Copleston High School
Address
Copleston Road

Ipswich
,
Suffolk
,
IP4 5HD

England
Coordinates52°03′16″N 1°11′39″E / 52.05455°N 1.19412°E / 52.05455; 1.19412
Information
TypeSports Academy
MottoAchieving Success Together
Established1939
Department for Education URN136827 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalA. Green
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1768
Websitehttp://www.copleston.suffolk.sch.uk/

Copleston High School is a secondary school for ages 11–18 in Ipswich, England. It is an academy, and caters for around 1,800 students,[1] as well as between 340-370 students in the sixth form which was shared with Holywells High School until 2011. A 2009 Ofsted inspection rated its overall performance as good with outstanding features.[2] A following Ofsted inspection in 2018 awarded them with a 'good' rating.[3]

History

The school first opened in 1939 as two separate boys' and girls' secondary modern schools.[4] However soon afterwards, World War II was declared and the site was used as a hospital for the duration of the War.

2006 arson attack

A severe fire on 27 August 2006 damaged the school's gym, classrooms and staff room, which prevented many students from returning after the summer break while repairs were being carried out.[5] In January 2007, former pupil Ashley Norman pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to starting the fire, whilst a second boy denied the charges.[6] They were both found guilty of arson and charged with 3 and 4 years respectively in a young offenders institution.

Two separate fires were started on site, the first in the staff block of the main building and the second in the girls' gym where a trampoline was set alight.[7] For a time the school used an old air raid siren to signify the end of classes after the fire destroyed the old bell system.[8]

Allegations about suspended teacher

In May 2013, Stephen Benson, a former science and PE teacher at Copleston was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of 21 offences, including nine rapes, six indecent assaults, two sex assaults and two counts of sexual activity with a child. [9] Another former teacher, Stephen Brenchley, was also convicted of sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.[10]

Other past incidents

In late 1998 Alistair McColl, a 37 year old craft and design teacher at Copleston led fellow teacher Colin Breeze to a wood near Bury St Edmunds before unsuccessfully trying to beat him to death with an iron pipe as Breeze was having an affair with McColl's wife, Sheridan. Alistair had been love rivals with Breeze since their trainee days but was not fully aware of Mrs McColl's infidelity until two weeks before. Breeze, while severely injured, escaped the encounter and McColl left a message for his wife on the answering machine saying "Hi Sheri, its me. It is 6:15 on Sunday morning. I have just attacked Colin with an iron bar. Pre-planned. Something I had been arranging for a few days. Pretty stupid thing to do. He is going to be okay. He will be back with you today. He is probably going to be in hospital. Honey, I am so sorry things have gone like this." After the incident, Alistair and Sheridan divorced, with full custody of their children (aged 4 and 5) going to Sheridan. Mrs McColl and Mr Breeze later married and Mr McColl supposedly formed a new relationship with another woman.[11]

Gippeswyk Community Educational Trust

Copleston High School is a part of the Gippeswyk Community Educational Trust - also known as GCET (A multi-academy trust.) The trust comprises Copleston High School, Britannia Primary School and Rosehill Primary School - all in the locality of East Ipswich. Previous Principal, Shaun Common, has now assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the trust.

Enterprise

In 2007 a scheme by students to run a "juice bar" selling smoothies in cooperation with a local firm earned one of the students the title of East of England Student of the Year and attracted interest from other schools in the county.[12] The juice bar subsequently closed due to the closure of the company behind the idea. A coffee bar stands in its place today.

Notable alumni

Andre Dozzell, footballer

Scott Nicholls, international speedway rider

References

  1. ↑ "Copleston High School School overview". Directgov. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "Copleston High School Inspection report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Ofsted Communications Team (16 October 2019). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "Copleston High School, Ipswich". www.schoolsnet.com. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Fire school opens for some pupils". BBC News. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Teen admits starting school fire". BBC News. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Teen started massive fire after break-up". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Fire school using air raid sirens". BBC News. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. ↑ "Jailed athletics coach Stephen Benson, of Ipswich, faces £30k legal bill after sex convictions". Ipswich Star. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "A 'nice bloke' who became a child abuser". Eastern Daily Press. 29 May 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Woodward, Will; Woodward, By Will (5 January 1999). "Teacher in love triangle 'hit rival with iron pipe'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Juicy school scheme to roll out". Ipswich Star. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
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