Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is a foundation secondary school located in the north-east of Belper, Derbyshire, England. In October 2019, Ofsted reported that its overall effectiveness is 'Needs Improvement'.[1]
It has received Healthy Schools status and the Artsmark Gold award. The current headteacher is Mr Nick Goforth.[2]
Admissions
Belper School is larger than average,[1] catering for 1,311 students as of academic year 2015–2016, a 10.5% reduction since 2012–2013 when the school taught 1169 students between 11 and 18 years old – a decrease attributed by the headteacher to variations in birth rate.[3] The majority of the school is white British with below average numbers of cared-for children and children identified as having special educational needs or disability.[1]
Chemical spill and fire
On Wednesday 17 September 2004, the school made national news after a chemical spill occurred within the Science department. Iodine crystals were dropped by a teacher when they collided with a student in a corridor. As a result, two pupils had minor burns and 36 were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.[4]
David Kinnersley,[6] economist (educated as a wartime evacuee), and first Chief executive from 1973 to 1976 of the North West Water Authority
Prof Larry Rotherham CBE, metallurgist, President from 1964 to 1965 of the Institution of Metallurgists, and from 1965 to 1966 of the Institute of Metals, expert on creep-resistant materials heading the team that discovered how metal fatigue brought down early de Havilland Comet airliners, and Vice-Chancellor from 1969 to 1976 of the University of Bath