History
It was built as a secondary modern school by Sedgley Urban District Council in 1964 near the Ellowes Hall stately home (which was demolished that year), to replace a smaller secondary school at nearby Redhall, but since 1966 has existed within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley.
In September 1972, the age of pupils starting the school was increased to 12 in order to comply with the LEA's decision to increase the secondary school starting age.
In September 1975, the school's status changed to comprehensive and a sixth form was added, making it a 12-18 school.
However, the school was reorganised to an 11-16 comprehensive in September 1990 as most of the remaining sixth forms in the Dudley borough were replaced with expanded facilities at further education colleges.
In September 1993, the school became grant-maintained, only to return to Dudley LEA's control in 1998. By this date, a new classroom block and library had been constructed, and the main hall had been refurbished. A performing arts block was opened in 1999.
Just after the school became grant maintained, the governors seized the opportunity to restore sixth form facilities to the school and the new sixth form opened in September 1995.
In 2004, the school gained specialist sports status.
The headteacher is Mr Andrew Griffiths, a History teacher and former Deputy Headteacher. He was appointed headteacher in 2004, following the departure of Mr Stephen Byatt. Mr Byatt's predecessor was Mr Norman Smith, who had been at the school for some 20 years up to his retirement on medical grounds in 1999. He was a popular figure in the local community and his initials "N.R.S" are still marked on the school gates.
In 2008, Ellowes became the highest ranking of the three Sedgley secondary schools in GCSE examinations for the very first time when an impressive 63% of pupils finished their compulsory education with 5 or more grades at C or above including English and Mathematics. This placed Ellowes as the fifth highest of the Dudley borough's 21 secondary schools. Its success continued in 2010 with 90% of students gaining 5 or more grades at C and above with 66% including English and Mathematics.
Read more about this topic: Ellowes Hall School
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