The Co-op Academy Swinton is in

Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority, combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: City of Manchester, Manchester, City of Salford, Salford ...

, England. Although named ''The Swinton High School'' in September 1988 when ''Wardley High School'' and ''Pendlebury High School'' merged, forming a single

comprehensive school A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is res ...

for pupils aged 11 to 16, on one site located half a mile from Swinton town centre. The Swinton High School joined the Co-op Academies Trust in March 2018 and is since known as 'Co-op Academy Swinton'.

History

During much of the 20th century the school was known by its original name, ''Cromwell Road School''. In the mid 1930s the school divided into separate secondary schools for boys and girls. The boys' school became known as ''Cromwell Road Secondary Modern School for Boys'' was located in the 1930s building which still to this day, has its entrance on Sefton Road. The girls' school became known as ''Cromwell Road Secondary Modern School for Girls'' and was located within the original pre-

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

building on nearby Warwick Street, which runs between Sefton Road and Cromwell Road. The original Warwick Street school provided education for infant, junior and senior pupils. In 1973, the boys' and girls' schools were merged to form a single school for secondary education on the joint Sefton Road/Warwick Street sites and given the name ''Pendlebury High School''.

Refurbishment

Whilst the buildings vary considerably in age and appearance, a new Maths suite, an ICT resource area comprising six Computer Rooms, a Design Technology block and refurbished Art and Library facilities, have all greatly improved the teaching environment. Over five years from 2008, all seven Science Labs have been completely refurbished, in a programme costing over £500,000.

Staff development and academic performance

The school has a staffing complement of approximately 70, full and part-time. There are 5 Senior Leaders, including the Headteacher, and 6 Faculty Leaders. The school places high emphasis on staff development both for school improvement and personal professional development. There is a successful induction programme for new staff, which has been praised by

Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

and

Investors in People Investors in People is a standard for people management, offering accreditation to organisations that adhere to the Investors in People Standard. From 1991 to January 2017, Investors in People was owned by the UK government. As of 1 February 20 ...

. The school's Ofsted inspections have consistently attained strong results. As of June 2019 the school is recognised as 'Good' in all areas.

Extracurricular activities and study support

The school provides a range of extra-curricular activities in drama, sport, music and dance. The school's musical activities and its steel pans performances have an excellent reputation. Study support is an integral part of the school. The summer of 2013 marked the first Summer School for gifted and talented pupils in years 6 and 7, since 1948.

Previous headteachers

* * Mr Mark Harrison (Left in 2021) * Mr John Biddlestone (Died in 2016) * Mr Wynne (until 2001) * Mr Frank Cawley - boys' school (From c. 1959) * Mr Arthur Holt - boys' school (Retired late 1950s)

Notable former pupils

* Kenneth Wolstenhome Football Commentator (1920-2002) * Allan Chapman, historian and occasional TV presenter, born 1946 * Bob Dunn,

Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...

politician, (1946–2003) * Graham Williams (1944–1994), rugby league in the 1960s for

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

, Swinton, North Sydney and Manly *

Derek Whitehead Derek Whitehead (born 14 February 1944) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain national rugby league team, Great Britain and Rugby League ...

(born 1944), rugby league in the 1960s and 1970s for

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

, Swinton,

Oldham Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, amid the Pennines and between the rivers Irk and Medlock, southeast of Rochdale and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, wh ...

and

Warrington Warrington () is a town and unparished area in the borough of the same name in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is east of Liverpool, and west of Manchester. The population in 2019 was estimat ...

* Les Holliday (born 1962), rugby league forward for

Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...

, Swinton (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

), Halifax,

Widnes Widnes ( ) is an Industrial city, industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, which at the 2011 United Kingdom census, 2011 census had a population of 61,464. Historic counties of England, Historically in Lancashire, it is on t ...

and

Dewsbury Dewsbury is a minster and market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Calder and on an arm of the Calder and Hebble Navigation waterway. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Hudder ...

Simon Barker Simon Barker (born 4 November 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He began his career at Blackburn Rovers in 1983, winning the Full Members Cup with the club in 1987, before moving on to Queens Park R ...

, ex professional footballer and PFA official.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swinton Academy, The Academies in Salford Secondary schools in Salford Educational institutions established in 1988 1988 establishments in England Swinton, Greater Manchester