Oulder Hill Community School

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Oulder Hill Community School
Type comprehensive community school
Specialism Language College
Location Rochdale
Greater Manchester
England
LEA Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
Ofsted number 105840
Students 1,418 (approx.)
Gender Co-educational
Ages 11 to 18

Oulder Hill Community School High School is a mixed gender comprehensive community school secondary school and sixth form for 11 - 18 year olds, located in Rochdale in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England.

Contents

[edit] Current Building Work

In 2004 the school announced plans of a merger between Oulder Hill and a local school for children with disabilities. The merger would involve a completely reinvented school and possibly a change in name. The rebuild, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds began in 2005 and is due to finish by 2008. The construction company PFI heads the rebuild, which involves a reinvention of the current site as well as an entirely new building on the old playing fields and tennis courts. The many changes in the current site have sparked unrest with some local residents and students, however by 2008 it can be assured that all the disruptions will prevail. Students will have enhanced learning capabilities and the community will benefit from more local facilities.


More Pictures of the school - Pictures of the building work

All building work is now finished. The building is now owned by OPERON and Oulder Hill pays one million pounds a year to rent the school between 6am - 6pm

[edit] Subjects

Oulder Hill offers a broad range of subjects, with options available both at GCSE level and again at A-level should a student remain in to the sixth form.

  • Physical Education - Compulsory in years 7-9. Can be carried through to GCSE, However everyone has to partake in PE at GCSE at least once a week.
  • ICT, Textiles, Resistant Materials, Food and Nutrition, and Graphics - These Technology subjects are rotated in termly cycles in years 7-9. At this point, students have the option of studying any of these subjects at GCSE. If they take ICT then it will make them 31337 haxorz.
  • English - A compulsory subject in years 7-11. Combined English Language and Literature is studied until year 10, where it is divided into Literature and Language. English Language, English Literature and English Lit & Lang combined is offered at A-Level
  • Mathematics - A compulsory subject in years 7-11. All students are required to take GCSE Mathematics.
  • Science - A compulsory subject in years 7-11. All students are required to take GCSE Science, and in years 10 and 11 it is taught separately in lessons by separate teachers as Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
  • Geography - A compulsory subject in years 7-9. Geography can be taken as an optional choice at GCSE.
  • History - A compulsory subject in years 7-9. History can be studied at GCSE as an option and A-Level
  • Music - A compulsory subject in years 7-9. There is an option of taking Music at GCSE level and A-level.
  • Food-Technology - compulsory for years 7-9 and can be taken as GCSE but named as catering at the moment there is no a level food tech
  • Art - A compulsory subject in years 7-9. There is an option of taking Art at GCSE level and A-Level.
  • Drama & Dance - A compulsory subject in years 7-9. Dance and Drama (D&D) is taught as one subject.However, at GCSE students can study both subjects separately.
  • Sociology - An option at GCSE level and A-Level.
  • Psychology - An option available only at A-Level.

[edit] School Productions

With the Gracie Fields Theatre right on Oulder Hill Community School's doorstep the use of the theatre and its amenities have been useful in providing the community and the school with countless and successful productions;

  • 2003/04 -
  • 2001/02 -
  • 2000/01 - Bugsey Malone

[edit] Musical Talents

For many years Oulder Hill has been renowned for its musical talent. Both regionally and nationally. The music department has won awards and figures of honour. The current department of Music at Oulder Hill is headed by musical director Janet Tilney.

One of its students was singer Lisa Stansfield.

[edit] Experience Week

Oulder Hill has always been different from other schools in Rochdale in the fact that they have for many years offered students in years 7 - 9 the chance to experience a week of something different. The week usually takes place in mid June and allows students to choose from a pre-selected list of activities. Some activities are residential visits, others are day visits and some take place on the school premises. The long list of activities accommodate the variation of people, cultures and demographics of the students. The list of locations has expanded through the years and includes visits to France, London and Spain as well as day trip visits to local entertainment venues. Biggar in Scotland is one of the ever popular activities. Open only to those in year 7 involves a coach journey to Scotland and a week of fun filled activities and social bonding for much of those who attend. The students are always accompanied by a group of teachers who take part and enjoy the activities along with the kids. It is the one time of year when students and teachers spend time outside the classroom to enhance their skills and have fun.

However, As of 2007 it was announced that Experience week would not continue due to the recent building work and increased health and safety regulations.

[edit] Sixth Form

Once a thriving part of the school, Oulder Hill Sixth Form has suffered a decline over the past few years. Many put this decline down to failing and outdated facilities. Also, as it only has about 150 students currently attending, they are limited to between four and ten lessons each week. When this sixth form was first established it had over 600 students. Many put the downfall down to loss of teaching staff and learning facilities.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 53°37′03″N 2°11′14″W / 53.6176, -2.1873