Bicester Community College
Encyclopedia
Bicester Community College is a mixed, multi-heritage, comprehensive school
, with around 1200 students (including a sixth form
) and has been a Government-designated specialist
Technology College
since 1998. It is situated in Bicester
, Oxfordshire
, England
, and occupies a 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) site leading off Queens Avenue.
The school's sports facilities are used by Bicester Athletic Club, which was recently awarded National Lottery
funding to add all-weather surfaces to the sports field's jumping and throwing event areas.
Most Improved School Award
In May 2011 Bicester Community College received the Most Improved Award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) for improving its GCSE results by 20 percentage points from 2007-2010. The College received congratulations for significantly improving its 5+ A*-C results including GCSE English and Mathematics.
Students achieving at least five A* to Cs GCSEs 69%
Students achieving at least five A* to Cs GCSEs including English and Maths 55%
Students achieving at least five A* to Gs GCSEs 99%
A Levels awarded at A or B grades 31%
The College
gained School Achievement awards in 2001 and 2002 in recognition of the significant improvements in its examination results. In 2006 Bicester achieved membership of the Most Improved Specialist Schools Club after the number of pupils getting five or more A*-C grades at GCSE
rose from 40 per cent in 2002 to 50 per cent in 2005. The results dropped in 2006 with only 36 per cent achieving the benchmark five or more GCSE passes at A*-C, but the 2007 results were a significant improvement with 52 per cent gaining five or more GCSE passes at the appropriate grades.
The last Ofsted
Inspection in October 2007 judged that "The quality of education provided by the college in Years 7 to 11 and in the sixth form is satisfactory with good and outstanding features". The inspectors commented that the school offered an outstanding curriculum and "an exceptionally wide-ranging choice of after-school activities". The report also noted "the clear direction of the headteacher and the effectiveness of the relatively new senior leadership team".
There have been several successful Oxbridge applications from the school in the last ten years, and the school has sent students to other top UK universities, including King's College London
, the London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London
, the University of Warwick
, the University of Bristol
and the University of Nottingham
. The University of Reading
, Coventry University
, the University of Southampton
, Oxford Brookes University
and Nottingham Trent University
are also popular destinations for former students of the school.
Gold Award in recognition of its achievements in the arts.
Bicester Community College is reported to have an excellent performing arts department, with a variety of opportunities, including a jazz band, various choirs, wind band, string orchestra, various chamber ensembles, a boys' dance company and various dance clubs.
These groups have performed in many places and the orchestra and jazz band even went on a trip to Germany in July 2007, performing 3 concerts.
Music and dance groups from the school will perform at the MAD about Waddesdon
festival in June 2010.
The Department has also recently built up a reputation for their shows, including Grease in 2006,The Sound of Music in 2007 and High School Musical in February 2008, Les Miserables in 2009 and Bugsy Malone in 2010.
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...
, with around 1200 students (including a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
) and has been a Government-designated specialist
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
since 1998. It is situated in Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, 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...
, and occupies a 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) site leading off Queens Avenue.
The school's sports facilities are used by Bicester Athletic Club, which was recently awarded National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
funding to add all-weather surfaces to the sports field's jumping and throwing event areas.
History
Bicester Community College, formerly known as Bicester School, was formed as a new comprehensive school in 1966. It was created by the merger of Highfield Secondary Modern School and Bicester Grammar School, who had shared the current site since 1963. Bicester Grammar School had previously been situated at the junction of London Road and Launton Road.Recent News
The College has successfully finished its refurbishment of the kitchens and new Cafe area for its College communityMost Improved School Award
In May 2011 Bicester Community College received the Most Improved Award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) for improving its GCSE results by 20 percentage points from 2007-2010. The College received congratulations for significantly improving its 5+ A*-C results including GCSE English and Mathematics.
GCSE
Examination Performance 2010Students achieving at least five A* to Cs GCSEs 69%
Students achieving at least five A* to Cs GCSEs including English and Maths 55%
Students achieving at least five A* to Gs GCSEs 99%
Sixth Form 2010 Success
A Level Grades awarded at A-E 98%A Levels awarded at A or B grades 31%
The College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
gained School Achievement awards in 2001 and 2002 in recognition of the significant improvements in its examination results. In 2006 Bicester achieved membership of the Most Improved Specialist Schools Club after the number of pupils getting five or more A*-C grades at GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
rose from 40 per cent in 2002 to 50 per cent in 2005. The results dropped in 2006 with only 36 per cent achieving the benchmark five or more GCSE passes at A*-C, but the 2007 results were a significant improvement with 52 per cent gaining five or more GCSE passes at the appropriate grades.
The last Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
Inspection in October 2007 judged that "The quality of education provided by the college in Years 7 to 11 and in the sixth form is satisfactory with good and outstanding features". The inspectors commented that the school offered an outstanding curriculum and "an exceptionally wide-ranging choice of after-school activities". The report also noted "the clear direction of the headteacher and the effectiveness of the relatively new senior leadership team".
There have been several successful Oxbridge applications from the school in the last ten years, and the school has sent students to other top UK universities, including King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, the London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. The University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
, Coventry University
Coventry University
Coventry University is a post-1992 university in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the institution's name was changed from Coventry Polytechnic to Coventry University...
, the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
and Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
are also popular destinations for former students of the school.
Performing arts
In 2008 the College was awarded the ArtsmarkArtsmark
Artsmark is a national award scheme managed by Arts Council England. The scheme, that is open to all schools in England, recognises schools with a high level of provision in the arts.There are three levels of award:* Artsmark Gold* Artsmark Silver...
Gold Award in recognition of its achievements in the arts.
Bicester Community College is reported to have an excellent performing arts department, with a variety of opportunities, including a jazz band, various choirs, wind band, string orchestra, various chamber ensembles, a boys' dance company and various dance clubs.
These groups have performed in many places and the orchestra and jazz band even went on a trip to Germany in July 2007, performing 3 concerts.
Music and dance groups from the school will perform at the MAD about Waddesdon
MAD about Waddesdon
MAD about Waddesdon is an annual festival of Music, Art, Drama and Dance, involving young people from local schools and community groups. It is held in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire over a weekend at the end of June, beginning of July....
festival in June 2010.
The Department has also recently built up a reputation for their shows, including Grease in 2006,The Sound of Music in 2007 and High School Musical in February 2008, Les Miserables in 2009 and Bugsy Malone in 2010.