Bristol school changes name to create new image
A north Bristol secondary school has become the latest to change its name to try to create a new image.
Monks Park School, Horfield, shut its doors for the last time yesterday after 52 years.
The comprehensive, which was rebuilt three years ago, will reopen as Orchard School Bristol after the summer holidays.
Neighbours will notice another change too. Students will wear blazers and ties from September.
The school will reopen as one of Britain's first National Challenge Trust Schools. This is a Government initiative to help raise standards and is bringing extra funding to the school.
Head teacher Helen Holman said that although Monks Park had a proud history, there was negative feeling among parents associated with the school's name.
Governors considered a number of names, including Horfield School, North City Campus, Bristol Institute of Learning, West Country Communication College and The Oratory School, before deciding on Orchard School Bristol.
"The name links to the orchard that grew on the school site over 50 years ago and draws on our aspirations for the future – a school rooted in the community, of growth and development and fulfilment," she said.
The school said students were keen on the new uniform, and all those in Years 7 to 10 have been given a free blazer and tie, funded by the Government. The new school will have a house system and ties are in the four house colours.
Orchard School Bristol will be run by Trust in Learning, which is made up of representatives of City of Bristol College, University of the West of England and Bristol City Council.
Dr Holman said: "We already have positive relationships with all three organisations but this new relationship is much more formal and is for the long term."
Trust in Learning is already running the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe.
That school adopted its name when it opened as a trust school a year ago, incorporating the former Hartcliffe Engineering Community College – which, before that was Hartcliffe School – and Teyfant Community Primary School.
New Fosseway Special School is joining the Bridge this September.
Secondary schools that have changed their names in recent years include:
Brislington School – Brislington Enterprise College
Bristol Cathedral School – Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Hengrove School – Oasis Academy Bristol
Portway School – Oasis Academy Brightstowe
Whitefield Fishponds School – Bristol Metropolitan College/ Academy (from September)
Withywood School – Merchants Academy.
5 Comments
by amanda, BRISTOL
Monday, July 27 2009, 1:50PM
“Hannah, Please do not tar all parents and children with the same brush!! Yes the school does have its fair share of problems but not all the parents and children are as you describe. Both my children attended Monks Park and my eldest is now in his 2nd year at University. My youngest has just completed her A Levels and I am very proud of what they have achieved. So dont write all the children off!!”
by hannah, henleaze
Monday, July 27 2009, 12:33PM
“Sam from Brizzle - I think you may have made an assumption. I am actually a teacher at a Bristol secondary school, so I do have some understanding. And the way I see it is simple - the government needs to sort out parents, then everything else will fall into line.
With regards to 'boohoo,' I didn't say that - you did. I am just fed up with working hard ad paying my taxes, buying my own baby milk, paying for my own mobile phone, paying my huge nursery bill etc and then seeing other people getting it all handed out to them for free. So try and change the school's identity - but why can't parents buy their own school uniform? The Monks Park parents seem to have enough money to feed their kids at the Chippy every day. They also seem to have enough money to buy hoodies and baseball caps and large gold earrings... but not uniform???”
by Sam, Brizzle
Saturday, July 25 2009, 8:07PM
“Ah so you're all upset because some one got some new clothes and you had to pay. Boohoo. Sometimes it does take something as simple as a new identity to help get things moving in the right direction. If you think about how appauling the state system was (and to some extent still is) in this city then things have come a long way. Don't bemone something you obviously haveno real understanding of Hannah.”
by Hannah, Henleaze
Saturday, July 25 2009, 7:02PM
“What a load of cobblers. This will do nothing to change the school. They could have spent the money much more wisely - for example by making some of their parents attend parenting classes, or by feeding their students properly instead of allowing them to go to the local fish and chip shop every day. Or how about buying them some books to read? I know, what a crazy idea!!!
This school has had millions of pounds spent on it and it is still a dive, where no-one with any sense would send their children unless they wish to make some big political statement. When will the government realise that these schools are the way they are because of the families that use them? Buildings make very very little difference. I don't expect that a uniform will either.
I am also a little confused. My eldest is starting school in Sept, and I had to buy his uniform...”
by Ben, Clifton
Saturday, July 25 2009, 11:17AM
“First it was CTCs, then Academies, now it's National Challenge Trust Schools...
The Government's obssessed with names but nothing else.”