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Robert Smyth Academy

The Robert Smyth Academy is a co-educational and in , , , serving pupils aged 11 to 18 as part of the Tudor Grange Academies Trust. Founded in by local benefactor Robert Smyth as , it has a long tradition of educational excellence and now operates as a non-selective comprehensive academy on Burnmill Road, accommodating around 1,277 pupils. The academy traces its origins to Robert Smyth, born in around 1570, who left the town to seek his fortune in and rose to become Comptroller of the by his late twenties. Using his accumulated wealth, Smyth endowed the original in 1607 to provide for local boys, with the historic building still standing as a landmark in the town center. A new facility was constructed on the current site in 1909 by , initially named the County Grammar School of , before the institution converted to academy status and adopted its present name in 2011. Under Principal Daniel Cleary, the academy prioritizes an ethos of respect, success, and aspiration, delivering a broad with strong support and extracurricular opportunities, including a Sports Leadership Academy. It is highly oversubscribed and rated 'Good' overall by following its November 2022 inspection, with particular strengths in leadership, personal development, and provision. Academic outcomes exceed national averages, placing the school in the top 14% of institutions for progress, while many leavers advance to Russell Group universities such as and .

Overview

Location and Student Body

The Robert Smyth Academy is situated at Burnmill Road, in the northern part of , , LE16 7JG. It serves as a co-educational comprehensive for students aged 11 to 18, drawing from a that encompasses and surrounding villages, with admissions prioritized based on proximity to the academy and attendance at designated feeder primary schools such as Great Bowden Academy and Fleckney Primary. The school operates under oversubscription criteria managed through , reflecting high demand as a key local educational provider established in 1607. As of the most recent available data, the academy enrolls approximately 1,277 pupils, supported by around 120 members, fostering a vibrant . Recent metrics underscore its academic strength, with a Progress 8 score of +0.37 (2019 data)—placing it first in —and its ranked in the top 20% nationally for student progress according to 2025 data.

Governance and Status

Robert Smyth Academy operates under the oversight of the Tudor Grange Academies Trust, which provides strategic direction, , and support for educational standards across its network of schools. As part of this , the academy aligns with the while benefiting from shared resources and best practices to enhance teaching and pupil outcomes. The school converted to academy status in September 2011, gaining autonomy from local authority control, and joined the Tudor Grange Academies Trust in September 2017, which expanded its collaborative opportunities within a larger educational framework. It is led by Principal Mr. Daniel Cleary, who oversees daily operations and strategic implementation in line with trust objectives. With an of approximately 1,277 pupils, the academy maintains a focus on comprehensive for ages 11 to 18. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022, published in January 2023, the academy received a "Good" rating across all inspected categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, , and leadership and management. Following 's policy change in September 2024, which eliminated single-word overall effectiveness judgments for schools, future inspections will report graded judgments on specific areas without an overarching grade. The academy holds several prestigious awards recognizing its commitments to staff development, arts education, and specialized status. It has earned Investors in People accreditation for effective people management practices, Artsmark Gold for excellence in arts provision, and dual designation as a Technology College and Arts College since 2006, highlighting its integrated focus on STEM and creative disciplines.

History

Grammar School Era

The Robert Smyth Academy traces its origins to 1607, when it was founded as the Market Harborough Grammar School by Robert Smyth (c. 1570), a native of the town who rose to become Comptroller of the City of London's Chamber and a member of the Merchant Taylors' Company. Smyth, having walked from Market Harborough to London to seek his fortune as a merchant, bequeathed funds specifically for the education of poor local children, establishing the institution as an Anglican boys' school. The schoolhouse, constructed in 1614 on stilts in the Market Place to shelter market-goers below, served as its initial home and remains a historic landmark today. From its inception, the school operated as a selective institution for boys, prioritizing in subjects such as Latin, , and Hebrew, while also accommodating fee-paying day pupils and boarders from wealthier families alongside its endowed places for the needy. Enrollment in the 17th century typically hovered around 60–80 boys, many from local families, fostering a that prepared students for or clerical roles and embedding the school deeply in the community's social fabric. It continued in this vein through the , emphasizing academic rigor and moral instruction aligned with Anglican values, until operations at the original site ceased in 1892. In 1909, County Council relocated the school to a new purpose-built facility on Burnmill Road, renaming it the County Grammar School of to reflect its expanded role under local authority oversight. The move accommodated growing demand and modernized facilities while maintaining its selective entry based on academic aptitude, continuing the focus on classical and scholarly pursuits for boys from the area. The further transformed the institution by abolishing fees for maintained secondary schools, enabling broader access and prompting its renaming to Grammar School. Throughout its grammar school period, the institution played a pivotal role in the local community, educating generations of boys and contributing to the cultural and intellectual life of until its transition in 1978. As a selective , it upheld high academic standards, with entry determined by examinations that identified promising students for advanced classical and scientific studies, solidifying its reputation as a cornerstone of local educational excellence.

