Did you know that Cleeve Park School wasn’t always a mixed school? Cleeve Park School stands proudly on Bexley Lane its history woven into the very bricks and mortar. Formed in 1986 it’s a testament to collaboration. Parklands School for Boys and Sidcup School for Girls merged to create this vibrant educational hub. Mrs Evelyne Hinde the first head teacher guided this historic union.
The school’s grounds are expansive bordering the serene Footscray Meadows. A part of the current school building dates back to 1950 a legacy from Parklands School. The building has grown over time with new wings added in 1990 and 1995. Sir Edward Heath the then MP for Bexley officially opened these additions.
Cleeve Park School was a local authority community school until 2012. It then became a converter academy joining The Kemnal Academies Trust. The school has seen its share of modern challenges. In 2023 like many schools across the UK it discovered Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete RAAC in some classrooms. This resulted in temporary closures but the school quickly adapted using portacabins. The Main Hall was back in use by January 2024.
A significant achievement came in February 2024. Ofsted inspected the school awarding it a ‘Good’ rating. This marked a considerable improvement from the previous ‘Requires Improvement’ grade received in 2019. The school’s success is attributed to a shift in student and staff expectations and a considerable change in staff between 2021 and 2023.
In 2015 Mr Thompson a maths and PE teacher received a Golden Apple award from Good Morning Britain. A film crew even came to the school to document this exciting event. Around 2019 the school underwent a significant rebranding. Its uniform changed from a standard blue to a distinctive burgundy colour. This change was partially influenced by student input and possibly linked to the development of Cleeve Meadow School.
Cleeve Meadow School a new building for 100 special educational needs students opened in September 2020. It’s also used by Cleeve Park School students for music and drama lessons. In September 2024 the school’s leadership structure changed. A new Head of School Mr Daniel Pourtsmouth joined while retaining the Executive Headteacher. Cleeve Park School a place of history growth and remarkable achievements. Its story continues to unfold.