Middle schools in England are defined in English and Welsh law as being schools in which the age range of pupils starts younger than 10 years and six months and finishes older than 12 years of age.[1]

The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, reached a peak of over 1400 by 1983.[2] In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in just 14 local authority areas.

History

Middle schools were permitted by the Education Act of 1964, which made additional arrangements to allow for schools which crossed the traditional primary-secondary threshold at age 11. Notably, these changes did not define a new type of school, but rather permitted a variation on existing schemes, while providing for regulations which allowed the Secretary of State to determine whether such schools should be treated as primary or secondary.[3] This had not been provided for in the Education Act of 1944.[4]

The move, pushed forward by Alec Clegg, then Chief Education Officer of the West Riding of Yorkshire County Council, was initially part of a process to introduce comprehensive schools in secondary education. Clegg proposed a model of middle schools for students aged 9 to 13, crossing the traditional divide at age 11[5] as early as 1960, with the scheme fully implemented in September 1969.[6] Earlier moves by the local authority in Leicestershire had seen the introduction of two-tier secondary schools for students aged 11 to 14, and 14 to 18 as early as the late 1950s.[7]

The 1964 Act was followed in July 1965 by Circular 10/65 from the then Labour government requesting that local education authorities put forward plans to introduce comprehensive schools in their areas. However, the circular offered only limited support for a change to a three-tier model of middle schools, as the minister had already requested a review of the age of transfer to secondary schools as part of the Plowden enquiry into Children and their primary schools.[8][9] The Plowden report published in 1967 encouraged the development of middle schools for students aged 8 to 12, developing from existing junior schools.[10]

The law required that all schools were classified as either primary or secondary depending on the age range of students.[5] By 1970, over 100 middle deemed secondary schools were in operation with around 30 deemed primary schools.[11] The number of middle schools, including combined schools for children aged between 5 and 12, rose continuously over the next decade, reaching a peak of over 1400 such schools by 1983,[2][12] with the primary model rapidly overtaking the secondary following the publication of the Plowden report. However, from that time onwards, the number of middle schools fell each year.

The introduction of the National Curriculum with set Key Stages aligned with the old primary/secondary model further affected the numbers of schools, with a quarter of middle schools closing in the five years after its introduction.[11] Issues of falling rolls, and queries raised about the academic progress of students in three-tier systems led to further closures.[12]

Statistics

In 2019 there were 107 middle schools remaining in England, operating in 14 local authority areas, ranging from the 117-pupil Glendale Middle School in Northumberland, to the 1000-pupil Biggleswade Academy in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

In the table below, the URN refers to the unique reference number for each school, linking to its page on the Ofsted website. Also from the table below, it can be seen that middle deemed primary schools have now been almost completely abolished across England.

Indicative map of location and number of Middle Schools in England. Blue markers indicate primary middle schools; red markers indicate those deemed-Secondary.

Middle schools

Bedford Borough

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Following consultation in the summer of 2009 the authority intended to re-introduce two-tier provision from 2013, closing all middle schools by 2015.[13] However, on 7 July 2010, it was announced that the change from 3-tier to 2-tier "would be scrapped"; the reason given being cuts in government funding to schools made by the Coalition Government.[14] One Middle School closed in 2011[15] and two more closed in 2014.[16] In July 2015, the borough council announced its intention to support schools in the introduction of a borough-wide move to two-tier provision.[17] As a result, all but one middle school reorganised as primary or secondary by 2019.

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Marston Vale Middle School Stewartby 9–13 Secondary 464 145861 [1]

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Poole Borough Council closed all of its middle-deemed-primary schools in August 2013.[19] Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council became the successor Local Education Authority in 2019.

