Wilmslow High School

Wilmslow, a pleasant commuter town with a population of about 30,000, is situated on the southern outskirts of Manchester. It is within easy reach of attractive countryside both locally and in the nearby Peak District. The town is well served by the motorway network and by rail; Manchester Airport is nearby. A wide variety of housing is available in south Manchester, Wilmslow, Macclesfield and the surrounding Cheshire countryside. The town is mixed socially, with many areas of affluence and some communities of relative social deprivation.

Wilmslow High School, an 11-18 comprehensive, is the only state secondary school in the town. It enjoys good relationships with the partner primary schools in Wilmslow, Handforth and Alderley Edge, from where the majority of our students come. The school is heavily oversubscribed in both the 11 - 16 sector and the sixth form, which has increased with more and more students from outside the town and from the independent sector of education seeking places.

The school was designated as a specialist Sports College on 1st September 2003 and gained re-designation in 2008. The specialism now includes sports and the arts. Although specialism is no longer adequately funded, our specialism is at the heart of the school's culture and ethos in raising participation, expectations and standards and underpins the school's vision of continuing improvement in all areas of its operation.

On achieving High Performing School Status (HPSS) in 2008 Wilmslow bid for, and gained, second specialism in applied learning from September 2009. Funding for this specialism has now been withdrawn: nevertheless the school continues to offer skill based personalised learning opportunities to students across the ability range. Wilmslow High School is also a Lead School for the Gifted and Talented, although again there is no funding for this additional role.

Wilmslow High School is a non-smoking campus.

The school came into existence in September 1984 when the three comprehensive schools in the town merged to form a single school on three sites. Following a major development programme, the school was, at the beginning of March 1994, consolidated onto one site.

A major extension to this accommodation, completed in September 2004, resulted in enhanced facilities for the Sixth Form, sport, design technology, science, ICT, business education, history and Student Services.

Facilities also include two drama studios, a sports hall, gymnasium, dance studio, fitness suite and a music suite, three food technology areas, a Library Resource Centre and ICT suites. Additional facilities are provided as far as possible on an annual basis and in September 2007 a new Learning Zone for Languages, a new Astroturf, additional car parking facilities and new drains to improve the quality of some sports fields were completed.

In 2008 the art curriculum area was completely refurbished and two science laboratories similarly updated. In the summer of 2010 a new sports hall named the 'Olympic Hall' and a small Astroturf were completed, adding to our already extensive sports facilities. In 2011, with the loss of capital for enhancing buildings we concentrated on refurbishment and our annual rolling programme of painting and decorating and re-flooring.

The high quality facilities enable curriculum teams to operate in purpose-built accommodation. Externally, and adjacent to the school buildings, are extensive playing fields including the floodlit Astroturf. The school makes use of the local Leisure Centre and swimming pool that are within easy walking distance. The environment is regarded as an important factor in encouraging students to learn and every effort is made to maintain high standards.

Plans for a Learning Centre (to include a new Learning Resource Centre and Learning Support facilities), additional sports facilities, an additional performing arts facility, further science laboratory refurbishment and further refreshment areas are currently being discussed.

Developments are taking place within the town of Wilmslow and the school is fully involved with discussions and planning for these changes: these represent another exciting phase in the school's development and improvement.

On 9th September 2011 the school had 2019 mainstream students on roll including a sixth form of 494 students. There are 68 students with Individual Pupil Funding, a further 198 students are supported through the School Action and School Action plus code of practice and 142 through the Classroom Action programme. 5.3% of students are entitled to free school meals.

249 students were recruited into this year's Year 12, of whom 70 are from schools other than Wilmslow High School.

The school operates a House System within Student Services, which is managed and led by four Heads of House supported by Student Managers. All staff are members of a House and contribute to the monitoring, guidance and support programmes and the extra-curricular life of the House. All staff are expected to give their full and consistent support to the maintenance of high standards of behaviour, discipline, appearance and uniform, upon which the school places a high priority. From September 2010 the school introduced 'The Wilmslow Way' to provide a refreshed support and expectations structure for students with 'good behaviour leading to pride leading to success' as the central theme.

The school's large Learning Support Team caters for students who have been 'statemented' and provides specialist teaching and support for such students on a small group or individual basis. The Learning Support team's operation encompasses specialist provision for students with hearing impairment. The school leads on a local authority project relating to provision for autistic students and a member of staff based at the school has responsibility for this resourced provision: she is further supported by 4 Learning Support Assistants.

The school places particular emphasis on Personal, Health, Social, Citizenship and Enterprise Education and operates a system that links curricular activity, tutorial activity and five 'PHSCE' / Applied Learning Days.

The school has over 250 full and part-time staff, including teachers, learning support assistants, site, secretarial and administrative staff, midday supervisors, technicians and learning resource centre staff.

