Parrs Wood High School
| Parrs Wood Technology College | |
|---|---|
| File:PWHS logo.jpg | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | State Comprehensive |
| Motto | "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, it is not an act but a habit" |
| Established | 1967 |
| Local authority | Manchester City Council |
| Specialist | Arts, Technology |
| Head teacher | Tarun Kapur |
| Staff | 250 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 11 to 19 |
| Enrollment | 2030 |
| Colour(s) | Jade green. Black (Yr 10 & 11), light blue |
| Website | http://www.parrswood.manchester.sch.uk |
Parrs Wood Technology College (known locally as just Parrs Wood) is a specialist arts and technology, state comprehensive secondary school and higher education college, situated in Didsbury, Manchester, England. It educates young people between the ages of 11 and 19 years; A-Levels are taught at the Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre, although this is directly integrated with the main school. It was awarded dual specialist status in technology and the creative and performing arts by the Specialist Schools Trust in recognition of its vision for integrating the arts with technology. Parrs Wood is the 4th biggest school in the UK,[1] for pupils aged 11-19, with 2,030 students and 450 in the sixth form centre.
Parrs Wood Technology College was rebuilt from scratch in 2000, with the previous school being the original, slightly dilapidated, construction from 1967. The rebuild cost around £12 million, and also included the building of a cinema, gym, swimming pool, bowling alley, bingo hall, arcade and several restaurants.
Sir Iain Hall made the school into one the most over-subscribed schools in the country. The LEA has been asking the school to take on more pupils at the already overcrowded school, after many parents kept their children off school until they found a place at Parrs Wood.
The school developed the IRIS (It Really Is Simple) behaviour management software, which is currently used by many schools.
Headteachers
In 2002, Rachel Jones took over as the acting headteacher on the departure of Sir Iain Hall, who had accepted a position with the international arm of the Specialist Schools Trust. Sir Iain received a knighthood from the Queen for his services to education. The last headteacher was David Ashley, with Rachel Jones as assistant head, but they were both suspended after the schools bad OFSTED report. The current headteacher is Tarun Kapor, who is also head of Broadoak High School and Ashton-on-Mersey High School.
Awards
- 2003 School Achievement Award
- Dual Specialist Status in Technology and the Creative Arts
- Technology College
- Arts College
- High Tech Accolade
- Leading Edge Partnership
- ICT Register
- Investor In People
- Basic Skills Quality Mark
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- Sport England
- Manchester Healthy School Partnership
- International School Award 2005-2009
- Football Charter Award
- DfES Designated Leading Edge School
OFSTED
In November 2007 a team of Ofsted inspectors inspected the school. During their two day visit the school inspectors criticised poor leadership at the school, jointly run by two headteachers.[2] During their last inspection in 2001 they had praised the school for its successfulness. For many years Parrs Wood was regarded as Manchester's best state secondary and an example of a successful "inner-city" school.[3] Previous head Ian Hall was knighted for services to education. Ofsted have recommended the school to be put in special measures and will be closely monitored and an outside head be brought in.[4]
Alumni
- Danny Webber - Footballer for Sheffield United, a team who are in the Championship.
- Lieutenant Steve Underwood - Flight Lieutenant Steve Underwood AFC (43) with the Red Arrows as Red 10.
- Stephen Threlfall - Director of Music at Chetham's School of Music.
- Judy Shekoni - Actress in Eastenders and other Soap Opera.
- Ruth Sheldon - Champion Chess Player.
- Hannah Pool - Fashion Editor with The Guardian and Author of My Father's Daughter.
- Lucy Powell - Labour MP Candidate
Media
Television Parrs Wood Technology College and Sixth Form Centre is regularly used for filming. Some of the filming that goes on in the school includes:
- Videos for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
- Channel 4 - High school prom
- Channel 4 - Singing/acting auditions
- BBC - The Street
- Teachers TV
Books
- Lady: My Life As A Bitch by Melvin Burgess
-
School's main sports hall -
Part of the open plan school. -
A birdseye view of Parrs Wood school campus. -
Parrs Wood House - A Grade I listed Victorian building once belonging to the Parrs family has been turned into a music department for the school and also South Manchester City Learning Centre
References
- ^ "The school with two heads". South Manchester Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
- ^ "Parrs Wood face special measures". South Manchester Reporter. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ "Respected Manc school facing special measures". Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ "Special measures for top school". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2007-11-12.