Wardle High School

Since its inauguration, the school has gained a good reputation within the local communities of Littleborough, Rochdale and Wardle, Lancashire, UK, in which its students reside. The school achieved Performing Arts status in 2003 which generated the standard additional financial resources due to schools with "specialist" status. The school applied for and achieved Artsmark Gold Award, it has maintained its Artsmark and is about to apply for Artsmark Gold again in the next round of applications. The school is notable for its musical provision both in house and in local Primary Schools, which has been noted in Ofsted reports. The school currently has four brass bands of different age groups, which have played at major venues such as the South Bank, Royal Festival Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall, as well as boasting performances at the Royal Albert Hall and several Televisual credits including an appearance in 'Brassed Off' and one on Blue Peter. In April 2007 the School Youth Band won the title of National School's Champions of Great Britain and again more recently in 2011. The school converted to academy status on 1 September 2013.