Welcome to Meadowhead School and Sixth Form

I am exceptionally proud to be the Headteacher of Meadowhead School. Our school is a large comprehensive school that serves communities in the south and south-west of the city of Sheffield as well as North Derbyshire.

Meadowhead currently has nearly 2000 students on roll. Our size – as the largest school in Sheffield – brings many benefits including the diversity of our curriculum and our very expansive enrichment programme. While we have close relationships with our seven feeder schools (Abbey Lane, Bradway, Greenhill, Lowedges, Lower Meadow, Norton Free, Woodseats), our size also means students from other primaries in Sheffield and North Derbyshire can join the school as a direct result of parental preference. The excellent reputation of our Sixth Form means we also welcome a significant group of students from other secondaries to join our school at the start of Y12.

 

At Meadowhead, our vision is to make a difference to the lives of our young people and this mission runs through the heart of the school’s life. Through excellence and continual improvement, we aim to be the best we can possibly be for our current and future students. The school’s houses are named after inspirational figures who have made a difference in their chosen field or discipline and have a connection to Sheffield. These figures are Helen Sharman, Sue Pearson, Harry Brearley and Frederick Douglass. These figures emphasise the values of the school: to combine a strong academic education alongside fostering young people who can use such specialist skills and knowledge in a proactive and positive way.

 

The school was founded in 1987 from the merger of Jordanthorpe Comprehensive School and Rowlinson School. The school’s logo of a phoenix represents this merger. The school utilised two buildings (North and South) until the new school building was built in 2007. From 2001, the school was a specialist language college and while such designations no longer exist, the school continues to offer a uniquely broad language curriculum of French, German and Spanish. The school achieved 11-18 status by opening its own Sixth Form in 2014 after a period of shared provision with Norton College (its site is now St James’ Retail Park). A £2.4 million pound Sixth Form extension opened in 2018. In the most recent Ofsted report (2022), the school achieved a good rating in all categories. The school has been a convertor academy since 2011. This means that the school’s governor body is solely responsible for the direction of the school and all decisions are taken locally in the best interests of Meadowhead families. All funding is invested directly into the education the school offers.

 

In 2009, the school set up the charity Meadowhead Together (formerly Meadowhead Community Learning Trust) to create the widest possible range of opportunities for the young people who attend Meadowhead and its feeder schools.  Through Meadowhead Together, we work in partnership with others to equip students with the skills, attitudes and qualifications needed to lead fulfilling lives and to become responsible adults.

 

Through a skilfully planned curriculum, enrichment experiences, high standards in teaching and pastoral care we fully prepare our students for entrance to further and higher education, high quality employment and the future careers of their choice. Our ambition is to develop and nurture young people to become well-rounded individuals with the characteristics to contribute fully to society with a strong sense of civic responsibility. We have high expectations of behaviour, uniform and learning. We expect students to wear their full uniform correctly, have the required equipment, be punctual, attend well and behave respectfully to others at all times.

 

We thank you for showing an interest in our school. Please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a visit to our impressive building so you can meet our committed staff and, of course, our wonderful students – you will not be disappointed.

 

Kam Grewal-Joy

Headteacher