Dormston School - History

History

Dormston School was established in 1935. The original site consisted of a single two-storey building that contained 19 classrooms as well as a dining hall, assembly hall and library. This building remains in existence to this day, although substantial alterations have taken place since the mid 1990s. The school was built by Sedgley Urban District council, but since 1966 has existed within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley

In July 1996, the National Lottery granted the Dormston School with £4 million to build an Arts and Sports Centre, which was completed three-and-half years later. The construction of this complex saw the demolition of the old staff room and toilets, as well as the loss of a playground.

The Dormston Centre, which joins onto the Dormston School, was opened in March 2000. It includes a theatre, sports hall, art gallery and gymnasium. It cost £5.5million to build. £4million of the cost came from a lottery grant in August 1996. Money was also raised for the Children's Liver Disease Trust in aid of a pupil suffering from the condition in late 2002.

In July 2000, it raised a huge sum of money which went towards a new minibus - the previous school minibus had been destroyed by arsonists. The new minibus was destroyed once again by arson a few days later and never replaced.

In 2000, Dormston School was credited with the Charter Mark in recognition of its excellent standards. Mrs O'Connor's last day (19 December) was marked with a farewell assembly, presented by her long-serving deputy Mr Wally Francis - who retired four years later. Mrs O'Connor was headteacher at Dormston from September 1983 until December 2000, when she retired to make way for Mrs Stephanie Sherwood - who was previously head-teacher at the Buckpool School in Stourbridge. During Mrs O'Connor reign at the helm, school leaver exam pass rates more than tripled and the school was credited with the Charter Mark just before her retirement. Miss Stephanie Sherwood, the headteacher, was appointed in January 2001 to replace the retiring Mrs Barbara O'Connor, who had been headteacher since 1983.

During December 2001, the school raised well over £1,000 for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Cancer Unit - where a 14-year-old pupil called Luke Edwards was receiving treatment for lymphatic cancer. He died nine months later after contracting an infection.

In 2010, it was the 11th best performing of 21 secondary schools in the Dudley borough for GCSE results, with 53% of pupils leaving the school that year with 5 or more grades at C or above.

The school has five year groups, each of which contain eight classes of approximately 28 children. The tutor groups are split into 'X' and 'Y' populations who are educated separately for all lessons, although pupils mix for some subjects at GCSE level.

The school has playing fields, which include two football pitches and a multi-purpose outdoor sports area for sports including netball and hockey.

A memorial staff garden was created at the back of the main assembly hall in 2007 in memory of former school caretaker Mr John Hopson, who died on 26 September 2005 after a short illness having collapsed in school grounds.