Bell Baxter High School Explained

Bell Baxter High School
Coordinates:56.3172°N -3.0293°W
Pushpin Map:Scotland#United Kingdom
Established:28 May 1889
Head Label:Rector
Head:Lynn Black
Address:Carslogie Road
Country:United Kingdom
Postcode:KY15 4HY
Staff:100 +
Enrolment:1530[1]
Gender:Mixed
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Houses:Dawson, Douglas, Bell, Baxter, Westport, and Howe
Colours:White, Navy & Black
Free Label 1:School years
Free 1:S1-S6
Website:https://bellbaxterhighschool.org.uk/

Bell Baxter High School is a non-denominational comprehensive school for 11 to 18 year olds in Cupar, Fife, Scotland. Founded in 1889, it educates over 1,500 pupils mainly from the surrounding villages.

The school is one of 18 secondary schools under the authority of Fife Council, and is led by rector Lynn Black with the support of a senior leadership team.[2] Bell Baxter takes its name from donors Dr Andrew Bell, creator of the Madras system, and businessman Sir David Baxter. The school's history can be traced back to institutions dating from around 1635.

School history

Originally Bell-Baxter School, Bell Baxter High School was founded in 1889 when the Rev. Dr Andrew Bell's Madras Academy combined with Sir David Baxter's Institute for Young Ladies, taking the name of its joint founders.[3]

The earliest roots of Bell Baxter can be traced back to around 1635, in the form of the Grammar School of Cupar. The school became Cupar Academy in 1727 after some reorganisation, and remained as such until 1831 when an endowment from Dr Bell led to the adoption of the name Madras Academy. Madras Academy was one of two schools left money by Dr Bell in the North East Fife area which adopted his Madras system, the other being Madras College in his home town of St Andrews.[4]

Originally, secondary education was to be delivered at the former Institute for Young Ladies' Westport building, and elementary education from the former Madras Academy's Castlehill site.[5] The oldest part of the Westport building was first used in 1890, with the rest of the building being built in 1929.

However, the school quickly outgrew these premises, and in 1959 a new building was commissioned on Carslogie Road under a 5-year Fife school-building programme.[6] During the interim period, a number of wooden huts were utilised as classrooms due to the large amount of pupils. By 1962, the new building had opened to senior pupils, resulting in a three-quarters of a mile commute for some teachers and pupils between the two sites.

As a result of continuous renovation work which drastically extended and transformed the building, the school was able to be consolidated at the Carslogie Road site in 2010. The Westport Road building has since been demolished, with 30 affordable homes and a business centre constructed on the site. Only the facade of the main building remains along with St Michael's Church adjacent to the school.[7]

On the 13th of January 2020, a fire unexpectedly started on school premises which subsequently resulted in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service being called to quell the blaze which caused sizable property damage. There were no injuries however, Police Scotland believe that the fire was no accident.[8]

Coat of Arms

The school's coat of arms features, at the top of the shield, the Thane of Fife to represent Fife Council's control of the school. This is accompanied below by the three Myrtle Crowns of Cupar on the left, and a coat representing Bell and Baxter on the right. In a scroll over this, the school's motto - "Ad Vitam Paror".

Management

From 2007 to 2018, the rector of the school was Philip Black, who then embarked on a secondment to Fife Council which later became a full time job and led to his retirement.[9]

Due to Black's resignation, the acting rector became Elizabeth Smart, head of Waid Academy,[10] who took lead until Carol Ann Penrose - former head of Lochgelly High School - was appointed as the new rector of Bell Baxter High School.[11]

On 11 November 2021, Penrose resigned after much speculation leaving many parents feeling 'left in the dark' due to the unusual timing and the lack of notice.[12] and Smart was once again appointed acting rector while also leading Waid Academy until a new permanent rector was found.[13] [14]

A new rector was due to be appointed for the start of 2022, however this was later postponed and it was not until the end of the school year in June before it was announced that Beeslack High School head Lynn Black would take over permanently after an interim period under Craig Parnham, a depute rector at Woodmill High School.[15]

Rectors

Notable former pupils

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bell Baxter High School - School Prospectus.
  2. Web site: Secondary Schools Fife Council . 1 February 2023 . Fife Council.
  3. Web site: Our History. live. 22 May 2021. Bell Baxter High School. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125045357/https://bellbaxterhighschool.org.uk/Our-History/ . 25 January 2021 .
  4. Web site: Madras College - Our School . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130142227/https://www.madras.fife.sch.uk/Our-School/ . 30 November 2020 . 1 June 2021 . Madras College.
  5. Web site: Fife Herald Supplement. live. 1 June 2021. Bell Baxter High School Former Pupils' Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20191009135020/https://bbhsfpa.weebly.com/fife-herald-supplement.html . 9 October 2019 .
  6. Web site: Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report - Bell Baxter High School . 1 February 2023 . Dictionary of Scottish Architects.
  7. Web site: Affordable Housing - Cupar. live. 1 June 2021. Oliver & Robb Architects. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302185016/http://oliverandrobb.co.uk:80/portfolio-item/30-affordable-housing-units-west-port-cupar-fife/ . 2 March 2016 .
  8. Web site: Robertson . Aileen . 2020-01-14 . Fire at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar was started deliberately say police . 2023-08-22 . The Courier . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Rectors Message . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110427095256/http://www.fife-education.org.uk/bellbaxterhs/ . 27 April 2011 . 4 May 2011.
  10. Web site: Rector's Secondment . 29 March 2018.
  11. Web site: Lochgelly school loses Carol Ann Penrose . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180724110742/http://www.centralfifetimes.com/news/16371726.lochgelly-school-loses-carol-ann-penrose/ . 24 July 2018 . 22 May 2021 . Central Fife Times. 24 July 2018 .
  12. Web site: 2023-08-22 . PressReader.
  13. News: Clark . Alasdair . 12 November 2021 . Fife head teacher resigns after days of speculation . . 12 November 2021 . "Following an update from the Education Service, Ms Penrose has submitted her resignation from her post as headteacher of Bell Baxter High School, with effect from November 11 2021.".
  14. Web site: Weekly Update 26th November, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127112747/https://sway.office.com/iXaVMb11Q56yHPEe . 27 November 2021 . Bell Baxter High School.
  15. News: Clark . Alasdair . 30 June 2022 . Bell Baxter High School: New headteacher set to take over after summer break . . subscription . 4 July 2022 . The latest school newsletter said: "We can confirm that Mrs Lynn Black will take up the position of headteacher part of the way through term one next session. In the meantime we are delighted to inform you that Mr Craig Parnham has been appointed as acting headteacher on a temporary basis.".
  16. Web site: Bell Baxter Lives.
  17. Web site: George Horne . Scottish Rugby Union . 7 September 2020 . en.
  18. Web site: Bell Baxter strike blow for state sector . The Scotsman. 2007-01-26 . 2018-10-13.
  19. Web site: May proud to earn Scotland cap . Swfc.co.uk . 2014-11-19 . 2018-10-13.
  20. News: Haverin Next to You . The Scotsman. 2005-08-04 . 2018-10-13.
  21. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U32246 Who's Who 2020
  22. News: Liberal dose of Rennie . The Scotsman. 2006-02-22 . 2018-10-13.
  23. Web site: MS 50 Sir Robert Robertson . Archive Services Online Catalogue . University of Dundee . 13 June 2018.
  24. Web site: Rollo sets target for pupils of today . The Scotsman. 2006-12-20 . 2018-10-13.
  25. Web site: Obituary - Allan Stewart, Scottish Tory MP whose troubles ended his career . 8 December 2016 . Herald Scotland . 16 September 2022.

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