Bispham High School Arts College

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Bispham High School Arts College
Type Comprehensive
Headteacher Mr Robert E Harrison
Specialism Performing Arts College
Location Bispham, Blackpool
Lancashire
Flag of England England
Ofsted number 119734
Students 1,000
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11 to 16
Website www.bisphamhighschool.co.uk

Bispham High School Performing Arts College is a secondary school situated in Bispham, Lancashire, with a mixed intake of both boys and girls aged 11-16.

The school is located on Bispham Road. It was formerly an all girls School called Greenlands High. The school is a specialist Performing Arts College. It is a Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts.[1]

In 2005 the school achieved a GCSE pass rate with 40% of pupils achieving five A to C grades.[2]

Contents

[edit] Building & refurbishment project

A £6M project was completed in early 2007.[3] The project included -

Part of the new development
Part of the new development
Front view of Bispham High School
Front view of Bispham High School

The new Administration Centre and Atrium were officially opened on 7 November 2006 by local football hero and former Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, Jimmy Armfield OBE.[4]

[edit] Pupils and staff

Emmerdale actress, Kelsey-Beth Crossley is a pupil at the school.[5] Another pupil at the school, Ashley Loyd played the part of Michael in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London in 2005.

  • Head Teacher - Mr Robert Harrison.
  • Deputy Head Teacher - Mr John Topping.

[edit] Link up with Royal Ballet School

In February 2007 it was announced that the school was to sign a three year deal with the Royal Ballet School, London to become a centre of excellence for dance. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have yet to agree funding, but it is due to start in September 2007.[6]

[edit] Bispham High School Gospel Choir

The school also has a Gospel Choir, Bispham High School Gospel Choir, under the direction of Margaret Adereti (Conductor), Neill Oldham (Piano) and Sarah Bagot (Vocal Support).[7]

In March 2007, the choir recorded their own cover version of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley for the BBC 6 Music Hardchoral competition in which they reached the final top ten.[8] The choir made its national debut when the song was played on the BBC 6 Music Breakfast Show over the Easter Weekend in April 2007.[9] On 17 April 2007 the choir sang their version of Crazy live on BBC 6 Music during a live broadcast from the school hall, as part of the Hardchoral competition.[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Bispham High School - an Arts College", BBC News, 2006-01-19. Retrieved on 2007-03-24. 
  2. ^ "Bispham High School (Page 4) building work". Retrieved on 2007-04-12. 
  3. ^ "Football ace sings children's praises", Blackpool Gazette, 2006-11-08. Retrieved on 2007-04-12. 
  4. ^ "Teenager makes TV soap debut", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-02-27. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. 
  5. ^ "That's dancing!", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-02-07. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. 
  6. ^ "Bispham High School Gospel Choir". Retrieved on 2007-04-09. 
  7. ^ "Pupils give funk to choral - audio", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-03-28. Retrieved on 2007-04-11. 
  8. ^ "Local news", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-12. 
  9. ^ "Bispham school goes crazy for votes", Blackpool Gazette, 2007-04-18. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. 

[edit] External links