Secondary education in the Borough of Halton
Encyclopedia
Secondary education in the Borough of Halton is provided by eight secondary school
s 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.
As a Specialist Science and Applied Learning College and a Gifted & Talented Lead School, as well as a Silver awarded Investors in People, The Bankfield School has been recognised nationally as a High Performing School.
Head teacher, Carole Owen was invited to 10 Downing Street in 2009 to celebrate the school's successes, meeting former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
As a Specialist Science College, the school shares its outstanding facilities and teaching with primary and secondary schools in the borough of Halton.
As an Applied Learning College, the school offers a wide range of courses or students to study. This includes the introduction of the 14-19 Diplomas in 2009 in IT and Creative and Media which have attracted students from other schools to attend lessons at The Bankfield School to study the qualification which is the equivalent of 7 GCSEs.
As a Gifted & Talented Lead School, Bankfield has been recognised as a centre of excellence in supporting students who are academically gifted and/or talented in creative arts, performaing arts and sport. The Bankfield School recosnises that its students need to be presented with work that challenges, stretches and excites them on a daily basis, in an environment that celebrates excellence and is supportive of those who may, in years to come, break the boundaries of what we know and understand today. Many students are fast tracked through qualifications with some achieving GCSE grades at least one year before nationally expected.
In 2010, OfSTED recognised The Bankfield School's care and guidance for students through the school's policy of 'No child unknown' which outlines how every child in the school is supported and recognised throughout their school life, which it was noted would not always be the case within larger schools in the borough. At The Bankfield School, there is no fear of a child just being a number.
The Bankfield School's motto is 'Bringing out the Best' which focuses on ensuring that everyone excels together in their learning and academic achievement.
non-denominational
secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 828. It opened in September 1958 as a small secondary modern school
. The school grew and in the early 1970s was suffering from serious overcrowding. It became a comprehensive school
in 1974. The numbers on the roll fell and in the 1980s it was threatened with closure. Following a campaign by the local community it became a grant-maintained school
in January 1990. In 1997 it opted to join the other schools managed by Halton Borough Council. 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.'
located to the north 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 had its present title from 1974 up until it closed in 2010. 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. It closed in August 2010 and its pupils were transferred to Wade Deacon High School, though still operating from the same site, this will continue until at least 2013 when further development of the former Fairfield site is expected to take place.
raised objections to the proposal 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. Following improved examination results in 2008, the plan to merge with the Heath School was cancelled.
.
mixed faith secondary school in Runcorn. It takes pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 1304. It is a specialist language college
. 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. Some areas of the school are available to hire for community sports facilities.
Roman Catholic secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 1585. It is a specialist sports college
. 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. Its current title is Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Sports College.
, mathematics and computing college
. 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.
is a non-denominational further education college taking pupils aged 16 and over. 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. 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.
A*–C level grades, including English and Maths, in the years 2005–2008 compared with the local and national averages.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s and one further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, Riverside College
Riverside College, Halton
Riverside College is a further education college based over three sites in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England.The college was estsblished from the merger of Halton College and Widnes & Runcorn Sixth Form College in August 2006...
. Four of the secondary schools are in Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
and four are in Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
. The college works from three campuses, two in Widnes and one in Runcorn.
The Bankfield School
The Bankfield School became Halton Borough's first OfSTED awarded 'Outstanding' secondary school in 2009-10.As a Specialist Science and Applied Learning College and a Gifted & Talented Lead School, as well as a Silver awarded Investors in People, The Bankfield School has been recognised nationally as a High Performing School.
Head teacher, Carole Owen was invited to 10 Downing Street in 2009 to celebrate the school's successes, meeting former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
As a Specialist Science College, the school shares its outstanding facilities and teaching with primary and secondary schools in the borough of Halton.
As an Applied Learning College, the school offers a wide range of courses or students to study. This includes the introduction of the 14-19 Diplomas in 2009 in IT and Creative and Media which have attracted students from other schools to attend lessons at The Bankfield School to study the qualification which is the equivalent of 7 GCSEs.
As a Gifted & Talented Lead School, Bankfield has been recognised as a centre of excellence in supporting students who are academically gifted and/or talented in creative arts, performaing arts and sport. The Bankfield School recosnises that its students need to be presented with work that challenges, stretches and excites them on a daily basis, in an environment that celebrates excellence and is supportive of those who may, in years to come, break the boundaries of what we know and understand today. Many students are fast tracked through qualifications with some achieving GCSE grades at least one year before nationally expected.
