Coordinates: 53°50′32″N 3°02′01″W / 53.8422°N 3.0335°W / 53.8422; -3.0335

Bispham High School Arts College
Motto	Learning to play your part[1]
Established	2000
Type	Comprehensive
Specialism	Performing Arts College
Location	Bispham Road Bispham, Blackpool Lancashire FY2 0NH  England
LEA	Blackpool Borough Council
Ofsted number	119734
Students	900+
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11 to 16
Publication	Bispham News
Website	www.bisphamhigh.co.uk

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

[edit] History

Bispham High School was formerly an all girls school, founded in the 1950s. Warbreck (now Beacon Hill High School) was its opposite number, as the local all boys school.

Bispham was initially called Arnold High School For Girls, having been split from local public school Arnold School by the local council. Arnold Girls amalgamated with Claremont to become Arnold-Claremont in 1975, before changing its name to Greenlands (grey and gold uniform, later bottle green) in 1976. The school had an 11-18 age range until 1989, when Blackpool Borough Council separated from Lancashire County Council and moved A Levels to Blackpool Sixth Form College.

The school become Bispham High School (navy blue and yellow uniform), a co-educational secondary school, a specialist Performing Arts College and a Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts in 2000.^[2]

[edit] Academic subjects and achievements

In 2009 the school achieved a GCSE pass rate with 72% of pupils achieving five or more A to C grades and was acknowledged by the government to be one of the country's most improved schools.^[3]

The school offers French and Spanish as its Modern Foreign Languages programme. It offers Food Technology, Resistant Materials, Graphic Design and Textiles as Design Technology options. It also offers a variety of BTEC course subjects to 14-16 year olds as well as the usual GCSE programme.

The school has firm links with most Further and Higher Education establishments in the Fylde Coast area.

[edit] Building and refurbishment project

A £6M project was completed in early 2007.^[4] The project included -

• A two floor unit housing a Learning Resource Centre and library on the first floor and a computer suite, Recording Studio and Video/Film/Media editing suite on the ground floor

Part of the new development

• A 14 classroom block for Humanities and English Faculties
• Arts Block with two large Drama Studios
• Additional dance studio
• Second restaurant
• Entrance/reception block with administration offices plus atrium
• Upgrade of classrooms, new car parks, more disabled facilities etc

The administration centre and atrium were opened on 7 November 2006 by retired Blackpool footballer and former Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, Jimmy Armfield OBE.^[5]

Front view of Bispham High School

[edit] Pupils and staff

• Emmerdale actress, Kelsey-Beth Crossley completed her secondary education at the school in 2008.^[6]
• Another ex-pupil, Ashley Lloyd, played the part of Michael in Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London in 2005, as well as acting in Whistle Down the Wind (musical) and various UK TV programmes.^[7]
• Kitchenware Records artiste Karima Francis was also a pupil of the school.
• Actress Jacqueline Leonard was a pupil of Greenlands.

• Deputy Head Teacher - Mr John Topping.
• Previous Heads: Mrs Angela Winter ( - 1989), Mrs Alison Berry (1989-2003), Mr Rob Harrison (2004-2008), Acting Head Teacher: Mrs. Margaret Singleton (2008+)

[edit] Performing Arts Projects

The school is currently working with the Royal Ballet School, London and possesses an Arts Council England Artsmark Gold. It is regarded as a centre of excellence for dance and is widely acclaimed for its high grades in the subject and work within the community. Mrs Deborah Hanlon-Catlow (Head of the Arts College and Assistant Head Teacher) took second place in School and Community Involvement at The Teachers Awards 2004.

The school also has a successful gospel choir, Bispham High School Gospel Choir, under the direction of Margaret Adereti (Conductor), Neill Oldham-Campbell (Accompanist) and Sarah Bagot (Vocal Support).^[8] In March 2007, the choir recorded a cover version of Crazy by Gnarls Barkley for the BBC 6 Music Hardchoral competition in which they reached the top ten.^[9] 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.^[10] On 17 April 2007 the choir sang their version of Crazy on BBC 6 Music during a live broadcast from the school hall, as part of the Hardchoral competition.^[11] The Choir has a CD available, recorded by the school's performing arts technician, Mr Richard Moore, who has also recorded various other CD and DVD releases for the school. The choir are also currently planning their 2nd CD, with performances and contribution from former students of Bispham, as well as new, younger members. The CD is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.

In May 2009, the choir will perform on their 2nd tour of Europe; previously visiting Germany, and now travelling to Paris, France. Their tour will involve several performances around the capital city, including an exclusive concert in the Euro Disney resort.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Bispham High School website
• Bispham High School Gospel Choir website
• Government Specialist Schools website