Bishop Walsh Catholic School

Bishop Walsh Catholic School
Address
Wylde Green Road Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham , West Midlands , B76 1QT England
Information
Type	Comprehensive voluntary aided school and sixth form centre
Motto	Caring to Learn and Learning to Care
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1966
Local authority	Birmingham
Specialist	Performing Arts, Mathematics and Computing College
Department for Education URN	103536 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of the Governors	Mr Peter McCann
Headteacher	Mr J.B. Farrell
Staff	70 approx.
Gender	Co-educational
Age	11 to 18
Enrollment	993
Houses	St. Augustine, St. Benedict, St. Clare, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Ignatius
Colour(s)	Blue, Red & White
Website	http://www.bishopwalsh.bham.sch.uk/

Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a secondary school located in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham in the West Midlands of England.

Introduction

Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Performing Arts College, Mathematics and Computing College and Sixth Form centre. The school opened in 1966 and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006 with a mass in the school building which was conducted by Vincent Gerard Nichols (Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham).

The school is named after Bishop Thomas Walsh and currently teaches 765 pupils aged 11–16 and a further 240 pupils in the VI form. The current head teacher is Mr John B. Farrell, who was Deputy Head at the school, 2000–2008 and was a teacher at the school from 1988-1992. The school is managed by the senior management team and the board of governors. Since the end of September 2012, Mr. Peter McCann, an ex pupil and parent, has been Chair of Governors.

What has been particularly impressive about the academic results at Bishop Walsh is that in the last three years results amongst more able children have improved to a point that is easily comparable with local grammar schools.

Mission statement

The school's mission statement is: "Caring to Learn: Learning to Care". Bishop Walsh aims to be a secure and happy Catholic school where they try to follow the example of Christ, enjoy learning and do their best. They believe in excellence and in developing their talents in a variety of ways.

Specialist Status

In 2006 the school applied to renew its bid as a performing arts college which was successful. It also achieved specialist status as a Mathematics and Computing College. Bishop Walsh now belongs to three of the Specialist Schools Trust's award clubs. The School is enrolled in the club for highest performing results, the highest valued scores from SATs ( see National Curriculum assessment) to GCSE and the third club is for the most improved schools over the past four years. Only 34 schools in the UK, excluding Walsh belong to all three clubs, placing the school in the top 1.2% of specialist schools in the UK.

Position within the community

As the school is the only establishment for secondary Catholic education in Sutton Coldfield, the school is actively involved in many projects and activities. The school takes part in many sporting events which include; Sutton School's athletics, swimming, hockey, football and the most recent addition, ultimate Frisbee. The school supports local performing arts groups, which include the biggest 'Razzmatazz'. Another group that meets at the school is 'The Sutton Coldfield Community Choir', run by music teacher Kryz Weber.

The school is involved with many projects with the Catholic Partnership, which includes the Year 10 young leaders project, sporting competitions and other religious orientated projects and events. The school's local cluster group is The Sutton Central Group. The school has with the cluster arranged free dental care for young people in Sutton and an enterprising project, with Year 10 pupils, recycling bikes in the local community.

On 13 December 2011, Sarah Cotter won a Harry Potter competition through Sainsbury's. Rupert Grint and Oliver Phelps visited the school.

School Teaching Staff

From 2012... Senior Management Team:

• Headteacher: Mr John.B. Farrell
• Deputy Headteacher - i/c Engagement & Learning: Miss Belinda Dunphy
• Deputy Headteacher - i/c Learning & Teaching:Mr Clive Wright
• Assistant Headteacher i/c Post-16 :Mr Henyrk Koryl
• Assistant Headteacher i/c Training & Development: Mr Peter Howes
• Assistant Headteacher i/c Intervention for Learning: Mr Andrew Hamill
• Assistant Headteacher i/c Inclusion: Mrs Jemma Killworth
• Finance & Admin Manager: Mrs Dawn Knott

R.E:

• Miss Anna Perfect - Head of department
• Mrs Rosie Keane - Teacher
• Mrs Claire Ellis - Teacher
• Mrs Theresa Farrell - Teacher
• Mrs Carol Brown - Teacher
• Miss Kathy Meek -Teacher

Maths:

• Mrs Nicky Prytherick - Head of department
• Dr Colum Devine - Teacher
• Mr Kin Fung - Teacher
• Mr Rory Gallagher - Teacher
• Mrs Claire Foley - Teacher (Currently On Maternity Leave)
• Mr Steven Marshall - Teacher
• Mrs Cathy Lines - Teacher

English:

• Mr Gary Anderson - Head of department
• Mrs Lorraine Adrianno - Head of KS3 English
• Mrs Vasoona Kyriacou - Teacher
• Mrs Vicky Darby - Teacher
• Mrs Shireen Chilwan - Teacher
• Mr Stephen Harris - Teacher
• Mrs Samantha Hampson - Teacher
• Mrs Andrea Tack - Teacher

Science:

• Mrs Katie Marston-Smith - Head of department
• Mr Tom Killworth - Teacher
• Miss Siobhan Twist - Teacher
• Miss Elizabeth Marshall - Teacher
• Mr Andrew Green - Teacher
• Mrs Jane Davies - Teacher
• Mrs Janet Price - Teacher
• Dr Louise Jones - Teacher
• Miss Laura Balding - Teacher

History:

• Mr Peter Foley - Head of department
• Mr Brian Neilan - Teacher
• Mrs Cathy Hamil - Teacher

Geography:

• Mr Marc Titcombe - Head of department
• Miss Ruth Sherrard - Teacher
• Mrs Anne Koryl - Teacher

