Burscough Priory Science College

Infobox UK school
name = Burscough Priory Science College


motto = "E PLURIBUS UNUM" ("Out of Many, One")
established = June 1958
type = Secondary Comprehensive
specialist = Science College
head_label = Headmaster
head = Roger Leighton
r_head_label = Deputy Headteachers
r_head = Mr R. Madgin, Mr C. Edgar
city = Burscough
county = Lancashire
country = England
postcode = L40 7RZ
enrollment = 720
ofsted = 119746
staff = 90
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
free_label =
free =
website = http://www.bpsc.co.uk/
website_name = Burscough Priory Science College

Burscough Priory Science College is a specialist Science College, in Lancashire, England. It officially opened on 10th June 1958 as Burscough County Secondary School, under the Headship of Brian Stone. The then Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby (1918 - 1994) presided over the ceremony. At the time of opening, the school's staff of ten teachers looked after 222 pupils.

The school's motto " _la. E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One)", which is also the motto of the USA, was thought to be appropriate as the new school was created from several all-age schools from around the area.

History

Although small in size in comparison to other secondary comprehensive schools in West Lancashire, the school has seen several expansions since its construction. As well as a ROSLA building being constructed in the early 1970s, the school was also extended in 1976. It then became known as Burscough Priory High School. During this time the roll expanded to over 800 pupils with the comprehensive intake.

Brian Stone retired in July 1984 and Eric Cole took on the role of acting Headteacher for the autumn term in 1984 until the appointment of Roger Leighton as headteacher in January 1985. The school was later extended again with the construction of a Performing Arts building, in response to the gaining of specialist Science College status.

The school has 720 students and caters for 11-16 year olds, with 90 members of staff.

Buildings

The school's four buildings link to form a single school. The layout is split into two parts, with a glass corridor providing an indoor connection between parts.

Main/original building

The original building is where the modern school entrance and main corridors are, including the classrooms on the upper floor. This was the original school until it was extended in 1972 and 1976 for the raising of school leaving age and for the comprehensive intake, respectively.

No extensive refurbishment has taken place in the original part of the school. A gymnasium was build during the 1970s, when the headteacher at that time, Brian Stone, had the option to build a swimming pool or a gymnasium, opting for the latter. The back of school also saw an extension of classrooms during the 1970s and the front entrance saw some refurbishment during the summer of 2004.As part of the school's continuing development in ICT, plans are underway to redevelop the first floor of the original building into ICT, with refurbishment of the school library into a Learning Resource Centre.

The ROSLA Building

In 1972, a law was passed to make the legal age at which a pupil could leave compulsory education increase from 15 to 16. As with many schools around the country, a ROSLA building was erected next the main school building, which is the first building seen upon entering the school premises.

Although intended to stand for only around 15 years, the ROSLA building is still standing after 35 years. It accommodates the Art and History departments, as well as a 5th year (Year 11) common room on the ground floor with a smaller secondary cafeteria ajoined to it. The upper floor has seen minor redecoration, as well as the exterior being painted during the summer of 2007. Refurbishment work to the exterior, including paneling and painting, is due to occur during August 2008.

cience and Performing Arts building

In September 2004, the school changed its name to become Burscough Priory Science College to reflect the gaining of specialist school status in Science. The Science and Performing Arts building was completed and in use in the same month, with the official opening occurring 8 months later on 25 May 2005, being named after the original headteacher as The Brian Stone Centre. It accommodates the newly built Science Laboratories on the ground floor, as well as the upper floor Music & Performing Arts departments, comprising 2 large Music rooms, several practice rooms and a Drama studio.

This building was built on the location which housed the aging portable cabin classrooms.

Recent investments

The school has seen heavy investments since 2004, which is still continuing. An [http://www.bpsc.co.uk/pages/ofsted/ofsted_report.htm Ofsted report] in November 2004 slated the school for not providing sufficient teaching for ICT and Religious Studies, as well as an unsatisfactory Design & Technology Department, mainly because of staffing problems. The Design and Technology department has seen refurbishment of all its subject rooms since 2004, with the Food Technology room last to be refurbished in this project, being completed in September 2006.

An investment in 2005 funded the construction of an ICT suite, the first general-purpose ICT room for the school, allowing any subject to book it for their own lessons. This has also provided the facilities to allow the school to teach ICT through all years across the school. Further investment into ICT was provided in summer 2008 when all ICT was centralised on the upper floor of the main building, meaning refurbished classrooms and a modernised Learning Resource Centre replacing the aging library, dating back to when the school was constructed.

olar Panels

In 2008, Burscough Priory was one of 100 schools through the United Kingdom to have been chosen to receive solar panels worth £20000, half funded by the Co-op's £1m "Green Energy for Schools Scheme". An LCD display in the school entrance displays the total energy generated by the panels since installation (including real-time generation) and also the amount of greenhouse gases which have been prevented from entering the atmosphere. [http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/icormskirk/news/tm_headline=sun-thing-to-be-pleased-about&method=full&objectid=20985918&siteid=60252-name_page.html Sun-thing to be pleased about!] ]

Headmasters

* 1958-1984: Brian Stone
* 1984-1985: Eric Cole (Acting Head)
* 1985-present: Roger Leighton

ee also

*Burscough
*Burscough Priory
*Specialist school

References

External links

* [http://www.bpsc.co.uk/ School website]
* [http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/ Lancashire Grid For Learning]