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Broadstone Middle School Broadstone 9–13 Secondary 479 141184 [2]

Central Bedfordshire

Schools in the unitary authority, operated by Bedfordshire County Council until April 2009. Some locality groups, such as schools in Dunstable, have undergone local re-organisations to remove middle schools. The local authority supports the principle of moving to primary and secondary provision.[20]

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Alameda Middle School Ampthill 9–13 Secondary 715 137249 [3]
Arnold Academy Barton-le-Clay 9–13 Secondary 658 136829 [4]
Biggleswade Academy Biggleswade 2–13 Primary 1174 137947 [5]
Brooklands Middle School Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 518 137636 [6]
Edward Peake Middle School Biggleswade 9–13 Secondary 519 109694 [7]
Etonbury Academy[fn 1] Arlesey 9–16 Secondary 1071 137632 [8]
Fulbrook School Woburn Sands 9–16 Secondary 425 137904 [9]
Gilbert Inglefield Academy Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 424 138003 [10]
Holywell CE (VA) Middle School Cranfield 9–13 Secondary 658 138844 [11]
Leighton Middle School Leighton Buzzard 9–13 Secondary 556 109689 [12]
Linslade School Linslade 9–13 Secondary 633 136766 [13]
Parkfields Middle School Toddington 9–13 Secondary 457 109662 [14]
Pix Brook Academy[fn 2] Arlesey 9–16 Secondary 120 147081 [15]
Priory Academy Dunstable 9–16 Secondary 699 138181 [16]
Robert Bloomfield Academy[fn 3] Shefford 9–13 Secondary 946 136713 [17]
Woodland Middle School Academy Flitwick 9–13 Secondary 621 136560 [18]

Dorset

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Allenbourn Middle School Wimborne Minster 9–13 Secondary 600 113859 [19]
Cranborne Middle School Cranborne 9–13 Secondary 407 113853 [20]
Dorchester Middle School Dorchester 9–13 Secondary 617 138186 [21]
Emmanuel CofE Middle School Verwood 9–13 Secondary 410 113894 [22]
Ferndown Middle School Ferndown 9–13 Secondary 586 113878 [23]
Lockyer's Middle School Corfe Mullen 9–13 Secondary 466 113862 [24]
St Mary's CofE Middle School Puddletown 9–13 Secondary 481 138189 [25]
St Michael's Church of England Middle School Colehill 9–13 Secondary 577 113891 [26]
St Osmund's Church of England Middle School Dorchester 9–13 Secondary 701 138165 [27]
West Moors Middle School West Moors 9–13 Secondary 210 113861 [28]

Hertfordshire

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Edwinstree CofE Middle School Buntingford 9–13 Secondary 434 117554 [29]
Ralph Sadleir School Puckeridge 9–13 Secondary 404 140249 [30]
King James Academy, Royston Royston 9–18 Secondary 911 137656 [31]

Kirklees

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Kirkburton Middle School Kirkburton 10–13 Secondary 509 143791 [32]
Scissett Middle School Scissett 10–13 Secondary 599 143792 [33]

Newcastle upon Tyne

A new school is proposed to open at Great Park, Gosforth in 2020, which will be a middle school with age range 9-16.[21]

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Gosforth Central Middle School Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 514 108519 [34]
Gosforth East Middle School Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 512 108521 [35]
Gosforth Junior High Academy[fn 4] Gosforth 9–13 Secondary 700 136348 [36]

North Tyneside

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Marden Bridge Middle School Whitley Bay 9–13 Secondary 549 108635 [37]
Monkseaton Middle School Monkseaton 9–13 Secondary 294 108637 [38]
Valley Gardens Middle School Monkseaton 9–13 Secondary 762 108636 [39]
Wellfield Middle School South Wellfield 9–13 Secondary 323 108649 [40]

Northumberland

Northumberland County Council began a process of closing middle schools across the authority in 2006. This was discontinued as a universal policy following funding difficulties but middle schools have continued to close, merge into all through academies or change to primaries with 27 Northumberland middle schools having ceased to be middle schools since 2006 and four more closures approved: James Calvert Spence College - will cease to be a middle school from September 2025 becoming an 11-18 school while Glendale Middle School, Berwick Middle School and Tweedmouth Middle School will all close in 2026.

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Bellingham Middle School Bellingham 9–13 Secondary 95 122350 [41]
Berwick Middle School Berwick-upon-Tweed 9–13 Secondary 306 122354 [42]
Chantry Middle School Morpeth 9–13 Secondary 546 137747 [43]
Corbridge Middle School Corbridge 9–13 Secondary 349 122326 [44]
Dr Thomlinson CE Middle School Rothbury 9–13 Secondary 225 145639 [45]
Glendale Middle School Wooler 9–13 Secondary 115 122352 [46]
Hexham Middle School Hexham 9–13 Secondary 455 122364 [47]
Highfield Middle School Prudhoe 9–13 Secondary 419 122340 [48]
James Calvert Spence College Amble 9–18 Secondary 734 122363 [49]
Newminster Middle School Morpeth 9–13 Secondary 526 137748 [50]
Ovingham Middle School Ovingham 9–13 Secondary 349 122341 [51]
St Joseph's RC Middle School Hexham 9–13 Secondary 336 122369 [52]
Seaton Sluice Middle School Seaton Sluice 9–13 Secondary 326 122334 [53]
Tweedmouth Middle School Berwick-upon-Tweed 9–13 Secondary 304 122348 [54]
Whytrig Middle School Seaton Delaval 9–13 Secondary 231 122335 [55]

