John Mansfield School opened in 1957 as a secondary modern school (for those who didn't pass the 11+ and go to grammar school) for girls. There were 420 on the register when it opened. Boys went to Lincoln Road Boys School in Millfield.
John Mansfield School became co-educational in 1981 when boys transferred from Lincoln Road Boys' School.
In 1995 the school began teaching sixth form courses and won Government School Achievement Awards in 2001 and 2002.
In 2006 it was named the 53rd most improved school in Britain.
In August 2007 it closed, with pupils transferring to The Thomas Deacon Academy in Queen's Gardens. The £46 million academy, which was the most expensive school in Britian, and also replaced Hereward Community School and Deacon's School.
A report on the 50th anniversary of the school
A second report on the 50th anniversary
Memories of John Mansfield
- Barbara Dry Miss Roberts bought me a beret so I could go to the cathedral dressed the same as the other girls . It was an afternoon service at Christmas so cold in there . Ashamed to say I never went back that afternoon . Miss wilkinson was a RI teacher mrs Douglas was geography mrs bed well maths miss whiting married became mrs drury mrs baker elocution ( they tried) miss Harriet?craft teacher why do remember all this must be because I knew it would be useful 50 odd years later.
- Sharon Penzer nee Watson I went to John Mansfield school from 1981 -1983 so I was there when the school mixed with the boys school when I was in the 3rd year. It was very strange as us girls were so used to it being quiet. Lol, I moved house and ended up at Stanground which wasn't a patch on John Mansfield. I didn't know it had closed :-(
Aerial view of John Mansfield School.
I visited John Mansfield in about 1986 whilst working at British Telecom. We had a girl who came for work experience, and then a representative went back to the school for tea and cakes one afternoon. I was picked to go, at only 25, I can only assume my senior colleagues didn't fancy it. It suited me as it was a short afternoon and close to home. I remember there was a display in the hall and refreshments. I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the girl who came to BT, I do recall that all talk of school revolved around "after the boys came" (the school became mixed in 1983) and in her eyes this hadn't been an improvement.
I also visited the school in about 1991 with my 2 small children. My health visitor asked me to come along to a child care class she was giving to older girls. She wanted to demonstrate the tests they gave children at about 20 months and my eldest was the right age. I remember spending a good bit of the time looking after my young baby in the corridor, but her sister sailed through the tests.
My final visit was in 2000 when we were choosing a senior school for my eldest daughter. I'm afraid their boast that they had an injection moulding machine, "just like the one they'd use on the production line at Hotpoint" didn't quite live up to my expectations for my daughter's future.
What remains of the school today.
Silverlight Version
