Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School explained

Blue Coat Church of England School
Coordinates:52.4003°N -1.4925°W
Motto:Christian education with care
Type:Academy
Religious Affiliation:Church of England
Head:Victoria Shelley
Address:Terry Road
City:Coventry
County:West Midlands
Country:England
Postcode:CV1 2BA
Local Authority:Coventry City Council
Trust:Inspire Education Trust
Dfeno:331/4800
Urn:137272
Ofsted:yes
Capacity:1,634
Enrolment:1,495 [1]
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Free Label 3:International peace link
Free 3:Cross of nails school
Website:http://www.bluecoatschool.com/

The Blue Coat Church of England School is a specialist secondary school and sixth form located in Coventry, England. It is an International Cross Of Nails (ICON) school, with links to schools all over the world.[2] The school is funded by the state, with academy status. It is a specialist Music, Maths and Science academy.

History

Blue coat schools were mainly founded in the 16th century across England as charity schools, where they were known as "bluecoat schools" because of their distinctive blue uniform.[3] Blue was traditionally the colour of charity and was a common colour for clothing. The uniform included a blue frock coat and yellow stockings with white bands.[4]

The Original Blue Coat school was founded as a school for girls[5] in 1714, close to Holy Trinity Church in the city centre of Coventry,[6] and the ruins of St Mary's Priory and Cathedral.[7] It was re-built on the same location in 1856.[8] The original building as it stands today was designed by James Murray in a Gothic style to resemble a French château, and is currently used by Holy Trinity Church.

The school occupied the site until 1964, when it moved to its current site at Terry Road, Coventry. In 2011 the school secured a 125-year lease to the historic Charterhouse Fields in a bitterly contested six-year process.[9] In the same year, the school was granted academy status.[10] It also opened a football academy for talented female footballers in conjunction with Coventry City Ladies Football.[11]

The school marked its tercentenary in 2015.[12] Julian Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, visited the school in 2016.[13]

Heads

Ethos

At the start of the school year, each form elects several representatives to serve on the year council. Two or three of these year council representatives are elected to serve on the school council. The year councils discuss issues regarding school life and pass their findings to the school council, who consider them. The school council has a budget to facilitate resolution of these issues as long as they support the Christian ethos of the school.

International Cross of Nails School

In the latter part of the Second World War, Coventry Cathedral was heavily bombed during the Coventry Blitz. Three large medieval nails recovered from the ruins of the cathedral were subsequently shaped into a cross. This cross was replicated and became a symbol of peace. Many were presented worldwide to schools and organisations.[2]

Awards

Choir

The school has an award-winning[24] eight-part (SSAATTBB) choir which in its current format was established in the 1976.[25] It can trace its roots back to the 18th century.[26] It performs choral works ranging from Thomas Tallis through Joseph Haydn to John Tavener. The choir has performed for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Coventry. The choir marked its 60th anniversary at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry in July 2024.[27]

Performing venues

The choir has sung at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry many times.[28] It visits cathedrals each year to sing services for the week while the resident choir is away. Venues have included:

Other locations include:

Awards and competitions

Television and film

Radio

The choir has appeared on:

Recordings

Alumni

Dramatic productions

The school has at least three annual dramatic productions. There is an annual musical open to all students, with productions including We Will Rock You, The Wiz, Les Miserables,[51] The Sound of Music,[52] Oliver[53] and Hairspray. There is a production for students in key stages 4 and 5 such as Sleeping Beauty, Lord of the Flies, The Lady Killers and The Good Person of Schezuan. Also, an annual production for students in key stage 3, including The Comedy of Errors, Ignite and The Canterbury Tales. There are also bespoke community drama projects in partnership with a range of organisations and student directed productions.

In 2017 a production of One Good Soul, with script by an English teacher and score by a sixth form student, made a debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[54]

Uniform

The current Blue Coat School uniform for Years 7–11 consists of: School blazer, white shirt, black trousers or regulation skirt, House tie, black, grey or white socks, black shoes. The school changed to clip-on ties in 2013, citing neatness and safety.[55]

House system

Under Victoria Shelley, the school has implemented a new house system.[56] The houses are named Cavell, Dorsey, Lewis, Parks and Wilberforce. These were chosen to reflect the schools six values: Care, Hard work, Respect, Integrity, Servanthood and Togetherness, an acronym for CHRIST. Tutorials are based on house systems, and contain students from a variety of years to promote inter-year coherence. It also affects the tie a student wear – each house is designated a colour, and each tie has different coloured stripes.