Comprehensive and Modern Developments

In 1978, the school transitioned from a selective grammar institution to a comprehensive school, renaming it Robert Smyth School and adopting co-educational status to broaden access for students of all abilities and genders from the local community. Initially operating as an upper school for ages 14-18, it focused on secondary and post-16 while integrating with local lower schools to serve the area. This shift aligned with national educational reforms emphasizing inclusivity over academic selection, allowing the school to expand its intake and support a more diverse student body. By 2011, Robert Smyth School converted to academy status, gaining greater autonomy in and operations, and was renamed Robert Smyth to reflect its modernized identity and commitment to high standards. In September 2016, it expanded to a full 11-18 , incorporating pupils and transitioning from its upper school model to a comprehensive secondary serving all secondary ages on site. This development enhanced its role as a central educational hub, with enrollment growing to over 1,200 students amid ongoing oversubscription that underscores strong community demand. Further modernization came in 2017 when the academy joined the Tudor Grange Academies Trust, a focused on collaborative improvement and resource sharing across schools in . This affiliation provided access to enhanced , shared best practices, and national networks, strengthening academic outcomes and facilities alignment with contemporary standards. Notable recent infrastructure upgrades include the opening of the Sixteen07 in 2011, a £1 million facility named after the school's founding year, which replaced outdated structures and now serves as a vibrant dining space promoting healthy eating for all year groups. In 2025, construction progressed on a new and Block as part of ongoing facility enhancements.

School Organization

House System and Pastoral Care

The Robert Smyth Academy divides its students in Years 7 to 11 into four colleges—Bragg, Hammond, , and —each named after notable historical figures connected to the school's heritage and the local area of . This house system serves to cultivate a strong sense of belonging and community among students, encouraging participation in inter-college competitions, assemblies, and events that promote and . Each college is overseen by a dedicated College Leader from the senior leadership team, who coordinates activities and ensures the system integrates seamlessly into daily school life. Within this structure, year groups are further organized into smaller forms, each supervised by a form tutor who acts as the primary point of contact for students' welfare and academic progress. Form tutors meet with their groups for 25 minutes each morning during tutor time, delivering personal, social, health, and economic () education sessions focused on topics such as , reading, and , while also monitoring attendance and addressing individual concerns. This framework is supported by additional resources, including older student mentors trained to assist with guidance and a nurse for health-related issues, all aimed at nurturing confident, independent learners. The house system plays a central role in extracurricular engagement, with weekly positive points competitions that reward participation and achievement, alongside college-specific assemblies and charity initiatives that build pride and mutual respect. These elements foster a family-like environment where students feel known and supported, contributing to the overall and holistic development essential for success in a co-educational comprehensive setting.

Sixth Form

The Sixth Form at Robert Smyth Academy provides post-16 education in a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, separate from the main school building, which fosters an environment of independence and focused study for students aged 16-18. This centre includes a social area and cafeteria on the ground floor, offering main meals, paninis, wraps, coffees, and homebaked goods from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., alongside upstairs facilities such as a silent working area, computer suite, and classrooms designed for quiet study and independent learning. Academic pathways emphasize qualifications, with 27 courses available, including , , , , , and , alongside vocational options such as the Level 3 Certificate in Higher Sports Leadership. Lessons are delivered across the academy site, integrating students with the broader curriculum while granting them prioritized access to resources like the to support advanced study. Students typically study three or four subjects over two years, with entry requiring a minimum of 40 points from their best eight subjects, including grade 4 or above in English and . The academy's ranks in the top 20 percent nationally for Level 3 value-added student progress, based on 2025 data, reflecting strong outcomes with results consistently above national averages in A/A* grades for subjects like and . High retention rates enable most students to continue with their chosen subjects into Year 13, contributing to 100 percent progression to , apprenticeships, or employment upon completion. Dedicated support includes a team of specialist sixth form tutors, led by two Heads of Year, who provide , academic guidance, and daily feedback to aid transition from lower school house-based systems. Enrichment programs encompass the Award, , sports leadership opportunities, and charity initiatives through CAIRS, alongside preparation for via application assistance, work experience placements, and trips to universities, resulting in over 90 percent advancing to and approximately 35 percent securing places at institutions.

