User:Rytonwoodside/sandbox

Thorp Academy is a large 11-18 secondary academy in Ryton Tyne & Wear. The academy was established in the 19th Century by Charles Thorp who went on to found Durham University. The site that Thorp Academy now stands on is the site of the original school established by Charles Thorp. In the early 2010's, Gateshead Council merged Ryton Comprehensive School (the current Thorp Academy site) and Hookergate School in High Spen. With the two schools merging, the school was renamed Charles Thorp Comprehensive School. The school later converted into an academy sponsored by Northern Education Trust and was renamed as Thorp Academy.

The academy has demonstrated ongoing academic success and in 2019 attained a Progress 8 score of +0.33 which was in the top 10% of schools in Tyne & Wear and the top 11% of schools in North East England. The school has demonstrated academic excellence in a number of subject areas with the progress made by students in Mathematics and Computer Science in the top 10% nationally. The percentage of students attaining a grade 5 or above in English and Mathematics ranks in the top 25% of schools in England.

The academy has the largest catchment area in Gateshead and has 10 core feeder primary schools. Students come from Ryton, Crawcrook, Clara Vale, Winlaton, Blaydon, Greenside, High Spen, Highfield, Rowlands Gill & Chopwell.

Thorp Academy Campus
The academy was rebuilt between 2016 and 2019 by Sir Robert McAlpine as part of the Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Scheme. The academy is made up of three main blocks which are built around a quadrangle.

STEM Block
This building is on the northern part of the academy site and houses the main school dining hall as well as the following departments:-
 * Mathematics Department
 * Science Department
 * Design & Technology Department

LRC Block
This building is on the southern part of the academy site and houses the main school hall, the main reception, senior management suite, library, learning support and pastoral support as well as the following departments:-
 * English Department
 * Humanities Department (History, Geography, RE, Psychology & Sociology)
 * Modern Foreign Languages Department
 * Computer Science & Business Department
 * Performance Department (Drama)

West Wing
The West Wing was constructed following the merger of Ryton and Hookergate Schools and houses the Sixth Form Centre as well as the following departments:-
 * Performance Department (Music and Physical Education)
 * Art Department

Ofsted Inspection 2019
In 2019, Thorp Academy was rated "good" by Ofsted in all areas with inspectors stating that "This is a rapidly improving school. Leaders, including governors, provide strong leadership that is unashamedly focused on improving the life chances of every pupil." Ofsted also noted that "The behaviour of pupils is excellent. Pupils engage in mature conversation with their peers and staff. A positive working atmosphere exists in and around school."