Bishops' College special report
For more than 500 pupils at Bishops' College, an uncertain 2010 lies ahead.
The school is to close its doors for the last time in September after Government consultant Graham Badman recommended its amalgamation with Central Technology College (CTC) in Matson.
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WAITING: Darren Rimmer with Jordan, 12, Kieran, 15, Carlton, 13, Gabby, 14.
Among the families waiting anxiously to hear their fate from bosses at Gloucestershire County Council are the Rimmers, a family of eight from Brockworth.
Darren Rimmer has four children, Kieran, Gabby, Carlton and Jordan, at the school and said the whole process has been affecting every part of their lives.
"It's really getting to my eldest daughter in particular," said Darren.
"It's affecting her both mentally and physically. She's in Year 10 now and is halfway through her exams. She wants to be a veterinary nurse and go to university."
Gabby, 14, said she was worried about being separated from her friends after the move.
She said: "If we move, I might not end up with my friends and I might not get the same options if I start at the new academy."
Willing
Darren said the closure of Bishops' College is not something he is willing to contemplate, especially after the help the school has offered his children.
He said: "My eldest son was a bit of a problem child. When he was at his old school, I was in there all the time for one reason or another, but within six months of starting at Bishops' he had improved so much."
Jordan is the youngest of Darren's children and is in Year 7 at Bishops' College.
He said: "What's the point in closing the school when Central Technology College is going to stay open?
"Bishops' College is good. The teaching is good there, and if there's a fight they always sort things out."
Although the county council has guaranteed every pupil at Bishops' a place at the new academy, which will initially be at the CTC site, Darren said he would not be taking up the places.
He said: "I could even face charges against me, because I might keep them at home. I'd rather home-school them than send them to school with 1,500 kids."
Under county council proposals, Bishops' College will close at the end of the summer term this year.
Pupils will move to an amalgamated academy on the CTC site in Cotteswold Road while a new purpose-built £20 million academy is built.
Parents have raised concerns on how much a say they had in consultations.
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by Lucy, gloucester
Sunday, August 22 2010, 4:19PM
“i know many people from bishops and more than not they are not getting the education they need. I suggest any parent that is moving their duaghter out of Bishops should suggest sending them to barnwood park arts college. My daughter goes there and she loves it. She is working above her expected grades in most of her subjects and she has made exelent progress in the last three years she has been at this school.”
by skippy, gloucestershire
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 10:10PM
“this is gonna to be a great move for gloucestershire i heard n know ppl who have gone to that school ther is not much sorting when it comes to bullying a new funding n better school could improve yes the families i am sorry for but in the long run it is a great idea i know many families that have gone to that school n pulled there children out my daughter was going to go there n she knows freinds of the rimmer children n i have been informed they have complained bout bullying themselfs”
by Ann Malcolm, Podsmead
Monday, January 04 2010, 9:27PM
“In response to the pupil called me, firstly if your that unhappy at Bishops then surely your parents have the responsibility of helping you to solve this. The school does not tolerate bullying so I think you should go to the school with your parents and talk about it with the staff who would then combat the problem. They are very approachable and easy to talk to. Bullying happens in every school, not just Bishops and if you go through the right channels it can be sorted. Nobody has to put up with it and it can stopped. Good luck.”
by Chris Maltby, Tuffley, Gloucester
Monday, January 04 2010, 6:43PM
“Firstly, why does Gloucester need a so-called 'first class' academy. there are Grammar Schools in the city : there are large community/comprehensive schools and other schools which adequately cater for a wide spectrum of puplis' needs
Also there is Bishops' College which is highly valued and obviously in the majority of cases caters adequately for the needs of a specific group of pupils. The small size and 'family' atmosphere of the establishment helps in this care. The group of pupils catered for would seem to include a large percentage of Black And Minority Ethnic pupils of which many do not have English as a first language. Also there are pupils there with various special educational needs who would also appear to be thriving and achieving at this school.
Therefore that brings me to the second comment, surely there is an equality issue here if this facility is dismantled in a rush with no proper consideration for the pupils' needs - and all this for some unnecessary government showpiece which it is desperate to get in process before the General Election.
Chris M.
Tuffley”
by me, gloucester
Sunday, January 03 2010, 10:50PM
“i got to bishops and i cant wait for it to close,, i have been beaten up so many times and nothing is done,, if your face dont fit you dont get any where at the school,, i want a gud education so i pray it closes so i can have what i want and deserve”