The Leadership Group comprises the Head teacher, a Deputy Head teacher and three Assistant Head teachers (Student Services, Personnel, Learning and Assessment). The Student Services structure is based upon a House System. The teaching and learning structure of the school is based around four 'Curriculum Organisers'. The 'Organisers' are Multi-Literacies (English, Mathematics, Modern Languages, ICT), Empiric Enquiry (Science, Design and Technology), Individual Development (Music, Art, Drama, Physical Education, PHSCE), Global Communities (Geography, History, Business Studies and Enterprise, Social Studies, Religious Education). A member of the Leadership Group is attached to each 'Organiser' to have a 'light touch' oversight but leadership and management responsibilities rest with Curriculum Team Leaders and Team Leaders. There are regular 'Organiser', Curriculum, Student Services and Leadership Group Team meetings.

A Bursar, who is responsible for finance, buildings and administration, manages the support staff structure with clerical and administrative support being provided for curriculum areas. A member of the support staff undertakes the role of Examination and Assessment Officer. An Information Systems Support Team is responsible for all aspects of information services from the operation of ICT systems to support for staff and students. A Learning and Assessment team provides a full range of information including data anlaysis, targets and monitoring outcomes, to enable students to achieve of their best. A mix of teaching and support staff facilitates Sports College developments.

The school runs induction programmes for new staff and for newly qualified teachers. It is extensively involved in initial teacher training through both the PGCE and GTP routes and offers TDA-funded courses. The school participates in the National College for School Leadership's 'Leading from the Middle' and 'Leadership Pathways' programmes.

In addition, the school has developed an internal programme for aspiring middle managers, 'Developing Leadership', which each year is followed by a cohort of both teaching and support staff. Targeted mentoring is also provided for colleagues eligible to apply for 'Threshold' status and UPS progression.

The school's performance management scheme for teachers is with integrated with career point progression. Performance management systems for all support staff are built in to the CPD structure. Support is given to the continuing professional development needs of individual colleagues and teams through a range of internal and external CPD provision.

The school provides a wide range of extra-curricular activities including educational visits which are very well supported by students and staff. There are many clubs and societies, which offer the opportunity for students to develop and follow their interests and talents in music, drama, sport and academic areas.

Every year there are drama productions and, on the sporting side, a wide range of boys' and girls' team and individual sporting activities brought together in the school's 'Sports Xtra' programme. The school's musical and drama activities have an excellent reputation and there is an extensive 'Arts Xtra' programme. All other clubs and events are offered within the 'Xtra Xtra' programme: in addition, there is an eclectic 'enrichment' programme in the Sixth Form.

The school puts much emphasis on developing healthy lifestyles with a balance of studies and different activities and visits for all students within the 'Every Child Matters' and 'Extended Schools' agendas. Students' participation enhances their overall achievement and desire to aim high: as a result students are now gaining success in many national competitions and events.

The school's 'Parents Xtra' organises a wide range of social, educational and fund-raising activities with different groups of parents (sports, arts, general) contributing to the overall organisation.

The school has developed strong links with the local community and major local employers. Currently all Year 10 students have a one-week work experience placement, with further course related work experience in Year 12.

Community involvement and links are also manifest in student placements, musical concerts, with sports festivals that include many of the local primary schools and wide-ranging activity in support of local charities. The school works in partnership with community groups to hold the annual Wilmslow Show: a major community event.

The school is used extensively outside the core day during weekends and the holidays. This aspect of the school's operation is managed within 'High Leisure' which manages the school facilities for the benefit of the community as a whole.

The school is a centre for Adult Education.

Wilmslow High School has developed significantly over recent years and now enjoys an enviable reputation. The Ofsted Inspection Report of April 2011 described the school as 'outstanding' and found that:

• Students have excellent attitudes to their learning, enjoy their studies and are proud to be members of the thriving school community
• Students are extremely well taught by teachers who have excellent subject knowledge and understanding of what makes good learners
• Students' spiritual, moral and social development is outstanding
• Students' attainment is high and achievement is outstanding
• The school's promotion of equal opportunities is outstanding and no form of discrimination is tolerated

In fact the judgement of outstanding was given for 29 of the 31 categories. One area for further improvement was identified as follows:

• Extend the school's work to enhance students' cultural experiences and understanding of a wider range of other settings within the United Kingdom

The school works hard to maintain a culture in which learning is pre-eminent, which is ultra-professional and efficient, which is inclusive and participatory, which is prepared to undertake radical change in the pursuit of genuine quality and which acts in partnership with the community to promote appropriate values, individual growth and the concept of a 'common good'. It is based on mutual respect for all staff and students with all people of equal value in Wilmslow High School and its wider community.