The Barlow RC High School

History and Location Dedicated to St Ambrose Barlow, a local Martyr and Saint, the school was established in 1985 as a result of an amalgamation of the Hollies RC High School for Girls and St Marks RC High School for Boys. The school is situated on a pleasant site in Didsbury, a suburb of Manchester and is easily accessible from the new A34 bypass and the M56 and M60 local motorway networks. Admission Details The school admits children from the contributory parishes of St Ambrose, St Bernadette (to the east of Princess Parkway), St Bernard, St Catherine and St Cuthbert and from the associated primary schools of St Ambrose, St Bernard, St Catherine and St Cuthbert. These parishes and primary schools serve the areas of Burnage, Barlow Moor, Didsbury, Fallowfield, Old Moat and Withington. The school is always heavily over-subscribed. At present 33% of pupils are entitled to free school meals. The intake of the school, therefore, is truly comprehensive with children of all abilities and aptitudes. In 2006 56% of children achieved 5 or more GCSE's at A*-C, an increase of 7% on the previous year. Teaching Information The school currently has 60 teaching staff. All staff are particularly dedicated to the children, school and community. Teaching is recognised as a significant strength of the school, as is the commitment to provide extra curricular activities for the children.