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Introduction

When it was opened in 1984, Trinity Church of England High School quickly established itself as a popular school serving the whole City of Manchester and districts beyond. Its teachers, support staff and students worked to create a school with a distinctive atmosphere, both demanding and caring, which reflected the hopes that parents have for their children.

This outlook contributed towards the genuine sense of partnership between home and school. In turn, this has helped to provide feelings of security and structure, happiness and well-being, which are the springboards for good learning.

Such success contributed to our recognition in April 1995 as a Technology College, and it was reflected in the report of that year by the Government’s Inspection Team (OFSTED), when we were listed as one of the most effective schools in the country; our Year 2000 inspection confirmed this. Also, having first been a Beacon School, the DfES appointed Trinity to be a Leading Edge School so that we are able to keep developing and sharing our good practice.

Located next to Manchester University, we are easily accessible from all parts of the City and are close to the many amenities of the City centre. We make good use of our proximity to Manchester’s universities, theatres, galleries, museums and the Royal Northern College of Music.

The pools of the Aquatics Centre are only a short walk away. These complement the excellent facilities of the school’s sports centre, comprising sports hall, fitness suite, gymnasium and dance studio, floodlit artificial pitch and floodlit multi-sport courts. This centre, run in partnership with the community, assists our links with the community together with our adult education courses. As we have grown, so we have become a learning centre for the community.

Our adapted and refurbished buildings have been well resourced. This has enabled us to combine the best of tradition with innovative practice and to prepare our students to take their place as well-rounded individuals in a rapidly changing technological society.

We aim to develop a breadth of experience so that, for example, our strong science, technology and mathematics is well balanced by languages, aesthetics, creative subjects and humanities activities. Special attention is paid to developing students’ abilities to study independently and co-operatively.

Trinity is a voluntary aided school, founded to promote the education of students 11-16 years of age in a community which is positively Christian but welcomes the children of parents of other faiths.

As befits a school whose intake is largely based on religious commitment, spiritual understanding and growth play a particular part in the school’s life. This is greatly assisted by the variety of backgrounds represented in our annual intake. Valuing people has special meaning in the school. Equally, we value the links we enjoy with the community, near and far.

Students entering Trinity from primary school are selected from various religious traditions in given proportions so as to maintain the Christian ethos of the school. At the same time we encourage and promote a tolerant understanding of one another’s religious beliefs and cultures. The school also has special facilities and suitably qualified staff to serve the needs of up to 15 visually impaired students.

The Governors’ statement of aims and objectives may be summarised as educating the whole child. If that is to happen for all the students, there must be a total commitment to the assertion that people are intrinsically of equal value - a reflection of the Christian belief that every person has a God-given individuality and is equal in the sight of God.

Such a belief should govern the dealings which staff and students have with others in the community of the school and with people in the wider community outside. Conversely, the obligations that go with membership of the community at the local level or beyond have to be learned and accepted by the students.

Establishing the school as a beacon of good practice in the heart of Manchester has been an immense challenge. We continue to see developing an enlightened, caring community based on mutual respect and common endeavour, in which enterprise is encouraged and initiative valued.

To achieve our aims, we know that we need all the strength which is to be derived from our being a worshipping community, with all that means for the way we understand ourselves, what we are and what we might be.

The school has 1,200 students with a teaching staff of 74. Copies of Examination Results, Attendance Statistics, the Report of the School’s Inspection and Policy Statements required by statute, are available from the school office.

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