Bullers Wood School

Bullers Wood School for Girls is a comprehensive, all-girls' secondary school based on "St Nicolas Lane" in Chislehurst, part of the London Borough of Bromley.

Admissions

The school is primarily a single-sex establishment until the Sixth Form, where boys are admitted. The total number of students in 2006 was 1440, with 366 in the Sixth Form - of which 43 were boys. The school's motto is "Quod Potes Tenta", which is translated into "Strive To Your Utmost". The school has been awarded specialist Language College status.

History

Bullers Wood now is a combination of several refurbished historical houses and modern additions. Named after an ancient forest, the original Bullers Wood House was built in the 1860s, and was owned by the Sanderson family from the 1870s. John Sanderson, a Scottish merchant, spent much of the next 30 years improving the already stunning architecture. The famous artist and writer William Morris designed much of the interior decoration himself, including the beautiful library wallpaper and hand-painted ceiling which remains in situ to this very day.

In the 1930s, the site was bought by Sir Sydney Nicholson when he was forming the Royal School of Church Music, with the school's chapel being the present library. In 1939, the site was bought by Kent County Council.

During the Second World War it was transformed into a secondary school. A V1 flying bomb hit the Bromley Day Commercial School for Girls base on "Wharton Street" in Bromley, so it moved to the Bullers Wood site. It became Bromley Girls' Technical High School for ages 14-17, the after buildings were added, it became Bromley Technical High School for Girls for ages 11-18. In 1968, it became a grammar school with its present name.

Achievements

The school, in addition to being a Language College, was made a Beacon School in 2000, and was awarded an Investor In People status. It also boasts Sports and Arts marks. In 2006 Ofsted described the school as "very good with some outstanding aspects". The students achieve high results year after year.

Location

Bullers Wood can be accessed via the top of Logs Hill, Chislehurst and a main entrance located in "Chislehurst Road". The actual school can be reached by trains direct from Charing Cross and by regular bus services, notably the 314 (although this must be the most unreliable of bus services!!!!). You can also reach with the more reliable 269 bus and walk various ways up the hill or along St Georges Road. The establishment is famed for its acres of picturesque woodland surrounding the buildings, and is a popular lunchtime haunt for many students.

Facilities and Involvement in the Community

Bullers, as it is affectionately known, can also lay claim to providing a wide variety of facilities for its pupils. A sports field with a pavilion is located approximately 1/4 mile from the school grounds whereas a netball court lies closer to home next to the school pond. A gym, a sports hall, an assembly hall and a fitness gym provide ample space for sporting activity.

Also available to students is the large canteen, the beautiful and well-stocked library, numerous computer rooms with flat screen monitors and a newly revealed state of the art drama studio. In addition the art-block, the school has recently built a modern computer suite for the use of art and photography students to help them progress with an increasingly digitally based curriculum.

The school strives to maintain contacts with the local community. Language classes for adults are often run in the Euro-centre after school hours and fund raising activities involving local charities are a regular occurrence.

ixth Form

The school has a mixed sixth form open to both Bullers' girls and external students. The sixth-form centre is based in Inglewood, another former house that was previously owned by a well-to-do family. Here students have access to a kitchen with cooking appliances and computer rooms. Separate Common rooms are available for both Year 12 and 13 students and a media suite can be found in the attic. Extra-curricular activities running in the Sixth form include People and Planet group who run the popular Fair Trade Friday in the Foyer and Social Events management.

External links

* [http://www.bullerswood.bromley.sch.uk School Website]
* [http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentView.aspx?EstablishmentID=1665 EduBase]