Somerset

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Danesfield CofE Middle School Williton 9–13 Secondary 318 123895 [56]
Fairlands Middle School Cheddar 9–13 Secondary 483 123888 [57]
Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School Blackford 9–13 Secondary 585 123897 [58]
Maiden Beech Academy Crewkerne 9–13 Secondary 392 137118 [59]
Minehead Middle School Minehead 9–13 Secondary 566 136774 [60]
Oakfield Academy Frome 9–13 Secondary 644 136970 [61]
Selwood Academy Frome 9–13 Secondary 631 137741 [62]
Swanmead Community School Ilminster 9–13 Secondary 270 123875 [63]

Staffordshire

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Bilbrook CofE Middle School Codsall 9–13 Secondary 99 124453 [64]
Brewood Middle CE Academy Brewood 9–13 Secondary 420 124452 [65]
Christ Church Academy Stone 9–13 Secondary 580 136961 [66]
Churnet View Middle School Leek 9–13 Secondary 437 124436 [67]
Codsall Middle School Codsall 9–13 Secondary 546 124424 [68]
James Bateman Middle School Biddulph 9–13 Secondary 385 124428 [69]
Oldfields Hall Middle School Uttoxeter 9–13 Secondary 506 145376 [70]
Penkridge Middle School Penkridge 9–13 Secondary 454 144206 [71]
Perton Middle School Perton 9–13 Secondary 373 124437 [72]
Ryecroft CE Middle School Rocester 9–13 Secondary 201 145375 [73]
St Edwards CofE(VA) Junior High School Leek 9–13 Secondary 724 139171 [74]
Walton Priory Middle School Stone 9–13 Secondary 461 124426 [75]
Windsor Park CE Middle School Uttoxeter 9–13 Secondary 325 144007 [76]
Woodhouse Academy Biddulph 9–13 Secondary 452 124432 [77]

Windsor and Maidenhead

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Dedworth Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 505 110072 [78]
St Edwards Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 480 110086 [79]
St Peter's Middle School, Old Windsor Old Windsor 9–13 Secondary 220 110085 [80]
Trevelyan Middle School Windsor 9–13 Secondary 577 110075 [81]

Worcestershire

Name Location Age
Range[18] 		Deemed
status[18] 		Number
on Roll[18] 		URN Website
Abbey Park Middle Pershore 9–12 Primary 204 116774 [82]
Alvechurch Church of England Middle School Alvechurch 9–13 Secondary 431 143507 [83]
Aston Fields Middle School Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 585 116957 [84]
Birchensale Middle School Redditch 9–13 Secondary 553 116967 [85]
Blackminster Middle South Littleton 10–13 Secondary 164 116960 [86]
Bredon Hill Academy Ashton under Hill 10–13 Secondary 486 143395 [87]
Catshill Middle School Catshill 9–13 Secondary 307 116958 [88]
Church Hill Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 312 142543 [89]
Ipsley CE RSA Academy Winyates 9–13 Secondary 608 139020 [90]
Parkside Middle Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 558 116959 [91]
Ridgeway Academy[22] Astwood Bank 9–16 Secondary 408 139029 [92]
St Barnabas CE First & Middle Drakes Broughton 4–12 Primary 293 144334 [93]
St Bede's Catholic Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 644 116998 [94]
St Egwin's Middle Evesham 10–13 Secondary 433 116984 [95]
St John's CE Middle Bromsgrove 9–13 Secondary 640 139286 [96]
St Nicholas' CE Middle Pinvin 9–12 Primary 299 144257 [97]
The De Montfort School Evesham 10–18 Secondary 893 116932 [98]
Walkwood CE Middle Redditch 9–13 Secondary 677 139185 [99]
Westacre Middle Droitwich Spa 9–12 Primary 409 116778 [100]
Witton Middle Droitwich Spa 9–12 Primary 422 116779 [101]
Woodfield Academy Redditch 9–13 Secondary 516 138208 [102]

Authorities where middle schools have been discontinued

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2010)

Many authorities in regions of England previously had middle schools, with either local areas or whole counties since reverting to the more traditional two-tier model. These are listed briefly by region.

