Parrs Wood High School

Parrs Wood High School
Motto "Believe Achieve Succeed"
Established 1967
Type Community
Headteacher Andrew Shakos
Deputy Headteacher Mark McElwee, Claire Wright
Location East Didsbury
Greater Manchester
England
Local authority Manchester
DfE number 352/4248
DfE URN 105556 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 250
Students 1838[1]
Gender co-educational
Ages 11–18
Colours Navy blue and silver
Website School website

Parrs Wood High School is a state comprehensive secondary school in East Didsbury, Manchester, England, behind Parrs Wood Entertainment Complex off Wilmslow Road. It educates young people through the ages of 11 to 18 years; A-Levels are taught at the Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre, which is integrated with the main school. Parrs Wood was the 4th largest school in the UK in 2008,[2] with 2,030 students and 450 in the sixth form centre.

In 2015, the governors of Parrs Wood decided to embark on the process of turning the school into an academy, despite opposition from staff and local politicians.[3]

The building

The original school building, built in 1967, was demolished in 2000 and was rebuilt from scratch on a site behind the original school; the contractors built the school building in exchange for a portion of the school grounds on which to build an entertainment complex.[4]

Sixth form

Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre is part of the school campus. It opened in 2000 after the rebuilding of the main school. The centre is located in a grade 2 listed building independent from the main school.

Ofsted

In 2007, an Ofsted inspection showed the school to be lacking in several areas, particularly in KS3 SAT results, and criticised the School management for failure to act to remedy the situation. The report reflected that this situation was unacceptable and the school was placed in special measures. In February 2010, OFSTED judged the school to be satisfactory and as such no longer required special measures.[5]

In its most recent inspection,[6] the school was graded as Grade 2 - Good.

Controversy

In May 2007, a canister of CS gas was discharged in the science area of Parrs Wood, which resulted in 58 students and staff being taken to hospital. The incident was described by Greater Manchester Police as an "idiotic prank".[7]

In 2012, Judge Peeling QC, found against the governing body of the school in a Judicial Review of a decision to suspend one of the governors.[8]

The school is directly opposite a branch of Grosvenor G Casinos in the Parrs Wood entertainment centre complex. Members of Manchester council’s planning committee originally rejected the plans to build the casino after Didsbury residents objected due to a possible negative effect on the livelihood of pupils at the school: students would have to walk past the casino on a daily basis in order to attend.[9] Despite the original rejection, Grosvenor G Casinos were granted planning permission in March 2011. The Parrs Wood branch has been open as of June 2012.[10]

Notable former pupils

Pictures

References

  1. "Parrs Wood high School Establishment Details". Department for Education Edubase. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. Towle, Nick (28 July 2008). "The school with two heads". The South Manchester Reporter. MEN Media. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  3. Labour’s policy on academies takes a tumble in Manchester
  4. "Super-head to quit for new role - Manchester Evening News". Manchester Evening News. 30 Apr 2005. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  5. "Parrs Wood High School" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  6. "Parrs Wood High School" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  7. "School gas leak 'idiotic prank'". BBC News. 11 May 2007.
  8. Lexis report on Judicial Review
  9. Council throws out plans for 24-hour Parrs Wood casino
  10. Grovesnor Casino due to open
  11. "Matt Crampton won't quit despite Games snub". Manchester Evening News. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  12. "Parrs Wood Alumni". parrswood.manchester.sch.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. Lucy's speech to Conference 2015
  14. Pool, Hannah (8 November 2006). "'As we file in to the classroom, I have a feeling of dread. What if the teacher asks me a question?'". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  15. Lucy Powell 10 key facts about the new shadow Education Secretary
  16. https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-36489360/quiz-genius-comes-out-of-his-shell-as-a-tv-egghead
  17. Hodgson, Derek (27 July 1995). "Fairbrother forces the pace". The Independent. Retrieved 13 August 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 53°24′30″N 2°13′01″W / 53.40833°N 2.21694°W / 53.40833; -2.21694

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