The Barlow RC High School

Infobox School2
name = The Barlow Roman Catholic High School


"The School Crest"
established = 1985
type = Comprehensive, Catholic
head_name = Headteacher
head = Michael O'Neill
head_name2 = Deputy head
head2 = Claire McCarron
city = Didsbury / East Didsbury
state = Manchester
country = United Kingdom flagicon|United Kingdom
teaching_staff = 78
students = 885 [cite web|url=http://www.barlowrc.manchester.sch.uk/getfile.php?src=12/The+Barlow+RC+High+-+V10+Published+Report+%28November+2007%29.pdf|title=Ofsted Inspection 2007|publisher=Ofsted|accessdate=2007-11-21]
school_colours = Maroon, White
website = [http://www.barlowrc.manchester.sch.uk/ Barlow RC High]

The Barlow RC High School & Specialist Science College (known locally as just Barlow) is a well-known comprehensive educational institute, located in the south of Manchester, England. Dedicated to Saint Ambrose a local catholic martyr and saint, the school was established in 1985 after the merging of the Hollies RC High School for Girls and St Marks RC High School for Boys. The school is situated in Didsbury, a prosperous suburb of Manchester. The school has also consistently performed well in OFSTED inspections and tests in which their pupils expectate to take. The school also features a comprehensive library. As the name suggests "Barlow" was recently awarded specialist status in science. The school has acted on this by offering a new variety of courses in science at GCSE. Also, Barlow has recently been awarded the Manchester Inclusion Standard for "being properly inclusive to all pupils". [cite web|url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=2840|title=Awarding of Inclusion Standard|publisher=Manchester City Council|accessdate=2007] In 2008, the school reported financial difficulties after realising there was a operational £1 million deficit, which was the conclusion to an annual report for schools by Manchester City Council.cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/education/s/1059036_school_1m_in_debt|title=School £1m in debt|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=2008-07-21|accessdate=2008-07-22] Investigators have ruled out fraudulent activity and instead the school is focusing on repaying the sum through smaller loans. A recent Ofsted inspection in November 2007 acknowledged the school have a 'relatively-manageble' deficit but said financial management at the school was 'satisfactory'.

The Building

The Barlow has a relatively small campus in comparison with other local high schools, which have recently gone under drastic transformations, such as Parrs Wood Technology College which is nearby. The Barlow building itself has around 90 rooms, including the Religion block (which was constructed around 6-7 years ago), dining areas, library and the various closets.Fact|date=February 2008

Pupils

The school has a quite a large number of pupils,cite web|url=http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe1x1_05.pl?School=3524768|title=DFES Report|publisher=Department for Edcuation and Skills|accessdate=2007] estimated at 1000.

pecial Requirements

There is a centre for children with varying disabilities which is open during school hours. The 'AB' Centre as it's known is an acronym for Ambrose Barlow the patron saint of the school.Fact|date=February 2008

Notable Alumni

*Oasis - (Noel Gallagher & Liam Gallagher) [cite web|url=http://www.manchesterirish.com/news/current/2006_04_01_archive.html|title=Manchester Irish|accessdate=2007]
*Alan McLoughlin
* Alan Keegan [http://www.alankeegan.co.uk]

References

External links

: Barlow RC High School [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=258800&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\105\s10_105581_20040525.pdf Ofsted Report]