From the: Goole - Howden - Thorne Courier (14 Jul 04)

Thorne Grammar celebrates record results.
By Stephanie Bateman

Record results in maths and science have been recorded at Thorne Grammar School.

KS3 tests are taken by all students nationally in May each year, they represent a progress check before the step to GCSE courses in September.

This year 63 per cent (science) and 74 per cent (maths) of students have achieved the government’s L5+ benchmark for students at the end of Year 9.

Director of Science Gillian Bennett said: “This fantastic achievement is the result of hard work from students & staff.”

Director of mathematics Susan Grace added “Our statutory target was 69 per cent and we wanted our last year as Thorne Grammar School to end on a high.”

“With 74 per cent of students achieving a L5+ and 45 per cent achieving a L6+ we have certainly achieved that.”

Thorne Grammar’s headteacher for its 75^th and final year is Doug Blackledge, he said: “Many of the students who have just achieved this success have done so with the support not only of their teachers but also their tutors and year leaders.”

“We must not forget too that many of the students who didn’t quite manage the L5 benchmark did make good progress and achieved a level that was in line with their personal best. They should be as pleased with that as I am.”

Commenting on the school’s closure and transition to Trinity Academy this year, he added:”Thorne Grammar School will be remembered with great affection by very many people in this community, and rightly so.”

“Time moves on though and we must now look to the future at the academy. I believe that the building is ahead of schedule and the final plans for how the new school will operate are nearing completion.”

“I’m excited by the prospect of seeing the whole community benefit from this wonderful opportunity, I only hope that we are all able to make the most of it.”

Comment - Remember everyone, this is the same school that we were being mislead into believing by the government, council & supporters of the then Vardy Foundation (now the Emmanuel School’s Foundation), was so far beyond help that it justified pulling it down.

This reprehensible & demoralising denigration seems to fit into a pattern first established at King’s Academy & repeated at Thorne, then Northcliffe. Teachers in Coventry should be aware of this – because they are next.'''