The Voyager School

Infobox UK school
name = The Voyager School


size = 200px
latitude = 52.60468
longitude = -0.26642
dms = dms
motto =
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established = 2007
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type =
religion =
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Hugh Howe
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chair =
founder =
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specialist = Arts College
specialist_pl =
street = Mountsteven Avenue
city = Peterborough
county = Cambridgeshire
country = England
postcode = PE4 6HX
LEA = Peterborough
ofsted = 130389
staff =
enrollment = 1746
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 =
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website = http://www.thevoyagerschool.com/
website_name =

The Voyager School is a comprehensive school in Peterborough, England for 1,675 students aged 11 to 19. The school replaced Walton and Bretton Wood schools as the two schools were merged together.cite web | title=Bouygue Development Plans | url= http://www.peterborough.project-info.co.uk/bouygues/peterborough/the_voyager_school/page/home_site]

History

The development of The Voyager School (TVS) began in September 2003 when consultation began on the £100 million transformation of secondary schools in Peterborough. 4 schools were planned for the city and 7 schools would be refurbished or expanded.cite web | title= Consultation Begins on Propose £100 Million Transformation Of City's Schools| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-3188]

In 2004, the decision to create these new schools was given the green light, and the decision to close both Walton Community School and Bretton Woods Community School was decided. Both schools were to be merged to form The Voyager School, with £26 million of the investment being poured into the new school.cite web | title= Green light for £100 Million School reorganisation| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-3243]

Much consultation occurred between parents, students and members of the public involving the merging of the two schools and whilst at first there were several objections about closures, primarily from Bretton Woods School, many people came around to the idea of this new school.

In January 2005, the headteacher of TVS was announced at town hall. It was decided to be Hugh Howe. He would oversee the development and then become the headteacher when the school opened in September 2007. Mr.Howe, known for his innovative leading style, his sense of pride and his turn-about of other new and failing schools felt the opportunity was an "exciting new challenge" and was "looking forward to taking up his role".cite web | title= Students Meet New Headteacher| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-3745]

In February 2005, the building contractor for the, at the time, North School was being debated. Out of 3 possible candidates, the city decided on Bouygues Education/Mills group, a French company, well known for its educational building project, to begin construction in March '06.".cite web | title= Construction Begins on City's new schools| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-6162]

It was in March 2006 that The Voyager School launched its bid to become Peterborough's first Media Arts College. The bid offered local businesses the opportunity of helping the school achieve the £50,000 sponsorship necessary to draw on government funding of £1 million.cite web | title= Voyagers Media Arts Bid Begins| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-6315]

The Voyager School's uniform was unveiled in June 2006, as students from both schools took to the catwalk to showcase the schools designs. The uniform focuses on the idea of "identity" as well as being in keeping with the approach to the establishment of the school and is characterized by flair, panache and innovation.cite web | title= Students take to the catwalk to unveil new Voyager School uniform| url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-7369]

As both schools began to work together through a series of "Mission Impossible" transition events to premote team building, leadership and innovate skills. The first of these in February '07 was used to create The Voyager School Senior Executive Group (SEG), a new form of student leadership within the school where a group of six students would work to create and manage the leadership scheme of The Voyager with Deputy Headteacher, Jane Mullan.cite web | title= Voyager students embark on 'mission impossible' leadership challenge
url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-10470]

After nearly a year of developing the preoposal, The Voyager School finally achieved Media Arts Status in February '07 before it had even opened following a successful application to the Department for Education and Skills.cite web | title= Voyager School achieves media arts status
url= http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-10530] cite web | title= Specialist Status Information| url=http://www.thevoyagerschool.com/specialistStatus.php]

In September 2007, The Voyager School finally opened its doors to its students and staff, as well as the local community, ready to begin the adventure to go "above and beyond".

On August 14 2008, the school received its first set of A-Level results with good pass rates.

On August 21 2008, the school received its first set of GCSE results. It was reported in the Evening Telegraph that the school received one of the lowest pass rates in the country with less than 30% receiving grades A* to C.

In a report in the Evening Telegraph, the school has been given 12 months to improve, if it doesn't then serioues action will be taken. [http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Struggling-Voyager-given-12-months.4420558.jp]

References

External links

* [http://www.thevoyagerschool.com/index.php The Voyager School] - Official site
* [http://www.peterborough.project-info.co.uk/bouygues/peterborough/the_voyager_school/page/home_site Bouygue-Voyager Development Website] - Project information on the construction of the school