Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College Explained

Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College
Coordinates:53.794°N -2.229°W
Established:2006
Type:Academy
Trust:Romero Catholic Academy Trust
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Head:Deborah Williams
Chair Label:Chair of Governors
Chair:Ken Tyson
Address:Ormerod Road
City:Burnley
County:Lancashire
Country:England
Postcode:BB10 3AA
Local Authority:Lancashire
Urn:147581
Ofsted:yes
Enrolment:1250
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Colours:Blue & gold
Pushpin Map:United Kingdom Borough of Burnley
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Burnley Borough

Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College is a coeducational Roman Catholic secondary school located in Burnley, Lancashire, England.

History

The school opened in 2006 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.[1]

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, which originally opened in 1954.[2]

History

Following an inspection by Ofsted in 2008, Blessed Trinity was awarded the status of a "good school, with outstanding elements".[3]

Shortly after Ofsted placed the school in special measures in 2011, Bleasdale announced her retirement.[1] Richard Varey took over as head teacher, and the school exited special measures in 2013.[4]

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".[5]

New building

Demolition started on the former St Theodore's site in 2008, and the school moved into a new £24m building in 2010.[6] 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 needsEngland %School %
2004* (BBC)(BBC)(158 148) 306(1.9 7.5) 4.642.7(44.0 61.0) 52.0
2005* (BBC)(BBC)(123 141) 264(13.0 10.6) 11.744.9(42.0 57.0) 50.0
2006----
2007 (BBC)3019.046.745.0
2008 (BBC)2947.547.643.0
2009 (BBC)2949.249.844.0
2010 (DfE)27212.853.451.0
2011 (DfE)2458.058.947.0
2012 (DfE)24110.059.451.0
2013 (DfE)2446.059.257.0
2014 (DfE)2434.053.456.0
2015 (DfE)2352.053.865.0
  • 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).[7] In 2010, the school was again the highest performing in the borough in terms of GCSE results.[8]

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.[9]

Notable former pupils

St Theodore's RC High School

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Blessed Trinity headteacher to retire . Johnston Press . Burnley Express . 26 November 2011 . 6 February 2016.
  2. News: Head looks forward and back after half century . 22 October 2004 . Lancashire Telegraph . Newsquest Media Group . 6 February 2016.
  3. News: Deborah Lewis . Ofsted joy for new Burnley school . 8 July 2008 . Lancashire Telegraph . Newsquest Media Group . 6 February 2016.
  4. News: Jessica Cree . Burnley 'superschool' out of special measures . 22 March 2013 . Lancashire Telegraph . Newsquest Media Group . 6 February 2016.
  5. Web site: Inspection of Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy .
  6. News: New Burnley super schools open - PHOTOS . Johnston Press . Burnley Express . 6 September 2010 . 6 February 2016.
  7. News: League Tables: Blessed Trinity RC College . 10 January 2008 . BBC News . 6 February 2016.
  8. News: Blessed Trinity GCSE results . 25 August 2010 . Lancashire Telegraph . Newsquest Media Group . 6 February 2016.
  9. News: Burnley school league tables - statistics . Johnston Press . Burnley Express . 16 January 2011 . 6 February 2016.