Modern Foreign Languages:

• Mr John Bradbury - Head of department
• Mrs Claire Bowka - Teacher
• Mr Micheal Early - Teacher
• Mrs Helen Dawson - Teacher
• Mrs Pauline Murphy - Teacher

Drama:

• Mrs Jodie-Lee Preistnall - Head of Department
• Miss Hannah Cox - Teacher
• Mrs Rebeckha O'Dowd - Teacher

Dance:

• Miss Alex Darby - Head of Department
• Miss Lisa Darby - Taecher
• Miss Olivia Byrne - Tecaher

Music:

• Mr Tim Baker - Head of Department
• Mrs Christy Del-Strother - Teacher

Music Technology:

• Mr Krzys Webber - Head of Department

Art:

• Mr Liam Taylor - Head of department
• Miss Emma Morton - Teacher
• Miss Ireen Horby-Walsh - Head of Textiles

D.T:

• Mr Sean Nugent - Head of department
• Mr Owen Walters - Teacher
• Mr Mike Allen-Smith - Teacher

Food Tech:

• Mrs Jo Nash - Head of Food-Tech
• Mrs Vaneesa Parker - Teacher

P.E:

• Mrs Cathy Gould - Head of department
• Mr Iffy Khawaja - Tecaher
• Mrs Wendy Clegg - Teacher
• Miss Nicola McManus - Teacher
• Mr Grant Huddleston - Teacher
• Mr Stuart Marston-Smith - Teacher

Business Studies:

• Mr Mark O'Rourke - Head of department
• Mr Sean Barlow - Teacher

Media:

• Miss Charlotte Spencer - Teacher
• Miss Helen Chadwick - Teacher

I.C.T:

• Mr Stuart Davison - Head of department
• Mrs Hazel Clancy - Teacher

Pyscology:

• Miss Vicky Houndslow - Acting Head of department
• Miss Kryzia Paszkowski - Teacher

Support Staff:

• Mrs Margret Hazel - Learning Mentor
• Mrs Samantha Mannion - Learning Mentor
• Miss Lorraine Purchase - Learning Mentor
• Mrs Sandra Byfield - Learning Mentor
• Mr Raplh Thornton - Learning Mentor
• Mrs Natalie Byfield - Learning Mentor
• Mrs Kerry Rodgers - Learning Mentor

Cover Staff:

• Mrs Helen Bethell - Cover Manager
• Mr Leo Heartly - Cover Teacher
• Mrs Tracey O' Shea - Cover Teacher

Library Staff:

• Mrs Anne Bond - Librarian
• Mrs Carmel Mullins - Librarian

Catholic partnership

Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Member of the Catholic Partnership. [1]

The Core Purpose of the Catholic Partnership is to promote the Common Good, as outlined by the Bishops of England and Wales, in Birmingham's Catholic Secondary schools.

Admission criteria

11-16 education

Bishop Walsh Catholic School is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided School serving, in the first instance, the local Roman Catholic Community. Pupils are normally admitted to the school between the ages of 11 and 16 years, the operative date being September 1 of the current school year.

All pupils are expected to take part in Religious Education lessons. All the criteria apply for years 7 - 11 in the school.

To support their application, parents/ guardians will be required to provide evidence that their children are baptised Catholics.

The Governors have adopted Birmingham LEA's definition of brothers and sisters and residency. The Governors have the right to check with Parish Priests that the child's residency lies within the four Sutton Coldfield parish boundaries.

These priorities having been applied, in the event of over-subscription, applications will be admitted in an order of priority within the appropriate category, based upon the proximity of their domicile to the front door of Holy Trinity R.C. Church, measured in a straight line.

In cases of refusal of admission by the Governors, parents have the right of appeal against that decision and, in such a case, an Appeals body will be constituted in accordance with the arrangements laid down by the 1998 Education Act.

Feeder schools

The following schools are feeder schools to Bishop Walsh.

• St. Joseph's, Sutton Coldfield
• Holy Cross, Walmley
• St. Nicholas, Boldmere

Sixth Form entry

There is a separate Admissions Criteria for the Sixth Form.

Sixth Form entry from 2008

To help raise standards in the Sixth Form and make sure all candidates can cope with A Levels, the governors have changed the entry requirements to study A Level and BTEC courses, for A Levels a point score of 230 is required, which is equivalent to 5 Bs at GCSE, with 5 passes at grade C in separate subjects. Pupils can also be admitted to one year intermediate courses (BTEC) in which they will 4 to 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, candidates will need a GCSE point score of 112, the equivalent to 4 grade E's at GCSE.

External applicants are required to complete a Governors’ Application form for a Sixth form place and sign to accept the conditions of entry. All candidates will be interviewed and references will be called for from schools currently attended by applicants. External applicants are only accepted if there are available places within. In addition, if more applications are received than there are places available the Governors will allocate places in the following order:

• Baptised Catholic students with brothers or sisters already in the school
• Baptised Catholic students already attending Catholic Secondary schools
• Baptised Catholic students attending non-Catholic Secondary schools
• Non-Catholic students with brothers or sisters already in the school
• Non-Catholic students attending other Catholic schools
• Non-Catholic students

Internal applicants from Year 11 receive a priority if they meet the entry requirements for post-16 courses and who have submitted a Governors' application form. All internal candidates are subject to an interview with the headteacher to discuss future plans and assess suitability for AS/A2 studies.

Notable alumni

• Jane Sixsmith, Olympic medalist in Field Hockey

External links

• Bishop Walsh School Website
• Bishop Walsh School Profile
• OFSTED Report January 2009