New academy brings Shirebrook out of the 60s

Shirebrook Comprehensive School’s dull grey walls have played host to tens of thousands of young adult and even stayed open through the closure of the towns’ mines, which founded the settling. All that is about to change though with the arrival of a £27 million, purpose built academy which opens on the 18^th April 2013.

The Head of Department in English, Mrs Ward, speaks with passion about the new build, ’’The new academy is definitely a huge improvement on the current building, which still uses blackboards in some classrooms, as it boasts specialist technology areas, science labs, IT, drama and music rooms, a 3D cinema, a sports hall and a 3G all-weather pitch. This is the start of a brighter future for all that come here. These new facilities are better than anything we’ve ever had in the past and will not only bring our teaching up to date, but make learning more exciting, engaging and effective for the students”.

The academy has taken two years of building work and ten years of promises to finally be ready for students to walk through its doors but the new environment won’t come as a total shock as students have been involved with both its design and building work throughout this process.  Mrs Ward continued to explain, ‘it has been a pleasure to watch it come to life. The students helped to choose fittings, furniture and colours, some of our construction students even helped to lay some of the bricks.’

The facilities on offer have not been the only thing to advance with the work; the environment is going to see an improvement too. According to Mrs Ward, ‘being eco-friendly has been a big focus point; our school now has its own wind turbine which will generate power for the building whilst also being a demonstration tool in science and construction.’ Woodland Trust also donated sixty free tree’s to the school as it took part in the Jubilee Woods Challenge, where geography students planted 550sqm of the new sight with saplings. ‘Every part of this build has been thoughtful; each student who planted a tree tied a message or sketch to the supporting stake, their own legacy for when they leave’.

Mrs Ward also talked about the merger between Shirebrook Academy and Stubbin Wood School, a school for children with special needs, which will see them brought together in one school for the first time in the town’s history. ‘This is the first specialist school Derbyshire County Council has ever produced, everything is purpose built, there’s even going to be cookers with adjustable heights in the cooking classrooms, it’s the first of its kind that Derbyshire Council has ever produced and it’s been located with a mainstream school to help break down stigmas and boundaries’.

New ties with Sheffield Hallam and AllRoads have been created with the hopes of helping more students find their way into higher education and careers. ‘Shirebrook was always a small mining town, people never expected anything more than working down the pits or in factories. With the mines and most factories closed it’s more important than ever before to help our students aim higher, it’s a proud moment for us as teachers as our students progress to university or promising careers’.

With the students and teachers excited for the move, some of the town has been left sad at the thought of losing a building which has held many fond memories for generations, but the newly appointed head teacher, miss blaaah created the opportunity for a last visit and goodbye before it is knocked down. “We held a farewell tour for all past students. We held an assembly where we talked to them about the new building and then took them on tours around the classrooms where they spent their youths, they also got a last look at the library, dining hall and science labs, one of the visitors could even point out a burn mark they had created on one of the desks during an experiment, eight years ago.”

“Most of the people who came hadn’t stepped foot in the building since their final days of year eleven, it was a sad occasion for some, but I think most were excited for the current students who get to move into a new fabulous building which is truly befitting of our school”

With the last goodbyes said, what was once a quiet mining town is ready to become a town of the future. 

The Good Life, a review

“Ahhhh” really does say it all. More than 200 people attended Richard Brier’s recent funeral and last night more than ten million watched The Good Life’s 1977 Christmas special in tribute.

Back in the day it was ‘silly but fun’ and yesterday the show proved it’s still no different as the BBC aired one of the series’ most loved episodes. Following the lives of Tom and Barbara Good, self-sufficient loons, and their middle class neighbours, the Leadbetters, the show is laced with gentle humour that is still relatable today.

With many families today pinching the pennies during the country’s economic struggle, it’s warming to see a family so content and charming as they pull together a budget Christmas, all home made or ‘acquired’ of course.

So cheeky and warm is the Good’s relationship it still leaves audience’s today wanting to throw away their material goods and adopt a cow. Felicity Kendal works superbly with Briers to bring consistent gentle humour that all ages and classes can still enjoy.

In a stark contrast, the social climbing Leadbetter’s would rather buy their Christmas, neatly wrapped and delivered. However all goes wrong with the delivery and the Leadbetter’s are left miserable when ‘Christmas is cancelled’, because of a Christmas tree five inches too short. As the Good’s save the day and the two households get together to celebrate, the message is clear: the good things in life are free.

With morals still valued today and down to earth wit ‘The Good Life’ really does provide a good watch for the whole family to enjoy, and hopefully will for many more years to come. 

C(h)ur(ch)se

George’s feet pounded the pavement, five steps behind the rest of his class mates. Smoked poured from his mouth with each breath, despite the sun’s attempts at spring, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. His neck and back ached in protest from his hunched walk, his last defence since his coat had failed him. He blocked out the classes chatter. George found it hard to believe that they could get this excited over leaving the confines of a classroom, especially when they were on their way to a church.

As the group trailed behind their lecturer, the pavement gave way to a cobble stone street so that even George’s body was unnerved. All too soon the Church’s spire loomed above them all, casting a heavy shadow over the industrial street cleaners parked outside. If George had looked up, he might have shared in the wonderment of those around him; instead he pulled out his phone and shared with Facebook how he’d rather be in bed.

The church’s grand metal doors were laden with iron flowers and through the glare on his glasses, caught George’s eyes. He ran his thick fingers over the petals as he made his way inside, only to be greeted with donation boxes and ‘home made marmalade’ sales. George snickered and shrugged off the idea of a religious awakening happening today. Even leaflets had a price on them.

Candle holders stood empty as electric bulbs lined the heavy stone walls, accompanied by cheap sets of speakers replacing the choir. Deciding to explore alone, George came across a prayer ‘pin board’. Rita prayed for Samual to find acceptance in his life. Dave prayed for world peace. Barbara prayed for Pistorius’s girlfriend’s safe passage to heaven. George prayed for cheap vodka and unholy women, and then laughed to himself as he put the provided pen back down.

Across the room a note from the organ drowned out the tacky speakers, shocking the whole group into silence. George carried on his inspection, making his way to the gravestones on the wall. Most were illegible in places, the stone crumbling away from the wall. George had no interest in who these people were or how they came to be there, he turned his back to them, and leant against the wall. A piece of a skull, carved into the gravestone, gave way as he did so and shattered at his feet. Panicked, he swept it under the carpet, glad his classmates were still occupied with the organ...