ARK Globe Academy History

This week Theo Faulkner, one of our Venue Hosts, gives us a history into the Globe Academy.

ARK Globe Academy History!

Although it didn’t have the same name back then, The Globe Academy Primary has been open as a school since as far back 1873! (Before Charlie Chaplin was born!) Since “Harper Street School” was opened it has seen a huge change of policies, buildings, expansions, names and some exciting A List visitors.
Making a positive out of a negative, after the war in 1958 the “Two Saints Secondary School For Girls” was built, with the Harper Road perimeter being constructed with bomb rubble and brick scraps!
The “Trinity School for Girls” was opened in 1962 by Monsieur Rene Maheu, the Sixth Director-General of UNESCO. As the population grew in the area and Heygate Estate was completed,  the school joined with “Paragon School for Boys” in 1976. Of course a new name was given, “Geoffrey Chaucer School”
In 1983, The hosted Simon Hughes where he was elected to parliament in the Bermondsey by election.
Another exciting visit came in 1998, when the school hosted Budget Question Time with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair and Chancellor of Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

Keeping with the times, in 2001 the school was upgraded to “Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College”.

Bringing us the academy it is today, ARK Schools won their plan in 2007; to build new teaching blocks and to bring in the two schools together as one. Moving quickly by 2008, the Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College and Lancaster Primary School opened as the now Ark Globe Academy!

Since the academy was established, it has hosted many events and again had many well-known visitors. We were lucky enough to have the likes of Educational Secretary, Michael Gove officially open the Paul Marshall Building in 2010. In the same year, we were delighted to have the new coalition Prime Minister David Cameron visit, along with famous CBE actor and author Sir Michael Caine; to launch the Conservative Party’s National Citizen Service.

David Cameron, must have been very impressed with the academy as he came for a second visit the following year, along with the then, American President, Barack Obama! The Academy was clearly a hit within the political gossip as Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg also visited in the same year to launch the Social Mobility initiative.

2014 bought us a royal guest, Princess Beatrice came to talk to pupils and teachers about our work supporting Dyslexia. The Ark Globe Academy was then selected as an example of good practice in education in the 2014 Parliamentary Review! This was certainly a busy year for the Academy as we were also able to open the Ark Globe Academy Sixth Form, opening the doors to more and more students.

In 2015, students were able to get involved in the local election hustings as our head girl, Zareen Roy-Macauley chaired a debate with the Bermondsey & Old Southwark election candidates.

Last year we were lucky enough to have the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Bernard Hogan Howe attend an interview for our school newsletter; as part of the work Globe’s students are doing within the community to create a safe place for everyone.

We are now coming to the end of another fantastic year; where the Globe continues to create a fantastic venue for it’s students and venue guests! As of January 2016 the academy held 1267 pupils. It continues to deliver not only amazing education, but a venue we are proud to show off. The academy is always looking to develop and has an exciting future ahead. With a history of political figures visiting the academy, who knows? maybe Theresa May could be next!