Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre
| Established | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Type | Sixth Form College |
| Religion | Non-Denominational |
| Headteacher | Bernadette McGrath |
| Specialism | Design and Technology, Arts |
| Location | East Didsbury Greater Manchester United Kingdom |
| Local authority | Manchester City Council |
| Staff | Mr. Blackburn, Mrs. Hawksley |
| Students | 450 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 16–19 |
| Colours | None |
| Website | www.parrswood.manchester.sch.uk/sixthform |
Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre (also referred to as 6th Form) is a sixth-form college which is part of the Parrs Wood Technology College school campus and is located in (East) Didsbury, Manchester. Parrs Wood Sixth Form opened in 2000 after the rebuild of the entire school because of the damage the old school had. The centre has its own building on the campus independent from the main school, housing its own canteen/common room, ICT rooms, study areas (both tables and computer areas), careers, UCAS and Connexions advisors and counselling support for students.
With only 220 students in its facility, it has been known to be one of the smallest sixth form colleges in the North West and because of its joint reputation with its school campus it generates many students who either completed their education at the Parrs Wood school campus or because of its improving reputation. It offers a 50-minute lesson with up to 8 lessons per day (including lunch), offering up to 6 hours and 40 minutes of full teaching per day and because of the school campus it enables the college facility to offer more teaching than any other college but it has been widely known to offer a large disadvantage at students because teachers will not be able to be dedicated to a set of students as most are responsible for up to 100 students.
Contents |
[edit] A-level results
Parrs Wood Sixth Form is a centre of excellence for A-level studies. A-level results 2006 - 99% pass with a grade E or higher - 23% at A - 48% at A/B.
[edit] Courses
Parrs Wood Sixth Form offers a wide range of courses for its students, some of these include: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Physics, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Mathematics with Statistics or Mechanics, Art, Health & social care, British Government and politics, business studies, law, media studies, French, German, Spanish, Urdu, IT, Forensic Science, world development, dance and many more. As of May 2010, Parrs Wood Sixth Form offer Forensic Science as an Applied Science study for its facilities and plans on removing the Applied Business course because of the excessive coursework involved.
[edit] Media
Parrs Wood Sixth Form and Parrs Wood Technology College is often used for filming for various TV companies. Most recently Parrs Wood Sixth Form was used to film "High School Prom" for Channel 4, in which students from the sixth form were given £5,000 to put on their own prom night. The show turned out to be very successful.
[edit] Teachers
Many of the teachers from a diverse range of backgrounds. Most teach in the Main School as well as the sixth form. They are enthusiastic about their subjects and strive to get the best from their students.
[edit] Ofsted
In the past it has seemed to have good reports about their teaching, but reports have showed otherwise. Overall their last report has been credited good but in some areas there are rooms for improvement. There is a distinct sign on the music house "Parrswood is a GOOD 6th form, It's official" which was controversial on the mentality that they weren't living up to their standards before.
When Parrs Wood High School went into special measures in 2007, it did not affect the sixth form campus because of the separate running the then-headteacher David Ashley who shattered the massive reputation the school had. The sixth-form remains as a striving and year-after-year improving its facility with a full student campus every year.
