Bullers Wood School
Bullers Wood School is an all-girls' secondary academy school based on St Nicolas Lane in Chislehurst, part of the London Borough of Bromley.
| Bullers Wood School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| |
St Nicolas Lane, Logs Hill , , BR7 5LJ | |
| Coordinates | 51°24′36″N 0°02′46″E |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy |
| Motto | Quod Potes Tenta |
| Established | c. 1940 |
| Department for Education URN | 136709 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Headteacher | Mr Terry Millar |
| Gender | Girls |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1462 |
| Website | http://www.bwsgirls.org/ |
Admissions
The school is primarily a single-sex establishment until the Sixth Form, where boys are admitted. The total number of students in 2006 was 1440, with 366 in the Sixth Form - of which 43 were boys. The school's motto is Quod Potes Tenta, which is translated into Strive To Your Utmost. It is situated just north of Chislehurst Road (B264), halfway (east-west) between Bromley and Chislehurst.
History
Bullers Wood now is a combination of several refurbished historical houses and modern additions. Named after an ancient forest, the original Bullers Wood house was built in the 1860s, and was owned by the Sanderson family from the 1870s. Scotsman John Sanderson, who had made his money sheep farming in Australia, employed local architect Ernest Newton (1856–1922) to extend the house in 1889.
County council control
In the 1930s, the site was bought by Sir Sydney Nicholson when he was forming the Royal School of Church Music, with the school's chapel being the present library. In 1939, the site was bought by Kent County Council.
Technical and grammar school
During the Second World War it was transformed into a secondary school. A V-1 flying bomb hit the Bromley Day Commercial School for Girls base on Wharton Street in Bromley, so it moved to the Bullers Wood site. It became Bromley Girls' Technical High School for ages 14–17, and after buildings were added, it became Bromley Technical High School for Girls for ages 11–18. In 1968, it became a grammar school with its present name when under Kent Education Committee. It was known as Bromley Technical School for Girls (1958 definitely) before becoming Bromley Technical High School for Girls
Comprehensive
In April 1974 it was now under Bromley borough control. It became a grant-maintained school in 1991, as did half of Bromley's secondary schools. In 1990 it had around 1000 girls. In 1991, after raising money from parents, it bought the £65,000 La Ferronnerie study centre in deepest Normandy, which was used for week-long visits via Dieppe. The head teacher at the time was Barbara Vanderstock. The house had room for 14 girls at a time.
Academy
On 1 May 2011, Bullers Wood School gained academy status, marking the end of its control by Bromley borough.
Achievements
The school, in addition to specialising in languages, was made a Beacon School in 2000, and was awarded an Investor In People status. It also boasts Sports and Arts marks. In 2006 Ofsted described the school as "very good with some outstanding aspects". The students achieve high results year after year. It gets good GCSE results and above average A level results, which is normal for girls' comprehensive schools.
Facilities and involvement in the community
Bullers, as it is affectionately known, can also lay claim to providing a wide variety of facilities for its pupils. A sports field with a pavilion is located approximately 1/4 mile from the school grounds whereas a netball court lies closer to home next to the school pond. A gym, a sports hall, an assembly hall. Also available to students is the large canteen, the beautiful and well-stocked library, numerous computer rooms with flat screen monitors and a newly revealed state of the art drama studio. In addition the art-block, the school has recently built a modern computer suite for the use of art and photography students to help them progress with an increasingly digitally based curriculum.
Language classes
The school strives to maintain contacts with the local community. Language classes for adults are often run in the Euro-centre after school hours and fund raising activities involving local charities are a regular occurrence.
Sixth form
The school has a mixed sixth form open to both Bullers' girls and external students. The sixth-form centre is based in Inglewood, another former house that was previously owned by a well-to-do family. Here students have access to a kitchen with cooking appliances and computer rooms. common rooms are available for both Year 12 and 13 students and a media suite can be found in the attic. Extra-curricular activities running in the sixth form include People and Planet group who run the popular Fair Trade Friday in the foyer and social events management.
Notable former pupils
- Ruthie Henshall, theatre actress
- Zoe Tapper. actress
