Bishop Walsh Catholic School
Encyclopedia
Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a secondary school
located in Sutton Coldfield
, Birmingham
in the West Midlands
of England
.
and Sixth Form
centre. The school opened in 1966 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006 with a mass in the school building which was conducted by Vincent Gerard Nichols
(Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham).
The school is named after Bishop
Thomas Walsh
and currently teaches 765 pupils aged 11–16 and a further 240 pupils in the VI form. The current head teacher is Mr John B. Farrell, who was Deputy Head at the school, 2000–2008 and was a teacher at the school from 1988-1992. The school is managed by the senior management team and the board of governors. Mr Bryan Holden is currently the chair of the governors at Bishop Walsh Catholic School.
. Bishop Walsh now belongs to three of the Specialist Schools Trust's award clubs. The School is enroled in the club for highest performing results, the highest valued scores from SATs ( see National Curriculum assessment
) to GCSE and the third club is for the most improved schools over the past four years. Only 34 schools in the UK, excluding Walsh belong to all three clubs, placing the school in the top 1.2% of specialist schools in the UK.
, the school is actively involved in many projects and activities. The school takes part in many sporting events which include; Sutton School's athletics, swimming, hockey, football and the most recent addition, ultimate Frisbee. The school supports local performing arts groups, which include the biggest 'Stagecoach' group in the county of the West Midlands
with over 300 pupils attending. Another group that meets at the school is 'The Sutton Coldfield Community Choir', run by music teacher Kryz Weber.
The school is involved with many projects with the Catholic Partnership, which includes the Year 10 young leaders project,sporting competitions and other religious orientated projects and events. The school's local cluster group is The Sutton Central Group. The school has with the cluster arranged free dental care for young people in Sutton and an enterprising project, with Year 10 pupils, recycling bikes in the local community.
The Core Purpose of the Catholic Partnership is to promote the Common Good, as outlined by the Bishops of England and Wales, in Birmingham's Catholic Secondary schools.
All pupils are expected to take part in Religious Education
lessons. All the criteria apply for years 7 - 11 in the school.
To support their application, parents/ guardians will be required to provide evidence that their children are baptised Catholics.
The Governors have adopted Birmingham LEA's definition of brothers and sisters and residency. The Governors have the right to check with Parish Priests that the child's residency lies within the four Sutton Coldfield
parish boundaries.
These priorities having been applied, in the event of over-subscription, applications will be admitted in an order of priority within the appropriate category, based upon the proximity of their domicile to the front door of Holy Trinity R.C. Church, measured in a straight line.
In cases of refusal of admission by the Governors, parents have the right of appeal against that decision and, in such a case, an Appeals body will be constituted in accordance with the arrangements laid down by the 1998 Education Act.
.
Sixth Form entry from 2008
To help raise standards in the Sixth Form and make sure all candidates can cope with A Levels, the governors have changed the entry requirements to study A Level and BTEC courses
, for A Levels a point score of 230 is required,which is equivalent to 5 Bs at GCSE, with 5 passes at grade C in separate subjects. Pupils can also be admitted to one year intermediate courses (BTEC) in which they will 4 to 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, candidates will need a GCSE point score of 112, the equivalent to 4 grade E's at GCSE.
External applicants are required to complete a Governors’ Application form for a Sixth form place and sign to accept the conditions of entry. All candidates will be interviewed and references will be called for from schools currently attended by applicants.External applicants are only accepted if there are available places within. In addition, if more applications are received than there are places available the Governors will allocate places in the following order:
Internal applicants from Year 11 receive a priority if they meet the entry requirements for post-16 courses and who have submitted a Governors' application form. All internal candidates are subject to an interview with the headteacher to discuss future plans and assess suitability for AS/A2 studies.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
of 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...
.
Introduction
Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Performing Arts College, Mathematics and Computing CollegeMathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing Colleges were introduced in England in 2002 as part of the Government's Specialist Schools Programme which was designed to raise standards in secondary education. Specialist schools focus specifically on their chosen specialism but must also meet the requirements of the...
and 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,...
centre. The school opened in 1966 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006 with a mass in the school building which was conducted by Vincent Gerard Nichols
Vincent Gerard Nichols
Vincent Gerard Nichols is the Archbishop of Westminster, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales...
(Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham).
The school is named after Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh (UK bishop)
Bishop Thomas Walsh was a Roman Catholic clergyman and Vicar Apostolic who served the Midlands area of the United Kingdom. He was born in London on 3 October 1776, and ordained priest on 19 September 1801...
and currently teaches 765 pupils aged 11–16 and a further 240 pupils in the VI form. The current head teacher is Mr John B. Farrell, who was Deputy Head at the school, 2000–2008 and was a teacher at the school from 1988-1992. The school is managed by the senior management team and the board of governors. Mr Bryan Holden is currently the chair of the governors at Bishop Walsh Catholic School.
Mission statement
The school's mission statement is: "Caring to Learn: Learning to Care". Bishop Walsh aims to be a secure and happy Catholic school where they try to follow the example of Christ, enjoy learning and do their best. They believe in excellence and in developing their talents in a variety of ways.Specialist Status
In 2006 the school applied to renew its bid as a performing arts college which was successful. It also achieved specialist status as a Mathematics and Computing CollegeMathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing Colleges were introduced in England in 2002 as part of the Government's Specialist Schools Programme which was designed to raise standards in secondary education. Specialist schools focus specifically on their chosen specialism but must also meet the requirements of the...
