Grace College, Gateshead Explained

Grace College
Coordinates:54.9278°N -1.6065°W
Motto:Light and Life
Established:1996
Religious Affiliation:None
Head Label:Lead Principal
Head:Matthew Waterfield
Head Name2:Head of School
Head2:Rachael Hooker
Chair Label:Chair of Governors
Chair:Aileen Conlon
Address:Saltwell Road South
Country:England
Postcode:NE9 6LE
Ofsted:yes
Urn:147178
Staff:140[1]
Enrolment:1318
Gender:Mixed
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Website:https://www.gracecollege.org.uk/

Grace College (formerly Joseph Swan School, then Joseph Swan Academy) is a mixed secondary school with academy status situated in south Gateshead, England which educates pupils ages 11–18. The school was originally named after the English physicist and chemist, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan. In 2001, the school was awarded Specialist Technology College status. In April 2019, Joseph Swan Academy was taken over by Emmanuel Schools Foundation. As part of its transition into the ESF, it became known as Grace College from September 2019.

History

Breckenbeds Junior High School

Breckenbeds Junior High School was a secondary school on the current school site. The school taught pupils aged 11–14 and acted as a feeder school for Heathfield Senior School. The Breckenbeds site was redeveloped to provide additional capacity for 14-18 year old pupils that had previously studied at the defunct Heathfield Senior High School. The school closed as Breckenbeds in September 1996.[2]

Joseph Swan School

The current school was formed in 1996 as a merger of the Breckenbeds Junior High and Heathfield Senior High schools, becoming the Joseph Swan School.

In 2006, the headteacher was Alan Fuller. Average annual enrolment is 1,300 pupils. The annual enrolment for year 2007/2008 is of 1460 pupils, including Sixth formers.

As of March 2012, Joseph Swan School became Joseph Swan Academy.[3]

About

The school has a range of after school projects and activities. As of March 2007 the school has an operative Royal Artillery detachment part of Durham Army Cadet Force. The School Detachment is part of 5th Platoon in B Company.

As well as the Royal Artillery detachment, the school is host to the Academy Band of the Band and Bugles of Durham Army Cadet Force which welcomes musicians aged 12–18.

In April 2019, Joseph Swan Academy joined the Emmanuel Schools Foundation. As part of the school joining ESF, it has been renamed Grace College.[4]

Notable former pupils

Breckenbeds Junior High

Joseph Swan School / Academy

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grace College, Gateshead | the Schools Guide .
  2. Web site: Breckenbeds Junior High School - GOV.UK . www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk . en.
  3. Web site: Joseph Swan School - GOV.UK. 2022-02-03. www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. en.
  4. Web site: Gateshead: Bishop of Durham dedicates and renames academy. 21 January 2020.
  5. Web site: Andy Carroll Player Profile . Newcastle United F.C. . 25 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20100911095504/http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Teams/PlayerProfile/0%2C%2C10278~37714%2C00.html . 11 September 2010 . dead.
  6. Web site: England and Middlesbrough footballer who missed his GCSE English exam scores a grade B. 23 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Gateshead live to fight another day. 9 February 2005.