The Barlow RC High School
Encyclopedia
The Barlow RC High School & Specialist Science College (known locally as just Barlow) is a well-known comprehensive
educational institute, located in the south of Manchester
, England
. Dedicated to Saint Ambrose
a local catholic martyr and saint, the school was established in 1985 after the merging of the Hollies RC High School for Girls and St Marks RC High School for Boys. The school is situated in Didsbury
, a reasonably well-to-do suburb of Manchester
.
The school has consistently performed well in OFSTED
inspections and tests in which their pupils expectate to take. As the name suggests Barlow was recently awarded specialist status in science. The school has acted on this by offering a new variety of courses in science at GCSE. Also, Barlow has recently been awarded the Manchester Inclusion Standard for "being properly inclusive to all pupils". The school was recognised as a specialist science college in early 2004.
.The Barlow building itself has around 90 rooms, including the Religion block (which was constructed around the year 2000), two dining areas, design technology workshops and a drama hall.
In comparison, the Barlow has a relatively small campus in comparison with other local high schools, which have recently gone under drastic transformations, such as Parrs Wood Technology College
which is nearby, and the new Wright Robinson College
in Gorton
. However a major refurbishment and new building are planned for completion by 2012.
. Investigators have ruled out fraudulent activity and instead the school is focusing on repaying the sum through smaller loans. A recent Ofsted inspection in November 2007 acknowledged the school have a 'relatively manageble' deficit but said financial management at the school was 'satisfactory'.
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...
educational institute, located in the south of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, 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...
. Dedicated to Saint Ambrose
Ambrose Barlow
Ambrose Edward Barlow, O.S.B., was an English Benedictine monk who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He is one of a group of saints canonized by Pope Paul VI who became known as the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales....
a local catholic martyr and saint, the school was established in 1985 after the merging of the Hollies RC High School for Girls and St Marks RC High School for Boys. The school is situated in Didsbury
Didsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
, a reasonably well-to-do suburb of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
The school has consistently performed well in OFSTED
Ofsted
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 ....
inspections and tests in which their pupils expectate to take. As the name suggests Barlow was recently awarded specialist status in science. The school has acted on this by offering a new variety of courses in science at GCSE. Also, Barlow has recently been awarded the Manchester Inclusion Standard for "being properly inclusive to all pupils". The school was recognised as a specialist science college in early 2004.
Current Facilities
The school has a sports hall located in the centre of the school grounds and a large playground and field. Extra facilities include a comprehensive libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
.The Barlow building itself has around 90 rooms, including the Religion block (which was constructed around the year 2000), two dining areas, design technology workshops and a drama hall.
In comparison, the Barlow has a relatively small campus in comparison with other local high schools, which have recently gone under drastic transformations, such as Parrs Wood Technology College
Parrs Wood Technology College
Parrs Wood High School is a specialist technology state comprehensive secondary school and higher education college situated in East Didsbury, Manchester, England, specifically, behind Parrs Wood Entertainment Complex off of Wilmslow Road...
which is nearby, and the new Wright Robinson College
Wright Robinson College
Wright Robinson College is a mixed 11–16 day school located in Abbey Hey, Gorton, Manchester, UK.Wright Robinson College caters to students of all socio-economic and religious backgrounds and is currently a specialist college of "Sport and The Arts"....
in Gorton
Gorton
Gorton is an area of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is located to the southeast of Manchester city centre. Neighbouring areas include Longsight and Levenshulme....
. However a major refurbishment and new building are planned for completion by 2012.
Building Schools for the Future Programme
The Barlow RC High School are part of Wave 4 of the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme. The school will receive both new and refurbished buildings at an estimated cost of £11.2m over the next two years. It is envisaged that works will commence in April 2010 and that building works will be completed by the end of 2011.Financial Worries
In 2008, the school reported financial difficulties after realising there was an operational £1 million deficit, which was the conclusion to an annual report for schools by Manchester City CouncilManchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
. Investigators have ruled out fraudulent activity and instead the school is focusing on repaying the sum through smaller loans. A recent Ofsted inspection in November 2007 acknowledged the school have a 'relatively manageble' deficit but said financial management at the school was 'satisfactory'.
Notable alumni
- OasisOasis (band)Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
- (Noel GallagherNoel GallagherNoel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
& Liam GallagherLiam GallagherWilliam John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
) - Alan McLoughlinAlan McLoughlinAlan Francis McLoughlin is a former Irish coach, and former professional footballer, playing as a midfielder.-Career:...