Walton Academy, Grantham

The school opened on its present site in 1966, with construction started in 1964. It took its name after one of the early townships of Grantham - Spittlegate, Houghton, and Walton. It was known as Walton Girls' County Secondary School and was the third purpose-built new secondary school to open in Grantham.

Walton was formerly the Girls' Central School on Agnes Street, off Castlegate. The equivalent Boys' Central School became the co-educational Central School at Manthorpe, in 1978. The former Girls' Central School building, between Agnes Street and Castlegate, became the Stepping Stones Nursery, an annex of Grantham College.[1][2]

The Girls' Central School was not a secondary modern school, and required a good result in the eleven-plus exam to be admitted. It was similar to a technical school in its admittance procedure. When a new site for the school was planned, the site's position was supported by parents, provided it remained single sex.

On 14 October 1977 the school hosted BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? - the first time it had been staged in Grantham. The panel host was David Jacobs, and the guests were Sally Oppenheim, Austin Mitchell (newly elected MP for Grimsby), Steve Race (originally from Lincoln) and the author Alan Garner.

The school became a specialist school in Performing Arts in 2002. It was awarded a second specialism in Applied Learning in December 2006, and a third, Languages, in April 2009. The school became eligible to apply to have a sixth form, and the first sixth form students started in September 2008.

Facilities, on a single site, include a sports field.

Additions to the original school building include a Modern Foreign Language block, a maths block of two classrooms, a suite of four maths classrooms and a design technology laboratory , a suite of four specialist Science laboratories, a purpose built Performing Arts studio and PE changing rooms.

The curriculum at Key Stage 3 for 11- to 14-year-old pupils covers the National Curriculum subjects. For English, Mathematics and Science pupils are taught in ability groups, as is French in Year 8 and Year 9. Ability groups are reviewed annually and changes are made in each pupil's best interest following a review of her work.

Design Technology includes separate courses in Food. Art includes disciplines of Drawing and Painting, and Textiles. Walton's course of study for 14- to 16-year-olds at Key Stage 4 has a number of GCSE examination subjects which have to be taken by all: English (including English Literature), Mathematics, Science, Citizenship, Religious Studies and ICT. Pupils also take core Physical Education and Careers Education, which are not examined. The pupils also choose other subjects to add to this core. English, Mathematics and Science are taught in ability groups; all other subjects are taught to mixed ability groups. Subjects vary slightly from year to year.

The Sixth Form teaches both BTEC and GCE 'A' Level subjects, some of which run in collaboration with the town's grammar schools.

Pupils take musical and artistic activities, sport, where they compete with local regional teams, and participate in a Maths Challenge, Young Enterprise scheme, public speaking and citizenship events. Visits at home and abroad help Languages, History and PE study.

Walton, like many girls' schools, performs better academically at GCSE than many comparable coeducational schools. The school gains GCSE results better than most comprehensive schools in Lincolnshire, and is only surpassed some comprehensives in rural areas.

• Official website
• Radio Club on the BBC
• Ofsted report
• EduBase
• Foundation school prior to 2011