St Thomas More Catholic Upper School
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- This article is about St Thomas More upper School in Bedford, for St Thomas More RC School in Blaydon see, St Thomas More RC
| St Thomas More Catholic Upper School | |
| Motto | Quality with care in the service of God |
| Established | 1979 |
| Type | Voluntary-aided, comprehensive Upper School |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Headteacher | Mr Alan Lee |
| Location | Tyne Crescent, Brickhill Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 7UL England |
| LEA | Bedfordshire |
| Ofsted number | 109698 |
| Staff | 56 |
| Students | 883 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11 to 19 |
| School colours | Black & Green |
| Publication | More News |
| Website | www.st-thomasmore.org.uk/ |
| Coordinates: | |
St Thomas More Catholic Upper School is a Roman Catholic school located in Bedford, England.
The school is located on Tyne Crescent in the Brickhill area of north Bedford. 'Tommy More' (as the school is affectionately known by staff and pupils) is the only Catholic upper school in Bedford. The school has no specific catchment area, but attracts students from all over Bedford and the surrounding villages.
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[edit] History
Following the 1967 Plowden Report, Bedfordshire LEA decided to implement the three-tier education system of lower, middle and upper schools in the county. This created a need for a new catholic upper school in Bedford.
St Thomas More Catholic Upper School was formally opened in 1979 by Baroness Shirley Williams (then Secretary of State for Education and Science). The dedication Mass was conducted by Bishop Charles Alexander Grant (then Bishop of Northampton).
When St Bedes Middle school closed in 2006, academic years 7 and 8 were transferred to St Thomas More School, along with some of the teaching staff.
The name itself is derived from St Thomas More, an elder statesman from the sixteenth century. He is mainly remembered for his principled refusal to accept King Henry VIII's claim to be the supreme head of the Church of England, which decision ended his political career and led to his execution as a traitor. He was canonized by the Catholic Church under Pope Pius XI in 1935, and was later declared the patron saint of lawyers and statesmen.
[edit] The school today
St Thomas More Upper School currently serves children aged 13-19 from all over Bedford Borough. The school is part of a federation of catholic schools in Bedford, under the guidance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton. The other schools within this federation are St Gregory's RC Middle School, St Joseph's Lower School, and St John Rigby Lower School.
Although the St Thomas More School has no specific academic specialism, the school is known for its sports facilities. These include the largest school sports hall in the county, along with the location of the Bedford schools Cross Country course.
[edit] Quote from School Site
"St Thomas More is the lead school in the Bedford Federation of Catholic Schools, St Francis Deanery. We provide exciting learning opportunities, in an outstanding environment, expertly crafted by highly committed teachers and support staff.
Our continued academic success is achieved through the dedicated partnership between students, parents and school. At St Thomas More the students are at the centre of everything we do. Their happiness, fulfillment and care are the fundamental focus of all activity.
Please take time to view the following pages. If you would like to know more about our community, or would like to visit us, do not hesitate to contact me at the school"
Alan Lee
[edit] External links
- St Thomas More Catholic Upper School official website
- Diocese of Northampton
- Location of School
