Blackheath Bluecoat School was recognised as ‘comprehensive’ by the Department of
Education in September 1973 when the first balanced intake of 180 pupils was admitted.
The school was organised into houses and to commemorate its long association with
Greenwich and Blackheath each house was named after a famous person associated with
the area: Flamsteed, Gordon, Vanbrugh, Wolfe and Wren. Within each house pupils were
placed in vertical tutor groups including pupils from each year groups from 1 to
5 (7 to 11). The Sixth Form was a separate pastoral unit.
For academic work pupils were taught in horizontal unstreamed (mixed ability) groups.
A measure of team teaching was introduced where appropriate. The staffing for the
school year 1973/74 consisted of Headteacher, 2 deputy heads, senior master, 5 Heads
of House, 10 Heads of Department, 7 members of staff with special responsibilities.
The total was 30 full-time staff, 8 part-time teachers and 4 visiting music instrumental
teachers. The total would increase year on year until the school role reached it
target of 1050 pupils. In the 1973 Summer examinations 55 candidates were entered
for 323 subjects in the Certificate of Secondary Education and 23 at the General
Certificate of Education Ordinary Level.
