Counthill School
Encyclopedia
Counthill School formerly a high-achieving Grammar School, was a mixed gender secondary school
for 11 – 16 year olds in the Moorside area of Oldham in Greater Manchester
, England
. The School closed at the end of July 2010 as part of the New Oldham Academies Project, merging with Breezehill School
to form Waterhead Academy.
The school had approximately 900 pupils on roll. Opened in September 1951, it is reputedly the highest secondary school above sea level in the country. Its motto was Animo Atque Fide.
Oldham Borough Council decided to reshape secondary schooling under the UK government's Building Schools for the Future project. Counthill, along with four other failing schools at the time (Breeze Hill
, Kaskenmoor
, Grange, South Chadderton
) where earmarked for closure to form two new Academies.
in March 2005 after Ofsted
criticised him as lacking a clear strategic vision for improving his pupils' quality of education.
Mrs Margaret Ryan who got the school out of special measures, after replacing Mr Clifford retired from her post on September 12th 2008.
Mr David Lack was appointed Headteacher in 2008 and has a record for transforming struggling school.
He left when the school merged.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
for 11 – 16 year olds in the Moorside area of Oldham in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The School closed at the end of July 2010 as part of the New Oldham Academies Project, merging with Breezehill School
Breeze Hill School
Breeze Hill School was a mixed gender comprehensive secondary school for 11 - 16 year olds in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. The school was a specialist Humanities College, and served over 750 students. The last Headteacher was Mr Bernard Phillips before it merged with neighbouring Counthill...
to form Waterhead Academy.
The school had approximately 900 pupils on roll. Opened in September 1951, it is reputedly the highest secondary school above sea level in the country. Its motto was Animo Atque Fide.
Oldham Borough Council decided to reshape secondary schooling under the UK government's Building Schools for the Future project. Counthill, along with four other failing schools at the time (Breeze Hill
Breeze Hill School
Breeze Hill School was a mixed gender comprehensive secondary school for 11 - 16 year olds in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. The school was a specialist Humanities College, and served over 750 students. The last Headteacher was Mr Bernard Phillips before it merged with neighbouring Counthill...
, Kaskenmoor
Kaskenmoor School
Kaskenmoor School is a mixed gender comprehensive secondary school for 11 - 16 year old children in the Hollinwood area of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England....
, Grange, South Chadderton
South Chadderton School
South Chadderton School is a co-educational secondary school in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, England. Ms Quesnel is the Headteacher. The school caters for children aged 11-16 and there are 711 pupils on roll...
) where earmarked for closure to form two new Academies.
Teaching staff
David J. Clifford resigned as head teacherHead teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
in March 2005 after Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
criticised him as lacking a clear strategic vision for improving his pupils' quality of education.
Mrs Margaret Ryan who got the school out of special measures, after replacing Mr Clifford retired from her post on September 12th 2008.
Mr David Lack was appointed Headteacher in 2008 and has a record for transforming struggling school.
He left when the school merged.
Academics
Although the school did require Special Measures in 2004 on 23 November 2006 the special measures tag was removed. GCSE exam results improved from 27% in 2004 to 51% passes at A-C in 2007.Notable alumni
- Paul SculthorpePaul SculthorpePaul Sculthorpe , is an English retired rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative /, and /, he played club football for St. Helens, with whom he won a total of four Grand Finals, three Challenge Cups and two World Club Challenges...
, rugby league player. - Anne KirkbrideAnne KirkbrideAnne Kirkbride is an English actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street which she has played for thirty-nine years.-Coronation Street:...
, actor in Coronation Street (Deirdre Barlow)