New Mills School & Sixth Form is a comprehensive school, situated in the town of New Mills, in the north west of Derbyshire.

New Mills School
Address
Map
Church Lane, New Mills

, ,
SK22 4NR

England
Coordinates53°22′01″N 1°59′49″W / 53.367°N 1.997°W / 53.367; -1.997
Information
TypeCommunity school
MottoLet Right Be Done
Established1912
Local authorityDerbyshire
Department for Education URN112936 Tables
OfstedReports
Head teacherHeather Watts
Staff65
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 16
Enrolment824 pupils
Colour(s)Black, red
Former nameNew Mills Grammar School
New Mills School Business and Enterprise College
Websitehttp://www.newmillsschool.co.uk/

Admissions

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The school teaches pupils from Year 7 to Year 11. The school was given its title as Business and Enterprise College in 2005 and this status was renewed in 2009.

The school's main feeder primary schools are New Mills, Newtown, St George's, Thornsett, Hayfield, Hague Bar and St Mary's.

History

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Grammar school

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The school was opened in 1912 as the New Mills Grammar School and celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012.[needs update] It had around 500 boys and girls in the early 1960s, then 600 by 1964 and 700 by 1969, with a sixth form of 200. The school was designed by George H. Widdows, the Chief Architect of Derbyshire County Council, described as "a leading designer of schools in the early C20 and an exponent of advanced ideas on school planning and hygiene", and is a Grade II listed building.[1][2]

Controversy

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In 2023 the school scheduled a "Drag 'n' Rainbows" non-uniform day for students and teachers, encouraging students to dress up in drag and inviting a drag queen. The event was cancelled after adverse press coverage, including on TalkTV.[3]

Headteachers

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  • Norman Taylor (d.1962, had a distinguished war career)
  • Philip Vennis 1962–71 (died 1999; former deputy headteacher, Ounsdale High School 1955–62, Principal of Itchen College 1971–88)[4]
  • Jesse Elms, resigned early 2014.
  • John Kuczaj, temporary headteacher for the rest of the 2013–14 school year.
  • Debbie McGloin, 2014–19, current headteacher of Glossopdale School.
  • Alison Barker and Caroline Jesson, 2019–21.
  • Heather Watts, current head.

Subjects

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There were 23 subjects at New Mills School, taught by 59 teachers in 8 different buildings and 50 rooms: rooms 5–18, Music 1–2, Language 1–4, Maths 1–6, Sixth Form 1–5, Drama 1–2, Art 1–3, the Gym, Workshop 1–2, Food 1–2, 8 Science labs and a construction centre.

The school lost its sixth form, in spite of considerable local support, in 2017 and in 2019 it now is a 11–16 Comprehensive.[5]

The school is home to Take Part in the Art, a local arts scheme.[6]

Notable former pupils

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New Mills Grammar School

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New Mills Secondary School

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References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "The New Mills School (Grade II) (1393319)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (1978). The Buildings of England: Derbyshire. Yale University Press. p. 287. ISBN 0-14-071008-6.
  3. ^ "School that invited 11-year-olds to wear 'full blown drag' scraps Pride event". TalkTV. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. ^ Vennis, Diana (September 2012). A lifetime in English education: Philip Vennis from pupil to principal in post-war Britain. Matador. pp. 157–241. ISBN 9781780882963.
  5. ^ "Disappointment as New Mills Sixth Form will close for good". Buxton Advertiser. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  6. ^ "We are Take Part". Take Part in the Art. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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