. Bishop Walsh now belongs to three of the Specialist Schools Trust's award clubs. The School is enroled in the club for highest performing results, the highest valued scores from SATs ( see National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments are a series of educational assessments, colloquially known as Sats or SATs, used to assess the attainment of children attending maintained schools in England...
) to GCSE and the third club is for the most improved schools over the past four years. Only 34 schools in the UK, excluding Walsh belong to all three clubs, placing the school in the top 1.2% of specialist schools in the UK.
Position within the community
As the school is the only establishment for secondary Catholic education in Sutton ColdfieldSutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, the school is actively involved in many projects and activities. The school takes part in many sporting events which include; Sutton School's athletics, swimming, hockey, football and the most recent addition, ultimate Frisbee. The school supports local performing arts groups, which include the biggest 'Stagecoach' group in the county of the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
with over 300 pupils attending. Another group that meets at the school is 'The Sutton Coldfield Community Choir', run by music teacher Kryz Weber.
The school is involved with many projects with the Catholic Partnership, which includes the Year 10 young leaders project,sporting competitions and other religious orientated projects and events. The school's local cluster group is The Sutton Central Group. The school has with the cluster arranged free dental care for young people in Sutton and an enterprising project, with Year 10 pupils, recycling bikes in the local community.
School Leadership
From September 2011- Headteacher: Mr J.B. Farrell
- Deputy Headteacher - i/c Engagement & Learning: Miss Belinda Dunphy
- Deputy Headteacher - i/c Learning & Teaching:Mr Clive Wright (Acting)
- Assistant Headteacher i/c Post-16 :Mr Henyrk Koryl
- Assistant Headteacher i/c Training & Development: Mr Peter Howes
- Assistant Headteacher i/c Intervention for Learning: Mr Andrew Hamill (Acting)
- Assistant Headteacher i/c Inclusion: Mrs Jemma Killworth (Acting)
- Finance & Admin Manager: Mrs Dawn Knott
Catholic partnership
Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Member of the Catholic Partnership. http://www.catholicpartnership.com/The Core Purpose of the Catholic Partnership is to promote the Common Good, as outlined by the Bishops of England and Wales, in Birmingham's Catholic Secondary schools.
11-16 education
Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided School serving, in the first instance, the local Roman Catholic Community. Pupils are normally admitted to the school between the ages of 11 and 16 years, the operative date being September 1 of the current school year.All pupils are expected to take part in Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
lessons. All the criteria apply for years 7 - 11 in the school.
To support their application, parents/ guardians will be required to provide evidence that their children are baptised Catholics.
The Governors have adopted Birmingham LEA's definition of brothers and sisters and residency. The Governors have the right to check with Parish Priests that the child's residency lies within the four Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
parish boundaries.
These priorities having been applied, in the event of over-subscription, applications will be admitted in an order of priority within the appropriate category, based upon the proximity of their domicile to the front door of Holy Trinity R.C. Church, measured in a straight line.
In cases of refusal of admission by the Governors, parents have the right of appeal against that decision and, in such a case, an Appeals body will be constituted in accordance with the arrangements laid down by the 1998 Education Act.
Feeder schools
The following schools are feeder schools to Bishop Walsh, pupils in these schools are automatically given a place at Bishop Walsh, parents have the right to turn down the offer of a place.- St. Joseph's, Sutton Coldfield
- Holy Cross, WalmleyWalmleyWalmley is an area of Sutton Coldfield, England. It is in south Sutton Coldfield, near to Minworth, Wylde Green, Erdington and south of Thimble End. It is approximately northeast of Birmingham city centre...
- St. Nicholas, BoldmereBoldmereBoldmere is a residential area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. It is bordered by New Oscott, Sutton Park, Wylde Green and Erdington, and is in the ward of Sutton Vesey.- Toponymy :...
Sixth Form entry
There is a separate Admissions Criteria for the Sixth FormSixth 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,...
.
Sixth Form entry from 2008
To help raise standards in the Sixth Form and make sure all candidates can cope with A Levels, the governors have changed the entry requirements to study A Level and BTEC courses
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
, for A Levels a point score of 230 is required,which is equivalent to 5 Bs at GCSE, with 5 passes at grade C in separate subjects. Pupils can also be admitted to one year intermediate courses (BTEC) in which they will 4 to 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, candidates will need a GCSE point score of 112, the equivalent to 4 grade E's at GCSE.
External applicants are required to complete a Governors’ Application form for a Sixth form place and sign to accept the conditions of entry. All candidates will be interviewed and references will be called for from schools currently attended by applicants.External applicants are only accepted if there are available places within. In addition, if more applications are received than there are places available the Governors will allocate places in the following order:
- Baptised Catholic students with brothers or sisters already in the school
- Baptised Catholic students already attending Catholic Secondary schools
- Baptised Catholic students attending non-Catholic Secondary schools
- Non-Catholic students with brothers or sisters already in the school
- Non-Catholic students attending other Catholic schools
- Non-Catholic students
Internal applicants from Year 11 receive a priority if they meet the entry requirements for post-16 courses and who have submitted a Governors' application form. All internal candidates are subject to an interview with the headteacher to discuss future plans and assess suitability for AS/A2 studies.
Notable alumni
- Jane SixsmithJane SixsmithJanet Theresa "Jane" Sixsmith MBE is a former field hockey player, who was a member of the British squad that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She retired from the international scene after scoring over hundred goals and winning 165 caps for England and 158 for Great...
, Olympic medalist in Field Hockey