Caroline Chisholm School is a mixed all-through school with academy status, in Wootton, south Northampton, England. It is named after Caroline Chisholm, a 19th-century social reformer."Caroline Chisholm 1808 - 1877", BBC, January 2004 The principal is Chris Bishop. The school was built in 15 months and cost £25 million."Pupils start at new £1 school", BBC News, 6 September 2004 The school added its final year, Year 13, in September 2008."Welcome to Caroline Chisholm School", Caroline Chisholm School In 2005, admission arrangements were changed to give siblings of existing students at the school greater priority for places."ADJUDICATOR PUBLISHES DECISION ON PROPOSAL TO VARY THE ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR CAROLINE CHISHOLM SCHOOL, PRESTON HEDGES PRIMARY SCHOOL, WOOTTON PR " , Office of The Schools Adjudicator (East Midlands), Government News Network, 37 July 2005
Design The school has 5 blocks, A Block (Music, Drama and PE), B Block (Languages and Humanities), C Block (Maths and English), D Block (Technology and Science), E Block (Sixth Form Centre, ICT, Business and Art). The school has a two-form entry Primary Phase with its own studio, multi-purpose room, 14 classrooms and playground area. The site also has a cafeteria, takeaway area, ICT suites, drama studios, gym, art display area, and public meeting rooms.
Distinctions This was the first through 4-18 state school in the UK."Snap Tory leadership poll impossible", Matthew Temple, The Guardian, 27 May 2005 The school was mentioned in the House of Lords when it was confirmed that this was one of six schools in England defined as a middle school that educates Year 11 pupils."Middle Schools", Hansard, House of Lords, 9 February 2005, Column WA118 Education Secretary Ruth Kelly visited the school on 17 March 2005."Ruth Kelly was here", Polly Curtis, The Guardian, 20 September 2005"In a class of its own", Northampton Evening Telegraph, 18 March 2005"Minister Opens "World Class" BDP School" , Building Design Partnership, 23 March 2005
Community involvement The school is in the Wooldale Centre for Learning, a multi-use community facility. Caroline Chisholm has been described as "unique and ground breaking" for the way it is linked into the community including offering sports and learning facilities for the community."Building and Opening a 21st Century School" , The Northamptonshire Governor, Winter 2004
Academic standards Ofsted's report of 17 May 2006 describes the school as:
It had 'outstanding' outcome from its Ofsted report in July 2009, while they received a 'good' outcome from their Ofsted report in 2012. Caroline Chisholm school received 'requires improvement' by Ofsted in 2018. In their latest report in January 2020, the school received a 'good' rating with an 'outstanding' Early Years Foundation Stage.
Catchment area row Although the area is next to the large housing development of Grange Park, a proposal in January 2010 by Northamptonshire County Council to remove Woodland View Primary School in Grange Park as a feeder school provoked huge protest from Grange Park parents. The alternative schools proposed were Elizabeth Woodville School (formerly Roade School Sports College) and Abbeyfield School. (formerly Mereway Secondary School).
Alumni Matthew Broome, actor Gen Kitchen, Labour politician Scott Pollock, professional footballer
References
External links Official site