Ashmole Academy

Ashmole Academy (formerly Ashmole School) is a comprehensive secondary school with academy status in Southgate in the London Borough of Barnet. Under the direction of the headteacher Balbinder Dhinsa, around 1,800 pupils (550 in the sixth form) are educated in ages 11–18.

Ashmole Academy
Address
Cecil Road Southgate , London, England , N14 5RJ[1] United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°37′58″N 0°08′10″W
Information
Type	Academy Comprehensive school
Established	1958
Department for Education URN	136308 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Governors	Allison Walling
Head Teacher	Balbinder Dhinsa[2]
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	1,774
Publication	@shmole Newsletter
Website	http://www.ashmoleacademy.org/

Pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic heritages and a greater than usual number of pupils speak English as an additional language.

History

The school, named after the 17th-century antiquary and politician Elias Ashmole,^[3] was founded in 1958 as the successor of Russell Lane Secondary Modern Boys' School which had changed its name to Ashmole School in about 1949,^[4] had Southaw School merged into it in 1971,^[3] and became a foundation school in 1999. It achieved specialist status in Science in 2002, and added a second specialism, Music, in 2006. The school moved into a new building on the same site in September 2004 costing £14m. The existing administration block was refurbished and opened as the performing arts centre in June 2005. This was funded by the sale of 38 acres (15 ha) of school grounds for redevelopment as housing.^[5]

On 1 October 2010, it became one of the first schools in north London (second in Barnet – after QE Boys) to convert to an academy after an invitation from the Coalition Government.^[6]

Academic standards

Ofsted gave an overall rating of the school as Grade 1 Outstanding, the highest available assessment for a UK school, following their 2007 inspection.^[7] As of 2024^[update], the school's most recent inspection was in 2021, with a judgement of Good.^[8]

Buildings

Sixth Form Centre (2014)

A new Sixth Form Centre, including a Starbucks café, a social learning area and a high-tech study centre was opened in 2014.

Performing Arts Centre (2005)

Originally this block dating to the early-mid 1970s served as administration and was the centre of Ashmole School. From September 2004 - May 2005, the building was refurbished to become the "Performing Arts Centre". This building holds Drama and Music.

Main Building (2004)

The school moved into the new Main Building in September 2004 and it holds the majority of available facilities/subject including: Reception, Sports, English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Languages, IT, Art, Library, Refectory and the Hall.

Curriculum Support (2003)

This demountable was originally for Post-16 students, but became Curriculum Support after the new Sixth Form Centre opened in 2014.

Phoenix Centre (2003)

The demountable was originally intended to be two classrooms, but since the new school, it was used as an Exams Room, and then later, Curriculum Support. Now the demountable is the Phoenix Centre.

Technology Block (2001)

This building holds Science, Media, Food, Graphics, Textiles and Resistant Materials.

Music 2 (MU2) (2000)

The demountable was originally the IT room but then served from 2004 as Curriculum support and then from 2006 to 2014, Music 2 (MU2) before being demolished to make way for the new Sixth Form Centre.

Notable former pupils

• Mark Bunn, footballer^{[citation needed]}
• Gilbert Gabriel, musician
• Julian Kelly, footballer^{[9][better source needed]}
• Graham King, film producer
• Dee Murray, guitarist
• Daniel Peacock, actor and director
• Megan Prescott, actress and bodybuilder^{[citation needed]}
• Dan Gillespie Sells, musician^[10]
• Steve Sidwell, musician
• Rachel Stevens, singer, businesswoman, model and actress^[11]
• Andrew Symeou, author^[12]
• Phoebe Thomas, actress
• Amy Winehouse, singer^[13]