Woodham Academy (simply referred to as Woodham, formerly Woodham Community Technology College and Woodham Comprehensive School) is an 11–16 mixed secondary school with academy status in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, England. Established in 1970 as a foundation school, it adopted its present name after becoming an academy in 2012. It is part of the Eden Learning Trust.
Contents
History
Woodham Comprehensive School: 1970 to 1999
Woodham Comprehensive was a foundation school that opened on 29 June 1970 by Alice Bacon, Baroness Bacon, a former Labour MP. It was built under the Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme.
As well as Woodham and Greenfield schools there was a third secondary school in Newton Aycliffe called "The Avenue Comprehensive" which was closed in 1992 and amalgamated with Woodham. It was created from two former secondary schools; Marlowe Hall Secondary Modern School and Milton Hall.
On 4 July 1990, the school was set alight by arsonists. Around a third of the school's teaching area was destroyed and an estimated £1 million of damage was caused. The damaged section of the school was rebuilt and reopened on 12 December 1992.
Woodham Community Technology College: 1999 to 2012
Woodham gained Technology College status in 1999 and was opened by Kate Adie.
In March 2008, Woodham Community Technology College (often written as Woodham CTC) announced the closure of its sixth form provision due to low applications but remained committed to current sixth form students.
The Woodham Warriors were the school's American flag football team from 2003 to around 2014 and won many tournaments and accolades, including representing the UK in 2005.
School rebuild
The school was scheduled for a complete rebuild but the government axed the Building Schools for the Future rebuilding programme in 2010.
Woodham Academy: September 2012 to present
In March 2012, the school announced it would be submitting a request to turn the school into an academy. In July 2012, it opened its sports academy.
In July 2021 it was announced that Woodham was amongst 50 schools nationally to be considered for a major rebuild, partial rebuild or refurbishment under the School Rebuilding Programme with the Government's decision expected in 2022. Woodham Academy's new building officially opened to students on Monday 9 September 2024, marking the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year.
Facilities
The school's facilities include
9 science laboratories
2 music suites
a technology complex with 6 specialist workshops
a textiles studio
a sports hall
a gymnasium
a drama studio
a swimming pool
multiple IT suites
Ofsted judgements
Source:
2006 - Satisfactory
2009 - Satisfactory
2011 - Good
2016 - Requires Improvement
2018 - Good
2023 - Good
Head teachers
Head teachers of the school are:b
John Pearson (OBE), 1970–1980
Katherine Carr, 1980–1990
Andrew Bennett, 1990–1994
Steven Harness, 1994–2010
Christine Forsyth, 2010–2019
Andrew Bell, 2019–2025
Micheal Carrick, 2026–present
Notable alumni
Kate Avery, long-distance runner
Darren Craddock, footballer
Mark Gatiss, actor, comedian, screenwriter and novelist
Paul Magrs, writer and lecturer
Scott Mann, film director
Chris Mason, footballer
Jason Steele, footballer
Alan Strickland, politician
Ross Turnbull, footballer
Lewis Wing, footballer
Angela Winstanley-Smith, water polo player