Alexandra Park School is a Specialist Science and Maths School with academy status in Haringey, North London.
The school provides education for students aged 11–18. Since opening in 1999, the school has continued to grow and develop; gaining specialist schools status in 2005. Its headteacher is Michael McKenzie.
The school was opened to year 7 pupils on 9 September 1999. For the first year, the school co-existed with the closing College of North East London and students occupied just one floor of the old block (built in the 1960s). The extension in 2006 won a commendation at the Civic Trust Awards.
The expansion of Alexandra Park School has added a number of key elements: a main teaching block for art and design technology, with general teaching spaces and a sixth form suite overlooking a courtyard; a science centre with four laboratories; and a performance arts department, with a drama studio and music practice rooms. The scheme was designed and built to a fast timetable, and incorporated a number of "green" technologies.
The school draws its students from a wide geographical area that includes the relatively prosperous wards in the borough as well as some of the most deprived wards in the country: over 40% of the total intake comes from the latter area. The percentage of students speaking a language other than English is well above average, as is the proportion entitled to a free school meal and the proportion of students who have a learning difficulty or disability. The school is involved in the National College for School Leadership, provides extended service and holds the following awards: Investors in People, Sports Mark and Healthy Schools.
Alexandra Park School offers students opportunities children may not get elsewhere; there are many exchange student programs running including France, Spain and South Africa. Due to their specialist school status, Alexandra Park can offer students an Astronomy GCSE. This started in 2009 offered to year nine students.
Read more about Alexandra Park School: Location, ICT, OFSTED Inspections, Notable Alumni
Famous quotes containing the words park and/or school:
“Is a park any better than a coal mine? Whats a mountain got that a slag pile hasnt? What would you rather have in your gardenan almond tree or an oil well?”
—Jean Giraudoux (18821944)
“School divides life into two segments, which are increasingly of comparable length. As much as anything else, schooling implies custodial care for persons who are declared undesirable elsewhere by the simple fact that a school has been built to serve them.”
—Ivan Illich (b. 1926)