Don't let the jail like appearance or high percentage of chav type children at Parrenthorn High School put you off. If a kid goes in good, they'll most probably stay good. And the behaviour of some kids who go to Parrenthorn is much more down to their parents.
I went in Parrenthorn good and came out good, getting the grades I needed to go to a respected sixth form - Holy Cross - as did all my friends (as in some chose Bury College, but you get my drift).
Some of the teachers are truly excellent too; Mr. Fitzgerald, the head, was a favourite when I was there (he was deputy) and I had the legend that is Mr. Perry for geography - he is now Deputy Head. These are definitely safe hands for the school to be in - over the last ten years it has gone from strength to strength. They have now expanded their languages department from French and German to the much more useful Spanish and Chinese. They are a Technology College and their drama and sports activities still flourish - we have been back to see productions since. And a bunch of us are planning to go have a tour of how it has changed.
I have the fondest memories of my five years at Parrenthorn - the friends I made, the drama, the growing up, the cramming for GCSEs. Wouldn't have gone to Bury Grammar for Girls (which I got into but couldn't afford their half scholarship) for all the money in the world. read more