Balcarras School
Encyclopedia
Balcarras School is a comprehensive school
for 11 to 18 year olds, located in Charlton Kings
, Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
, England
.
The secondary re-organisation re-shaped the local education system resulting in school closures and also marking the demise of single sex education in the town (except in the private sector). It also gave birth to a new comprehensive school in Charlton Kings, Balcarras, with an intake between the ages of 11 and 18.
The official opening, which was hosted by the new Headteacher, Mr. Nigel Cooke, took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November. The guest of honour was the Mayor of Cheltenham, Mr. Don Perry, T.D. and the vicar of Charlton Kings dedicated a sun-dial in commemoration of the occasion. The Chairman of Governors, Mr. Barrie Anderson, also welcomed the four patrons of the school: Mrs. Winifred Foley, Mr. Tom Graveney, O.B.E., Mr. Gordon Ottewell and Mr. Peter Selvey. Each of whom had a house named after them: Foley, Selvey, Graveney and Ottewell. Each house has a head of house, and two assistant head of house. Also in the house each year group has two tutor groups.
The accommodation originally comprised ten classrooms, an assembly hall, (also used as a dining hall) with a stage, a gymnasium with changing rooms and showers, a library, science and rural science laboratories and special rooms, (in some cases also used as classrooms), for woodwork, metalwork, domestic subjects, art, needlework and light crafts.
This original building is just a small part of what Balcarras has become. Firstly the Science block was added, followed by the building which now houses History and Maths. After that came the Dining Room block and then the addition of a Sports Hall temporarily brought the building programme to a close. The playing field boundary was marked by a hedge which had at its centre the Balcarras oak tree, the field was extended towards the foot of the Cotswold Hills and the oak tree now stands proudly in the centre of the field.
In the mid-1990s the numbers of pupils entering post-16 education was increasing, and local young people were having to travel across Cheltenham
to find schools. This created a demand for a sixth form in the eastern part of the town and the school was extended to provide first class accommodation for 16-18 year olds. In September 1998 the Balcarras sixth form was opened by HRH Anne, the Princess Royal
. A new headteacher, Mr. Chris Healy, supported by staff and parents, led Balcarras into a new and exciting phase, which led to continued expansion requiring further building. In 1999 the six-roomed Modern Languages block was built and formally opened on 23 March 2000 by Philippe St. André, a former French rugby international.
In October 2001 the new Music accommodation was opened and celebrated by the first annual House Music Competition. 2002 saw two major developments; the opening of the astroturf pitch and pavilion, largely funded by Sport England
, serving the school and local sporting community, and the extension to the modern languages building, housing the geography department and ICT.
In the autumn term of 2005/2006 OFSTED inspectors visited again and gave a positive review of the school.
Finally in 2006, a new art block was added onto the other end of the modern languages block, giving Balcarras some of the best art facilities in the county. Two of the old art rooms were converted into science labs, 'A' level Biology, Chemistry and Physics their own laboratories.
In the spring term of 2008/2009 OFSTED inspectors visited again and gave an outstanding report of the school.
Balcarras has doubled its numbers since 1986 from 650 11-16 pupils to its position today as an 11-18 school of 1300 pupils and students with a national reputation for the quality of the education it provides.
The school is working together in partnership with Pittville Secondary School. The partnership aims to raise the achievements and aspirations for pupils and schools.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
for 11 to 18 year olds, located in Charlton Kings
Charlton Kings
Charlton Kings is a suburb of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. The area constitutes a civil parish. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 coming into force on April 1, 1974, it had been an urban district...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Balcarras School was opened to pupils on 2 September 1986 replacing Charlton Kings County Secondary School, which was closed as part of a secondary education re-organisation scheme in Cheltenham.The secondary re-organisation re-shaped the local education system resulting in school closures and also marking the demise of single sex education in the town (except in the private sector). It also gave birth to a new comprehensive school in Charlton Kings, Balcarras, with an intake between the ages of 11 and 18.
The official opening, which was hosted by the new Headteacher, Mr. Nigel Cooke, took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November. The guest of honour was the Mayor of Cheltenham, Mr. Don Perry, T.D. and the vicar of Charlton Kings dedicated a sun-dial in commemoration of the occasion. The Chairman of Governors, Mr. Barrie Anderson, also welcomed the four patrons of the school: Mrs. Winifred Foley, Mr. Tom Graveney, O.B.E., Mr. Gordon Ottewell and Mr. Peter Selvey. Each of whom had a house named after them: Foley, Selvey, Graveney and Ottewell. Each house has a head of house, and two assistant head of house. Also in the house each year group has two tutor groups.
The accommodation originally comprised ten classrooms, an assembly hall, (also used as a dining hall) with a stage, a gymnasium with changing rooms and showers, a library, science and rural science laboratories and special rooms, (in some cases also used as classrooms), for woodwork, metalwork, domestic subjects, art, needlework and light crafts.
This original building is just a small part of what Balcarras has become. Firstly the Science block was added, followed by the building which now houses History and Maths. After that came the Dining Room block and then the addition of a Sports Hall temporarily brought the building programme to a close. The playing field boundary was marked by a hedge which had at its centre the Balcarras oak tree, the field was extended towards the foot of the Cotswold Hills and the oak tree now stands proudly in the centre of the field.
In the mid-1990s the numbers of pupils entering post-16 education was increasing, and local young people were having to travel across Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
to find schools. This created a demand for a sixth form in the eastern part of the town and the school was extended to provide first class accommodation for 16-18 year olds. In September 1998 the Balcarras sixth form was opened by HRH Anne, the Princess Royal
Princess Royal
Princess Royal is a style customarily awarded by a British monarch to his or her eldest daughter. The style is held for life, so a princess cannot be given the style during the lifetime of another Princess Royal...
. A new headteacher, Mr. Chris Healy, supported by staff and parents, led Balcarras into a new and exciting phase, which led to continued expansion requiring further building. In 1999 the six-roomed Modern Languages block was built and formally opened on 23 March 2000 by Philippe St. André, a former French rugby international.
In October 2001 the new Music accommodation was opened and celebrated by the first annual House Music Competition. 2002 saw two major developments; the opening of the astroturf pitch and pavilion, largely funded by Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
, serving the school and local sporting community, and the extension to the modern languages building, housing the geography department and ICT.
In the autumn term of 2005/2006 OFSTED inspectors visited again and gave a positive review of the school.
Finally in 2006, a new art block was added onto the other end of the modern languages block, giving Balcarras some of the best art facilities in the county. Two of the old art rooms were converted into science labs, 'A' level Biology, Chemistry and Physics their own laboratories.
In the spring term of 2008/2009 OFSTED inspectors visited again and gave an outstanding report of the school.
Balcarras has doubled its numbers since 1986 from 650 11-16 pupils to its position today as an 11-18 school of 1300 pupils and students with a national reputation for the quality of the education it provides.
The school is working together in partnership with Pittville Secondary School. The partnership aims to raise the achievements and aspirations for pupils and schools.
Notable alumni
- Laurence ShahlaeiLaurence ShahlaeiLaurence Shahlaei is a British strongman competitor, winner of the England's Strongest Man title at 2009 and repeat competitor at the World's Strongest Man.-Early life:...
, (born December 25, 1982), winner of the England's Strongest Man title and repeat competitor at the World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest ManThe World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
.