Wilmslow High School
| Established | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Type | Community school |
| Headteacher | Mrs Gill Bremner |
| Chair | Mr D Bennett |
| Specialism | Sports |
| Location | Holly Road Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 1LZ England  |
| Local authority | Cheshire East |
| DfE URN | 111443 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1946 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Former name | Wilmslow County Grammar School |
| Website | Wilmslow High School |
Coordinates: 53°19′20″N 2°13′45″W / 53.3221°N 2.2293°W
Wilmslow High School, an 11-18 comprehensive, is the only secondary school in the town of Wilmslow, Cheshire. The school was designated as a specialist Sports College in September 2003.[1] It is situated just west of the A34 roundabout next to the railway line, south-east of the town centre.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Grammar school
It began life as the co-educational Wilmslow County Grammar School in September 1960 with 900 pupils. The new county grammar school was opened by Sir James Mountford, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool on 24 March 1961. A girls' grammar school was built on 14 acres (57,000 m2) of the former Colshaw Hall Farm, and situated on Dean Row Road. It opened in 1965 and had 750 girls. The school on Holly Road became a boys' school.
[edit] Comprehensive
Other former schools in Wilmslow included Wilmslow County Secondary School for Girls on Wycliffe Avenue in Wilmslow. Wycliffe Avenue Secondary Modern School closed and the girls moved to , Thorngrove County High School which was up to then the Hough Secondary Modern School for Boys, which opened in 1965 on Thorngrove Road - on land now occupied by the A34 bypass. The girls' grammar school became Dean Row High School.all schools closed , leaving wilmslow the one high school.
It was known as Harefield County High School when it became a sixth form-entry comprehensive in 1978, gradually becoming comprehensive year by year. In the mid 1980s it became Wilmslow County High School, then Wilmslow High School in 1991.
[edit] Sports College
Wilmslow High School was awarded specialist Sports College status in September 2003.
[edit] Curriculum
The school’s curriculum offers a wide range of programmes that meet National Curriculum requirements. Students progressing through the school are able increasingly to tailor programmes to meet their particular learning needs with a wide range of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) programmes, Business & Technology Education Council programmes (BTEC), and General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (AS/A2) programmes. Alternative accredited programmes are also available.
[edit] Non-academic work
The school places particular emphasis on personal, health, social and citizenship education and operates a system that links curricular activity, tutorial activity and three "Personal, Health, Social & Citizenship Education" (PHSCE) Days. All Year 10 students have a one-week work experience placement, with further course-related work experience in Year 12.[2]
Gill Bremner is the head teacher.
[edit] Extracurricular activities
The school’s curriculum is enriched by a wide range of visits and fieldwork activity and is supplemented by extracurricular activities that offer the opportunity for students to develop and follow their interests and talents in music, drama, sport and other activities. The school operates the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, and a bi-annual ‘World Challenge’ expedition is available to older students, which for the last three years has been run through Camps International. In 2011 some of the Sixth Form students are going to Kenya with the company to carry out various charity work and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Competitive sport is a feature of the school’s extracurricular programme "Sports Xtra".
[edit] Academic performance
The school gets well-above average results at GCSE, but below average results for A level. However in previous years numerous students have secured places to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.[3]
[edit] Admissions
It works in partnership with the twelve primary schools in Wilmslow, Handforth and Alderley Edge, from where the majority of its students come. The school has 300 places available in each year and a Sixth Form that has the capacity to provide programmes for some 500 students. 2% of students have statements of special educational need, 2.1% have English as a second language and 8.1% are entitled to free school meals.
The school will admit any student into the sixth form if they are currently on roll at Wilmslow High School, providing they meet the minimum entry criteria. Students must obtain a minimum of five GCSEs with grades A* - C (or equivalent) with at least a 'C' grade in English Language at GCSE.[4]
[edit] Former Students
[edit] Learning support
The school’s Learning Support team caters for students who have learning difficulties. Provision includes a fully integrated 8-place unit for children who have impaired hearing. The school is leading a Local Education Authority (LEA) project relating to provision for autistic students and a member of staff based at the school has responsibility for supporting such students.
[edit] Community Links
The school’s Parent-Teacher Association organises a wide range of social, educational and fund-raising activities.[5]
The school is a centre for adult education and has developed strong links with the local community and major local employers: the Wilmslow High Partnership was established in 1997. Community involvement and links are also manifest in student placements, musical concerts, the annual Arts Festival that includes all of the local primary schools, and wide-ranging activity in support of local charities. The school acts as the host for the annual Wilmslow Show: a major community event.
[edit] The future
Wilmslow High School has developed significantly over recent years and now enjoys an enviable reputation. The Ofsted Inspection Report of March 2003 described the school as, ‘very effective’ and found that: -
- Standards are above average and achievement is good
- The quality of teaching and learning is good throughout the school
- Pupils have positive attitudes to the school and their studies
- Leadership and management are good
- Arrangements for pupils’ welfare are good
- Provision for pupils’ personal development is
- The range of extracurricular activities is very good
However, past students can vouch that the school actually focuses more on self-image and Ofsted reports than actual wellbeing of students. Whilst a good self-image is a healthy thing to aim for, the school has a lot to aim for besides 'exceptional' Ofsted reports.
The school has, subsequent to the Ofsted Inspection, commenced a fundamental review of current provision within a ‘Futures Thinking’ debate with the aim of transforming an already very good school into an ‘exceptional’ school.
[edit] Alumni
- Doves - English Indie Rock Band, formed within Wilmslow High School. Their most popular song "Black and White Town" is a song referenced to that of Wilmslow town.[6]
- Richard Fleeshman - Coronation Street actor and singer-songwriter
- Dan Green, former England lacrosse captain[7]
- Sarah Hadland - actress[8]
- John Harris (critic), Guardian columnist.
- Johnny Gorman, Northern Ireland international footballer.
- Lee Dixon, former professional football.
[edit] Wilmslow County Grammar School for Boys
- Clive Bates, Director from 1997-2003 of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
- Andy Fanshawe, mountaineer
- John Waite, Radio 4 investigative broadcaster, notably for Face the Facts
[edit] Wycliffe Avenue School
- Terry Waite (for two years)
[edit] References
- ^ Wilmslow High School
- ^ Wilmslow High School website
- ^ http://menmedia.co.uk/wilmslowexpress/news/s/1200636_high_schools_top_students_are_heading_for_oxbridge
- ^ http://www.wilmslowhigh.com/?page=Sixth%20Form/
- ^ Wilmslow High School
- ^ Doves fly to top Wilmslow Express - 16 March, 2005
- ^ Dan Green
- ^ Sarah's big break as star of Confetti Wilmslow Express - 24 May, 2006
