Burscough Priory Academy

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Coordinates: 53°36′05″N 2°50′51″W / 53.6013°N 2.8476°W / 53.6013; -2.8476

Burscough Priory Academy
Location
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Burscough
,
Lancashire
,
L40 7RZ

England
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoE Pluribus Unum
("Out of Many, One")
EstablishedJune 1958
Local authorityLancashire
TrustEndeavour Learning Trust
Department for Education URN146282 Tables
OfstedReports
CEOMrs Gwinnett
HeadteacherMrs L McLaren
Staff92
Age11 to 16
Enrolment700
Websitehttp://www.burscoughprioryacademy.org/

Burscough Priory Academy is an Academy in Burscough, Lancashire, England. It officially opened on 10 June 1958 as Burscough County Secondary School under the Headship of Brian Stone, and cost just over £120,000 to build. The then Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby (1918–1994) presided over the ceremony. At the time of opening, the school's staff of 10 teachers looked after 222 pupils.

The school's motto E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One), which is also the motto of the United States, was thought to be appropriate as the new school was created from several all-age schools from around the area. The Academy's intake is around 700 students and caters for 11-to 16-year-olds, with 90 members of staff.

History[]

Planning and construction[]

Several years prior to construction, residents of Burscough in 1954 had expressed concern at the lack of educational facilities in the area and the surrounding outlying districts.[1] Once a proposal to build a new school in Burscough had passed, it was originally to be named Ormskirk Burscough County Secondary School,[2] until protests by the people of Burscough were successful in having the "Ormskirk" dropped from the title, a decision approved by the Divisional Executive.[3] The original school was designed to educate a maximum of 300 students, but numbers rose to 450 before any extensions where added.

Operation[]

The school originally occupied 13 acres (53,000 m2) of space, of which just over 8 acres (32,000 m2) was developed into playing fields and sport facilities. The school building comprised a two-storey building with 8 classrooms and 6 practical rooms, amongst changing rooms and hall.

In 1967, there were plans to convert the school into a junior comprehensive school to cater for 11-14 year olds, which would have marked the end for the school as a secondary school.[4] The school was later threatened with closure in 1969 under plans for comprehensive education, until a late reprieve in November 1969 due to an increase in pupil numbers.[5]

Although small in size in comparison to other secondary comprehensive schools in West Lancashire, the school has seen several expansions since its construction. As well as a ROSLA building being constructed in the early 1970s which facilitated the increase in capacity to 750 pupils,[6] the school was also extended in 1976. It then became known as Burscough Priory High School. During this time the roll expanded to over 800 pupils with the comprehensive intake.

Brian Stone retired in July 1984 and Eric Cole took on the role of acting headteacher for the autumn term in 1984 until the appointment of Roger Leighton as headteacher in January 1985.

The school was later extended again with the construction of a Performing Arts building, in response to gaining specialist Science College status. The school converted to an Academy, sponsored by Endeavour Learning Trust from September 2018.

Buildings[]

Burscough Priory Academy.

The school's four buildings link to form a single school, split across two halves with a sheltered corridor providing an indoor connection between them.

Original building[]

The original building is where the modern school entrance and main corridors are, including classrooms on the upper floor. This was the original school until it was extended in 1972 and 1976 for the raising of school leaving age and for the comprehensive intake, respectively.

No extensive refurbishment has taken place in the original part of the school. A gymnasium was built during the 1970s, when headteacher Brian Stone had the option to build a swimming pool or a gymnasium, and chose the latter. The back of school also saw an extension of classrooms during the 1970s and the front entrance saw some refurbishment during the summer of 2004.

The ROSLA Building[]

In 1972, a law was passed to increase the legal age at which a pupil could leave compulsory education from 15 to 16. As with many schools around the country, a ROSLA building was erected next the main school building, which is the first building seen upon entering the school premises. Upon opening in autumn 1972, it was described as having two laboratories, arts and crafts rooms and a fifth year centre.[7]

Although intended to last for only around 15 years, the ROSLA building is still standing after 48–49 years. It accommodates the art and SEN departments, as well as a pastoral support centre on the ground floor with a smaller secondary cafeteria adjoined to it. Extensive refurbishment took place in 2016, with the removal of asbestos and a full redecoration.

Science and Performing Arts building[]

In September 2004, the school changed its name to Burscough Priory Science College to reflect gaining specialist school status in Science. The science and performing arts building was completed and in use in the same month, with the official opening occurring 8 months later on 25 May 2005, being named after the original headteacher as The Brian Stone Centre. It accommodates the newly built science laboratories on the ground floor, as well as the upper floor music & performing arts departments, comprising 2 large music rooms, several practice rooms and a drama studio.

This building was built on the location which housed the aging portable cabin classrooms.

Solar panels[]

In 2008, Burscough Priory was one of 100 schools through the United Kingdom to have been chosen to receive solar panels worth £20000, half funded by the Co-op's £1m Green Energy for Schools Scheme. An LCD display in the school entrance displays the total energy generated by the panels since installation (including real-time generation) and also the amount of greenhouse gases which have been prevented from entering the atmosphere.[8]

Conversion to Academy[]

The DfE confirmed in late August 2018 that the conversion from Burscough Priory Science College to Burscough Priory Academy was finalised for 1 September 2018. This confirmed that the school would be joining and be sponsored by Endeavour Learning Trust.

Headmasters/headmistresses[]

  • 1958-1984: Brian Stone
Brian Stone was the first headteacher at the school, then called Burscough County Secondary School, having been head of the mathematics department at Huyton-with-Roby County Secondary School. He had a staff of 10 teachers and the total number of pupils on roll was 222. Stone retired in July 1984 after 26 years as headteacher, and has since died. The New Science and Performing arts building was officially named the "Brian Stone Centre" in memory of Brian.
Stone served in the R.A.F. during World War II and also as a radar mechanic. He graduated with a B.Sc at Nottingham University, gaining his teaching diploma in 1951. He was 33 years old when appointed to the position of headteacher.
  • 1985-2009: Roger Leighton
Roger Leighton became the second headteacher at Burscough Priory High School in January 1985, having overseen the school being awarded specialist status in Science in June 2004 and once again changing its name to Burscough Priory Science College. Roger retired in the summer of 2009, having served as headteacher for 24 years.
    • 2009-Present

Since the departure of Roger Leighton in 2009, various headteachers have lead the school. The most recent is Mrs L MacLaren, appointed in January 2020.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Burscough Protest". Liverpool Echo. 20 July 1954. p. 5. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. ^ "New School Name". Liverpool Echo. 17 December 1957. p. 9. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. ^ "School name". Liverpool Echo. 17 September 1957. p. 8-9. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Causes for concern". Liverpool Echo. 13 December 1967. p. 7. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Doomed school". Liverpool Echo. 20 November 1969. p. 9. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. ^ "More room for pupils". Liverpool Echo. 19 September 1973. p. 17. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Ormskirk school to go `all-in' by autumn". Liverpool Echo. 25 January 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  8. ^ Sun-thing to be pleased about!

External links[]

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