Bell Baxter High School
Encyclopedia
Bell Baxter High School is a non-denominational comprehensive
state school for 11-18 year olds in Cupar
, Fife
, Scotland
.
Grammar School and was founded in 1889 when the Madras Academy combined with the Sir David Baxter's Institute for Young Ladies.
Since 1962, the accommodation for the school has been on two main sites; Carslogie Road and Westport. The two sites are approximately three-quarters of a mile apart.
The oldest part of Westport building was first used in 1890 with the rest of the building being built in 1929. Because of the large number of pupils using this site a great number of wooden huts were built to accommodate them.
The Carslogie Road building was opened in 1962 and over the years there have been on-going refurbishments here which has resulted in the school being able to operate from one site.
A Former Pupils' Association was formed in 1989 following a number of successful reunions held to mark the School Centenary. Further details about the FPA can be found on its bulletin board at http://BBHS-FPA.eboard.com/.
In May 2011, a video recorded of the teachers doing a flashdance of popular cheesy songs made its way onto YouTube, becoming an Internet sensation
The South Wing of the Carslogie Road building was reopened at the start of Session 02/03. This marked the completion of a major stage in the building's development plan.
The Craft & Design block was completed for the start of the 03/04 Session. Although the Physical Education facilities have also been refurbished there are still plans for further developments.
of the school is Philip Black, who was appointed in early 2007.
Previously rector of Glenrothes High School, Mr Black filled the position, of Mr Douglas Campbell, previous Rector of Bell Baxter High School.
coming to fruition. After four years of negotiations, in December 2008 planning permission was granted.
It was long argued that this facility would be a great asset to both the pupils of the school and the community at large.
There are also plans to form a parents association to influence key decision within the school.
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...
state school for 11-18 year olds in Cupar
Cupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
School history
Bell Baxter High School was descended from the CuparCupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
Grammar School and was founded in 1889 when the Madras Academy combined with the Sir David Baxter's Institute for Young Ladies.
Since 1962, the accommodation for the school has been on two main sites; Carslogie Road and Westport. The two sites are approximately three-quarters of a mile apart.
The oldest part of Westport building was first used in 1890 with the rest of the building being built in 1929. Because of the large number of pupils using this site a great number of wooden huts were built to accommodate them.
The Carslogie Road building was opened in 1962 and over the years there have been on-going refurbishments here which has resulted in the school being able to operate from one site.
A Former Pupils' Association was formed in 1989 following a number of successful reunions held to mark the School Centenary. Further details about the FPA can be found on its bulletin board at http://BBHS-FPA.eboard.com/.
In May 2011, a video recorded of the teachers doing a flashdance of popular cheesy songs made its way onto YouTube, becoming an Internet sensation
The current state of the school
There are currently over 1,800 pupils, together with over 100 teachers at Bell Baxter High School. In addition to this the school is supported by a large number of auxiliary teachers and non-teaching staff.The South Wing of the Carslogie Road building was reopened at the start of Session 02/03. This marked the completion of a major stage in the building's development plan.
The Craft & Design block was completed for the start of the 03/04 Session. Although the Physical Education facilities have also been refurbished there are still plans for further developments.
Management
The current RectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the school is Philip Black, who was appointed in early 2007.
Previously rector of Glenrothes High School, Mr Black filled the position, of Mr Douglas Campbell, previous Rector of Bell Baxter High School.
Future of the school
Bell Baxter High School has seen its plan of an All Weather pitchArtificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
coming to fruition. After four years of negotiations, in December 2008 planning permission was granted.
It was long argued that this facility would be a great asset to both the pupils of the school and the community at large.
There are also plans to form a parents association to influence key decision within the school.
Sports Achievements
- Bell Lawrie Under-18 Champions 2007
- Royal Navy Scottish Schools SevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
Champions 2007
Notable former pupils
- Charlie and Craig Reid of The ProclaimersThe ProclaimersThe Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid . They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be ". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents...
band - Former Scotland rugby player David RolloDavid Rollo (rugby union)David Miller Durie Rollo was a prop forward who played for . Unusually for a Scotland internationalist, he came from Fife.As a prop, he could play both tight and loosehead:...
attended Bell Baxter. - Dale Reid OBE, one of the most successful ladies golfers in the history of the Ladies European TourLadies European TourThe Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
. - Allan StewartAllan Stewart (politician)Allan Stewart , is a former Scottish Conservative politician.Educated at Bell Baxter High School, St. Andrews University and Harvard University, where he obtained a first class degree, he was a lecturer in Political Economy at St. Andrews before unsuccessfully standing for the Dundee East...
, former Conservative MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for EastwoodEastwood (UK Parliament constituency)Eastwood was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 until 2005. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
.