Facilities

Academic and Support Facilities

The Robert Smyth Academy provides a range of and support facilities designed to facilitate effective , learning, and student . These include specialized spaces for curriculum delivery, , and administrative functions, ensuring a supportive for students aged 11 to 18. The serves as a central hub for and reading, featuring dedicated study areas equipped with computers for and digital access. It also hosts extracurricular activities, such as the Chess Club, which meets during lunchtimes to promote strategic thinking and social interaction among students. students have access to this shared library resource to support their advanced studies. IT suites, including computer rooms integrated into various buildings, enable hands-on and support subjects like through dedicated sessions and equipment. Complementing these are state-of-the-art science laboratories, which provide practical environments for experiments in , , and physics, along with an electronics studio to foster skills. A new science and classroom block, approved in 2023 and under construction as of February 2025, is planned to further enhance these facilities. The Main Hall functions as a versatile space for whole-school assemblies, supervised lunch breaks, and large-scale events, accommodating gatherings of students and staff. Administrative facilities, including staff offices and the center, handle daily operations such as medical support, lost property, and , operating from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to assist with student needs. The Sixteen07 canteen, opened in 2011 following a £1 million , offers nutritious and affordable meals sourced locally, primarily serving Years 7-11 during structured break times like from 8:15-8:45 AM and from 12:25-1:00 PM; it operates on a cashless system via ParentPay. A separate dining area supports younger students, ensuring efficient meal service. Bragg Hall, named after former student and winner Sir William Henry Bragg, acts as a multi-purpose area for quiet study, college visits, and events, while displaying historical plaques that highlight the school's legacy.

Sports and Arts Facilities

The Robert Smyth Academy features a floodlit all-weather Astro Pitch, constructed in 2021 at a cost of nearly £1 million, which supports , , and activities for students and community use. This sand-based facility accommodates full 11v11 and matches, as well as smaller 7v7 games, enabling year-round training regardless of weather conditions. Adjacent to the pitch are two large indoor sports halls that host a variety of activities, including , , , and indoor , providing versatile spaces for physical education classes and team practices. The academy's outdoor spaces include a large field designated for and , complete with a rugby pitch and athletics track, which facilitate competitive sports and track events as part of the and extracurricular programs. Complementing these are upgraded and courts, resurfaced in as part of the £1 million sports development scheme, along with a multi-gym for fitness training, ensuring comprehensive support for student physical development. In the arts domain, the Dance and Drama Studio serves as a dedicated space for dance classes, drama rehearsals, and performances, fostering creative expression among students. The Hammond Theatre, a smaller intimate venue, is utilized for practice sessions and small-scale productions, enhancing opportunities for theatrical involvement. Since achieving dual specialist status as a technology and arts college in April 2006, the academy has integrated these facilities to bolster extracurricular clubs and events in performing arts, music, and design, promoting holistic student engagement.

Notable Alumni

From the Grammar School Period

One of the most distinguished alumni from the school's early grammar school era is Sir William Henry Bragg (1862–1942), a pioneering physicist who attended Market Harborough Grammar School in the late 19th century. Bragg shared the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics with his son, William Lawrence Bragg, for their groundbreaking work on the analysis of crystal structure using X-ray diffraction, which revolutionized the field of X-ray crystallography. He later served as director of the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge and was knighted in 1920 for his contributions to science. Dame (1929–2023), an eminent , was another notable pupil during the mid-20th century period, attending from 1940 to 1947. Specializing in and , she founded and directed the Archaeological Survey, significantly advancing the understanding of early medieval sites in , including the excavation of the influential Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey. Cramp was the first female professor at , appointed in 1971, and was appointed Dame Commander of the in 2003 for her services to . Martin Johnson (born 1970), who began his education at the school during its final years as a selective grammar institution before the 1978 transition to comprehensive status, rose to prominence in . As captain of the England national team, he led them to victory in the , becoming the first Englishman to lift the trophy, and also captained the on three successful tours. Johnson later managed the Lions during their 2001 tour of Australia and was inducted into the in 2011 for his leadership and lock forward prowess at .

From the Comprehensive Era

Following the school's transition to comprehensive status in 1978, Robert Smyth Academy has produced alumni who have excelled in media and creative fields, reflecting the institution's inclusive approach to education for both boys and girls. , born in 1972, attended Robert Smyth School during its early comprehensive years and went on to become a prominent and financial . She hosts programs such as World Business Report and The Briefing on and , covering global economic stories and with a focus on and markets. Her career highlights the academy's role in nurturing communication skills applicable to . Dan Cole (born 1987), a professional player, attended Robert Smyth Academy and rose to become a key member of the national team and . He has earned over 100 caps for as a prop for , contributing to three titles and the . Cole was part of the Lions tours in 2013 and 2017. Josh Devine (born 1990), drummer for the boy band , attended Robert Smyth Academy during the comprehensive era. Formed on in 2010, the band achieved global success with five albums and sold over 70 million records worldwide before hiatus in 2016. Devine has since pursued a solo career in music production and DJing.

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