St Edmund's Catholic School
Address
Old Charlton Road

Dover
,
Kent
,
CT16 2QB

England
Coordinates51°08′09″N 1°18′28″E / 51.1358°N 1.3079°E / 51.1358; 1.3079
Information
TypeAcademy
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1962
Local authorityKent County Council
TrustKent Catholic Schools Partnership
Department for Education URN141217 Tables
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 16
Enrolment503 as of August 2020
HousesKolbe, Bakhita, Francis
WebsiteSchool website

St Edmund's Catholic School is a co-educational Roman Catholic secondary school located in Dover, Kent, England. The school is named after Edmund of Abingdon, and is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark.

History

St Edmund of Canterbury Roman Catholic (RC) School opened in 1962 as a Secondary modern to serve the Catholic community in and around Dover. The school was the 4th and last secondary modern to establish in Dover.

The school’s catchment area is large and serves eight Roman Catholic parishes in Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Hythe and Aylsham and initially catered for 280 pupils.[1] 4 houses were created, all named after English Catholic martyrs. John Ireland (1543), John Stone (martyr) (1538), Margaret Clitherow (1556-1586) and Ann Line (1563-1601).

In 1988, the school approached Kent County Council to purchase the site occupied by Castlemount Secondary School earmarked for closure in 1991 and vacate existing premises to meet growth plans. This was agreed in principle but the council eventually reneged to explore other options and the land was sold-off to developers.[2]

In 1990, its sixth form was expanded with exchange arrangements with Dover Grammar School for Girls in some A Level subjects.

In 1997, new purpose-built blocks providing teaching areas for English, mathematics, design and technology, and information technology were constructed on an existing playing field to replace mobile classrooms and increase teaching space outside of the main 1960s edifice.[3]

In 2003, as part of the Specialist schools programme, the school was awarded specialist status in the arts with an emphasis on the performing arts.[4] A new Business Enterprise Centre with adult education facilities and an internet café was erected adjacent to Charlton Church of England (C of E) Primary School.[5]

In 2004, a recording and broadcasting studio, complete with a feed to local and national media joined the new dance studio, both visited by Archbishop Kevin McDonald in 2007.[6] Further participation in a 6th form consortium including the 2 grammar schools ensured a greater breadth of choice for students at A Level.

In 2008, the school joined the Federation of Dover Catholic Schools comprising St Richard's Catholic Primary School with the executive head responsible for both educational entities.[7]

In 2013, an OFSTED inspection rated the school as 4 or "Inadequate" and was placed into special measures with a rescue mission from St George's Church of England Foundation School in Broadstairs providing initial support.[8] The school later partnered with St Thomas More Catholic School, Eltham..

Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Kent County Council, in July 2016 St Edmund's Catholic School converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership.

In 2017, with falling numbers and budget constraints, the school announced it was planning to close its existing sixth form with students wishing to further their studies to make provisions elsewhere.[9]

Admissions

The school is non-selective and participates in the Kent County Council Co-ordinated Admission Scheme.

Headteacher s

  • Michael Mummery, (1962–1985)
  • Thomas Connolly, (1985–1999)
  • Christopher Atkin, (1999–2013)
  • Kim Stoner (Interim), (2013–2014)
  • Catrina Hamilton, (2014–2015)
  • Michael Wilson, (2015–2020)
  • G Parsons, (2020-) [10]

Recent School Inspections

In 2014, OFSTED rated the school as 3 or "Requires Improvement"[11] and, again, in 2019, as an academy.[12]

Academic Results

  • GCSE

In 2018, the school’s progress 8 score was rated “Well below average” by the UK dept of education. The number of students entered for the English Baccalaureate (or EBacc) and taking up to 8 GCSEs across 5 "subject pillars" was 35%. Average grade point score for those entered was 2.94 (or legacy GCSE grades D/E). 21% achieved grade 5 (or legacy GCSE high grade C) and above in English Language and Mathematics.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Schools in Dover". The Education Authorities Directory and Annual. 60: 346. November 2018 – via School Government Publishing Company.
  2. ↑ "School plans under fire". East Kent Mercury. November 1990.
  3. ↑ "OFSTED Inspection Report". OFSTED: 27. November 1999.
  4. ↑ "OFSTED Inspection Report". OFSTED: 1. October 2006.
  5. ↑ "OFSTED Inspection Report". OFSTED: 6. October 2006.
  6. ↑ "Archbishop Kevin at St Edmund's School, Dover". September 2007. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "OFSTED Inspection Report". OFSTED: 8. September 2009.
  8. ↑ "Thanet team support schools". Kent Online. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Philpott, (Chair, St Edmund’s Local Governing Body), John (16 August 2017). "A vision for St Edmund's". St Edmund's Catholic School, Dover Kent.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ "Principal's Welcome | St Edmund's Catholic School". www.st-edmunds.com. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "OFSTED Inspection Report". OFSTED: 1. October 2014.
  12. ↑ OFSTED Inspection Report. OFSTED. 2 May 2019.
  13. ↑ "St Edmund's Catholic School - GOV.UK - Find and compare schools in England". Find and compare schools in England. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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