Plant Hill Arts College is an 11-16 community school, serving boys and girls predominately from the Blackley area of North Manchester. There are approximately 880 pupils on roll.

The school is in close proximity to the M60 motorway affording it excellent links, by road, to a wide area. It is also well served by public transport.

Plant Hill as a Specialist Arts College
In September 2005 Plant Hill High School was awarded specialist status and became Plant Hill Arts College. This is already having a huge impact on student learning by enhancing the curriculum, with additional provision in

• Performing Arts – music, drama, dance, media studies
• Visual Art – fine art, 3-D art, painting and drawing
• Media Arts – ICT, E-media

This is an exciting time with all of these areas being integrated into the teaching of all subjects as well as subjects in their own right.

Exam results
In the last 4 years the school has made significant improvement in it’s Key Stage 4 exam results, with a 95% increase in the number of students achieving 5 or more A* - C GCSE grades. This has been achieved through steady and continuous improvement.

Aim Higher and Breakthrough Programme
The school has a highly effective programme for Able, Gifted and Talented children. The top 30 children in each your group are identified and work together to share good practice and a common goal. Their learning potential is enhanced through a variety of trips, visits and guest speakers. There is now a culture within the school of other children aspiring to join this group.

The aim of Breakthrough is to encourage children to consider Further and Higher Education. There are excellent links with local colleges and universities which are now beginning to bear fruit.

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Monitoring Programme
At Key Stage 4 all students are monitored by the Headteacher. Their progress is tracked and they are assessed 3 times a year. The aim is to develop a belief that they can achieve. In year 11 they are then assigned a tutor who further personalises their learning. At the end of year 11 there is an award for most improved performance, with the winning student receiving a laptop computer. Their tutor receives a bottle of champagne. There is also a draw for all students with 95% attendance from January to May, with the winner receiving vouchers.

School facilities
In the last 4 years, £4million has been invested into Plant Hill Arts College, a clear indication of how much we are valued! Facilities now include:

• A new purpose built sports hall
• A new music and drama suite
• A swimming pool
• 5 new MFL rooms
• New learning support rooms for pupils with special needs
• 7 Science rooms, 4 of which are new
• 6 refurbished Technology rooms, including new textile and food rooms
• 5 refurbished Humanities rooms
• 4 new computer rooms
• New library and study centre
• New careers base
• New pastoral base
• 2 refurbished Visual Arts Rooms

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What do others think of us?

• Ofsted

  The school was last inspected in January 2004. The overall effectiveness of the school was graded as satisfactory. In addition it was recognised that standards were improving. Specific comments were

  • High quality professional development for all staff
  • Very good leadership provided by the headteacher to raise standards
  • Provision of support, advice and guidance for pupils is good
  • Pupils attitudes and behaviour are generally satisfactory
  • 95% of lessons are satisfactory or better
  • Pupils hold positive views about the schools and 95% believe they are taught well

The full Ofsted report is available at: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/105/105559.pdf

• The School is part of the Excellence in the Cities initiative and is a pilot school for the Key Stage 3 National teaching and learning project

• Holders of Healthy Schools Award

• Investors in People accredited

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Staff development
Headteacher, John Pemberton, is absolutely committed to the school and to it’s staff. His strong leadership motivates and influences staff and he is trusted and respected by governors, teachers, parents and pupils. A key strength of the school has been identified by Ofsted as the continuing professional development programme for teachers. The Staff Development Policy has clearly defined aims which are:

• To play a key role in the successful development of Plant Hill Arts College
• To provide all employees of the school with the opportunity to maximise their potential through a focused staff training programme
• To be a continuous and supportive process intended to help staff with their professional development
• To provide an induction programme for Newly Qualified, Graduate and Registered Teachers
• To provide an induction programme for staff who are new to the school or staff who take on significant new responsibilities
• To provide colleagues with information concerning relevant training opportunities
• To involve all staff, teaching and non-teaching, in the assessment of their own training and development needs
• To maximise the impact of identified expertise in the school and offer a range of in house Staff Development Opportunities
• To ensure that Staff Development Opportunities fulfil the objectives identified in the whole school development plan, departmental development plans and individual performance management targets
• To ensure all staff keep an up to date portfolio of their own professional development
• To monitor and evaluate Staff Development Provision at the school
• To maximise the impact of the Staff Development Budget

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Staffing Structure
The following show the proposed new staffing structures, to take effect from September 2006

Academic Structure -click here
Pastoral Structure - click here
Faculty Structure - click here

Additional Benefits
The school works hard to enhance the quality of working life for its staff. It now offers a variety of services on site including car valeting, dry cleaning collection, massage, beauty treatments, clothes alterations and more.

Extra curricular activities
The students at Plant Hill are glowing in their praise for staff at the school in terms of the time and energy they give to extra curricular clubs. There is a wide array of activities on offer and these are all well attended. This has had a positive impact throughout the school by breaking down barriers between staff and students.

The school has a particularly strong tradition in music and with 7 bands in the school, there is something for everyone. The school has strong links with the Halle Orchestra which has provided a great deal of credibility to the work done in this area.

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