Sale Grammar School

GENERAL INFORMATION

Sale Grammar School is an 11-18 coeducational, selective school, with specialist status in the visual arts and science. The school became a Foundation School on the 1st January 2008 a Trust school in January 2010 and, as an outstanding school, converted to an Academy on 1st March 2011.  

The number on roll is currently 1300, including 350 sixth form students, the majority of whom are drawn from the school. The school admits up to 50 students into the Sixth Form from other institutions, including Trafford secondary high schools and independent schools. These students are attracted by the wide range of subjects the school can offer at A Level.  

Admission to the school is by an entrance test, administered by the school. The majority of students are drawn from Sale, although the school does admit students from neighbouring authorities. The range of ability selected for entry into the school is relatively wide for a selective school.  

Sale Grammar School is a caring and well-disciplined school, focused on ensuring that all students realise their potential. It is a happy school, with an energetic and talented staff committed to preserving high standards. Everybody has a part to play in the school and the opinions and ideas of each individual are listened to and respected. Team work is highly valued, but so too are initiative and originality. We aim to be the perfect blend of tradition and innovation.  

The school was last inspected in November 2006, under the shorter inspection regulations for high performing schools. Ofsted inspectors judged the school to be ‘Outstanding’ and also judged the Sixth Form to be ‘Outstanding’. The full report can be viewed on the school website (www.salegrammar.co.uk). Originally adopting specialist status in the Visual Arts, the school was recognised as a High Performing Specialist School (HPSS) and was invited to take on the second specialism of Science in 2007. In 2010 a number of high-profile partners joined the Sale Grammar Trust and in 2011 the school became an Academy. There has been a significant investment in facilities in recent years which has resulted in the school enjoying a bright modern and well-equipped campus.  

We continue to maintain our high standards.  Our Attainment 8 score currently stands at 71.9 and our Progress 8 score at 0.46.  Our website provides more detailed information about GCSE and A Level achievement.  It is a point of particular pride that the achievements of our disadvantaged students consistently match or even out-perform our non-disadvantaged cohort.

STAFFING STRUCTURE AND GOVERNORS

The Senior Leadership Team consists of the Headteacher, a Deputy Headteacher, five Assistant Headteachers and the Business Manager. Significant management responsibilities are devolved to nine Faculty Leaders (Maths, Science, English, Design and Technology, the Arts, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages, Social Sciences and PE and Sport) who lead large teams of subject staff. Within some faculties there are also Subject Leaders. The school has a strong pastoral structure managed by two of the Assistant Headteachers who are supported by Heads of Progress and Learning for each year group. The Headteacher, Deputy and Assistant Headteachers share responsibility for line managing the Faculty Leaders. 

The number of support staff (currently over 30) means that teaching staff receive excellent levels of administrative and technical support. For example, the ICT support team consists of an IT Manager, three specialist technicians and dedicated administrative support, to maintain our excellent ICT facilities.  

The Board of Governors is organised to complement the school structure with much of its business delegated to three committees– Admissions, Teaching and Learning, and Resources. A member of the Senior Leadership Team also sits with each committee. The Headteacher is a governor and attends each of the committee meetings in addition to meetings of the full Board of Governors.

CURRICULUM AND STANDARDS

The school has a strong reputation in the community for its high academic standards and the quality of teaching and learning. The school is also recognised for the high quality of its art and design, music, dance, drama and sport and for its community-based initiatives. The school is used by many community groups in the evenings.  

Extra curriculum participation is high and the students enjoy the wide range of trips and visits, both in the UK and abroad, that are arranged throughout the year. 

The curriculum is broad and balanced in Key Stages 3 and 4.  A comprehensive range of GCSE options is available, but all students must take English, Maths, Science (combined or triple), a Modern Foreign Language, at least one Humanities subject and Technology. Students can gain up to ten GCSEs and results are consistently high.  All Year 10 students undertake a week of work experience. 

In the Sixth Form, 22 subjects are offered at A Level. In addition, all students are able to take part in valuable enrichment opportunities; many students choose to participate in our Community Volunteering programme. The vast majority of our Sixth Form students continue on to higher education as they continue to aspire, act and achieve.

Additional information about our school can be found on the school website www.salegrammar.co.uk