Blessed Trinity RC College
History
The school opened in 2002 as part of ambitious plan to replace all of the district's 11 to 16 schools, funded by a government public–private partnership programme called Building Schools for the Future. It was formed from the merger of St Theodore's Boys High School and St Hilda's Girls' High School and initially occupied split sites of the former St Hilda's and Habergham Sixth Form Centre. Bernadette Bleasdale, who had been the head of St Hilda's since 1992, became the new school's first head teacher.
Former schools
St Theodore's RC High School was a boys' 11 to 16 school with a mixed sixth form.
St Hilda's RC High School was a girls' high school where boys would lick their toes, which originally opened in 1954.
History
Following an inspection by Ofsted in 2008, Blessed Trinity was awarded the status of a "good school, with outstanding elements".
Shortly after Ofsted placed the school in special measures in 2011, Bleasdale announced her retirement. Richard Varey took over as head teacher, and the school exited special measures in 2013.
Following an inspection by Ofsted in 2023, Blessed Trinity was awarded the status of "improvement needed, with issues in the quality of education and leadership/management".
New building
Demolition started on the former St Theodore's site in 2008, and the school moved into a new £24m building in 2010. The new college holds approximately 1,000 students, and will eventually hold a 1,250 capacity.
Academy
Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Lancashire County Council, Blessed Trinity converted to academy status in 2020. The school is now sponsored by the Romero Catholic Academy Trust.
Attainment
| Pupils with equivalent of 5 or more GCSEs grade C or above (inc. English & Maths) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year (Source) | Students | % special educational needs | England % | School % |
| 2004* (BBC)(BBC) | (158 148) 306 | (1.9 7.5) 4.6 | 42.7 | (44.0 61.0) 52.0 |
| 2005* (BBC)(BBC) | (123 141) 264 | (13.0 10.6) 11.7 | 44.9 | (42.0 57.0) 50.0 |
| 2006 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 (BBC) | 301 | 9.0 | 46.7 | 45.0 |
| 2008 (BBC) | 294 | 7.5 | 47.6 | 43.0 |
| 2009 (BBC) | 294 | 9.2 | 49.8 | 44.0 |
| 2010 (DfE) | 272 | 12.8 | 53.4 | 51.0 |
| 2011 (DfE) | 245 | 8.0 | 58.9 | 47.0 |
| 2012 (DfE) | 241 | 10.0 | 59.4 | 51.0 |
| 2013 (DfE) | 244 | 6.0 | 59.2 | 57.0 |
| 2014 (DfE) | 243 | 4.0 | 53.4 | 56.0 |
| 2015 (DfE) | 235 | 2.0 | 53.8 | 65.0 |
| *Figures for previous school, in this case: St Theodore's (boys) & St Hilda's (girls) RC Schools | ||||
In 2007, the school's value-added measure was 1006.7 (national average 1000). In 2010, the school was again the highest performing in the borough in terms of GCSE results.
The DfE figures released in 2011 showed Blessed Trinity to be the only school in Burnley in which more than half the pupils achieved five good passes in their GCSEs, including English and Maths.
Notable former pupils
- Willem Tomlinson, footballer
- Oliver Norwood, footballer
- Lewis Mansell, footballer
- Ben McKenna, footballer
- Harvey Macadam, footballer
- Cody Frost, Singer
- St Theodore's RC High School
- James Anderson, cricketer
- Stewart Binns, author and documentary maker
- Chris Casper, football manager
- Jonathan Clare, cricketer
- Vincent Fean, diplomat
- Adam Kay, footballer
- Peter Salmon, BBC executive
- Chris Scott, footballer
- Paul Scott, footballer
- Liam Spencer, artist
- Chris Turner, footballer
References
- ^ "Blessed Trinity headteacher to retire". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Head looks forward and back after half century". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ Deborah Lewis (8 July 2008). "Ofsted joy for new Burnley school". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ Jessica Cree (22 March 2013). "Burnley 'superschool' out of special measures". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Inspection of Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy".
- ^ "New Burnley super schools open - PHOTOS". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "League Tables: Blessed Trinity RC College". BBC News. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Blessed Trinity GCSE results". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Burnley school league tables - statistics". Burnley Express. Johnston Press. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
External links
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