Much like other schools with house systems, there are heads of each house, and prefects (student support members) under each head.

Previously when joining the school (from primary schools) all students were placed in the lower school which was identified by the colour green. In the following year students were placed into one of three traditional houses named after Bishops of Coventry: Neville Gorton, Mervyn Haigh, and Cuthbert Bardsley. The houses were identified by the colours red, yellow, and blue respectively. The houses were localised individually into the three main buildings of the school, but tuition took place across the site (based on academic streaming). Tutor groups were based on the house system and only contained students in the same year group. However, they contained students from each of the different academic streams. The house system was not used in the sixth form which was divided into a "lower sixth" and "upper sixth".

The academic streaming was initially based on a student's 11+ performance. However, students could move streams based on the school's end of year examinations in the lower school. The streams consisted of classes A and B (equal top stream), C and D (equal second stream), E and F.

Financial crisis 2015

It was announced in a letter home to parents on 5 March 2015 that the whole governing body of the school was to stepping down to make way for an interim governing body as the school was facing "serious financial issues".[57] A number of support posts were at risk.[58]

On BBC CWR's radio Breakfast show on 5 March 2015 there were calls from parents for Julie Roberts to stand down. The BBC reported that there was a £1.4 million shortfall in funding.[59] Roberts was put on special leave and May 2015 resigned.[60] F. Peacock became interim headteacher and in 2016 Victoria Shelley became the new headteacher, and Peacock reverted to his role in the History department.

