| Established | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Type | Boys comprehensive, co-educational sixth form |
| Headteacher | Richard Thomson |
| Specialism | Mathematics and Computing |
| Location | Bath England |
| Local authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| DfE URN | 109293 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 348 |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Website | www.culverhayschool.com |
Culverhay School is a boys secondary school situated at Rush Hill, Odd Down in Bath, England. There are around 348 students,[1] boys in years 7 to 11 and a co-educational sixth form. The school was scheduled to close, with new admissions ceasing in September 2012.[2] However; this decision was revoked and the school is to become a co-educational establishment in 2013.[3]
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In 1956, the original buildings were completed when West Twerton School at The Hollow[4] moved to Rush Hill as a 'Secondary Modern', and changed name to Westhill Boys School, administered by Bath Education Authority.[5]
In 1966, sufficient funding was raised by the efforts of staff, pupils and the local community to enable an indoor swimming pool facility to be built within the school grounds. The pool measures 22 × 7.5 m (72 × 24.6 ft) and is from 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) deep. It has been equipped with facilities for disabled users,[6] and is open evenings and weekends, manned by Aquaterra.
In 1973, Culverhay School was formed when the City of Bath reorganised secondary education by merging grammar schools and secondary modern schools to form comprehensive schools. Westhill Boys Secondary Modern School and City of Bath Technical School were merged.
In 2004, Culverhay was awarded specialist status in Mathematics and Computing.
In 2006, the school received one of four prizes in the national Sport Relief programme's competition for schools. The prize was awarded for a plan devised by the pupils to raise money for the program by travelling 1,355 miles (2,181 km) by running, swimming, cycling and kayaking. Swimmer Sharron Davies visited the school to award the prize.[7]
Culverhay has been awarded the International School Award in recognition of its links with schools abroad, providing opportunity for students to visit different countries and learn about their cultures. It achieved the Healthy Schools Award for its work in pupil health education. Extra curricular activities encourage children to extend their academic interests into the local community. It was awarded the Gold Sportsmark in 2008 for its commitment to sport training.[8][9]
Subjects taught at the school include Art, Air Training Corp, Design Technology, English, Film Club, Geography, History, ICT, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and Science.[10] The school has its own radio station, called Lazer FM.[11] In 2008, it applied for £14,000 lottery funding to extend the service into the local community.[12] Two pupils from the station were named as best male presenter at the Sony Radio Awards for Schools in 2009.[13] Culverhay runs community courses and workshops in the evenings.[14] Holiday play clubs are also run at Culverhay for children aged 5 to 13 supervised by Footsteps (South West).[15]
In 2006, Ofsted judged the school to be satisfactory on a four point scale of outstanding, good, satisfactory, and poor.[16] Some aspects of the school were rated as good, but the sixth form was given an overall rating of poor.[16] In 2009, Ofsted inspected the school again and upgraded its rating to good.[9] The sixth form also received the same good rating.[9] The report, which praised the school's improvement since the previous inspection, did note that Culverhay has a higher than average number of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities, and that the number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs was almost double that of other schools.[9] In 2009, Culverhay was the worst performing school in Bath and North East Somerset, with 38% of pupils achieving five or more GCSE passes at grade C including mathematics and English.[17] In 2010, the pass rate dropped to 31%, again the lowest in the area.[18]
In 2010, the school was identified for closure by Bath and North East Somerset council due to the large reduction in pupil intake.[19] At the time of the school's Ofsted inspection in May 2006, the school had 476 pupils.[16] When the school was again inspected by Ofsted in May 2009, the roll had fallen to 401.[9] As of January 2011[update] there are 348 pupils at the school.[1] A consultation period on the school's closure took place in September and October.[20] Despite 74% of respondents in the consultation saying they were against Culverhay School closing,[21] the council backed the closure, so no new pupils will be admitted from September 2012.[2] In December 2010, the council's scrutiny committee backed the closure decision.[22]
In September 2011 the decision to close the school was revoked after an independent assessment was made that the school was sustainable as a co-educational establishment. £700,000 in funding will be provided by the local council for the necessary alterations. The school will remain financially viable in future as it is proposed to make a reduction in pupil intake levels as well.[23]
In October 2011 government approval was received for Culverhay to become a Sponsored Academy run by Cabot Learning Federation.[24]