Woodrush High School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the parish of Wythall in the English county of Worcestershire.[1]

Woodrush High School
Address
Map
Shawhurst Lane


,
B47 5JW

Coordinates52°23′18″N 1°52′43″W / 52.3882°N 1.8787°W / 52.3882; -1.8787
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoExcellence through Endeavour
Established1958 (1958)
School districtBromsgrove and Redditch
Local authorityWorcestershire
Department for Education URN136924 Tables
OfstedReports
ChairProfessor Stuart Brand
HeadteacherJ Barber
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1008
Capacity1020
Sixth form students100
HousesBrindley, Cadbury, Eliot and Lanchester
Colour(s)   Black and Green
Websitehttp://www.woodrush.org

Woodrush High School offers GCSEs, BTECs and Cambridge Nationals as programmes of study for pupils, while students in the sixth form have the option to study from a range of A-levels and further BTECs. As of 2018, the school also started enrolling higher ability students onto the Mandarin Excellence programme.

As of the most recent Ofsted inspection published in April 2024,[2] the school has 1008 enrolled pupils of its 1020 capacity, 100 of whom are in the Sixth Form. As of the latest full inspection, published January 2019,[3] the school were graded overall 'good' with 'outstanding' leadership and management and 'outstanding' development, behaviour, and welfare.

The schools catchment area closely matches the Wythall Parish Council area boundary, with the exception of a c.3.75 square kilometer area around Forhill and Redhill Road, and a smaller area at Weatheroak Hill.[4]

School history

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Established in 1958, it later became a foundation school administered by Worcestershire County Council. In July 2011 Woodrush High School converted to academy status, but continues to coordinate with Worcestershire County Council for admissions.

In November 2019, the school was close to partially shutting down due to an outdated boiler and heating system.[5] Parents had attempted to fundraise upto a goal of £60,000 through a GoFundMe page, after multiple requests for Condition Improvement Funding were rejected. However the matter was resolved after Sajid Javid, Bromsgrove MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer, visited the school. An Urgent Capital Support application was submitted, leading to the Department for Education providing an emergency fund for the school.[6]

In March 2020, the school was forced to temporarily close due to government guidelines surrounding COVID-19, with remote learning undertaken through online services.

Academic success

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In 2018/19 exams 44% of the pupils obtained a level 5 grade or higher in both English and Maths GCSEs, 1% higher than the national average and an improvement by 1% from the 2017/18 exams.[7] Overall, 62 grade 9s were received with 11 in History, 9 in Chemistry and 7 in Maths. Also, last year, students from the sixth form achieved 41% A* to C grades along with a 100% pass rate.[8]

School awards

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  • 2010 - 2013 British Council International School Award
  • 2015 - 2016 Discovering Democracy Award
  • 2016 Prince's Teaching Institute - Geography
  • 2016 Prince's Teaching Institute - History
  • St John Ambulance School Mark
  • The Healthy Schools Award
  • Silver Eco Schools Award

Notable former pupils

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References

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  1. ^ "Woodrush High School".
  2. ^ "Inspection of a good school: Woodrush High School" - from 23rd and 24th of April 2024 - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50247889
  3. ^ "Woodrush Community High School" - from 11th and 12th December 2018 - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50050068
  4. ^ "Woodrush High School - Admissions". 3 March 2024. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Birmingham Mail". 17 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Birmingham Mail". 18 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Woodrush High School - GOV.UK".
  8. ^ "Woodrush High Schools Sixth Form Success".
  9. ^ "Twitter".
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