Bishop Challoner Catholic College

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Bishop Challoner Catholic College is a Roman Catholic secondary school in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham, England. The school has a roll of 1,152 students, including 212 sixth form students. More than the national average are entitled to free school meals. The school has Sports College and Science College status as well as being a recognised DfES Training School. It is a member of the Specialist Schools Trust.Opened in 1953, it was the first Catholic secondary school in Birmingham. In 2000, the school was awarded Sports College status. In May 2002, the Science Department was granted lead department status and was awarded Science specialism status in 2005. For the second time the school has received a Government School Achievement Award for examination results, the National Curriculum Award and Artsmark Gold for the provision of drama, music, dance, art and performance in the school. The school's production of West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Big the Musical and We Will Rock You, have won the Columba Trophy for the best school production in Birmingham.The Performing Arts, We Sing Show Choir were given the ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity of performing as part of the choir at the Mass which was taken by Pope Benedict XVI. The Mass, held at Cofton Park in Longbridge, was the pinnacle of the Pope’s visit to Great Britain and was his final visit before returning to the Vatican in Rome. After weeks of rehearsals, the 10 students and 3 teachers joined the 2200 other choristers from across the country and were seated in the Grandstand directly to the left of the Pope as he delivered the Mass. It was a truly magical and holy occasion and all who heard the beautiful singing on the day were stunned by the sound the choir made. The Choir has continued this success by securing one of three places in the final of a national search for the UK's best Glee Club. The best club will win a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform on the West End stage at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, home of WICKED, in December 2010. The competition is being judged by members of the WICKED cast including Lee Mead (BBC’s Any Dream Will Do), Rachel Tucker (BBC’s I’d Do Anything) and Louise Dearman at WICKED Day.