballer
Dr Jim Hodgson FRCGPGP
Michael HunterBritish, European and Commonwealth Bantamweight Boxing Champion
Chris JosephSufferer of bipolar disorder and author of "Manicdotes: There's Madness in His Method"
Andy LinighanProfessional footballer (scorer of the winning goal in the 1993 FA Cup Final)
Brian LinighanProfessional footballer
David LinighanProfessional footballer (captain of Ipswich Town)
Jemma LoweOlympic swimmer
Jez LoweSuccessful musician, specialising in folk music with at least 15 albums to his name (St Francis)
Steven MageePrincipal Contrabassoon in the BBC Symphony Orchestra, formerly Hallé Orchestra
Savannah MarshallOlympic boxer and boxing world champion
Philip MiddlemissActor (Des Barnes in Coronation Street)
Professor Gerard Parkin FRSCProfessor of Chemistry, Columbia University
Dr Elizabeth PenderSenior Lecturer in ancient philosophy, University of Leeds, author of "Images of Persons Unseen: Plato’s Metaphors for the Gods and the Soul"
Professor David ThwaitesProfessor of Epithelial Physiology, Newcastle University
Kevin WalshParalympic swimming bronze medallist

References

  1. Academy Conversion Archived 14 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, ems.hartlepool.sch.uk, 12 May 2014
  2. Saints and sinners, G. Hall, 2005.
  3. Details about English Martyrs Rc Comprehensive School And 6Th Form College, Hartlepool History Then and Now.org,
  4. Hartlepool, Northeast England, 1885–1985 Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Sr Bernadette Cassidy FCJ.
  5. A celebration of school’s 40 years, 2 July 2013.
  6. Former student to give school talk, Hartlepool Mail, 18 February 2014.
  7. Say it ain't so, Joe, Sunderland Echo, 17 May 2010.
  8. Hartlepool headteacher to retire after serving English Martyrs for four decades, Hartlepool Mail, 10 July 2015.
  9. Teesside school ratings: The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool, Lee Madison, Gazette Live, 30 September 2013.
  10. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Gazette Live, 23 July 2014
  11. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool, Gazette Live, 31 July 2015.
  12. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Gazette Live, 1 July 2016
  13. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Archived 17 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, The Northern Echo, 2014
  14. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, BBC News, 13 January 2010
  15. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College School Report, Ofsted, 17–18 May 2017
  16. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 25 January 2012
  17. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 18–19 March 2009
  18. The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 5 October 2000
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. Annie Auditions
  21. JAN AWARDS EVENING 2016 (LIVE BLOG)
  22. JOHN BELL LECTURE 2017
  23. Parents Bulletin February 2014 Archived 22 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, English Martyrs School, February 2014
  24. The John Bell Lecture
  25. Folk singer a smash hit, hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 9 May 2012
  26. Show goes on for students, 23 November 2010.
  27. Talk by Burma campaign family, peterleestar.co.uk, 10 March 2011
  28. "Students inspired by global leader", hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 12 March 2010
  29. Mail editor to be guest speaker at school, hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 2 March 2009
  30. Back to school for millionaire., highbeam.com, 9 March 2007
  31. Waiting for sentence, hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 16 November 2005
  32. John Bell Lecture 2013.jpg Archived 26 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  33. SLIDESHOW: Rolling back the years for English Martyrs School’s birthday treat, 11 July 2013, hartlepoolmail.co.uk
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