Bullers Wood School

Bullers Wood School for Girls is an all-girls' secondary academy school based on St Nicolas Lane in Chislehurst, part of the London Borough of Bromley.

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.

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.

Location

Bullers Wood can be accessed via the top of Logs Hill, Chislehurst or through the main entrance located in Chislehurst Road. (There is no access to the school from Logs Hill Close.) The school can be reached by trains direct from Charing Cross (the Orpington Line, nearest station Chislehurst or Elmstead Woods) or from Victoria (nearest station Bickley) and by regular bus services, notably the 314. You can also reach with the 269 bus and walk various ways up the hill or along St Georges Road. The establishment is famed for its acres of picturesque woodland surrounding the buildings, and is a popular lunchtime haunt for many students.

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.

All Sixth Form Students should take pride in their school and they should, therefore, look smart at all times. The students aim to dress as though they are going to work in a formal environment.

All Sixth Form Students are given support from teachers. Each student is allocated with a Personal Tutor / Form Tutor, who will monitor their progress whilst at the school, as well as looking after their general welfare. The Sixth Form team are also there to provide a positive experience for all students and they recognise that all students should be treated as young adults.

Notable alumni

• Ruthie Henshall, theatre actress

External links

• School Website
• EduBase