Wardle High School

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Wardle High School is a high school and sixth form originally founded in September 1977 for all sexes between the ages of 11 and 18 and is located in Wardle, in the English borough of Rochdale. It is known for its remarkable changes in education, attitude and management after receiving a damning OFSTED report early last year. Nevertheless, the school is now ranked highly above satisfactory, and has several merits, including its music and arts departments; both of which receiving widespread recognition in the community and educational authorities.

The school received performing arts status in 2003 and was awarded the 'artsmark gold' recognition in 2005. Despite being placed in special measures by OFSTED officials early last year, the school has now been judged to be making satisfactory progress and is returning to its flagship status as the jewel school of the Rochdale Education Authority.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Inception and Lifetime 1.2 Current Facilities 1.3 Recent Controversy 2 References 3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Inception and Lifetime

Since its inauguration, the school has gained a strong reputation within the local semi-rural communities of Littleborough, Rochdale and Wardle in which its students reside. Despite problems with previous management in 2004, it has now made very good progress in the rebuilding of the infrastructure and education and was recently graded highly in a recent OFSTED report. ^[1]  It currently has 1300 students on roll, with an additional 180 sixth-form A-level students.

The school received the performing arts status in 2003 which generated additional financial resources for the school due to its recognisable "specialist" status; subsequently attaining the school an Artsmark Gold Award for the North West region. The school has also been very notable on its musical provision and ability, which has been prominent throughout Ofsted reports over the course of the school's lifetime. The school currently has four brass bands of different age groups, which have played at major venues such as the South Bank Centre, London and Birmingham Symphony hall, as well as boasting performances at the Royal Albert Hall and several Televisual credits.

Continuing from the vein of musical provision, the school provides outstanding specialist teaching through several specialist music teachers; several being former pupils of the school, who attribute a wide range of musical skills and opportunities to students; allowing them practical involvement in music-making in several musical styles, such as woodwind, string, jazz, swing and choral ensembles.

Despite problems with previous management, causing the resignation of the former headteacher, the school has shown remarkable increases in all areas due to special measures put in place by OFSTED ^[2]. The school website reports that not only has the provision and attitude of learning changed, but the ethos of the school has also become much more friendly and studious, with the introduction of new departments and facilities furthering the progress and status of the school. The school is making good improvements which have been authenticated by OFSTED, and show that the school is returning to its once flagship status.

In spite of recent difficulties, the school's staff and students are proud of the school's history, and, under the leadership of the new headteacher, the outlook for the school's future is optimistic.

[edit] Current Facilities

The school, as it currently stands, has the following facilities;

• Private swimming pool available for public use.
• Outdoor facilities, including an all weather pitch and sports field
• Dance Studio
• Purpose Built Sixth Form Building with a library, a common room, a private study area, a number of purpose built sixth form classrooms including a media editing suite
• A music technology suite
• A learning-support centre operated by learning mentors
• Facilities for students with special needs, including a specialist dining area, physiotherapy facilities, and a hydrotherapy pool
• Provision for extra-curricular music, with all students provided with instrument lessons free of charge
• Computers with broadband Internet Access through Rochdale City Learning Centre, shared over a local network.
• Newly renovated ICT classrooms
• Cashless Dinner System, which operates with cards.
• Renovated English, Science, Humanities (History & Geography) and Language Departments
• Renovated Drama Studio
• Study centre with books both fiction and non fiction available for students to loan as well as approximately 20 network computers.

[edit] Recent Controversy

The original problem cited in the Ofsted report was that the school seemed to be in a long-term decline due to poor management and leadership. This led to the resignation of the headteacher at the time of the inspection shortly afterwards. An acting headteacher and an associate headteacher, both from local schools were deployed to the school by the LEA with immediate effect.

The OFSTED report conducted in February 2005 listed that their previous issues relating to the provisions of ICT equipment had not been met; and that teaching had declined significantly in the key curriculum areas such as English, Maths and Science.

Many of the other departments of the school were also affected in the OFSTED inspection; the music and art departments being among the very few departments not suffering a condemning grade. The nature of the ratings for the rest of the departments stemmed from the fact that the OFSTED inspectors felt the school did not provide a nurturing environment for the children whom were within it; citing that textbooks were given as a primary source, rather than tutors interacting with children. ^{[3] p 8 - 10}

As of September 2006, Wardle High School has undergone reconstruction by the Local Education Authority and the school's new governing body in order to improve the standards which were judged by OFSTED to be 'poor' in February 2005. The school is now showing remarkable improvement; a recent OFSTED document showing that the school has gone from poor to satisfactory due to the fact it has secured a permanent headteacher (Mr G. Wright), as well as several new teaching staff. The school was recently named by the Rochdale Observer as the 'most improved school in Rochdale' and is now on target for removal from special measures by early 2007.↑ ^{p2 - 4}

Well known professional teams have been born within the rails of Wardle High School. One of these being the majorly influential Team Action.

[edit] References

1. ↑  Ofsted Report on Wardle High School.
2. ↑  Improvements to the school since special measures were taken by the government and Her Majesty's Chief Inspectors
3. ↑  OFSTED Monitoring Visit Findings Letter (Most Recent)

[edit] External links

• School Website
• School Band Association
• 2001-2004 statistics – from DfES, Department for Education and Skills