Secondary education in the Borough of Halton

Secondary education in the Borough of Halton is provided by eight secondary schools and one further education college, Riverside College. Four of the secondary schools are in Widnes and four are in Runcorn. The college works from three campuses, two in Widnes and one in Runcorn.

The Bankfield School

The Bankfield School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 867. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111463&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=The Bankfield School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Ofsted ] Since September 2004 it has been a specialist science college. Its partner is the Catalyst Museum and Science Discovery Centre and 16 industrial companies act as sponsors. [cite web |url=http://www.bankfield.com/ |title=The Bankfield School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=The Bankfield School ]

Fairfield High School

Fairfield High School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 811. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111432&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=Fairfield High School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Ofsted ] Since September 2004 it has been a specialist arts college located to the north of of the town centre of Widnes, Cheshire, England. A school has been on the site since the 16th century. In the 1960s two separate-sex secondary schools amalgamated and the school has had its present title since 1974. An extensive programme of rebuilding was completed in September 1994. Since September 2005 the school's facilities include a theatre, two music rooms, a media suite, a performing arts studio and several practice rooms in addition to a school hall and two gymnasiums which are also used for workshops and performances. [cite web |url=http://www.fairfieldhigh.co.uk/home/home.html |title= Fairfield High School|accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Fairfield High School ] It is planned to close the school by the end of August 2010 and for its pupils to be transferred to Wade Deacon High School. [cite web |url=http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/runcorn-widnes/news/tm_headline=strategy-launched-to-wind-up-school%26method=full%26objectid=21022597%26siteid=50020-name_page.html |title=Strategy launched to wind up school |accessdate=2008-06-08 |last=Short |first=Adrian |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-06-05 |year= |month= |format= |work=Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News |publisher=Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales |pages= ]

The Grange Comprehensive School

The Grange Comprehensive School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Runcorn, Cheshire, taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 1073. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111401&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=Grange Comprehensive School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Ofsted ] In June 2007, plans were announced for the school to close and to merge with The Heath Specialist Technology College in 2012. [Citation
last =Turner| first =Alex | title =Schools shake-up for Runcorn | newspaper = Runcorn Weekly News | date =14 June 2007 | url =http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/runcornandwidnesweeklynews/tm_method=full%26objectid=19296146%26siteid=50020-name_page.html ] . This is because The Grange consistently ranks as the worst performing high school in Runcorn, the only one rated 'inadequate' (two stars) by OfSted. The nearby Heath School is the top ranking high school, again according to OfSted. However the Education & Skills Select Committee raised objections to the proposal [Citation
last =Turner| first =Alex | title =MPs' lifeline for school | newspaper = Runcorn Weekly News | date =16 August 2007 | url =http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_method=full%26objectid=19643465%26siteid=50020-name_page.html ] and it was decided that the school would join the adjacent nursery, infant and junior schools to be an all-through school to be called "G4". [Citation | last =Turner| first =Alex | title =Schools’ mixed outlook | newspaper = Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News | date =1 November 2007 | url =http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/runcorn-widnes/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=20039327%26siteid=50020-name_page.html ] Following improved examination results in 2008, the plan to merge with the Heath School was cancelled. [Citation | last =Smith| first = Mark | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = School rises to GCSE challenge | newspaper = Runcorn Weekly News | pages = 13 | year = | date = 2008-09-18 | url = ]

Halton High School

Halton High School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Runcorn taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 563. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=132825&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=Halton High School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Ofsted ] An application has been made for the school to work in conjunction with The Innovation Unit. [cite web |url=http://www.innovation-unit.co.uk/projects/early-projects/halton-high-school.html |title=Halton High School |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=The Innovation Unit ] .

The Heath School

:"For the school with a similar name in USA see Heath School."The Heath School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Runcorn taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 1048. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111400&providerCategoryID=8192 |title= The Heath School|accessdate=2008-02-13 |publisher=Ofsted ] Since September 2002 it has been a specialist technology college. The original school on the site was the Heath Secondary Girls School. When Balfour Road Boys School closed in 1977 the two schools merged to become The Heath School. [cite web | url=http://www.heath.halton.gateway.talmos.net/secureFileSystem/temp/QAAQDATR_KAOPEIDCJBAGKJEHDBLLFKJH/The%20Heath%20%282%29.pdf |title=Prospectus |accessdate=2008-02-13 |publisher=The Heath School ]

