Fortismere School


Fortismere School is an 11–18 mixed, comprehensive, foundation secondary school and sixth form in Muswell Hill, London, Greater London, England.
In 2016, it was ranked by The Sunday Times as the 12th best comprehensive school in the country. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, it was rated "Outstanding" and is the highest-performing comprehensive school in the borough.

History

Private schools

Tollington Park College, a private educational establishment for boys, was founded by William Brown in 1879 in Tollington Park, London N4. Rapid population growth around Muswell Hill created the need for a new school. Campbell Brown, the founder's son, established Tollington Boys School in Tetherdown, Muswell Hill in 1901. Brown then opened Tollington High School for Girls in nearby Collingwood Avenue in 1910. In 1919 both schools were purchased by the local education authority. Aside from the senior management, the two schools operated independently.

Grammar schools

After World War II, this became a state grammar school and the attached preparatory school became Tetherdown Primary School. In 1958 the current building was erected and Tollington High School for Girls and Tollington Grammar School for Boys merged to become Tollington Grammar School. In 1955, [|William Grimshaw Secondary Modern School] opened on an adjoining site in Creighton Avenue, taking the senior classes from Coldfall Council School. It offered extended classes from 1961.

Creighton Comprehensive School

With the introduction of comprehensive education in Haringey in 1967, Tollington Grammar School and William Grimshaw Secondary Modern School were merged to form Creighton School. Charles Loades, head of William Grimshaw since 1958, became head, remaining until his retirement in 1974.
In the early 1970s, Creighton School became the centrepiece of a Labour Party educational experiment. Situated in the middle-class, largely white suburb of Muswell Hill it was decided to integrate a large number of Afro-Caribbean and other ethnic minority children into the school from distant parts of the borough in an attempt to maximise education choice and social interaction – a policy based heavily on the United States' then-current system of desegregation busing. In 1975, before this new intake had worked through the school, around one-third of the Sixth Form was either a first-generation immigrant, or had a surname of Cypriot or Asian origin. The head who was charged with overseeing this experiment was Molly Hattersley, a leading socialist.
As a part of the continuing debate about comprehensive schools, Creighton School became the subject of a series of articles in the Sunday Times and a subsequent book by Hunter Davies, The Creighton Report, illustrated by an A-Level Photography student at the school and the Sunday Times photojournalist Frank Herrmann.

Fortismere School

After further reorganisation, Creighton School and another comprehensive, [|Alexandra Park School], were combined under the new name of Fortismere School. It opened in September 1983 and gained Technology College status in 1997, which lasted until it became a foundation school.

Foundation status

In the summer of 2006, the school's governors and recently appointed head teacher Aydin Önaç proposed to change the school's status to that of a foundation school. The governors argued that the increased autonomy from the LEA provided by foundation status would be beneficial to the school, while critics argued that the proposal was an attack on the school's comprehensive nature and would lead to a reduction in provision for pupils with special educational needs. On 1 September 2007, Fortismere became a foundation school – despite opposition from 70 per cent of parents and a petition from students demanding to be consulted on the changes.
In September 2009, Önaç altered the comprehensive school's entry criteria, reserving places for musically gifted children – a policy described as 'elitist', favouring wealthier parents and more academic children.
Önaç was also criticised for a policy towards children with special needs. Ten children were affected by the policy, which reduced personnel in what had been a well-staffed special needs department, and breached legal requirements concerning the hours of support provided to children. Parents sought a judicial review of Önaç's approach to special needs provision, but in December 2009 he resigned from his post soon after the legal action started. The action was subsequently discontinued and special needs provision improved after Önaç's departure.

Vertical tutoring and colleges

Under the leadership of headteacher Helen Glass, Fortismere adopted a vertical tutoring system in September 2012. Under the new system students are sorted into tutor groups that consist of students from Years 7–11. The school also introduced a college system. Following an online vote, it was decided that the new 'colleges' would be named after the Wonders of the World. There are six 'colleges': Alexandria, Ephesus, Colosseum, Rhodes, Olympia and Petra.

