Monkseaton High School

Monkseaton High School is a mixed, comprehensive school situated in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, England for 13- to 18-year-olds. There are 480 students on roll, 175 of whom are in the sixth form. The school has initiated or led a number of local and national initiatives aimed at raising standards.Monkseaton High School is noted for its innovations in degree study in schools and primary modern languages.The school building is noteworthy. Originally based on a dRMM design for the ideal school, the design has evolved into a building which is of a revolutionary design in terms of other secondary education buildings. The design, beyond the formal teaching spaces, incorporates a number of learning areas for students to study independent of teachers. The light, airy feeling created throughout the school encourages 'open' learning and is a move away from traditional, 'institutional' school design.The ellipse shape of the school is very efficient in terms of space and land usage. It is aerodynamic and due to its position, reduces seasonal heating and cooling impact. On the exterior Devereux Architects, the architectural practice behind the Exemplar school, has strategically installed solar panels to provide tempered hot water. The school also benefits from natural ventilation, known as E-stack, which controls and maintains a temperate climate within the building. External shades control the impact of the sun on the building and spaces within. The project was led by Devereux Architects and involved the services of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Shepherd Construction Ltd and Hacel.More recently in 2016 Monkseaton High School, under the leadership of head Mrs. Tracy Crowder-Cloe, has received acclaim by both Ofsted and the Times Educational Supplement. Ofsted's most recent inspection found the school to be grade 1 'Outstanding', whereas it was previously grade 3 'Requires Improvement'. The school was also shortlisted for the 'Secondary School of the Year' award within the 2016 TES Awards.