A couple of years ago I was privileged to be present when Estelle Morris, the Baroness of Yardley, opened the STEM block at Thorp Academy. This was shortly before the old school buildings (where I […]

A couple of years ago I was privileged to be present when Estelle Morris, the Baroness of Yardley, opened the STEM block at Thorp Academy. This was shortly before the old school buildings (where I […]
The 2018 A-level results at Thorp Academy demonstrate another year of positive results, which were once again above national average. Thorp Academy is one of ten secondary academies operated by Northern Education Trust (NET), a […]
I’ve seen many wonderful productions at Thorp Academy. Click on https://rytonian.com/?s=thorp+academy There is a chance to see Year 10 GCSE drama student in action next week. For full details contact the Academy finance office. […]
Thorp Academy, which is sponsored by the Northern Education Trust, has officially launched an exciting new sports scholarship programme for students. The Academy is building on its finest ever GCSE results in 2016 by heading […]
Andrew Jordon (pictured with students above) is the new executive principal at Thorp Academy, which is sponsored by the Northern Education Trust (NET). He has confidently set the bar higher for its students and staff […]
Students from Thorp Academy (Thorp) in Ryton, have reached the regional finals of the national Institute of Ideas Debating Matters competition. This academically acclaimed competition has been the premier performance for Thorp’s debating team, battling […]
Wednesday, 22nd June, 2016 Saturday 18th June, 2016
Last July Kay Farrow of Thorp Academy kindly showed me around and allowed me to take photographs inside the classrooms. They were still in use, so I didn’t publish them at the time. Here they […]
Many thanks to the staff of Sir Robert McAlpine, who allowed me to take some photographs of the gradual demolition of the old Thorp Academy today. Health and safety laws decree that I’m not allowed […]
I was thrilled when a couple of months ago an invitation dropped onto the mat inviting me to the official opening of the Thorp Academy STEM building. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering […]
Many many thanks to the people of Greenside, Ryton, Crawcrook, and our surrounding villages, for inviting us to the marvellous fundraiser at Greenside Social Club on Saturday night. This was to help students from Thorp Academy fund their […]
Thorp Academy lies at the heart of our community. I was a student there, and my Dad was a teacher. I’ve been back on a number of occasions to write about various events at the […]
I was kindly allowed to sit in on a rehearsal of Broadway last night, the new show being staged by students of dramatic art at the Thorp Academy. As they rehearsed ‘The Rhythm of Life’ […]
Santander rang me a couple of days ago. Did I want to go and work in their call centre in Sunderland? No, not really. I’m assuming a certain amount of mathematical acumen is required and […]
The old school hall at Thorp Academy was the keeper of many memories for my peers and me, so it was sad to see it tumble down during the summer. However I was fortunate enough […]
Mandy Peel has been in touch with me. Mandy works for the Northern Education Trust (Thorp Academy sponsors) and has been involved in issuing all the good news about their excellent GCSE results. The students […]
Thank you so much to Karen of Thorp Academy for taking me to the top of the STEM building this morning to get some photos of the demolition work. Also to the staff of Thompsons […]
It’s half term, so while the students have their break, preparation is underway to begin demolishing the old Thorp Academy, to make way for the new. I’ve been down there this foggy autumn morning to […]
Mr Hall, of Thorp Academy, has most kindly asked me if I will write (in my blog) about the demise of the old school, and the rise of the new. This will be an on-going […]
There was some controversy in the press last week over a head teacher charging a quid per person for parents/relatives to see a nativity play. A right old hooing and hahhing. One father wrote, in […]
These rooms belonged to the Domestic Science and Art departments in my day. Mr. Skelton was my art teacher. He’s a lovely guy and I met him again a few years ago when I visited […]
Yesterday evening gave us the sixth session of the Ryton Festival in Emmaville Hall. Proceedings were opened by Jonathan Morris, the Executive Principal of Thorp Academy, and the entrants came from The Saturday Stage School, […]
Thorp Academy had better watch out, because the KS2 Drama Club, at St. Agnes Catholic Primary School in Crawcrook, are snapping at their heels. When it comes to end of term celebrations, St. Agnes know how to do […]
I’ve been back to Thorp Academy this afternoon, to tell sixth form students about my day job. What an impressive bunch of young people they all are – and set to lead lives far more […]
I suppose that at any given moment, in any school or college in the country, you will find a young person who is going to be the next Gary Barlow, Katherine Jenkins, Fred Astaire, Dame Maggie […]