Principal

A very warm welcome to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS), where we are dedicated to providing educational excellence for all of our students and committed to helping them to reach their full potential. Through our vision of “Nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders,” we aim to create an environment where all of our students can flourish and develop into confident and successful citizens.

We can trace our history back to Newchurch Grammar School founded in 1703.  The core of their staff formed BRGS on our current site in 1913.  With 100 years of serving families in Rossendale and beyond, we are proud of our heritage and celebrate our school’s traditions but, alongside this, we seek to embrace our vision of “Nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.”

At BRGS, we provide high standards of education with a focus not only on academic achievements, but also on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our students. Our Academy’s STAR values of Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect are at the core of everything we do and are represented in the way staff and students model themselves.

We have a culture of high expectations and we continuously encourage our students to aspire to be the best they can be. This is developed through a strong and supportive system of pastoral care provided by a dedicated team of Pastoral Leaders and form tutors.

Our students benefit from an academic curriculum that enables them to achieve high standards and broaden their skills and experience through enrichment activities. We take a personalised approach, where students are set aspirational, but achievable targets through a curriculum pathway that meets their individual needs. We promote fundamental British values and develop students’ understanding of rights and responsibilities in a diverse and democratic society where they can make a positive contribution.

The sense of community and pride in the school is clear as you walk around and we are proud of what we stand for.  No matter what a person’s role in the school – teaching or support staff – all are working very hard to allow every one of our young people to pursue excellence in all that they do; to be committed to being the best they can be; to have ambitious goals for themselves and their future; to look for solutions to problems and learn from mistakes rather than giving up; and to develop a deep sense of respect for themselves, others, the school and the wider community.  Like any school, we are not the finished product.  We know where we need to improve and these improvements are well in hand.  We continue to seek opportunities to develop and build on our best practice because we expect high achievement and high personal standards to be the norm for every student and member of staff.

James Johnstone

Principal