Jarrow School

Springfield was Jarrow's grammar school and was formerly known as Jarrow Grammar School.It became a comprehensive school in 1975 to cater for all prospective pupils' academic abilities, in common with the other schools in the area including Hedworthfield.

Hedworthfield Comprehensive School circa 2002.

Hedworthfield was designated as a complementary secondary modern school to Springfield's provision as the local grammar school. It was a newer development built in the 1960s at Fellgate on the outskirts of Jarrow. Extensive building work was completed in the late 1970s providing the school with better facilities for arts and crafts, a music and drama studio, a community centre and a sports complex containing badminton and squash courts, a gym and other facilities.

Alongside Springfield, it was converted to a comprehensive school in 1978. However, following its redesignation, some parents still insisted on sending their children to Springfield, even though they were no longer in its catchment area; they cited concerns that an ex-secondary modern school might not measure up to the same academic standards as the former grammar school. Additionally, Hedworthfield had no provision for teaching 6th form pupils, meaning that those choosing to study subjects at A-level had to relocate once they had completed their O-levels or GCSEs. Generally, 6th form students opted to transfer to Springfield to continue their education.

Following the dwindling number of pupils for the new intake year-on-year, it became apparent that continuing to fund the running of both schools in parallel was no longer viable, so a merger into a single school was proposed. After some debate as to whether it should be on one of the existing sites, or an entirely new site funded by a Private Finance Initiative, the decision was taken to locate the merged school at the Springfield campus.

Hedworthfield's OFSTED results were surpassing those of the historically more academic Springfield for some time prior to the merger. Students at both schools protested, and more than 100 pupils at Jarrow School were involved in a "near riot" during the summer of 2003, during which police made three arrests.[4]

The old Jarrow School building has been replaced by a new school on the same site, funded by Building Schools for the Future. The old school was a built during the reign of Queen Victoria (Victorian Era) and by the millennium was in serious need of either refurbishment or a re-build. It was then decided that the old school was to be demolished and replaced with a modern new school which was funded by Building Schools for the Future scheme and designed by Inspired Spaces. The new building has an outstanding learning environment with light, airy rooms and thriving with high class facilities.

• David Blakey CBE, Chief Constable from 1991 to 1999 of West Mercia Police
• Steve Cram MBE, athlete
• Jack Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling, politician
• Jarra Elvis, world famous musician
• Robin Donkin, historian
• Peter Duguid, actor
• Rear-Adm Sir John Fleming DSC, Director of the Naval Education Service from 1956 to 1960
• Prof Ronald Hedley, Director from 1970 to 1980 of Trent Polytechnic
• Hare Kutzz, managing director of Good Hair Day 2001-2003
• Doug McAvoy, General Secretary from 1989 to 2004 of the National Union of Teachers (NUT)
• John Miles (John Errington), musician
• Fergus Montgomery, Conservative MP from 1959 to 1964 for Newcastle upon Tyne East, from 1967 to 1974 for Brierley Hill, and from 1974 to 1997 for Altrincham and Sale West
• James Porteous, Chairman and Chief Executive from 1990 to 1992 of the Yorkshire Electricity Group plc
• Alan Price, musician
• Maj-Gen Eric Younson OBE, President from 1972 to 1973 of the Ordnance Board

• Alan Donnelly, Labour MEP from 1989 to 1999 for Tyne and Wear
• Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP since 1997 for Jarrow

• Fourth worst truancy figures in England in 2005
• Head quits in December 2003
• Arsonist jailed for 15 years in July 2003
• Cornhill campus closes in 2003
• Fire on 16 February 2003