Headteacher
Mr AJ Corish
Founded in 1975, Bishop Challoner Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Secondary School serves the Catholic communities of Basingstoke, Tadley, Andover, Hook and all the villages in that area. It offers high quality education to boys and girls aged 11 to 16 in a clearly Christian context.
There are about 640 students on roll and some 124 places are offered each year to Year 6 pupils from a wide range of primary schools, including three Catholic schools: St Anne's, (Basingstoke), St Bede's (Basingstoke) and St John the Baptist (Andover). A number of students are from other religious traditions and their commitment is greatly valued.
Priests from Holy Ghost and St Joseph's churches serve the school. The school has a lay person on the staff as chaplain. The parish church of St Joseph's shares the same campus as Bishop Challoner which also has links with St Michael's (Tadley), St John the Baptist (Andover) and Sacred Heart (Hook).
Reception area
with welcome desk and
waiting area for visitors
The School's reputation for high achievement is consistently recognised by Ofsted inspections. The attainment of the students is praised and the continuous improvement of the school recognised. The 2010 report states, "Students' achievement and most of their other outcomes are outstanding." Inspection reports can be viewed on the Ofsted website or click here to read the 2010 report.
This success is a consequence of a broad curriculum, offering three languages to GCSE, three separate sciences at GCSE and a range of other options, including creative and performance subjects such as Drama and Music. Religious Education is rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church and is a compulsory subject for all students up to and including GCSE. Teaching staff are highly qualified and experienced, and are ably complemented by effective administrative and support staff.
Students' window
to school office
Strong pastoral care and guidance, together with a wide range of extra-curricular activities, powerfully motivate our students to success.
Of great importance are the good relations between the School and the families it serves. Our parents are highly supportive, and the students benefit enormously from this. Parents are welcome to telephone the school at any time and prompt visits can be quickly arranged with the minimum of fuss. These are genuinely shared expectations, not just of academic progress but also of standards of conduct, all rooted in the Gospel values.
Most of all, the school is a community with a spiritual mission. Opportunities for prayer, reflection and worship are built into the pattern of the school's life, built upon the liturgical year. Students are involved in a variety of ministries in liturgies, and both assemblies and the twice-daily acts of worship reinforce Christian values and beliefs.
For the future, the School will build on the outstanding achievements of past years and is committed to offering a high quality education, bearing in mind the motto from our Mission Statement that:
"Jesus is our teacher and we seek to follow His example."
For further information, or to arrange a visit to see this educational community at work, please contact Mrs G Helbert, the Admissions Clerk.
Anthony Corish
Headteacher
