Kirk Balk Academy
| Type | Academy |
|---|---|
| Religion | Mixed |
| Principal | Ms Jo Nolan |
| Vice Principal | Mr D Buckley |
| Chair Of Governors | Michael Sanderson |
| Location |
West Street Hoyland Barnsley South Yorkshire S74 9HX England Coordinates: 53°30′05″N 1°26′58″W / 53.50136°N 1.44939°W |
| Local authority | Barnsley |
| DfE number | 370/4008 |
| DfE URN | 140979 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Students | 1,100+ |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Colours | Light Blue, Dark Blue, Light Grey |
| Website | School Website |
Kirk Balk Academy is a secondary school located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. The school is mainly intended for students living in its immediate area: Birdwell, Hoyland, Jump, Tankersley, Elsecar and Pilley.
The school teaches years 7–11 with a variety of qualifications such as: GCSE, BTEC and OCR.
A new building for the school was finished in late 2011, allowing the demolition of the old school. This made space for a school field, which is used for Physical Education. Along with the new building, the school changed its name from Kirk Balk School to Kirk Balk Community College, created a new logo, and added a new uniform. In September 2014, the school was renamed Kirk Balk Academy. In March 2015, it was formally converted to academy status, sponsored by the Northern Education Trust.
Uniform
Students wear full Academy uniforms at all times on the Academy premises or on an Academy visit, unless otherwise stated.[1] The uniform consists of a blue blazer with the current academy logo embroidered on the front pocket, a white shirt or blouse, a blue and yellow tie and a pair of black tailored trouser's or a black skirt. The kit worn for Physical Education consists of a navy blue T-shirt with the Academy logo and a pair of navy blue shorts.
Prefects
Students at Kirk Balk who are chosen to be prefects at the end of Year 10 assume a number of duties in their position. For example, prefects must supervise fellow pupils at lunch and break times, and are responsible for reporting any instances of misbehaviour to teachers. Prefects are also in charge of advising other students regarding any conflicts or difficulties, both academic and otherwise. Prefects attend training during the first week of their service in order to better help their fellow students with problems such as homesickness. Serving as a prefect is considered an honour and prefects are treated with a high degree of respect, such that this accomplishment is often found on a pupil's curriculum vitae.
Events
The school hosts an Inter-Arts talent contest event for pupils of all ages to showcase their talents. The acts are assessed by local judges, teachers and sometimes ex-pupils. There is an open day when parents and children visit and assess the school. The school displays the best projects created by pupils in Technology lessons, such as Electronic Products, or Construction. In the past, Textiles was also a significant school subject.
Timetable
The school timetable has two separate weeks of lesson timetables. This provide a variety of lessons so that the pupils receive the correct amount of hours in a lesson each fortnight. The weeks are named Week A and Week B. The school year starts with Week A and alternates each week. The school day starts at 8:40am and ends at 2:55pm.
Ofsted Inspection
According to the school league tables, Kirk Balk Community College came in third out of fourteen schools in the local area.[2] In the latest OFSTED inspection (October 2013), this is how the school performed:
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Overall effectiveness of the school | (3) Requires Improvement |
| Achievement of pupils | (3) Requires Improvement |
| Quality of teaching | (3) Requires Improvement |
| Behaviour and safety of pupils | (2) Good |
| Leadership and management | (3) Requires Improvement |
References
- ↑ http://www.kirkbalkacademy.org/student-zone/uniform-and-equipment. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ BBC News
External links
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