Burscough Priory Science College
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| Burscough Priory Science College | |
| Motto | E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of Many, One") |
| Established | June 1958 |
| Type | Secondary Comprehensive |
| Headmaster | Roger Leighton |
| Deputy Headteachers | Mr R. Madgin, Mr C. Edgar |
| Specialism | Science College |
| Location | Burscough Lancashire L40 7RZ England |
| Ofsted number | 119746 |
| Staff | 90 |
| Students | 700 |
| Ages | 11 to 16 |
| Website | Burscough Priory Science College |
Burscough Priory Science College is a specialist Science College, officially opening on 10th June 1958 as Burscough County Secondary School, under the Headship of Brian Stone. The then Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby (1918 - 1994) presided over the ceremony. At the time of opening, the school's staff of just 10 teachers looked after the 222 pupils on roll during that time. The school's motto E PLURIBUS UNUM (Out of Many, One), which is also the motto of the USA, was thought to be appropriate as the new school was created from several all-age schools from around the area.
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[edit] History
Although relatively small in size in comparison to other secondary comprehensive schools in West Lancashire, the school has seen several expansions since its initial construction. As well as a ROSLA building being constructed in the early 1970s, the school was also extended in 1976, in which it then became known as Burscough Priory High School. During this time the roll expanded to over 800 pupils with the comprehensive intake.
Brian Stone retired in July 1984 and Eric Cole took on the role of acting Headteacher for the Autumn term in 1984 until the appointment of Roger Leighton as headteacher in January 1985. The school was later extended again with the construction of a new Performing Arts building, in response to the gaining of specialist Science College status. To date, the school has a population of roughly 750 students and caters for 11-16 year olds, with approximately 90 members of staff.
[edit] Buildings
To some extent, the school could be regarded as having 4 separate buildings, even though each interlink together to form a single school. When the school first opened, it had a low intake and thus had no requirement to provide capacity for a large number of students. Gradually over time, extensions have been added and new buildings have been constructed and linked together via corridors. The current school layout is split into 2 halves, with only a single glass corridor providing an indoor connection for both parts.
[edit] Main/Original building
The original building is where the modern school entrance and main corridors are, including the classrooms on the upper floor. This was solely the original school until it was extended in 1972 and 1976 for the raising of school leaving age and for the comprehensive intake, respectively.
To date, no extensive refurbishment has taken place in the original part of the school. A gymnasium was build during the 1970s, when the headteacher at that time, Brian Stone, had the option to build a swimming pool or a gymnasium, opting for the latter. The back of school also saw an extension of classrooms during the 1970s and the front entrance saw some refurbishment during the summer of 2005. As part of the school's continuing development in ICT, plans are underway to redevelop the first floor of the original building into ICT, with extensive refurbishment of the school library into a Learning Resource Centre, which hasn't seen any refurbishment since originally constructed when the school was first build, in 1957.
[edit] The ROSLA Building
In 1972, a law was passed to make the legal age at which a pupil could leave compulsory education increase from 15 to 16. As with many schools around the country, a ROSLA building was erected next the main school building, which is the first building seen upon entering the school premises.
Although only originally intended to stand for a maximum of 15 years, the ROSLA building to this date is still standing after over 35 years from original construction. It accommodates the Art and ICT departments, as well as a 5th year (Year 11) common room on the ground floor with a smaller secondary cafeteria ajoined to it. Although no extensive refurbishment or reconstruction has occurred to date, the upper floor has seen minor redecoration, as well as the exterior being painted during the Summer of 2007. Needed refurbishment work to the exterior, including paneling and painting, is due to occur during October 2007.
[edit] Science and Performing Arts Building
In September 2004, the school once again changed its name to become Burscough Priory Science College to reflect the gaining of specialist school status in Science. The new Science and Performing Arts building was completed and in use in the same month, with the official opening occurring 8 months later on 25 May 2005, being named after the original headteacher as The Brian Stone Centre. It accommodates the newly built Science Laboratories on the ground floor, as well as the upper floor Music & Performing Arts departments, comprising 2 large Music rooms, several practice rooms and a Drama studio.
This building was built on the location which originally housed the aging portable cabin classrooms.
[edit] Recent investments
The school has seen heavy investments since 2004, which is still continuing. An Ofsted report in November 2004 slated the school for not providing sufficient teaching for ICT and Religious Studies, as well as an unsatisfactory Design & Technology Department, mainly because of staffing problems. Most noticeably of recent investments has been within the Design and Technology department, which has seen complete refurishment of all its subject rooms since 2004, with the Food Technology room last to be refurbished in this project, being completed in September 2006.
A recent investment in 2005 funded the construction of a purpose-built ICT Suite, the first general-purpose ICT room for the school, allowing any subject to book it for their own lessons. This has also provided the facilities to allow the school to teach ICT through all years across the school. Further investment into ICT was provided in summer 2008 when all ICT was centralised on the upper floor of the main building, meaning refurbished classrooms and a modernised Learning Resource Centre replacing the aging library, dating back to when the school was constructed.
[edit] Headmasters
- 1958-1984: Brian Stone
- 1984-1985: Eric Cole (Acting Head)
- 1985-present: Roger Leighton