In 2006 The Heath School was granted the award of Halton Secondary School of the Year for Sports. The award, which was sponsored by 'Vikings in the community', was granted to the school for continually competing at the top level throughout the area. [cite web |url=http://www.heath.halton.gateway.talmos.net/pages/viewpage.asp?uniqid=37&blockid=1053 |title=Heath Wins Sports School of the Year |accessdate=2007-09-29 |publisher=The Heath Specialist Technology College]

St Chad's Catholic High School

St Chad's Catholic High School is a mixed voluntary aided Roman Catholic secondary school in Runcorn taking pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 906. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111453&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=St Chad's Catholic High School |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Ofsted ] It is a specialist language college. [cite web |url=http://www.st-chads.co.uk/index.html |title=St Chad's Catholic High School |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=St Chad's Catholic High School ] Phase II of a new building programme costing £7.1 million will start in the summer of 2008. It will consist of a new science block, a new sports hall, the conversion of the current sports hall into an assembly hall, a learning resource centre and a performing arts, drama and music suite. [cite web |url=http://www.st-chads.co.uk/pages/phasetwo.html |title=St Chad's School Development : Phase Two |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=St Chad's Catholic High School ] Some areas of the school are available to hire for community sports facilities. [cite web |url= http://www.st-chads.co.uk/pages/communitysports.html|title=Community Sports Facilities |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=St Chad's Catholic High School ]

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College is a mixed voluntary aided Roman Catholic secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 1610. It is a specialist sports college. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111457&providerCategoryID=8192 |title=Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Ofsted ] The school opened in 1952 as Saints Joseph's Roman Catholic High School. It was initially a mixed sex secondary modern school but from 1959 education was provided separately for boys and girls. It returned to being a mixed sex school in 1972. It later merged with the neighbouring Sts John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School to form Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic High School. [cite web |url=http://www.theportable.tv/kithomes/site.html |title=The School |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Epilogue ]

Wade Deacon High School

Wade Deacon High School is a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 1123. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=111435&providerCategoryID=8192 |title= Wade Deacon High School|accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Ofsted ] It is a specialist technology, mathematics and computing college. [cite web |url=http://www.wadedeacon.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?section=Home&sid=1 |title=Wade Deacon High School |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Wade Deacon High School ] The school was founded in 1507 as Farnworth Grammar School by Bishop William Smyth. The present main school building was opened in 1931 as Wade Deacon Grammar School. This was named after Sir Henry Wade Deacon, a prominent local industrialist and chairman of the Local Education Committee. The school became fully comprehensive in 1974. [cite web |url=http://www.wadedeacon.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?section=School+Information&sid=12 |title= School History |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Wade Deacon High School ]

Riverside College Halton

This is a non-denominational further education college taking pupils aged 16 and over. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?urn=130622&providerCategoryID=524288 |title=Riverside College |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Ofsted ] It works from three campuses; Kingsway and Cronton Campuses are in Widnes and the Runcorn Campus is in Runcorn, on the outskirts of the Old Town. [cite web |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/educationandlearning/schools/riversidecoll/?a=5441 |title=Riverside College |accessdate=2008-02-12 |publisher=Halton Borough Council ] The college was created from the merger of Halton College and Widnes & Runcorn Sixth Form College in August 2006. It has not yet had a full inspection by OfSted. [cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=318418&providerCategoryID=524288&fileName=\school\130\av1_130622_20080111.pdf |title= Monitoring Visit: Main Findings |accessdate=2008-02-14 |publisher=Ofsted ]

Performance table

This table shows the percentage of pupils gaining five GCSE A*–C level grades, including and excluding English and Maths in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/group_07.pl?Mode=Z&No=876&Base=b&Type=LA&Phase=1&Year=07 |title=Secondary School achievement and attainment tables 2007: LA Halton |accessdate=2008-02-07 |publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families ]

Ofsted reports

The key for the inspection grades in the table are: Grade 1 Outstanding: Grade 2 Good: Grade 3 Satisfactory: Grade 4 Inadequate

Notes

External links

* [http://www.bankfield.com/ The Bankfield School]
* [http://www.fairfieldhigh.co.uk/ Fairfield High School]
* [http://www.heath.halton.gateway.talmos.net/pages/viewpage.asp?uniqid=1 The Heath School]
* [http://www.st-chads.co.uk/ St Chad's Catholic High School]
* [http://www.saintspeterandpaul.halton.sch.uk/ Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College]
* [http://www.wadedeacon.co.uk/ Wade Deacon High School]
* [http://www.riversidecollege.ac.uk Riverside College]