Brighton Hill Community College

Infobox UK school
name = Brighton Hill Community College


size =
latitude = 51.2465
longitude = -1.1145
dms =
motto = Courtesy and Consideration / "The Best"
motto_pl =
established = 1975
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Comprehensive
religion = None
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = David Eyre
r_head_label =
r_head =
chair_label = Chair of Governors
chair = Mrs C Mitchell-Reid
founder =
founder_pl =
specialist = Sports, Languages
specialist_pl = L
street = Brighton Way
city = Basingstoke
county = Hampshire
country = United Kingdom
postcode = RG22 4HS
LEA = Hampshire County Council
ofsted = 116441
staff = 150
enrollment = 1300
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
houses = Athens, Barcelona, Montreal, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo
colours = Navy blue and yellow color box|Navycolor box|yellow
publication =
free_label_1 =
free_1 =
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.brightonhill.hants.sch.uk/
website_name =

Brighton Hill Community College is located in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke in the county of Hampshire in the south of England. The Headteacher is Mr David Eyre, and the school has specialist status as a Sports College and Language College.

In the past, Brighton Hill has run several successful exchange trips with Marienschule, a school in Basingstoke's twin town, Euskirchen. It also runs many sport-related trips, as well as trips for other subjects. It holds annual Gifted and Talented events for Sports students.

Brighton Hill Community College is also a Training School.

Curriculum

Students at the school begin their GCSE subjects in year nine, which allows them to complete some GCSEs at the end of year ten and spend year eleven studying a different subject. The school has a two-week timetable, which include compulsory English, Maths, Science, Physical Education, Key Skills Qualification ICT, Citizenship, Religious Education and Personal Social and Health Education for all students.

All Key Stage 3 students also study French, German, Geography, History, Philosophy, Ethics and Beliefs, Food Technology, Textiles, Woodwork, Graphics, Music, Art and Drama. From Year Nine, students choose up to four courses to continue studying, including all of the above courses, Business Studies, Pre-Vocational Studies, Separate Sciences and Health and Social Care. The school also offers a variety of Out of Hours programs, including French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Drama and Critical Thinking AS level.

Uniform

Brighton Hill uniform consists of a daffodil-yellow shirt, black trousers or skirt, a navy blue jumper and a navy blue blazer. This uniform has locally earned the students a nickname of "Yellowbellies".

History

In 2005/06, Brighton Hill controversially changed its tutoring system by introducing mixed-year tutor groups. This change led to subsequent pupil protests that were covered in the regional news. [ [http://archive.basingstokegazette.co.uk/2006/5/17/101644.html Shake-up drives pupils to protest ] ] The college also changed its house system, consisting of the houses Austen, Dickens, Kingsley, Adams and White, to a community system with communities called Athens, Barcelona, Montreal, Rome, Sydney and Tokyo.

In a recent Ofsted inspection, the school was highly praised, although it was criticised for poor communication with parents. [cite web
url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=312311&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\116\s5rti_116441_20071221.pdf |work=Ofsted Report |title=Brighton Hill Community College] In recent years, the school has constantly ranked above local and national averages. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/850_4182.stm BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Secondary schools in Hampshire ] ]

In June 2008, the college was featured again in the local newspaper after over 200 pupils were suspended following a protest on the field against an extension of 20 minutes to the school day, and the plans to force the entire school of 1,300 students to queue all at once. The Strike was started by a small group of Year 10s before the beginning registration of the day. These sudents quikly spread word about their plans and after between 1-2 hours there was about 200 students on the far side of the feild from the main school Buildings. many children came and went throughout the day due to a warning issued by the headmaster that for every missed lesson a student must suffer one hours detention, and if the whole day is missed the student will be suspended for the rest of the week which happened to be the last week of school for the year. Once the Day had finished the senior members of staff forced the students of the fieldbefore other students finished their lessons to avoid difficulties. The very next day all students turned up as normal but with a surprise in store for them as a highly respected Sports teacher named Mr. Du-Heaume was waiting at the school gates with a list of 117 names of those who were to be sent home as they were excluded for the rest of the week. This caused a lot of complaints fropm parents because of the disorganisation and inconvenience caused by the school towards all of the parents and Students. After the school had closed for the Summer Holidays another swurprise was i store for the protestors as half way through their summer break all 117 excluded students were sent a letter reading that the expelled students had had the punishment erased from their records, as discussed between The Headmaster and the School Governors which left the students pleased with their 7 week summer holiday and no punishments. [ [http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2404322.mostcommented.head_bans_over_100_pupils_after_protest.php Head bans over 100 pupils after protest] ]

Headteachers

Mr David Eyre became Headteacher at Brighton Hill Community College in 2005. He was previously Head at Desborough School. Previously, the Headteacher was Mr Andy Kilpatrick. Other past headteachers are Mr Lawrie Shaw and Mr Bill Wright.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.brightonhill.hants.sch.uk/ The school's website]