Larkmead School

Larkmead School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form situated on Faringdon Road, in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England.[1]

Larkmead School
Larkmead School, Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
Address
Faringdon Road

, ,
OX14 1RF

England
Coordinates51.677°N 1.300°W / 51.677; -1.300
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1956
Local authorityOxfordshire County Council
TrustVale Academy Trust
Department for Education URN143890 Tables
OfstedReports
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolmentc. 800
Websitehttp://www.larkmead-school.com/

It collaborates with Abingdon's two other state secondary schools and the Further Education College to provide a wider range of sixth form options.

History

At the close of the war in 1945, and the introduction of primary and secondary education under R.A. Butler's Education Act 1944, Abingdon borough decided that a larger school was needed. The names Larkhill and Willowside were originally suggested for the school, but in the end the name 'Larkmead' was settled upon.

The school's buildings were completed by Easter 1956, and on Friday 8 June the school was officially opened by Sir John Douglas Cockcroft. Several additions were made to the school over the coming years, including a kitchen (1958), a caretaker's bungalow and swimming pool (1960) and a new Design Technology building (1969).

In 1972, with the school preparing for comprehensive status, it was deemed necessary to update and extend the school's buildings. A new collection of buildings were built away from the main teaching areas to house the administrative centre of the school, where the office and Learning Resource Centre were situated.

Since its inception the school has made several new additions to its buildings, including a music centre with a performance room and several practice and technology rooms, which is now shared by the Abingdon Music Centre.

Larkmead School was rated by Ofsted as 'Good' in February 2015.

Previously a community school administered by Oxfordshire County Council, in January 2017 Larkmead School converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by the Vale Academy Trust.

Following an electrical storm and consequent lightning strike in the summer of 2017, the school's infrastructure sustained notable damage, and there are a number of parallel initiatives ongoing to both repair and improve the facilities at the school.

References

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