Sir Robert Pattinson Academy (formerly Robert Pattinson School) is a secondary school on the northeast side of Moor Lane in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, England. Also known as RP, Lincoln City used the field as temporary training grounds. The Academy has approximately 1,450 students and is a Language College specialist school.

History In 1939 it was expected to cost £25,660. On Wednesday 19 November 1952, at a meeting of Kesteven education committee in Grantham, it was decided to call the new North Hykeham Secondary School, with the former chairman's name; he had been on the education committee for fifty years. The chairman of the education committee was John Cracroft-Amcotts.Sleaford Gazette Friday 21 November 1952, page 1 It was hoped to open the school in April 1953.Lincolnshire Chronicle Saturday 26 July 1952, page 2

Bilateral school The school was opened in 1953 as the Robert Pattinson School. Sir Robert Pattinson was the Chairman of Kesteven County Council for 20 years, and for 50 years a County Councillor. He was Liberal MP for Grantham from 1922–23. He was knighted in 1934, the year he became leader of Kesteven County Council.

It opened in September 1953, with ten classrooms, built by William Wright & Sons of Lincoln. It was 21 acres, including 15 acres of playing fields. The flooring was by Granwood Flooring of Riddings in Derbyshire.Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 22 September 1953, page 5It was planned to house 1,100 children.Lincolnshire Chronicle Friday 26 February 1954, page 5

After his re-election in 1954 as chairman of the council, Sir Robert Pattinson described the new school in North Hykeham as 'an extravagant waste of money'. Sir Robert also thought that secondary education was wasted on half the boys, who would be better out working with mechanical tasks, and that secondary school was only best for people who would 'advance in the world'.Lincolnshire Chronicle Friday 9 April 1954, page 4 He later died on 2 December 1954 at Fosse House on Church Lane, his home.Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 4 December 1954, page 4

It was officially opened on Saturday 26 June 1954 by James Chuter Ede, along with Sir Robert Pattinson, and the architect R E M Coombes. The school was blessed by the Bishop of Grimsby.Lincolnshire Echo Monday 28 June 1954, page 5Lincolnshire Echo Monday 17 July 1995, page 29 The North Hykeham Evening Institute taught at the school from 1954.

Construction work costing £160,154 began in April 1956, built by F R Eccleshare Ltd, for the second stage. In early December 1959 it was decided to end the bilateral system. The new North Kesteven grammar school would take grammar school children from North Hykeham and Branston.Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 2 December 1959, page 1

The school was a 'bilateral' school (part grammar/part secondary modern) until January 1961 when the grammar school students transferred to the newly opened North Kesteven Grammar School.

Secondary modern school An open-air pool opened in September 1962. In 1965 it was the first British school to have a video recorder.Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 2 December 1965, page 5 There were 1000 children by 1968.Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 7 December 1968, page 5

Comprehensive It became a comprehensive when parts of northern Kesteven became comprehensive in September 1970. This was four years before Lincoln went comprehensive – Lincoln was a separate county borough until April 1974.

Cafeteria meals began on 4 February 1980, for the 1165 children.Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 26 January 1980, page 1Lincolnshire Echo Friday 8 February 1980, page 9 In November 1984, geography teacher Howard Eve was suspended for swearing; he had been deputy head of Geography since 1972.Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 14 November 1984, page 1 In March 1985 there was an attempted arson attack, thwarted by an alert policeman.Lincolnshire Echo Monday 11 March 1985, page 1

In 1991, local Conservative councillor, Zena Scoley, questioned the standard of education that comprehensive schools could offer.Lincolnshire Echo Friday 15 March 1991, page 15 She said that comprehensive schools in Lincoln were providing 'mediocre education', and that the new CTC school was needed, to provide a better standard. Labour councillors were also trying to derail the new CTC school.Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 5 March 1991, page 2

In 1993, £500,000 of construction began on new science labs,Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 14 December 1993, page 38 which was opened in May 1994,Lincolnshire Echo Monday 9 May 1994, page 11 and was officially opened in October 1994.Lincolnshire Echo Tuesday 11 October 1994, page 7

It became a grant-maintained school self-governing in 1992, transferring to Foundation status in 1999. On 1 August 2011 the school became an Academy and changed its name to Sir Robert Pattinson Academy.Lincolnshire Echo July 2011

Timeline 1992 – became a self-governing school with grant-maintained status 1994 – new science block opened by Sir Henry Nevile, Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire 2000 – become a Beacon School 2001 – appointed as a specialist school for languages 2002 – language site opened by Anne, Princess Royal on 18 April 2003 – achievement award for examination performance. Listed as an effective school by Ofsted 2004 – John Alexander Music Suite opened, after a donation of £125,000 2005 – new technology suite opened by Stewart Pattinson, grandson of Sir Robert Pattinson. Recognised as a high-performing specialist school by the Department for Education and Skills 2006 – appointed as a Languages and Science College 2011 – granted academy status. Name change to Sir Robert Pattinson Academy 2016 – new drama studio opened 2018 – new library and refurbished classrooms opened 2018 – new head teacher appointed

Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps The Band Det (F) detachment of the Army Cadet Force is sited on the school.Army Cadet Force It was formed by the Nottingham-based East Midlands Reserve Forces.East Midlands Reserve Forces The cadet building was built in October 2010, and is used by the Regimental Band of the Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force.1237 Squadron (North Hykeham) ATC are also based there and the two cadet forces work together to ensure a positive image of young people in the community.

Academic performance In the 1990s the school received GCSE results 3% higher than the Lincolnshire average. The school receives average GCSE results in Lincolnshire and England. At A level, the North Hykeham Joint Sixth Form is slightly over the English average.

Headteachers 1953, Mr John William Noon Winwood, of Branston, Lincolnshire, he moved from Withernsea High School, a bilateral school.Lincolnshire Echo Monday 27 April 1959, page 1 In April 1960, he was appointed the head of North Kesteven Grammar School, from September 1960.Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 14 April 1960, page 7 He attended Ilkeston County School, in the late 1920s, originating from Beauvale in Nottinghamshire,Derby Evening Telegraph Friday 15 August 1930, page 5 and married at Eastwood Congregational Church, when a teacher at the Herbert Strutt School in Belper, in August 1938Nottingham Journal Wednesday 31 August 1938, page 7 January 1961, Mr Ivan B Reynolds, former head of Branston County Secondary Modern SchoolLincolnshire Echo Tuesday 6 December 1960, page 5Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 18 January 1995 He left, aged 57, in December 1980; he had taught in Lincolnshire from 1947.Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 20 December 1980, page 1 January 1981, Bryn Williams, a former English teacher. He left in December 1995, followed by the deputy headLincolnshire Echo Friday 22 December 1995, page 17

Notable former pupils Lindsay Coulson – actress, known for her portrayal of Carol Jackson in EastEnders Nigel Huddleston – Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mid Worcestershire Paul Mayo – footballer Sophie Wells - para-equestrian gold medalist

References

External links

EduBase Former school at EduBase North Hykeham Joint Sixth Form at EduBase NHJSF Lincoln Specialist Schools