Former pupils and teachers gathered at the now-empty Culverhay School in Bath to say their goodbyes before the building is demolished later this year. The school, which has stood as a local landmark for decades, will be replaced by a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school on the site.
Mick Rose, a former pupil from the 1960s, expressed his fondness for the school during a farewell tour. “This school is special, that’s why I wanted to come and have a look round. I’ve been looking forward to it and it was really worthwhile,” he said. He recalled with nostalgia the motor engineering room where he and other students would dismantle and reassemble car engines, even driving the car around the two playgrounds as part of their practical learning.
Culverhay School has a rich history, having originally opened as Westhill Boys' School in 1956 before being renamed the Culverhay School in 1971. Its future became uncertain in 2010 amid falling pupil numbers, leading to consultations on closure. The school was renamed again to Bath Community Academy in 2012, but despite having a capacity for over 700 students, by 2017 it had only 241 pupils enrolled. This under-utilisation resulted in the school’s closure in 2018.
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Plans are now underway to build Green Ways Academy, a 120-place school catering specifically for children with special educational needs, on the former Culverhay site.
Des Hayward, another alumnus, described the farewell tour as a poignant experience. “It gave me the chills going round,” he said. “It’s a double-edged thing because of my dad’s connection to the school-he was a stonemason and worked on building it.” He added that as a grandfather to two children with special educational needs, he looked forward to the new school providing a much-needed facility closer to home, reducing travel times for families.
Councillor Paul May of Bath and North East Somerset Council attended the event and reflected on the school’s significance. “Culverhay has been part of Bath’s story for generations and it’s clear from today’s visit just how much the school meant to the people who passed through its doors. It has been wonderful to see former pupils, teachers, and staff reconnect, share memories, and reflect on the impact the school had on their lives. There is a real sense of affection for this place.”
He emphasised the council’s commitment to education on the site, stating, “We have worked tirelessly to achieve the retention of education here. We are delighted this scheme is starting with the demolition of the old, inappropriate buildings so that detailed analysis and design can begin for the 120-place special school.”
A second farewell tour for former pupils and staff was scheduled for Thursday, 27 August, and has already reached full capacity.