East of England

Norfolk closed its last middle schools - which were deemed primary - in 2008.[23] Suffolk began the process of closing its middle schools in 2006, having reduced its numbers from a high of 40 schools,[24] with the final two schools closing several years after the others in 2023.[25] The only middle school in Cambridgeshire (which fed into Bedfordshire upper schools) closed in 2018.

East Midlands

Northamptonshire closed its middle schools in and around Northampton in 2002,[26] with its final two middle schools closing in 2015. Leicestershire had a number of middle schools which covered the 10-14 age range, alongside others which were for Key Stage 3 students (11-14). The last of the middle schools closed in 2017. Nottinghamshire formerly had a three tier system around Newark-on-Trent and in Mansfield, with the latter closing in 2001.[27]

London

The London Borough of Harrow closed its middle deemed primary schools in 2011. The London Borough of Merton had about 14 middle schools for the 9-13 age range, which were converted to deemed-primary (8-12) schools in the 1990s. These schools reverted to primary use by 2002.[26]

North East England

The three authorities with existing middle schools (Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside) all closed several middle schools since 1999.[26] A number of towns such as Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed still have middle schools.

North West England

South East England

Buckinghamshire's last middle schools closed in the 1990s.[26] Hampshire inherited middle schools from Southampton City authority which had gone wholly three-tier in 1970 (one of the first two authorities to do so). The schools reverted to the traditional model in the 1990s.[28] Isle of Wight middle schools closed in 2011.[29] Kent's last three middle schools (on the Isle of Sheppey) closed in 2009.[30] The Hoo Peninsula middle schools were reorganised in 1994. Milton Keynes' system of middle schools was converted to primary schools in 2008. Oxfordshire closed its last middle-deemed-primary schools in Oxford in 2003.[26] West Sussex closed middle schools in Crawley in 2004, Adur in 2007, Midhurst & Petworth in 2009 and Worthing in 2015.[26] Its last middle school closed in 2017.

South West England

Devon closed its only middle schools, in Exeter, in 2005.[26] Dorset has closed a number of middle schools, including four which closed in 2013, as well as fourteen middle-deemed-primary schools which closed in the borough of Poole.[31] Wiltshire closed its last middle schools in 2005.[26]

West Midlands

Aldridge-Brownhills, Staffordshire (now West Midlands) - includes the towns of Aldridge and Brownhills as well as the villages of Pelsall and Streetly. Adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 (normally on different sites to 5-9 first schools) and retained this system until 1986, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. The authority had been merged into Walsall (which always had the traditional age ranges) in 1974. [103]

Bewdley and Kidderminster, Worcestershire - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972, and the whole area retained this system after 1974 when the two boroughs merged to form Wyre Forest district council. The system was maintained until 2007, when the traditional age ranges were re-established throughout the area.[32]

Dudley, West Midlands (formerly Staffordshire) - incorporating towns of Dudley, Sedgley, Coseley and Brierley Hill. Adopted 8–12 middle schools in 1972 (some on the same site or within the same umbrella as 5-8 first schools) and retained this system until 1990, when the traditional age ranges were re-established. This coincided with a major reorganisation in the borough which saw sixth form facilities largely concentrated in further education colleges rather than secondary schools, as well as several secondary schools being closed or merged.[33]

Halesowen, West Midlands (formerly Worcestershire) - adopted 9–13 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system after 1974 when the town was absorbed into the borough of Dudley (see above) along with Stourbridge (which, along with Kingswinford, always used the traditional age ranges). Was one of the first local authorities to abolish middle schools when in 1982 the traditional age ranges were re-established. This reorganisation also saw the town's three secondary schools serving the 13-18 age range become 11-16 schools, with sixth form facilities concentrated at the expanded college in the town, while the town gained a fourth secondary school with the conversion of a former middle school into an 11-16 school.[34]

Sutton Coldfield (which was in Warwickshire until 1974) adopted 5-8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and did so for 20 years before reverting to 5-7 infant and 7-11 junior schools in 1992.

