Bispham High School Arts College

Infobox UK school
name = Bispham High School Arts College


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type = Comprehensive
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head = Mr Robert E Harrison
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specialist = Performing Arts College
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city = Bispham, Blackpool
county = Lancashire
country = ENG
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ofsted = 119734
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enrollment = 1,000
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
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website = http://www.bisphamhigh.co.uk
website_name = www.bisphamhighschool.co.uk

Bispham High School Performing Arts College is a secondary school situated in Bispham, Lancashire, England, with a mixed intake of both boys and girls aged 11-16.

The school is located on Bispham Road. It was formerly an all girls School called Greenlands High. The school is a specialist Performing Arts College. It is a Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts.cite news|title=Grand Theatre links |publisher=Grand Theatre, Blackpool |url=http://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/links.php |accessdate=2007-04-09]

In 2005 the school achieved a GCSE pass rate with 40% of pupils achieving five A to C grades.cite news |title=Bispham High School - an Arts College |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-01-19 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/890_4056.stm|accessdate=2007-03-24]

Building and refurbishment project

A £6M project was completed in early 2007.cite news|title=Bispham High School (Page 4) building work |url=http://www.bisphamhigh.co.uk/bisppros2006.pdf |accessdate=2007-04-12|format=PDF] The project included -

*A two floor unit housing a Learning Resource Centre and library on the first floor. And a Community City Learning Resource Centre (CLC) on the ground floor. The CLC houses a Recording Studio and Video/Film/Media editing suite.
*A 14 classroom block for Humanities and English Faculties.
*Arts Block with two large Drama Studios
*Additional dance studio
*Second restaurant
*Entrance/reception block with administration offices plus atrium
*Upgrade of classrooms, new car parks, more disabled facilities etcThe administration centre and atrium were opened on 7 November, 2006 by retired Blackpool footballer and former Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, Jimmy Armfield OBE.cite news |title=Football ace sings children's praises
publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2006-11-08|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=1865735 |accessdate=2007-04-12]

Pupils and staff

Emmerdale actress, Kelsey-Beth Crossley is a pupil at the school.cite news |title=Teenager makes TV soap debut |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-02-27|url=http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=5442&ArticleID=2081817 |accessdate=2007-03-05] Pupil Ashley Loyd played the part of "Michael" in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London in 2005.

*Head Teacher - Mr Robert Harrison.
*Deputy Head Teacher - Mr John Topping.

Link up with Royal Ballet School

In February 2007 it was announced that the school was to sign a three year deal with the Royal Ballet School, London to become a centre of excellence for dance. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have yet to agree funding, but it is due to start in September 2007. cite news |title=That's dancing! |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-02-07 |url=http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=2029530 |accessdate=2007-04-09]

Bispham High School Gospel Choir

The school also has a gospel choir, "Bispham High School Gospel Choir", under the direction of Margaret Adereti (Conductor), Neill Oldham (Piano) and Sarah Bagot (Vocal Support).cite news|title=Bispham High School Gospel Choir |url=http://www.bisphamhigh.co.uk/Choir/Index.html |accessdate=2007-04-09]

In March 2007, the choir recorded a cover version of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley for the BBC 6 Music Hardchoral competition in which they reached the top ten. cite news |title=Pupils give funk to choral - audio |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-03-28 |url=http://www.blackpooltoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=2183493 |accessdate=2007-04-11] The choir made its national debut when the song was played on the BBC 6 Music Breakfast Show over the Easter Weekend in April 2007. cite news |title=Local news |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-04-10 |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=2690884 |accessdate=2007-04-12] On 17 April 2007 the choir sang their version of "Crazy" on BBC 6 Music during a live broadcast from the school hall, as part of the Hardchoral competition. cite news |title=Bispham school goes crazy for votes |publisher=Blackpool Gazette |date=2007-04-18 |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=2708563 |accessdate=2007-04-18]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.bisphamhigh.co.uk Bispham High School website]
* [http://www.bisphamhigh.co.uk/Choir/Index.html Bispham High School Gospel Choir website]
* [http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/ Government Specialist Schools website]