The Quinta Primary School

The Quinta Primary School [http://quintaschool.org] in Congleton, Cheshire was opened in February 1968 by the then Professor of astronomy at Manchester University, Sir Bernard Lovell (founder of Jodrell Bank Radio telescope). It was to serve the private housing estate which was growing around it. The school took its name from the large house on Sandbach Road, West Heath, called The Quinta. Quinta is the Portuguese word for a large five-bedroom house.

The first Headteacher was Mr Hargreaves and the school opened with 125 children on roll who were in five classes. The number attending the school grew quickly and by September 1968, there were 6 classes. The school building was full by 1971 and so a mobile classroom was added in March 1971, bringing the number of classes to 8. Mr Hargreaves retired as Headteacher in 1980 and Mr Hough succeeded him. The school continued to increase in size and by 1988 there were 7 classrooms in the main school and 3 mobile classrooms on the playground, making 10 in total.

Mr Malcolm Howard became Headteacher in September 1994. The school continued to thrive and staff increased to head plus 10 teachers and 2 classroom assistants. The number on roll continued to increase and so a permanent classroom was added onto the main building and this was opened by the local M.P., Mrs Ann Winterton in January 1999. The school then had 11 classrooms and 314 children on roll. A new staffroom was built in 1996 and the previous staffroom became an additional resource room and teacher area. The playground was redeveloped and an infant play area was built on the edge of the school field. Further building work included the addition of cloakrooms to classes 6, 7 and 8 in 2001. The main corridor can be used for small teaching groups.

Current headteacher, Miss Tracey Walklate, was appointed in April 2006 and Mr Michael Shaw joined the school as Deputy Headteacher in January 2007. The present staffing structure is head plus 16 teachers, 4 classroom teaching assistants and 2 teaching assistants to support special needs in the school. The school continues to provide high quality education and achieves well within the Cheshire area. [www.quintaschool.org]

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