Lakers School

Lakers School

File:Lakers School Logo.png
Motto	"Creating success for all through, challenge and support"
Established	1985
Type	Foundation school
Headteacher	Mr John Reilly
Location	Five Acres Coleford Gloucestershire Gl16 7QW England
DfE URN	115774 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Students	672
Gender	Mixed
Ages	11–16
Houses	Phoenix, Gryphon, Dragon, Hydra
Colours
Website	Lakers School

Lakers School is a secondary school in Five Acres area of Coleford, Gloucestershire, England. Mr John Reilly is the interim head teacher. The school's mission is "Creating success for all through, challenge and support".

Lakers School was placed in Special Measures on 21 January 2016 by Ofsted following the publication of a critical inspection report from December 2015, which branded the school's overall effectiveness as 'Inadequate'.

About Lakers

The school opened in 1910 as a small secondary school serving the local area. Its buildings only covered an area the size of the present administration block with 4 classrooms catering for pupils staying on until the age of 14.

The school grew steadily as other small secondary schools closed, with students arriving from Joys Green and Lydbrook and to accommodate the extra students the school was largely composed of wooden sheds in the area where the quadrangle is presently. One of the biggest changes was in 1965 when, after a major building programme, Coleford Secondary Modern School closed and joined this site. Around this period the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School was also built on a plot of land adjoining us and Bells (Coleford) and East Dean (Cinderford) Grammar Schools were closed.The school has been renamed a number of times from Five Acres to Berry Hill Secondary Modern and more recently Lakers Secondary School.

Berry Hill grew to become one of the largest Secondary Modern schools in Gloucestershire, when in 1985 local reorganization took place and Lakers Comprehensive School was formed.

The school is situated on the same site as Gloucestershire College, because of this the school has shared access to the facilities at The Forest Of Dean Leisure Centre-buildings which are owned by the college. The schools PE Department owns and has access to a 400m redgra with an area to play sports such as football and softball as well as their own sports hall which they are looking to expand. Lakers celebrated 100 years of education on the same site on 1 April 2014 as the school first opened on 1 April 1914. The school labeled it a 'Century of Success'.

The school currently places students into tutor groups depending on the houses they are in, these are; Dragon, Gryphon, Hydra and Phoenix.

Mrs Alison Elliott, the longest serving Headteacher of Lakers School retired at the end of 2015 after being in charge for 15 years. Mr John Reilly has replaced her as interim Headteacher until a permanent appointment can be made at the end of the 2015/16 Academic year.

Lakers School 2015-16

It was announced on 9 September 2015 through a local newspaper, that the Headteacher Mrs Alison Elliott would retire. Following that newspaper report, The Gloucester Citizen also re-printed the article as 'The Forest Of Deans Longest Serving Headteacher is to Retire'. On 16 December 2015 an article was written, titled 'Thanks for 15 years, Miss!'. The newspaper also displayed an image of staff and students at the school spelling out 'Thanks'.

Mr John Reilly replaced Mrs Alison Elliott in January 2016 as interim Headteacher. He has previously had experience with Winchcombe School, Tewkesbury School, Gloucester Academy and as Interim Headteacher at Longlevens Junior School-all in Gloucestershire.

Awards

• International Schools Award 2007-2010,
• Princess Diana Award-for great community work 2010,
• Princess Diana Award-for great community work 2011,
• Princess Diana Award-for great community work 2012,
• Investors in People Gold Award 2013,
• Gloucestershire Healthy School, Living and Learning Award for excellent practice in supporting Young Carers 2014.