Balcarras School

Infobox UK school
name = Balcarras School


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latitude = 51.88133
longitude = -2.04420
dms = dms
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established =
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closed =
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religion = zoronigetiest
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Chris Healy
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chairs = from ikea
founder = guru nanak
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specialist = Technology College
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street = East End Road, Charlton Kings
city = Cheltenham
county = Gloucestershire
country = England
postcode = GL53 8QF
LEA = Gloucestershire
ofsted = 115759
staff =
enrollment = 1227
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses =
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publication =
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website = http://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/
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Balcarras School is a comprehensive school for 11 to 18 year olds, located in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

History

Balcarras School was opened to pupils on 2 September 1986 replacing Charlton Kings County Secondary School, which was closed as part of a secondary education re-organisation scheme in Cheltenham.

The secondary re-organisation re-shaped the local education system resulting in school closures and also marking the demise of single sex education in the town, (except in the private sector). It also gave birth to a new comprehensive school in Charlton Kings, Balcarras, with an intake aged between 11 and 16. The school was named after a local farm and a hotel.

The official opening, which was hosted by the new Headteacher, Mr. Nigel Cooke, took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November. The guest of honour was the Mayor of Cheltenham, Mr. Don Perry, T.D. and the vicar of Charlton Kings dedicated a sun-dial in commemoration of the occasion. The Chairman of Governors, Mr. Barrie Anderson, also welcomed the four patrons of the school: Mrs. Winifred Foley, Mr. Tom Graveney, O.B.E., Mr. Gordon Ottewell and Mr. Peter Selvey. Each of whom had a house named after them: Foley, Selvey, Graveney and Ottewell.

The accommodation originally comprised of ten classrooms, an assembly hall, (also used as a dining hall) with a stage, a gymnasium with changing rooms and showers, a library, science and rural science laboratories and special rooms, (in some cases also used as classrooms), for woodwork, metalwork, domestic subjects, art, needlework and light crafts.

This original building is just a small part of what Balcarras has become. Firstly the Science block was added, followed by the building which now houses History and Maths. After that came the Dining Room block and then the addition of a Sports Hall temporarily brought the building programme to a close. The playing field boundary was marked by a hedge which had at its centre the Balcarras oak tree, the field was extended towards the foot of the Cotswold Hills and the oak tree now stands proudly in the centre of the field.

In the mid 1990s the numbers of pupils entering post-16 education was increasing, and local young people were having to travel across Cheltenham to find schools. This created a demand for a sixth form in the eastern part of the town and the school was extended to provide first class accommodation for 16-18 year olds. In September 1998 the Balcarras sixth form was opened by HRH the Princess Royal. A new headteacher, Mr. Chris Healey, supported by staff and parents led balcarras into a new and exciting phaze.

The continued appeal of the school has led to a seemingly relentless expansion which required a further building programme in 1999 to create another new feature, the six-roomed Modern Languages block. This was opened on 23rd March 2000 by Philipe St. Andre, the former French rugby international.

November 2000 saw the arrival of OFSTED inspectors for the Balcarras' second inspection. They were greatly impressed by what they saw, with two features standing out strongly - the warmth of the atmosphere throughout the school and the quality of the teaching. The teaching in the Sixth Form was the best the inspectors had seen!

In October 2001 the new Music accommodation was opened and celebrated by the first annual House Music Competition.

2002 saw two major developments; the opening of the astroturf pitch and pavilion, largely funded by Sport England, serving the school and local sporting community, and the extension to the modern languages building, housing the geography department and ICT.

In the autumn term of 2005/2006 the OFSTED inspectors arrived in the school again, and were once more very impressed by the school.

Finally in 2006, a superb new art block was added onto the other end of the modern languages block, giving Balcarras some of the best art facilities in the county. Two of the old art rooms were converted into science labs, 'A' level Biology, Chemistry and Physics their own laboratories.

Balcarras has come a long way since its opening in 1986, doubling its numbers from 650 11-16 pupils to its position today as an 11-18 school of 1300 pupils and students with a national reputation for the quality of the education it provides.

References

* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=115759 OFSTED Report 2005]

External links

* [http://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/ Balcarras School website]