Belle Vue Girls' Academy
A Specialist Academy for Languages and Science with Maths
History
​The history of Belle Vue Girls' School is the history of educational reform in this country.​
In 1877, The Girls’ Higher Grade School was opened in impressive buildings on Manningham Lane. The name Belle Vue may seem like a misnomer now but in the 1880’s, the chosen location of the school Belle Vue Place, commanded extensive and uninterrupted views on every side. By the time the school was built, many of these views had been obscured by roads and streets such as Walmer, Mornington, Clifton and Oak. Not until the school moved to its present site in Upper Heaton could the school enjoy some fine views.
On August 13th 1877, 114 girls entered the upper room of the Wesleyan School in Carlisle Road. In the lower schoolroom were 60 infants and nearby 101 boys. The provision of education for these children was as a direct result of a ‘memorial’ petition to the Bradford School Board. Parents of boys paid 9d weekly and those of girls paid 6d (2.5p) weekly.
​The first Headteacher was Miss Emily Holmes. She had two assistant teachers and one pupil teacher. Her specialist subject was physiology.
Numbers rose quickly to 341 in 1878, attending school in extremely cramped conditions. In 1879, the new buildings were ready. They cost £15,229 18s. 3d. and could accommodate 1248 pupils. The new school had four departments, Infants, Junior Mixed, Girls’ Higher Grade and Boys’ Higher Grade. It was unique in its time in that a child could complete his education without leaving Belle Vue School. On August 15th 1879, the school log book reads simply, ‘the scholars assembled at Carlisle Road and were transferred to the Belle Vue School on Monday morning and gave a concert after the opening by W. Forster M.P. In 1879, Miss Elizabeth McCauley for a brief (9months) headship. In 1880, Miss Fanny Williams, the new Headteacher, recorded a rather surprising struggle with unsatisfactory attendance figures but she somehow managed to keep up the standards. After having three headteachers in seven years, 1884 saw the appointment of Miss Sarah Louise Beszant.

​Miss Beszant was in her early twenties when appointed and was to remain as Head teacher for nearly forty years, playing an important role in the development of schooling in Bradford.
She did much to expand access to secondary education and to promote the study of science by girls. At a time when it was not considered a subject suitable for them.
In addition to Domestic Economy and Hygiene she introduced subjects such as Chemistry and Physiology into the curriculum.
She was also keen on physical education for girls. In her years as headmistress, she guided the school's advance to a Higher Grade School, and twenty years later, to a Secondary School.
​In 1873, four attendance officers – known as Persuaders, were appointed. Prosecution of parents could result in a fine of 5 shillings or 7 days’ imprisonment.
1870-1890 government grants were paid on the basis of results. Children must pass the standard in order to move up to the next grade.
1890-1900 the grant system was modified – the log book records that in 1891, the Discipline and Organisation Grant per head was 22/10 ¾ p rising in 1892 to 23/ 3 ¾ d. If the work of a teacher was unsatisfactory, his or her increment could bewithheld for that year.
From its earliest days, Belle Vue Girls' School had a particular interest in the teaching of Science and from 1896-1903, it was known as the Belle Vue Organised Science School. Students who had passed Standard VI could enter a three year Science course which included both theoretical and practical Science. Despite a school report in 1902 ‘this department (i.e. BVG) is so ably managed and taught that little or nothing remains to be desired’.
​The history of Belle Vue Girls' School is the history of educational reform in this country.​
By 1904, the Local Education Authority reported ‘the time devoted to Science and Maths, in the Girls’ School is rather more than seems necessary. Some rearrangements of the timetable is advisable so that Literature may have its fair share of the time’. In 1904, Belle Vue became Belle Vue Girls’ Secondary School.
​Schooling continued through the First World War with some additional training classes for girls and women caught up in ‘war work’ which extended the school day into the evenings. A note from April 1917 records that ‘1,300 sand bags and 600 hand grenades bags have been made and despatched to the War Authorities’. When the Second World War began, children were evacuated to other locations. The army had requisitioned the school building. The arrangements did not last too long as gradually children returned to their parents; Belle Vue reopened and resumed ‘normal service’. Evacuation had lasted one term! The school had a Girls’ Training Corps and they practised their drill in the school yard. Harvest Camps were introduced when girls and teachers gave up their holidays to help with the planting or harvesting of crops in Lincolnshire. Another casualty of the war was the suspension of swimming lessons as the army had requisitioned Green Lane Baths. Potato picking camps continued to the end of rationing in the early 50’s
​Belle Vue Girls’ has had a number of names; Higher Grade School, Organised Science School, Secondary School, High School, Grammar School, Extended High School, Upper School and now simply Belle Vue Girls’ School and Specialist Language College.
The school finally left the building on Manningham Lane in 1971 for the long promised ‘new school’ on the present site. Miss Walker who had been appointed in 1965 to the Headship of Belle Vue found that much of her time from 1967 was spent in planning for the move to the new school – a Herculean task! The official opening ceremony was held on April 28th 1972 when the Minister of State for Education, Margaret Thatcher was the Chief Guest. Miss Walker was another inspirational Headteacher in the line of Headteachers of BVGS and she led the school through some exciting and challenging times as selective education was replaced by comprehensive education and the demographics of Bradford began to change.
In 2000, Bradford reorganised its three tier system to two and Belle Vue became a secondary school once more. By 2007, it had grown to almost 1100 students with 220 in post sixteen education. In 2003, we became a specialist language college.
The school is focused towards giving our students high aspirations both academically and socially as we continue to foster strong understanding of the global village in which they will live and work.
The school is always in the top 20% of schools in the country when the progress girls make from year 7 to year 11 is measured, one of the highest performers in the city.
​As Ofsted and our students agree:
The quality of education is really good here (Salma year 12)
Students respond well to high expectation set by staff, have a positive attitude to learning and are keen to do their best. (Ofsted)
