The Bulmershe School
Encyclopedia
The Bulmershe School is a mixed-sex comprehensive school
located in Woodley, Berkshire
, England
, which first opened in 1964 as a grammar school
. It caters for children of all abilities between the ages of 11 and 18 (years 7 to 13). In September 2004, the school was designated as a Department for Education and Skills specialist Sports College
and has also been credited with the Sportsmark Award. In addition, Bulmershe was a consecutive three-time winner of a DfES School Achievement Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
There were 1,335 students on roll at the time of the OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education
) inspection in 2004. The students come from Woodley and East Reading
. OFSTED reported that one third of the student body are from ethnic minority backgrounds with the largest group being of Pakistan
i origin. One in six of the students speaks English as an additional language, which is well above the national average. Bulmershe houses a local education authority
learning resource unit for students with learning difficulties. The school has an above average proportion of students with special education
al needs, comprising a quarter of the student population. OFSTED found that "the most common needs are emotional and behavioural difficulties, though a significant number of students have learning difficulties or autism
".
The head teacher
is Peter Lewis, who joined the school in 1998.
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...
located in Woodley, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, 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...
, which first opened in 1964 as a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
. It caters for children of all abilities between the ages of 11 and 18 (years 7 to 13). In September 2004, the school was designated as a Department for Education and Skills specialist Sports College
Sports College
Sports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
and has also been credited with the Sportsmark Award. In addition, Bulmershe was a consecutive three-time winner of a DfES School Achievement Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
There were 1,335 students on roll at the time of the OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education
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 2004. The students come from Woodley and East Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. OFSTED reported that one third of the student body are from ethnic minority backgrounds with the largest group being of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i origin. One in six of the students speaks English as an additional language, which is well above the national average. Bulmershe houses a local education authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
learning resource unit for students with learning difficulties. The school has an above average proportion of students with special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
al needs, comprising a quarter of the student population. OFSTED found that "the most common needs are emotional and behavioural difficulties, though a significant number of students have learning difficulties or autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
".
The head teacher
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
is Peter Lewis, who joined the school in 1998.