PARRS WOOD TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE

'Parrs Wood Technology College' (known locally as just 'Parrs Wood') is a specialist arts and technology, state comprehensive secondary school and higher education college, situated in Didsbury, Manchester, England. It educates young people between the ages of 11 and 19 years; A-Levels are taught at the Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre, although this is directly integrated with the main school. It was awarded dual specialist status in technology and the creative and performing arts by the Specialist Schools Trust in recognition of its vision for integrating the arts with technology.
In 2002, Rachel Jones took over as the Acting Headteacher after Sir Iain Hall (who left after accepted a position with the international arm of The Specialist Schools Trust, travelling to speak to school leaders in Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong). , Sir Iain Hall received a knighthood from the Queen for his services to education. The current headteacher is David Ashley, with Rachel Jones now being the Associate Headteacher.
Parrs Wood Technology College was rebuilt from scratch in 2000, with the previous school being the original, slightly dilapidated, construction from 1967. The rebuild supposedly cost around £12 million, and also included the building of a cinema, gym, bowling alley, bingo hall, arcade and several restaurants.
Sir Iain Hall made the school into one the most over-subscribed schools in the country. The LEA has been asking the school to take on more pupiles at the already over crowed school, after many parents kept their children off school intill the found a place at Parrs Wood.
The school developed the IRIS ('I't 'R'eally 'I's 'S'imple) behaviour management software, which is currently used by many schools.
Parrs Wood also uses the Serco facility ePORTAL system to manage enrolement, school reports, attendance as well as a number of other things Serco facility ePORTAL can be used for.

Contents

Information Technology

Awards

Incidents

Alumni

Media

External links

Information Technology

Parrs Wood operates a large ICT network, with over 900 computers and 40 servers. Each student has their own personal user name and password, aslong with a personal e-mail (username@parrswood.manchester.sch.uk). Every student at Parrs Wood will do a course in Year 9 and/or 10 in E-media studies and DiDA.

Awards

Parrs Wood has won a large number of awards over the years. Parrs Wood very proudly displays its awards (on plaqes, in frames, notice boards etc) in the main foyer. Some of the awards the school has won include:

★ 2003 School Achievement Award

★ Dual Specalist Status in Technology and the Creative Arts

★ Technology College

★ Arts College

★ High Tech Accolade

★ Leading Edge Partnership

★ ICT Register

★ Invester In People

★ Basic Skills Quality Mark

★ National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

★ Sport England

★ Manchester Healthy School Partnership

★ International School Award 2005-2009

Incidents

On 10 May, 2007, a canister of CS gas was discharged in the science area of Parrs Wood, which resulted in 58 students and staff being taken to hospital (although no-one was seriously injured). The incident was described as an "idiotic prank" by Greater Manchester Police.

Alumni

★ Danny Webber - Footballer for Sheffield United, a team who are in the Championship.

★ Lieutenant Steve Underwood - Flight Lieutenant Steve Underwood AFC (43) with the Red Arrows as Red 10.

★ Stephen Threlfall - Director of Music at Chetham's School of Music.

★ Judy Shekoni - Actress in Eastenders and other Soap Opera.

★ Ruth Sheldon - Champion Chess Player.

★ Hannah Pool - Fashion Editor with The Guardian and Author of My Father's Daughter.

Media

'Television'
Parrs Wood Technology College and Sixth Form Centre is regually used for filming. Some of the filming that goes on in the school include:

★ Videos for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)

★ Channel 4 - High school prom

★ Channel 4 - Singing/acting auditions

★ BBC - The Street

★ Teachers TV
'Books'

★ ''Lady: My Life As A Bitch'' by Melvin Burgess
----

External links

★ Official website

★ IRIS Behaviour Management Software