Philips High School

The school's origins lie in the history of Stand Grammar School. The grammar school was founded in 1688 under the will of Henry Siddall and had close connections with the Unitarian Chapel on Ringley Road, Stand, Whitefield.[4] Indeed, so strong was this connection that, in the 18th century, it was a school of choice in the north-west for parents from dissenting families who did not want to send their children to Anglican schools.[5]

In the early years of the 20th century, the governors ran into financial difficulties. In 1908, the Lancashire Education Committee (LEC) assumed responsibility for its management. The Committee purchased 7 acres (2.8 ha) of land on Church Lane, Whitefield, from the Earl of Derby and built a new school, which was opened on 6 September 1913 by Alderman J. R. Ragdale.[6] Some believe Robert Clive had links with the school in his early years.[7] Accounts suggest that the Old Standians’ Association began attempts to link Clive to the school some time around 1907. Sir Colvin Bayley (the grandson of Clive’s uncle) stated at a school event that he had been informed Clive had attended the school, prior to living in Hope Hall in Eccles. However, this link has been queried, as even as Bayley admitted, there is no mention of it in any records.[8] Despite this, the Old Standians' Association erected a bronze statue and named one of the school's houses in his honour in 1913. [9][10]

As a condition of the takeover by the LEC,[11] the school began to admit girls but, in 1937, a separate school—Stand Grammar School for Girls—was opened on Higher Lane, with Grace Lobjoit as the first headmistress.[11] The town of Whitefield became part of the new Metropolitan Borough of Bury on 1 April 1974. Both the boys' and the girls' schools flourished until 1979, when the borough council decided to adopt the comprehensive education system. The boys' and girls' schools were merged as Philips High School, a co-educational comprehensive school, on the Higher Lane site. The former boys' school building on Church Lane became a sixth form college, which in turn was later absorbed into Bury College. The Church Lane buildings were demolished in 2001.[6]

In 2006–07, the school building was used in the filming of the BBC drama series Drop Dead Gorgeous.

The schools sits on an 8 hectares (19.8 acres) campus in a suburban residential area, adjoining the grounds of the local golf club and close to Philips Park, Prestwich. The site includes c.4.27 hectares (10.55 acres) of playing fields. In addition to the 1937 main building, there is a sports hall, which is also open to public after school hours. The sports centre has been refurbished, including updating of the gymnasium, and there are three all-weather pitches. In the summer of 2010, a new development in the centre of the building, Lobjoit Court, provided additional ICT facilities; there are now over 400 networked computers in the school.[12] The school hall is equipped with a stage and lighting desk.[13]

Philips High School is a maths and computing college.[14] Pupils study a core curriculum of English, mathematics, ICT and the sciences. General science is the norm in Key Stage 3, whilst pupils in Key Stage 4 may study three separate disciplines; biology, chemistry and physics. In addition, pupils study at least one MFL (choosing from French or German) and a range of subjects including geography, history, RS, music, art, PE and DT.[13]

Pupils in Year 11 are entered for a range of GCSE examinations and BTEC courses. The latter includes a small number of students who attend courses at Bury College in hairdressing and engineering.[14]