Wilmslow High School
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Wilmslow High School, an 11-18 comprehensive, is the only secondary school in the town of Wilmslow. It works in partnership with the 12 primary schools in Wilmslow, Handforth and Alderley Edge, from where the majority of our students come. The school has 300 places available in each year and a Sixth Form that has the capacity to provide programmes for some 400 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 was designated as a specialist Sports College on 1st September 2003.
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[edit] History
Wilmslow High 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 further, major extension, completed in September 2004, has resulted in new sixth form provision and enhanced facilities for Sport, Design Technology, Science, ICT, Business Education and ‘Student Services’. Current facilities also include two drama studios, a sports hall, gymnasium, dance studio, fitness suite and a music suite, newly refurbished food technology areas, a Library Resource Centre and a recently redesigned dining hall: increasingly, all accommodation is well serviced by ICT. Externally, and adjacent to the school buildings, are extensive playing fields including a floodlit all-weather sports pitch. 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.
[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 an LEA project relating to provision for autistic students and a member of staff based at the school has responsibility for supporting such students.
[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 GCSE, BTec, AS/A2 and alternatively accredited programmes being available. The school places particular emphasis on Personal, Health, Social and Citizenship Education and operates a system that links curricular activity, tutorial activity and three ‘PHSCE’ Days. All Year 10 students have a one-week work experience placement, with further course related work experience in Year 12.
[edit] Extra-Curricular Activities
The school’s curriculum is enriched by a wide range of visits and fieldwork activity and is supplemented by extra-curricular activities that offer the opportunity for students to develop and follow their interests and talents in music, drama and sport and other activities. The school’s Duke of Edinburgh Scheme flourishes, and a bi-annual ‘World Challenge’ expedition is available to older students. Competitive sport is a feature of the school’s extra-curricular programme.
[edit] Sports College
Wilmslow High School was awarded Specialist Sports College status in September of 2003. After our official launch in January 2004 we set to work delivering the four year development plan that provides the framework for our specialism. Fundamental to our cause is that Physical Education and Sport can enrich people’s lives and that, as a school with a strong community focus, we can provide the means to a rich and healthy lifestyle. We provide an exciting and varied Physical Education programme that is taught through the four strands of the National Curriculum. We interpret this as “HITS”, (Health, Improvement, Tactics and Skill). All our core programme is delivered through “HITS” and we attach great importance to the balance of activities offered.
Our Physical Education curriculum is reinforced with an extensive out of school hours learning programme (OSHL) that we refer to as “Sport Xtra”. This programme includes a full range of competitive sports such as rugby, netball, soccer, hockey, cricket, tennis, trampolining and athletics. We are rightly proud of the progress made over the last few years in providing an outstanding level opportunity for students of all abilities to experience an activity of their choice. Sports College status has allowed us now to expand the programme to provide something for everyone, regardless of ability. “Boxercise”, “Cheerdance”, Rhythmic Gymnastics, “Active 1” club and karate are all proving extremely popular with students.
Our ability to build partnerships has been enhanced with the addition of the School Sports Coordinator programme. We work alongside the other secondary and primary schools in the Macclesfield Borough to enhance provision and the quality of Physical Education and Sport. Our focus is on increasing participation and to create sustainable opportunities for all to experience purposeful physical activity.
[edit] Community Links
The school’s Parent-Teacher Association organises a wide range of social, educational and fund-raising activities.
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 Festival: 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 well above average and achievement is good
- The quality of teaching and learning is good throughout the school
- Pupils have good attitudes to the school and their studies
- Leadership and management are excellent
- Arrangements for pupils’ welfare are very good
- Provision for pupils’ personal development is very good
- The range of extra-curricular activities is excellent
- Areas for further improvement were identified as follows: -
- Provision for religious education and ICT
- The quality of those lessons which were judged “satisfactory”.
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 a ‘great’ school.
