THE GATES to Mill Chase Academy will be closing for the last time next Friday (November 8) after a history spanning more than 60 years.

The Bordon secondary school first opened its doors to students in 1958 as Mill Chase County Secondary School. It went on to become Mill Chase Community Technology College in 2007.

In 2013, Mill Chase was among the bottom five per cent of schools in the country and was judged by Ofsted to be ‘inadequate’.

Shortly after it joined The University of Chichester Academy Trust, current principal Paul Hemmings was appointed and in 2016 the school was judged to be ‘good’ in all areas in its first inspection as an academy.

This year’s GCSE results were said to be Mill Chase’s “best ever”, placing it in the top third of secondary schools in Hampshire. And in September 2019, the largest year group for more than 15 years joined the school with 90 per cent of Year 6 parents in the town choosing Mill Chase.

Mr Hemmings said the school’s performance “shows what can be achieved when you get the perfect mix of high quality pastoral support with talented and committed teachers who have the full support of parents”.

In a recent Year 11 parent survey, deputy principal Stephanie Moral said “100 per cent of parents agreed or strongly agreed” their children were happy at school and making good progress.

Head girl Amálie Hadfield said: “Mill Chase has encouraged me to grow into the person I am today and given me many opportunities to challenge myself.”

While her parents, Monika and James Hadfield said she has “flourished” during her time there, “thanks to the continuous high standard of teaching throughout and the high focus on pastoral care”.

Mr Hemmings continued: “Mill Chase closes having provided strong foundations for the future.

“We are all poised for an exciting and successful future at Oakmoor School.”