Parrs Wood High School

Infobox UK school
name = Parrs Wood High School


established = 1967
approx =
c_approx =
type = State Comprehensive
head = Tarun Kapur
specialist = Arts, Technology
city = East Didsbury
county = Greater Manchester
country = United Kingdomflagicon|United Kingdom
LEA = Manchester City Council
staff = 250
enrollment = 2030
gender = Mixed
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 19
motto = "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, it is not an act but a habit" Fact|date=July 2008
colours = Jade green. Black (Yr 10 & 11), light blue
website = http://www.parrswood.manchester.sch.uk

Parrs Wood High School (known locally as just Parrs Wood) is a specialist arts and technology, state comprehensive secondary school and higher education college, situated in East 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 largest school in the UK, [cite web|url=http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/502327_the_school_with_two_heads|title=The school with two heads|publisher=South Manchester Reporter|accessdate=2007-11-14] for pupils aged 11-19, with 2,030 students and 450 in the sixth form centre.

The school developed the IRIS (It Really Is Simple) behaviour management software, which is currently used by many schools.

Parrs Wood High School 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.

Head teachers

Sir Iain Hall made the school into one the most over-subscribed schools in the country. The LEA had 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.

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 governing body then appointed David Ashley as the head teacher and Rachel Jones as the associate head teacher.

In December 2007 the school was officially placed into special measures after an Ofsted report slated poor management at the school. The school was criticised for taking part in too many initiatives, not moving children forward and its poor results at KS3, partly as a result of a two year pilot where children take SATs in year 8. Fact|date=January 2008

The current headteacher is Tarun Kapur.

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

Incidents

*On 10 May, 2007, a canister of CS gas was discharged in the science area of Parrs Wood, which resulted in 58 students and staff being taken to hospital (although no-one was seriously injured). The incident was described as an "idiotic prank" by Greater Manchester Police [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6645019.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | School gas leak 'idiotic prank' ] ]

*In November 2007 a team of Ofsted inspectors inspected the school. During their two day visit the school inspectors criticised very poor leadership at the school, jointly run by two headteachers. [cite web|url=http://www.southmanchesterreporter.co.uk/news/s/1023544_parrs_wood_faces_special_measures|title=Parrs Wood face special measures|publisher=South Manchester Reporter|accessdate=2007-11-12] During their last inspection in 2001 they had praised the school for its success. For many years Parrs Wood was regarded as Manchester's best state secondary and an example of a successful "inner-city" school. [cite web|url=http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/news/education/default.asp?category=&article=%7BC0B0BD1A-02C2-4893-8373-CB9064ED905E%7D|title=Respected Manc school facing special measures|publisher=Association of Teachers and Lecturers|accessdate=2007-11-12] Previous head Sir Iain 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. [cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1023440_special_measures_for_top_school|title=Special measures for top school|publisher=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=2007-11-12]

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
*Jon Ingold - Interactive fiction game writer

Media

TelevisionParrs 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
*BBC - Waterloo Road - Actors and Actressess are found at Parrs Wood to appear in the drama.
*Teachers TV

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References

External links

* [http://www.parrswood.manchester.sch.uk Official website]
* [http://www.iris.ac IRIS Behaviour Management Software]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6149765459000045651 Video footage of the old school building]