Welcome to the SSAT class of… series. We’re looking back at the past 27 years and paying tribute to some of our longest-serving member schools. We hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane and feel free to add your own memories in the comments below or via social media (remember to use #SSATClassOf)!
The year that was 2010…
Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government formed
Following the first hung parliament in the UK in 36 years, a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government (with Conservative David Cameron as head and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg as deputy) is formed on 11th May. Cameron would go on to form the second Cameron ministry without Clegg following the 2015 general election.
Student protests
Planned spending cuts to further education and an increase of the cap on tuition fees by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government lead to student-led protests across the country, with London as a focal point.
Deepwater Horizon
A catastrophic explosion engulfs the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in flames on the morning of 20th April. Situated within the BP-operated Macondo Prospect, the structure sinks two days later. Satellite images suggest 68,000 square miles of ocean is affected, with crude oil continuing to wash ashore three years after the accident.
Pass Out
Pass Out, the debut single by British rapper Tinie Tempah, is released on 17th November. The track would win Best British Single at the 2011 Brit Awards, and spend 65 weeks on the UK charts – making it the twelfth-longest runner of all time.
Spain win World Cup
Following their success at Euro 2008, Spain defeat the Netherlands 1-0 on 11th July to win the 2010 World Cup. Andres Iniesta’s goal just four minutes from the end of extra time ensures Spain became the first European team to win a world cup not hosted on European soil.
Inception released
Christopher Nolan’s science fiction thriller Inception is released on 16th July. With an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page and Tom Hardy, it would win four Academy Awards and become the 44th-highest-grossing film of all time.
Eyjafjallajökull erupts
Following a smaller eruption several weeks earlier, a second-stage eruption from Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull leads to widespread travel chaos after large areas of northern Europe are blanketed in ash.
SSAT class of 2010
Schools to have joined SSAT in 2010, and still be part of the network, include:
- The John Wallis Church of England Academy
- Brompton Academy
- Skegness Academy
- The Sutton Academy
- Ormiston Victory Academy
- Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy
- Altwood CofE Secondary School
- Ormiston Venture Academy
- Marine Academy Plymouth
- Duke of York’s Royal Military School
- The Quest Academy
- The Grange Comprehensive School
- Nightingale Academy
- North East Wolverhampton (NEW) Academy
- Kearsley Academy
- Sarum Academy
- Colchester Academy
- Dover Christ Church Academy
- The Thetford Academy
- King’s Lynn Academy
- The Birkenhead Park School
- Thornaby Academy
- North Shore Academy
- Harborne Academy
- Phoenix Collegiate
- The Eastbourne Academy
- Cleethorpes Academy
- The Priory Ruskin Academy
- Richmond Park Academy
- Denton Community College
- Heckmondwike Grammar School
- Shuttleworth College
- Arden
- Kingsmead School
- Oxford Spires Academy
- Bolton Muslim Girls School
- Fort Pitt Grammar School
- John Taylor High School
- De La Salle Academy
- Branston Community Academy