In 2010, OfSTED recognised The Bankfield School's care and guidance for students through the school's policy of 'No child unknown' which outlines how every child in the school is supported and recognised throughout their school life, which it was noted would not always be the case within larger schools in the borough. At The Bankfield School, there is no fear of a child just being a number.
The Bankfield School's motto is 'Bringing out the Best' which focuses on ensuring that everyone excels together in their learning and academic achievement.
Background
The Bankfield School is a mixedCoeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
non-denominational
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 828. It opened in September 1958 as a small secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
. The school grew and in the early 1970s was suffering from serious overcrowding. It became a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in 1974. The numbers on the roll fell and in the 1980s it was threatened with closure. Following a campaign by the local community it became a grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained schools were state schools in England and Wales between 1988 and 1998 that had opted out of local government control, being funded directly by a grant from central government...
in January 1990. In 1997 it opted to join the other schools managed by Halton Borough Council. Since September 2004 it has been a specialist science college
Science College
Science Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, science and mathematics...
. Its partner is the Catalyst Museum and Science Discovery Centre and 16 industrial companies act as sponsors.'
Fairfield High School
Fairfield High School was a mixed non-denominational secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 701. Since September 2004 it has been a specialist arts collegeArts College
Arts Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, the performing, visual and/or media arts...
located to the north of the town centre of Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. A school has been on the site since the 16th century. In the 1960s two separate-sex secondary schools amalgamated and the school had its present title from 1974 up until it closed in 2010. 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. It closed in August 2010 and its pupils were transferred to Wade Deacon High School, though still operating from the same site, this will continue until at least 2013 when further development of the former Fairfield site is expected to take place.
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 1006. In June 2007, plans were announced for the school to close and to merge with the Heath School in 2012. However the Education & Skills Select CommitteeEducation & Skills Select Committee
The Education & Skills Select Committee was a Committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The official name was the House of Commons, Education and Skills Committee....
raised objections to the proposal 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. Following improved examination results in 2008, the plan to merge with the Heath School was cancelled.
Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (formerly Halton High School)
Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (as of September 2010; previously Halton High School) is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Runcorn taking pupils within the ages 11–16 with a pupil roll of 526. It was created following the closure of Norton Priory and Brookvale high schools. An application has been made for the school to work in conjunction with The Innovation UnitThe Innovation Unit
Innovation Unit is a social enterprise committed to using the power of innovation to help meet the major social challenges society faces, whether it’s tackling climate change, eradicating child poverty or making a difference to a child’s learning....
.
St Chad's Catholic and CE Joint Faith High School
St Chad's Catholic and CE Joint Faith High School is a mixed voluntary aidedVoluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
mixed faith secondary school in Runcorn. It takes pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 1304. It is a specialist language college
Language College
Language Colleges were introduced in 1995 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, modern foreign languages...
. 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. Some areas of the school are available to hire for community sports facilities.
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Sports College
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Sports Sports College is a mixed voluntary aidedVoluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
Roman Catholic secondary school in Widnes taking pupils within the ages 11–18 with a pupil roll of 1585. It is a specialist sports college
Sports College
Sports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
. The school opened in 1952 as Saints Joseph's Roman Catholic High School. It was initially a mixed sex secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
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. Its current title is Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Sports College.
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 1121. It is a specialist technologyTechnology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
, mathematics and computing college
Mathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing Colleges were introduced in England in 2002 as part of the Government's Specialist Schools Programme which was designed to raise standards in secondary education. Specialist schools focus specifically on their chosen specialism but must also meet the requirements of the...
. The school was founded in 1507 as Farnworth Grammar School by Bishop William Smyth
William Smyth
William Smyth was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1493 to 1496 and then Bishop of Lincoln until his death. He held political offices, the most important being Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions...
. 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.
Riverside College
Riverside College, HaltonRiverside College, Halton
Riverside College is a further education college based over three sites in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England.The college was estsblished from the merger of Halton College and Widnes & Runcorn Sixth Form College in August 2006...
is a non-denominational further education college taking pupils aged 16 and over. 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. 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.
Performance table
This table shows the percentage of pupils gaining five GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
A*–C level grades, including English and Maths, in the years 2005–2008 compared with the local and national averages.