Tapton Secondary School opened in 1960 with 660 pupils. The pupils came from three local schools who lost their senior school to provide the pupils. These three schools, Springfield County, Nethergreen, and Crookes Endowed, became Junior schools. The original 1950s school was knocked down and replaced by new premises under the private Finance Initiative in 2001 and is rented from its landlords, Interserve PLC. After April 2011 the school was affected by changes in the funding of 6th formers and the removal of specialist school status from all schools. As a result of this funding change, Tapton governors sought academy status, which was approved, the changeover date being August 2011.
School site
New buildings include 15 science laboratories, a technology block with 10 classrooms, a music block with dedicated practice rooms, a drama studio, and a gym and sports hall. Outside, there is also a floodlit astroturf and tennis court, used by local organisations and other schools for a range of sports. In October 2015, a new building opened, with 4 new geography classrooms and a quiet area dedicated to the study of poetry.
Recognition
Academically, Tapton is one of the most successful state-funded schools in Sheffield. Results at A level and GCSE are consistently above the National average. In the academic year 2009–10, GCSE results placed Tapton 1st in the whole city and A level results were equally good. The Times best schools list 2007 puts the school around 200th in the country, second in Sheffield, though results at GCSE and A level in 2007 would put Tapton first. In recent years, various pupils have excelled in sports with badminton teams and the 6th form basketball team winning national competitions and one pupil running in the Sheffield Marathon. The school obtained "Specialist Science College" status in the 2003–04 academic year. This enabled the school to form links with several Junior Schools and with a Specialist School. Tapton pupils are successful at science A levels, and at GCSE, most pupils take "triple", that is, separate, sciences, the remainder taking "dual" science as in all secondary schools. Pupil teams have won or placed highly in several national science quizzes. In December 2007 the school obtained a status in Arts, enhancing the school's reputation and facilities in three departments – Art, Drama and Music. Members of successful bands such as Def Leppard attended the school. The school was inspected by Ofsted on 29 January 2007 and rated as "outstanding". School students have attained places on the Prime Minister's Global Fellowship programme. The school achieved its first student in the inaugural year of the programme, 2008, and in 2009 had another successful applicant.
Tapton Youth Brass Band
Tapton Youth Brass Band' is a brass band formed in 1994 as the Tapton School band. Its musical director is Pat Phillips. It now attracts interest from outside the School. Tapton Youth Brass Band has played in many different countries whilst on tour and has collaborated with professional brass bands.