Campus

The school occupies extensive grounds a little west of the centre of Muswell Hill. There are two main buildings on the site, the North Wing focuses mainly on English, Modern Languages and the Arts and South Wing which mainly focuses on Maths, Sciences and Humanities with a separate science block. The Wings are separated by playing fields, a sports hall, astroturf and tennis courts.
A sixth form building is adjacent to the South Wing, situated just inside the Tetherdown entrance. There are main entrances in Twyford Avenue, Tetherdown, and Creighton Avenue.

Relationship with Blanche Nevile School

The secondary school part of the Blanche Nevile School for Deaf Children is located on the site of Fortismere School. The two schools maintain a strong partnership and are connected to the same computer server.

Hosting Rustam School

Each Saturday Farsi is taught to a wide age spectrum.

Governance

The instrument of government requires 12 governors: one local authority governor; four parent governors elected by the parents; one staff governor; two partnership governors; three co-opted and the headteacher. There are four sub-committees: Curriculum, Physical Resources, Resources and Admissions.

Admissions

As a foundation school, Fortismere sets its own admission procedure. The duty to have a fair admissions procedure was defined by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. All students are funded by their local authority.
For year 7 entry it has a published admissions number of 243, which is 8 form entry. Applications are made through the local authority transfer procedure system. The school is responsible for defining the order of priority when more than 243 children apply.
Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan which names the school, are automatically offered a place. Places then go to Looked after children/previously looked after children, then to children with exceptional medical or social need, then to children with siblings in the school, and children of members of staff. Finally other children are selected by the distance they live from the reception area in the South Wing building.
Year 12 entry is dependent on students having five C-grade GCSE passes or better, including English or Maths. For academic courses they must have the equivalent of five B-grade passes in Maths, English and the subjects they wish to study and any other published requirement. For the applied courses the bar is set at C-grade passes. Academic students are expected to pass the equivalent AS level exam before advancing into year 13.
There are a minimum of 50 extra places available for students transferring from other schools.

Curriculum

As of 2010, the school follows the National Curriculum in Years 7–11 and offers a broad range of GCSEs and A-levels. The school has no affiliation with a particular religious denomination, but religious education is given throughout the school, and students may opt to take the subject as part of their GCSE course.
Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum is covered during years 7, 8 and 9, though most subjects will commence using Key Stage 4 material during year 9.
The 'Core Key Stage 3 Subjects' are English, Mathematics and Science. The Foundation Subjects are Art & Design, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education, Technology, Information Technology, Modern Languages. Additional Subjects are Religious Education, Drama and Wellbeing. The five cross-curricular themes are Careers, Wellbeing, Economic and industrial awareness, Environmental education and Health education.
Key Stage 4 students study up to 10 GCSEs, depending on their ability. There are four core subjects studied by all students and four options delivered by a varied options system. This allows for the study of three separate sciences, as well as two languages and a range of courses, including vocational options. French, German, Spanish and Mandarin are offered.
The English Baccalaureate will be awarded to any pupil who secures good GCSE or iGCSE passes in all of the following subject areas: English, Maths, two sciences, a foreign language, history or geography. This qualification is of particular interest to Russell Group universities.
In addition to the subjects studied at Key Stage 3, Business Studies, Economics, ICT to include ECDL, Media Studies, Music Technology, Sports Studies, Health and Fitness, Photography, Engineering, Fashion and Textiles, Food and Catering, Performing Arts, Princes trust, and Sociology are offered.
Students who opt to stay on after sixteen study for BTEC or A levels. The following courses are offered Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Drama & Theatre Studies, Economics, English, Film Studies, Fine Art, Geography, History, Mandarin Pre-U, Maths, Media Studies, French, Spanish, German, Music. Music Technology, philosophy, Photography, Physics, Politics, Product Design, Psychology, Sociology. Entry to each course is dependent on GCSE exam grades. Students who fail to obtain a good AS-level pass, are advised to retake it before continuing the A level course in year 13.

Extracurricular activities

School clubs and societies include various language clubs, sport clubs, and musical activities.

Notable former pupils