As of the end of 2018, the school remained £668,000 in debt to the Education and Skills Funding Agency.[61]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College – GOV.UK . get-information-schools.service.gov.uk . 20 April 2021 .
  2. Web site: International Cross of Nails Schools . Coventry City of Peace . 20 April 2021 . 1 July 2017.
  3. Web site: 2010. Records of Christ's Hospital and Bluecoat Schools. London Metropolitan Archives. 24 November 2015. 17 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025103/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/29-records-of-christs-hospital-and-bluecoat-schools.pdf. dead.
  4. Web site: A brief history of the school . 29 May 2013 . Liverpool Blue Coat School . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130707041720/http://www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/school/index.asp . 7 July 2013 .
  5. Web site: Look: Five inspirational Coventry teachers who helped shape education in the city . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  6. 1859 . . Bluecoat School, Coventry . The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal . London, UK . Vol. 22 . The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal. 281.
  7. Web site: Blue Coat School . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  8. Book: Thomas, John . 1987 . Coventry Cathedral . London, UK . insert . 28 . 0044400144 .
  9. Web site: Outrage as Coventry's Blue Coat School wins field fight . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  10. Web site: Coventry's Blue Coat School turns into an academy . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  11. Web site: Women's football academy to be set up at the Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  12. Web site: Former Blue Coat pupils help celebrate school's 300th anniversary . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  13. Web site: Archbishop of Canterbury visits Blue Coat School . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  14. Web site: Blue Coat School anniversary . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  15. Web site: Look: Five inspirational Coventry teachers who helped shape education in the city . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  16. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat School head dies aged 58 . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  17. Web site: Head of Coventry Blue Coat School steps down . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  18. Web site: Head of Coventry Blue Coat School steps down . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  19. Web site: New headteacher appointed at troubled Coventry secondary school . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  20. Web site: Message from our headteacher . 10 April 2024 . youtube.com.
  21. Web site: Award for Coventry's Blue Coat School . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  22. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat School wins award for its GCSE results . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  23. Web site: Coventry's Blue Coat School receives Lord Mayor's Peace and Reconciliation Award . 14 June 2023 . coventrytelegraph.net .
  24. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat choir are simply the best . Lucy . Lynch . coventrytelegraph.net . 17 March 2008 . 9 May 2023.
  25. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat choir are simply the best . Lucy . Lynch . coventrytelegraph.net . 17 March 2008 . 9 May 2023.
  26. News: 7 December 1993 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Cash could help choir hit right note . 15 . Coventry, UK .
  27. Web site: Coventry choir celebrated diamond anniversary . Holly Clement . coventryobserver.co.uk . 2024-07-23 . 2024-07-24.
  28. News: 15 May 1993 . Huddersfield Daily Examiner . . Radio 4 . 24 . Huddersfield, UK .
  29. News: 15 May 1993 . Huddersfield Daily Examiner . . Radio 4 . 24 . Huddersfield, UK .
  30. News: 11 July 1997 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Choir trip to Cathedral . 13 . Coventry, UK .
  31. News: 20 December 1997 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Choir sounds appeal for robes fund . 4 . Coventry, UK .
  32. Web site: Choir celebrates 25 year landmark . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 May 2023.
  33. News: 22 August 1981 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Family in harmony at St Paul's . 5 . Coventry, UK .
  34. News: 8 April 1989 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Choir will take over at Abbey . 9 . Coventry, UK .
  35. News: 14 April 2008 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . Coventry Live . Coventry City 1 Stoke City 2 – Coventry Telegraph match report . Coventry, UK .
  36. Web site: Choir celebrates 25 year landmark . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 May 2023.
  37. Web site: Choir celebrates 25 year landmark . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 May 2023.
  38. News: 26 August 1996 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Music . 13 . Birmingham, UK .
  39. Web site: Choir celebrates 25 year landmark . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 May 2023.
  40. News: 2 October 1998 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Award comes out of the blue . 1 . Coventry, UK .
  41. 2011 . Songs Of Praise The School Choir Of The Year – All The Winners 2003–2011 . EMI . London, UK .
  42. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat choir are simply the best . Lucy . Lynch . coventrytelegraph.net . 17 March 2008 . 9 May 2023.
  43. Web site: Blue Coat choir appears on Songs of Praise with former pupil turned professional tenor . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 28 April 2015 . 9 May 2023.
  44. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat School choir . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513074256/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/50c30b1052948 . dead . 13 May 2021 . . bfi.org.uk . 1 June 2023.
  45. News: 26 April 1998 . The Independent . . Radio 2 . 171 . London, UK .
  46. Web site: Keep the Memory Alive . . bbc.co.uk . 9 June 2023.
  47. News: 15 May 1993 . Huddersfield Daily Examiner . . Radio 4 . 24 . Huddersfield, UK .
  48. Web site: Blue Coat choir appears on Songs of Praise with former pupil turned professional tenor . Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 28 April 2015 . 9 May 2023.
  49. Web site: Helen Daniels, mezzo . Coventry Live . www.levedyensemble.com . 9 May 2023.
  50. Web site: Imogen Russell (Soprano) . <---not stated---> . www.bach-cantatas.com . 9 June 2023.
  51. Web site: Les Miserables at Coventry's Blue Coat School. Coventry Live . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 June 2023.
  52. Web site: Coventry school brings much loved musical to life. Laura Davenport . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 June 2023.
  53. Web site: Blue Coat School's version of Oliver! leaves audience wanting more. Laura Davenport . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 June 2023.
  54. Web site: Coventry Blue Coat School production makes debut at Edinburgh Fringe Festival . Izzy Sanders . coventrytelegraph.net . 9 June 2023.
  55. Web site: Coventry secondary schools switching to clip-on ties . Lucy Lynch. coventrytelegraph.net . 16 June 2023.
  56. Web site: House Introduction – Blue Coat School & Music College. 24 August 2019.
  57. Web site: Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College. Coventry Blue Coat School. 11 March 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114149/http://www.bluecoatschool.com/news/?pid=8&nid=9&storyid=268. 2 April 2015.
  58. Web site: Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College. https://archive.today/20150309124639/http://www.bluecoatschool.com/news/?pid=8&nid=9&storyid=263. dead. 9 March 2015. Coventry Blue Coat School. 11 March 2015.
  59. News: BBC. BBC News. Coventry's Blue Coat School 'has £1.4m shortfall'. 13 March 2015. 25 April 2015.
  60. News: Head of Coventry Blue Coat School steps down. Lynch. Lucy. 25 May 2015. Coventry Telegraph. 22 March 2017.
  61. Web site: Accounts 2017–2018. 31 August 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200126013327/https://bluecoatschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Accounts-2017-18.pdf . 26 January 2020 .
  62. Web site: Pianist Jeremy Filsell returns to Coventry roots to raise funds for church organ . Patsy Fuller . coventrytelegraph.net . 2014-10-21 . 2024-06-21.
  63. Web site: de Souza. Naomi. 28 November 2021. Coventry man who built sportswear empire from his bedroom . 6 June 2023. coventrytelegraph.net.

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