Prestwich Arts College
 | |
| Established | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Type | Community school |
| Head Teacher | Mr C. Hornby BA MA NPQH |
| Chairman of Governors | Mr R. Austin |
| Location |
Heys Road Prestwich Greater Manchester M25 1JZ England Coordinates: 53°32′05″N 2°16′39″W / 53.5347°N 2.2776°W |
| Local authority | Bury |
| DfE number | 351/4028 |
| DfE URN | 105362 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Staff | 47[1] |
| Students | 794[2] |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Colours | black yellow blue |
| Website |
www |
Prestwich Arts College is a comprehensive school in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England. The current head teacher is Chris Hornby. He was previously the deputy head teacher, taking over the headship at Easter 2013 on the retirement of Geoff Barlow after many years at the school.
History
The school opened as Heys Road School for Boys in 1936 and was used for treating wounded soldiers during the Second World War.The new block was opened in 1981, and includes a sports hall, science rooms, and art and woodwork rooms. In 2002, a new humanities block was opened. The school later became Prestwich Community High School and, upon receiving specialist arts status in 2004, Prestwich Arts College.
Throughout 2006, along with several other schools in the Bury borough, it had been under a sustained threat of closure. It was believed that there would be 2,000 fewer high school pupils in Bury by 2015, so Bury Council wanted to close two high schools in the borough. On 18 July 2007, the threat of closure was thrown out by the School's Organisation Committee.[3]
Since then the number of students at the school has grown, and in 2010 the school underwent a major refurbishment, including provision of a new dining hall and an auditorium to support its performing arts status.
Ofsted described the school in its October 2014 Inspection Report as:
Prestwich Arts College is a smaller than average sized secondary school. The proportions of students who are disadvantaged and therefore eligible for the pupil premium is higher than average. (The pupil premium funding is additional funding for those pupils eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority.) Most students are representative of minority ethnic groups and a much larger proportion than seen nationally speak English as an additional language. A broadly average proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs are supported at school action. The proportion supported by school action plus or with a statement of educational needs is broadly average also. The college meets the government’s floor standards, which are the minimum levels expected for students' attainment and progress.[4]
Uniform
The uniform comprises a powder blue shirt, a tie in the school colours, a black blazer with the school's badge, and plain black trousers or skirts.
Notable former pupils
- Chris Makin (born 1973), retired Sunderland A.F.C defender
- Martin Bramah (born 1957), musician[5]
- Andrew Nutter (born 1971), TV chef [6]
- John Smethurst, Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist in gymnastics [7]
- Ellie Paskell (born 1986), actress, Waterloo Road[8]
References
- ↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/prestwich-arts-college-7540053
- ↑ http://dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk/dash.php?urn=105362
- ↑ Inspection Report, Prestwich Arts College Ofsted, February 2007
- ↑ Inspection Report, Prestwich Arts College Ofsted, 2014, pg 3
- ↑ Martin Bramah
- ↑ http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/food-and-drink/out-of-the-frying-pan-andrew-nutter-nutters-rochdale
- ↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/gymnast-gets-games-call-up-1184250
- ↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/ellies-star-is-rising-939255