Academy in Essex, England
The King Edmund School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in Rochford, Essex, England.[1][2] It is a specialist BEC and applied learning college.[3]
It teaches a variety of subjects including: modern foreign languages, hospitality, technology, performing arts, business studies, humanities, social sciences, law as well as the core subjects including: Maths, English and Science. The Sixth Form is mixed with Year 12 and 13 students.
History
Established in 1961, the King Edmund school was formed by the merging of the Wakering secondary school, and the Rochford secondary school located at the schools current site.
The school converted into an academy in July 2011.
In 2012, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary with a community fun day and exhibition.[4]
in 2022, was closed from November to late January due to the discovery of asbestos during construction work for a new building. Approximately 1,570 students were taught off-site or through virtual learning during the closure,[5] and the Department for Education expressed regret for the disruption, citing the need to learn lessons from the incident.[6] As of 2023, the school has since reopened.[7]
Controversies
Crowded Corridor Incident
On 8th October 2020, concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic spread due to a photograph depicting students crowded in a hallway within the school premises, raising alarm among parents and the wider community. This incident occurred shortly after the school confirmed a positive COVID-19 case in one of its Year 13 pupils. Headteacher Jonathan Osborn attributed the crowding to adverse weather conditions and a high student volume inside the school, but some parents expressed anxieties about their children's safety, fearing potential virus transmission. The situation prompted discussions about adherence to social distancing measures and safety protocols within the school, and the headteacher acknowledged the need for a review of processes concerning student re-entry into the building.[8]
Former Teacher Jailed
In 2022, Bobby Rudd, a former teacher who had previously served as the Head of Music at King Edmund School, was incarcerated due to a string of child sex offenses. He was jailed for two years and four months with five counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust and engaging in sexual communications with a child and causing a child to watch a sexual act. He was also a music teacher at Shoebury High School[9]
Academics
In the academic year 2014/2015; 52% of students achieved five GCSE grades at A* to C, 67% of A level students achieved three A level grades of A* to E.[10]
As of 2023, the school's most recent inspection by Ofsted was in 2019, with a judgement of Requires improvement.[11]
