Magna Academy is situated in Canford Heath, a suburb and area of heathland in Poole, Dorset. Canford Heath is the largest heathland in Dorset, and the largest lowland heath in the UK. It’s name is given to the housing development that has grown up on the heathland since the 1960s.
Here is a short reverse history of Magna.
Present Day
In September 2024, Aspirations Academies Trust appointed Philip Midworth as Principal, who joins us from Budmouth Academy, in Weymouth.
2020-2024
In January 2020, we ushered in a new era at Magna after a term spent under interim management. Aspirations Academies Trust appointed Natasha Ullah as Principal, joining the academy from the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. We are proud that Natasha was the first BAME headteacher to be appointed on England’s South Coast.
Applications for Year 7 places at Magna Academy rose to record levels. Sixth form enrolment increased year on year and was graded by Ofsted as Outstanding in March 2023.
2013-2019
In 2012, Ashdown Technology College was placed in special measures after Ofsted assessed the school as “inadequate” for overall effectiveness. Ashdown was subsequently assessed by Ofsted as being “good”. As a consequence of these assessments, the college formally became Magna Academy, part of the Aspirations Academies Trust, on 1 September 2013. The new headteacher replacing Liz Jones was Richard Tutt.
In 2015, the academy underwent its first Ofsted inspection, gaining an Outstanding rating. An Ofsted inspection in December 2018 again rated the academy Outstanding – a rare double accolade. In the summer of 2019, Richard Tutt left the Academy to pursue a new role.
2000 to 2012
In 2000, the school was presented a DfE School Improvement Award. The following year, under the DfE’s Specialist Schools programme, Ashdown became a Technology College. In 2005, Ashdown was recognised by the Specialist Schools Trust as one of the “Most Improved” and “Best Added Value” Schools in the country. The DfE also designated Ashdown as a High Performing Specialist School. In 2006, Ashdown was re-designated as a Technology College with Vocational Learning added to its specialisms. A Sixth Form was introduced. Headteacher Ashley Pellegrini was replaced in 2007 by Liz Jones.
1990 to 1999
In 1990, Mollie Snell retired from her post as headteacher and the role was taken up by Ashley Pellegrini, who had previously served as deputy headteacher of Mellow Lane Comprehensive School in Hayes, Middlesex. In 1995, the Charter Mark Award was given to Ashdown for Excellence in Public Service. On 7 October 1997, two arsonists set fire to the site overnight, closing the school for a week. Parts of the building were badly damaged and the music room destroyed. New facilities were constructed in 1999, with a new music room and five new classrooms added. The school received its second Charter Mark Award in 1998.
1989: School Origins
The construction of Ashdown School began in 1986 in a large field in Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset. It was formally opened as Ashdown School on 7 July 1989 following the merger of Ashley Cross Girls School and Seldown Boys School. The opening ceremony was conducted jointly by HRH Princess Margaret and the school’s first headteacher, Mollie Snell. Six hundred students attended the opening of the school.