Kirk Balk Academy

Kirk Balk Academy
School buildings in 2010, outdated building rebuilt
Location
Map
West Street
Hoyland

Barnsley
,
South Yorkshire
,
S74 9HX

England
Coordinates53°30′05″N 1°26′58″W / 53.50136°N 1.44939°W / 53.50136; -1.44939
Information
TypeAcademy
Established1933
Local authorityBarnsley
TrustNorthern Education Trust
Department for Education URN140979 Tables
OfstedReports
Chief ExecutiveRob Tarn[2]
PrincipalRichard Whitfield[1]
GenderMixed
Age11 to 16
Enrolment1,250
ColoursDark Blue, Purple, Green, Yellow, Red       
Websitekba.northerneducationtrust.org

Kirk Balk Academy is a secondary school located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Northern Education Trust. The school mainly serves students living in its immediate area: Birdwell, Hoyland, Jump, Tankersley, Elsecar, Wombwell and Pilley.[3]

The school is an 11–16 academy teaching a wide curriculum in lower school (Y7-9) with a variety of qualifications in the upper school (Y10-11), such as GCSE and BTEC.[4]

History

Secondary modern school

Hoyland Kirk Balk School opened in 1933.[5] Extension were built around 1964 by Charles R. Price, which opened in September 1965.[6] The extensions were officially opened on Wednesday 4 May 1966 by the Bishop of Sheffield, Right Rev. F. J. Taylor. Construction had taken over two years. It became a coeducational school, from two schools[7]

Comprehensive

It became comprehensive in September 1968, but the sixth form was at other schools, and still is today. A sports centre was built from 1971,[8] which opened on 9 December 1974, with a licensed bar.[9]

From September 1975 local people could also attend Brampton Ellis Comprehensive School. In September 1976 the long-serving headmistress left, and a no-nonsense former Army officer took over, and at a governors meeting announced that he wanted to restore the cane. But parents and governors were less enthusiastic. He wanted to cane vandals and people who caused graffiti. The chairman of the 24 governors was Allen McKay, a former miner, later the local Labour MP, who supported the headmaster.[10]

Academy

Construction of a new building for the school was finished in late 2011, allowing for the demolition of the old building. This made space for a new school sports field. Additionally, the school changed its name from Kirk Balk School to Kirk Balk Community College, changing the logo and uniform in the process. In September 2014, the school was renamed Kirk Balk Academy, and in March 2015 it was formally converted to academy status, sponsored by the Northern Education Trust. In September 2016, Ms Jo Nolan became the Executive Principal of Kirk Balk Academy until 2018, when she was replaced by Mr Dean Buckley.

Visits

  • Cliff Richard visited on Monday 18 December 1972, to give an hour-long talk on Christianity; Mr Robertson the Religious Education teacher knew Cliff Richard from youth work when at London University, and both of them knew the Christian actor Nigel Goodwin[11]
  • Cosmonaut Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Volkov visited on Monday 11 April 1988; it was connected to Barnsley being twinned with Horlivka in Ukraine, from May 1987[12]
  • On the morning of Wednesday 6 July 2011, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent visited[13]

House System

Kirk Balk Academy had 4 houses:

Each house has its own ethos, guiding standards, and routines which help develop a family culture.[14]

Events

The school hosts a whole school inter-house sports day in the last week of term each year.[15] Students represent their Forms in athletic track and field events. Students also can compete through taking part in a range of other team sports, such as football, rounders, and tennis.

Timetable

The school timetable consists of one set week. This provides a variety of lessons, so that the pupils receive the correct number of hours in a lesson each week. The school day starts at 8:20am and finishes at 2:30pm.[16] A wide range of enrichment activities are run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm, and can help students to further develop their academic progress.[17]

Ofsted Inspection

In the latest Ofsted inspection (January 2020), the school was rated as good.[18]

Area Grade
The quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Personal development Good
Leadership and management Good

Notable former pupils

Secondary modern

Comprehensive

Former teachers

References

  1. ^ "Welcome from the Principal". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Welcome from the Chief Executive". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Admission Arrangements". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Curriculum Offer 2020–2021". Google Drive. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 2 January 1965, page 14
  6. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 11 January 1964, page 17
  7. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 7 May 1966, page 2
  8. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 9 October 1971, page 2
  9. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 30 November 1974, page 54
  10. ^ Daily Express Tuesday 21 September 1976, page 9
  11. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 23 December 1972, page 22
  12. ^ South Yorkshire Times Friday 8 April 1988
  13. ^ Times Thursday 7 July 2011, page 61
  14. ^ "House System". Kirk Balk Academy. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Inter-house Kirk Balk Academy Sports Day". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Academy Day Reminder – Lesson Times". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Enrichment". Kirk Balk Academy. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Ofsted Inspection of Kirk Balk Academy". Ofsted. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  19. ^ South Yorkshire Times Friday 28 July 1989, page 42
  20. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 11 July 1970, page 28
  21. ^ Grantham Journal Friday 27 November 1970, page 10
  22. ^ South Yorkshire Times Saturday 26 March 1977, page 47
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Balk_Academy