Bishop Walsh Catholic School
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| Bishop Walsh Catholic School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
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Wylde Green Road , 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[disambiguation needed], St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Ignatius[disambiguation needed] |
| 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 2013... Senior Management Team:
- Head teacher: 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
- Personal Assistant to Head-Teacher: Mrs Julie Stewart
Site Team:
- Mr John Carroll - Attendance & Community Manager
- Mr Mike Allen-Smith - Site Manager
- Mr Alex Burn - Assistant Site Manager
R.E:
- Miss Anna Perfect - Head of department
- Mrs Rosie Keane - Teacher (Currently on Maternity Leave)
- 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 Chaplaincy Coordinator (Currently On Maternity Leave)
- Mr Steven Marshall - Teacher & Temporary Chaplaincy Coordinator
- Mrs Cathy Lines - Teacher
- Miss Emma Orme - Teacher
English:
- Mr Gary Anderson - Head of department
- Mrs Lorraine Adriano - Head of KS3 English
- Mrs Vasoona Kyriacou - Teacher
- Mrs Vicky Darby - Teacher
- Mrs Shareen Chilwan - Teacher & Head of Year 13
- Mr Stephen Harris - Teacher
- Mrs Samantha Hampson - Teacher
- Mrs Andrea Tack - Teacher
Science:
- Mrs Katie Marston-Smith - Head of Science & Biology
- Mr Tom Killworth - Teacher & Biology Specialist & Head of Year 8
- Miss Siobhan Twist - Teacher & Biology Specialist
- Dr Louise Jones - Teacher & Biology Specialist
- Miss Anna Nazir - Head of Chemistry
- Miss Elizabeth Marshall - Teacher & Chemistry Specialist
- Mr Chris Whitehead - Teacher & Chemistry Specialist
- Miss Laura Balding - Teacher & Chemistry Specialist
- Mr Andrew Green - Head of Physics
- Mrs Jane Davies - Teacher & Physics Specialist
- Miss Jeni Mousley - Teacher & Physics Specialist
History:
- Mr Peter Foley - Head of department
- Mr Brian Neilan - Teacher & Head of Year 9
- Mrs Cathy Hamil - Teacher (Currently On Maternity Leave)
Geography:
- Mr Marc Titcombe - Head of department
- Miss Ruth Sherrard - Teacher
- Mrs Joanne Price - Teacher
Modern Foreign Languages:
- Mr John Bradbury - Head of department
- Mrs Claire Bowker - Teacher & Head of Year 12
- Mr Michael 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 & Performing Arts
- Miss Lisa Darby - Teacher
- Miss Olivia Byrne - Teacher
Music:
- Mr Tim Baker - Head of Department
- Mrs Christy Del-Strother - Teacher
Music Technology:
- Mr Krzys Webber - Head of Department
Art:
- Mr Lee 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
Food Tech:
- Mrs Jo Nash - Head of Food-Tech
- Mrs Vanessa Parker - Teacher
P.E:
- Mrs Colette Gould - Head of department
- Mr Iffy Khawaja - Teacher & 2nd in Head of Department
- Mrs Wendy Clegg - Teacher & Head of Year 7
- Miss Nicola McManus - Teacher & Head of Year 11
- Mr Grant Huddleston - Teacher & Duke of Edinburgh Co-Coordinator
- Mr Stuart Marston-Smith - Teacher
Business Studies:
- Mr Mark O'Rourke - Head of department & Head of Year 10
- 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
Psychology:
- Mrs Louise May - Head of department (Currently On Maternity Leave)
- Miss Vicky Houndslow - (Acting) Head of department
- Miss Kryzia Paszkowski - Teacher
Support Staff:
- Mrs Toni Callow - Teaching Assistant & SEN Admin
- Mrs Margret Hazel - Learning Mentor
- Mrs Samantha Mannion - Learning Mentor
- Miss Lorraine Purchase - Learning Mentor
- Mrs Jane Ledwith - Learning Mentor
- Mr Ralph Thornton - Learning Mentor
- Mrs Natalie Byfield - Learning Mentor
- Mrs Kerry Aldridge Rodgers - Learning Mentor
Office Staff:
- Mrs Maggie Brennan - Office Manager
- Mrs Jackie Blake - Secretary & First Aid Manager
- Mrs Cathy Halliday Secretary/Reprographics
Cover Staff:
- Mrs Helen Bethell - Cover Manager & Trips Coordinator
- Mr Leo Heartly - Cover Teacher
- Mrs Tracey O' Shea - Cover Teacher
Examination Officers:
- Mrs Ann-Marie Thompsn - Examinations and Data Officer
- Mr David Wigley - Assistant Examinations Officer
Library Staff:
- Mrs Anne Bond - Librarian
- Mrs Carmel Mullins - Librarian
I.C.T. Technicians:
- Mr Steve Rice - Technician & Operations Leader
- Mrs Samantha Aplin - Technician (VLE, Website, & Reports)
- Mr Andy Pulestone - Technician (school network and IT infrastructure)
Staff Alumni's:
- Mr Michael Penn - Head of Performing Arts
- Miss Sandra Rowe - Support Staff
- Miss Joanne Boyle - Science Teacher
- Mr Martin Callow - Geography Teacher
- Miss Lese Begue - Languages Teacher
- Mrs Anne Koryl - Geography Teacher
- Mrs Janet Calderbank - Science Teacher
- Mrs Marie-Clare Troman - Languages Teacher
- Miss Gina Nelson - Science Teacher
- Mrs Shirley Wigley - English Teacher
- Miss Emily Toye - Drama Teacher
- Mr Marcus Brown - English Teacher
- Mr Stuart Reynolds - Psychology Teacher
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.
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,[citation needed] Olympic medalist in Field Hockey
- David McShane, professional badminton player
- Steven Grant, actor