Portland School
Address
Sparken Hill

Worksop
,
Nottinghamshire
,
S80 1AW

England
Coordinates53°17′42″N 1°07′00″W / 53.295042°N 1.116765°W / 53.295042; -1.116765
Information
TypeSpecialist Science College
Motto"Achieving Success Aiming for Excellence"
Established1956 (redeveloped 2007)
Closed20 July 2011
Local authorityNottinghamshire
SpecialistSpecialist Science College
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 16
Enrolment1597
HousesWelbeck, Sherwood, Clumber and Rufford.
Colour(s)Navy Blue, Maroon, Gold    
Websitewww.portland.outwood.com

Portland School was a specialist science college situated in Worksop, United Kingdom.

The headteacher upon closing was Elaine Hamilton. The original school buildings were situated on Sparken Hill Worksop, and were built for when the school opened in 1956. The current school building, which is situated on Netherton road, was built in 2007. Portland School was in special measures, as it had an inadequate report from OFSTED after an inspection in March 2010, before its closure.

Early history

Technical school

The Winifred Portland County Technical Grammar School opened in September 1956. Previous to that there had been a Secondary Technical School separate from but within the Technical College on Blyth Road. The staff and pupils transferred to Winifred Portland when it opened. The school then became the Winifred Portland Technical Grammar school until it was renamed Portland Comprehensive and merged with both the Central and Priory Secondary Schools

Grammar school

Henry Hartland Grammar School opened in 1962, being officially opened on 21 June 1963 by Eric James, Baron James of Rusholme.

Comprehensive schools

In 1970 Worksop's secondary schools became comprehensive - The Hartland School and Portland Comprehensive School.

Merger with Hartland

In late 2003 the decision was made to merge the school with the Hartland secondary school which was north and next door to Portland school. This merger happened in 2004 though not without concerns by some parents . The merge with the Hartland site created a site with: three canteens, two science blocks, two assembly halls, three outdoor sports courts including two large barn buildings, three fields including one large field equivalent to 9 football pitches.

Move to new site

Building of the new school site began in early 2006 with a contract between Nottinghamshire County Council, and Transform Schools. The work was completed in time for students to move in after the Christmas break, in early 2008. The former site was demolished soon after in mid 2008. The new school facilities include: one canteen, one large assembly hall with seating for 300 persons, three outdoor sports spaces including a floodlit Astroturf, a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area), and a large field, two indoor sports halls, and a small gym room with weights, running and rowing machines. The building was smaller than the cumulative size of the former Portland buildings and surrounding walkways

Further education

On 3 September 2008 Worksop Post-16 Centre opened as a consolidated site for further education in Worksop. The centre is situated on Valley Road, adjacent to Valley School.

Courses consist primarily of A-levels across a range of art, humanity and science subjects.

Academic performance

Portland School had often achieved GCSE results below the national average. The School achieved its highest GCSE results ever in 2011.

Closure

On 20 July 2011 the school officially closed to become part of the Outwood Grange of Schools and became Outwood Academy Portland upon reopening for the new school term.

Notable former pupils

Close-up of a white woman with blonde hair, blue eyes and a neutral facial expression. She is wearing subtle makeup, a dark blue dress with two embroidered bands of white near the neck, a dark blue and white patterned cardigan, a pearl necklace and a thin silver neck chain with a diamond on it.
Close-up of a white man with grey hair, blue eyes and a neutral facial expression. He is wearing a blue patterned tie, a light blue and white thin striped shirt and a black suit jacket.
Anna Soubry (left) and Kevan Jones (right).

Henry Hartland Grammar School

Hartland School

Portland Comprehensive School

References

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