Headmaster: Mr. Paul Rusby
There has been a
Coates Endowed School in Ponteland since Richard
Coates, who died in 1719, left money in his will to
start a school in the village. Originally for
twelve boys and twelve girls, the School has
changed greatly down the centuries, but still
retains the basis of sound Christian learning for
which it was founded.
Tombstone of Richard Coates,
Benefactor, in St. Mary's Church,
Ponteland.
Stone in
wall of the Coates Institute, now an Estate Agent's
Office in Main Street, Ponteland.
Since 1972,
Coates has operated as a Church of England Special
Agreement Middle School for pupils between the ages
of nine and thirteen. It is supported by the
Diocese of Newcastle, the Coates Educational
Foundation and the Northumberland Education
Authority.
A Pleasant Place
The
present buildings, opened in 1958, provide
spacious, sunny accommodation for some 430 pupils.
Situated in the heart of Ponteland village, the
School has extensive playing fields and grounds,
together with two hard surface playing areas.
Internally, the building is brightly decorated
offering a cheerful and clean environment for
pupils.
School
|
Murals
|
The
School has a fine hall for assemblies and
gymnastics, a separate dining area and specialist
rooms for Technology, Art, Science and IT. There
are thirteen classrooms, a large library and the
stage is ideal for plays and concerts.
Year Five pupils
have their own classroom block, with separate
toilets, locker areas, playground and
entrance.
With the help of
the PTA and the Coates Foundation, the School is
involved in a continuing process of improvement.
Most recently, new IT facilities have been
introduced, and a new Music Suite has recently been
opened.   
School Aims
As a Church School, Coates tries to
set before its pupils the virtues and values of the
Christian life.
In specific
terms, its aims are:
to give to all
children without discrimination the experience of a
caring, supportive and enhancing community in which
there is stimulation and enjoyment;
to provide
access to a broad and balanced curriculum with
appropriate cross curricular references and with
the additional support necessary for those with
special needs;
to enable
children to develop as fully as possible their
academic, social, physical and spiritual abilities,
aptitudes and interests;
to encourage
children to take responsibility for their own
learning, developing lively, enquiring and
independent minds;
to develop
appropriate skills for literacy and numeracy, for
working successfully with other people and for
responding effectively to problems and
changes;
to foster good
relationships with parents, the church and the
local and wider communities so that pupils can
better appreciate their role in society;
to highlight the
importance of good behaviour, respect for self, for
others and for the environment;
to equip
children for their future lives as mature and
responsible adults.
"The
Teaching"
Erected on the
site of the school which existed on Coates
Green
To visit the
School's own web site go to : http://www.richardcoatesponteland.co.uk
|