10 Year Anniversary

Welcome to Dean Trust Ardwick. Dean Trust Ardwick opened in 2015 and we are now a fully-fledged Year 7-11 school, serving over 1200 pupils. We serve the Ardwick and Longsight community and pride ourselves on being a local school for local children. Since our inception, we have become the school of choice for families.

2015-16

Dean Trust Ardwick’s Inaugural Year

Opening a year early as a favor to the local authority, in response to increased demand for school places, the founding cohort of 120 pupils and six teachers began in a temporary building. Four days a week, 60 pupils were bused to one of the other Dean Trust secondary schools for subjects requiring specialist equipment and facilities

2016-17

The Completion of Dean Trust Ardwick’s New School Building

The construction of Dean Trust Ardwick’s new school building was completed in 2016. The founding cohort moved into the brand-new, state-of-the-art building, along with 300 new Year 7 pupils, the school’s largest year group to date. The school was honored to be officially opened by the late Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

2017-18

Dean Trust Ardwick’s First Ofsted Inspection

Dean Trust Ardwick received its first Ofsted inspection, being rated as a ‘good’ school with ‘outstanding’ leadership and management. The inspection report stated that ‘The Dean Trust governors and senior leaders are determined to serve the local community and to develop an exemplary school based on their vision: “Believe, Achieve, Succeed.”’

2018-19

Expansion of the School Building to Meet Growing Demand

As the school grew, it became apparent that the school building needed to be expanded to accommodate the full capacity of pupils and to continue to provide them with a broad and balanced curriculum. An application to construct an extension to the existing building was approved, adding 15 additional teaching spaces.

2019-20

COVID-19 Disruption in the Founding Cohort’s Final Year

The founding cohort reached Year 11 but had their final year cut short as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the country went into lockdown. Pupils were unable to sit their GCSEs and were issued with Centre Assessed Grades.

2020-21

Navigating the challenges of the pandemic

This year proved equally, if not more, challenging than the last. Pupils returned to school in September with tight restrictions on movement around the school, staying in one classroom, teachers traveling to every lesson, along with social distancing, face masks, and sanitising, which placed staff and pupils in a unique situation. Another period of lockdown in the spring meant that once again the school was unable to conduct GCSE examinations.

2021-22

A Return to the ‘New Normal’ and Strong GCSE Outcomes"

The country returned to the ‘new normal,’ and pupils were once again able to sit their GCSE exams. The school maintained strong outcomes this year with the first Dean Trust Ardwick cohort to officially sit a full GCSE exam season. The consistency of pupils’ performance across the curriculum was exceptional, and the school’s P8 score of +0.46 was significantly above the national average. This period also coincided with a change in leadership, as the founding Headteacher, Ms. Finlay, retired in April 2022.

2022-23

Mr. Worthington Takes Over as Headteacher

Mr. Worthington took over as Dean Trust Ardwick’s Headteacher. Having worked at the school since 2016, he was well-placed to lead the school into its next period of growth. Together with the newly established leadership team, he developed and shared a 3-5 year vision for a truly inclusive school where all pupils thrive, without exception.

At the end of the academic year, the school received its second Ofsted inspection. The ungraded inspection reconfirmed Dean Trust Ardwick as a ‘good’ school. The inspection report captured the school’s culture, stating that ‘pupils understand the differences that exist between people and how this diversity enriches their community. They are taught how to make connections across their different cultures. This helps them to develop into positive citizens of the world.

2023-24

Overcoming Adversity: The School's Resilience After the Fire

In January 2023, the school suffered a fire that caused significant damage, forcing it to close entirely at first, followed by partial closures as large parts of the building became inaccessible. During this period, pupils had to return to remote learning, similar to the COVID-19 pandemic experience. Despite the challenges, the staff demonstrated dedication, flexibility, and tireless effort. Through their collective commitment, the school was able to navigate these difficult times and emerge even stronger as a community.

2024-25

Resilience and Recognition – A Year of Recovery and Achievement

One year after the fire incident, the remedial work on our school building was completed, restoring it to its former state. The total cost of the damages and repairs amounted to just over £1.6 million.

As the academic year came to a close, we were proud to announce that Dean Trust Ardwick had been awarded the Belonging Charter Mark. This prestigious recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and the exceptional support we provide to International New Arrivals resettling in the UK, helping them achieve improved outcomes as they integrate into our community.

2025-26

Dean Trust Ardwick’s 10-Year Anniversary – A Decade of Growth and Momentum

As we mark this significant milestone, we reflect on the remarkable progress and achievements of the past decade. Throughout our anniversary year, we will celebrate the collective success of our school, while acknowledging the contributions of key individuals and groups who have played an integral role in our growth. This includes our dedicated alumni, staff, and community members.

This anniversary is not only a time for celebration but also a catalyst for further momentum, propelling us toward realising the full potential of Dean Trust Ardwick and strengthening the ties that bind our school community.