Northern Warwickshire (the area covered by the boroughs of North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby – adopted 5–8 first schools and 8–12 middle schools in 1972 and retained this system until 1996, when it reverted to the traditional ages of transfer (which had always applied in the south of the county).

Yorkshire and the Humber

Bradford closed its middle schools between 1998 and 2002, having been the home of the first purpose-built middle school in the country.[26] Kirklees local authority closed three middle schools in 2012.[35] North Yorkshire's two middle schools (at Ingleton and Settle) closed in 2012.[36] Leeds and Wakefield previously operated on the three-tier system before reverting during the 1990s.

Notes

  1. ^ Etonbury Academy is proposed to become secondary from 2023
  2. ^ Pix Brook Academy is proposed to become secondary from 2023
  3. ^ Robert Bloomfield Middle is proposed to become an all-through school from 2023
  4. ^ Gosforth Junior High is federated with Gosforth High School

References

  1. ^ "The Education (Middle Schools) Regulations 1980" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Middle Schools". Hansard, 4 June 1984, vol 61. UK Parliament. 4 June 1984. pp. cc64–5W. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Education Act 1964". HMSO. 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  4. ^ Derek Gillard (2007). "Education in England - 1945-1978". Education in England: a brief history. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Middle schools decline due to haphazard development". Times Educational Supplement. 13 November 1981. p. 9.
  6. ^ Jessel, Stephen (12 October 1970). "Guidance on setting up middle schools". The Times. p. 2.
  7. ^ "School of the future". The Times. 12 December 1970. p. 13.
  8. ^ Andrew, Herbert; Department of Education and Science (12 July 1965). "Main forms of comprehensive organisation". Circular 10/65: The Organisation of Secondary Education. HMSO. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Government Clarifies Plan for Education Switch" (PDF). The Times. 14 July 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2009. [dead link]
  10. ^ Central Advisory Council for Education (England) (1967). "10". In Bridget Plowden (ed.). Children and their primary School. Vol. 1. London: HMSO. pp. 344–407. ISBN 0-11-270129-9.
  11. ^ a b Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools; Number of Middle deemed Schools, London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2005
  12. ^ a b Barker, Irena (2 February 2007). "Endangered species?". Times Educational Supplement. TSL Education Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  13. ^ "The Decision Has Been Made..." Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  14. ^ "Two-tier education plans scrapped". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  15. ^ "The Future of Woodside Middle School". Bedford Borough Council website. Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Major schools shake-up confirmed - Education". Bedford Today. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Two-tier change for borough's schools". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Get Information about Schools". Department for Education. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Latest News - Schools for the Future". Poole Borough Council. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  20. ^ "Schools for the future". Central Bedfordshire Council. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Great Park Update: June 2017".
  22. ^ Official name according to DfE website is Ridgeway Secondary School
  23. ^ "Norfolk schools close in education shake-up". BBC News website. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  24. ^ "SOR background and archive". SCC Website. Suffolk County Council. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  25. ^ "Closure of Suffolk's last remaining middle schools approved by Department for Education". Suffolk News. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wainwright, Geoff. "Information on Authorities with Middle Schools in 2004". Survey of Middle Schools in English LEAs. Learning Community 7 (North Bedfordshire). Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  27. ^ "Berry Hill Middle School".
  28. ^ Wyatt, Nigel (2010). The Development of Middle Schools in England (PDF). National Middle Schools Forum.
  29. ^ "Schools Reorganisation". IOW website. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  30. ^ "Security costs Sheppey school £266,000 in three years". Kent Online. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  31. ^ "Age of Transfer". Poole.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  32. ^ Cousin, S (2008). "Work starts on school extension". Worcester News. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  33. ^ "Work in progress list of school changes in Dudley". Dudley Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  34. ^ Hunt, Julian (2004). A History of Halesowen. Phillimore & Co Ltd.
  35. ^ "School changes due to the re‐organisation of Whitcliffe Mount Pyramid 2012/13" (PDF). Kirklees Council website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  36. ^ Proctor, Kate. "Ingleton and Settle middle schools closure confirmed". The Westmorland Gazette website. Newsquest (North West). Retrieved 2 February 2013.

External links

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