Teacher of Design and Technology: Product Design

Stretford Grammar School is a mixed selective foundation grammar school with a diverse ethnic, cultural and social intake. One of the strengths of the school is its harmonious atmosphere and positive multicultural environment. The School became a Foundation School on the 7th January 2008. Pupils qualify for entry to the school by achieving the required standard in the school’s selection tests. Academic standards in external examinations are well above national standards and performance at A Level (ALPs) places the school in the top 20% of sixth forms nationally.

The school gained Specialist Science Status in September 2005. As a result, three laboratories have been refurbished and a fourth has been updated. In addition, a new space has been built for Science and Maths staff. This follows other recent improvements to the school site including a new building for science (4 laboratories), an extension to the dining room as well as an extension and refurbishment of the staffroom. A completely new ICT network was installed in October 2007 with approximately 80% wireless coverage for staff and student networked laptops.

There are currently 746 students on roll, with 144 in the Sixth Form. Approximately half our students come from outside Trafford, mainly from Manchester, but also Eccles and Salford and even further afield.

The key aims of the School are:
• to develop the intellectual, creative, aesthetic, practical, spiritual and social potential of students within an orderly and compassionate environment
• to develop in students a sense of tolerance and service in order to enable them to make a positive contribution to the community

Stretford Grammar School underwent an Ofsted Inspection in February 2009 and as a result has been placed into the category of Special Measures. Following the judgement, the school has been actively supported by the LA and the Head and Deputy Head of a successful neighbouring Grammar school. With this support, and the commitment of its staff and governors, the school is emerging quickly and strongly from its current position.

Stretford Grammar has much to offer and indeed the Ofsted report points to a number of strong positive attributes. Pupil behaviour is sound and A* - C results in 2009 were 93% (92% A* - C including English and Maths). Students’ personal development and well being were judged as “Good” by Ofsted, with attendance figures confirming that students enjoy coming to school.  Staff morale was judged to be high and there is a strong desire from all staff to move the school forward.

The work has begun in earnest in what is a new and exciting era for the school and we very much hope that a suitable applicant will decide to seek employment in a school which is undergoing positive change to secure improvement. At the first monitoring visit by Ofsted in June 2009, the school was deemed to be making satisfactory progress in all aspects identified in the main inspection - a judgement which the school believes reflects the hard work and dedication that all staff have shown over the recent months.