Crompton House Church of England School

Crompton House, much like Crompton Hall, was originally a primary dwelling of the Crompton family, who since the Norman Conquest had a majority land ownership of Shaw and Crompton.

Following the death and subsequent dissipation of the Crompton family line, Crompton House was donated in 1926 by Miss Mary Crompton and her cousin, Mrs Anne Ormerod on the understanding it would become a school with a strong Christian ethos. The then Dean of Manchester, Dr. Hewlett Johnson, declared open the new Higher Grade Church School to be known as Crompton House School on 29 September and the first 25 pupils were admitted on 1 October. From the beginning its relatively small size enabled the care of every child to be the concern of all the teaching staff. Now a co-educational, voluntary aided secondary school catering for about 1400 pupils with an established sixth-form, that same care remains the guiding spirit of the school community.

Over the years additions have been made to the original buildings. These include a separate Year 11 block, a modern craft building, new science laboratories and new sixth-form accommodation. A new block of classrooms and science laboratories was officially opened in October 1994, and is colloquially referred to as The new block. More recently, a block of ten new classrooms has been opened. A drama studio has also been built due to the school's Arts status.

Whilst this is a Church of England school, when available the school will also offer places to children from other Christian denominations, though due to the popularity of the school this is increasingly unlikely. The official position of the school is to believe strongly that a Christian school exists to serve the needs of the local, and wider communities. The school is also a Post-Graduate Teacher Training Centre, and since September 1998 has Beacon status. Crompton House was awarded Specialist School Status in 2005 as an Arts College (Music, Art and Drama).

Crompton House uses a house system. All pupils are in mixed year group houses, which include Cocker, Crompton, Ormerod and Ridley. These House names are the surnames of individuals who have contributed to the creation of Crompton House as a school.

Crompton House is currently undergoing an expansion process , with a planning application to create a new three-storey building to allow an increase of 50% (560 pupils), details of the current planning application can be found on the Oldham Councils Website. Given the need for additional pupils is due to international immigration (source Oldham Council Future Education Provision), a change to the admissions policy is also anticipated.

The music department of the school has a variety of groups including two orchestras, swing and brass bands, and several choirs. The senior orchestra played at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the Schools Proms in 2005,[1] and the Senior Choir has sung in venues such as Manchester Cathedral, York Minster, and Liverpool Cathedral. The choir has sung evensong in Westminster Abbey, and the Boys' Choir has sung in St Asaph Cathedral.[2] On 2 July 2010 the orchestra, brass band and choirs combined to perform Karl Jenkin's The Armed Man at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Crompton House has its own sixth form, which itself performs at a high national standard. The majority of pupils in the sixth form at Crompton House have continued from the compulsory education there. However, approximately 40 pupils from other schools in the surrounding area join the sixth form each year. Unlike years 7–11, there are no criteria for selection based on religion.

There are a number of subjects available at AS-level and A-level to study at Crompton House. These are: Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Design Technology, Economics, English Language, English Language and Literature, English Literature, Food and Nutrition, French, General Studies, Geography, Government and Politics, German, History, ICT, Mathematics, Multimedia, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Theatre Studies, Philosophy & Ethics, and Travel and Tourism.

• Mr S. Selwyn, 1926–1938
• Mr J. Hargreaves, 1938–1958
• Mr D. Shepherd, 1958–1964
• Mr E. Harris, 1964–1985
• Mr M. Taylor, 1985–1999
• Mr D. Bowes, 2000–2002
• Mr W. Grundy, 2002–2006
• Mrs V. Musgrave, 2006–2008
• Mrs E. Tough, 2008–2011
• Mrs S. Calvert, 2012– 2014
• Mr K. Newell, 2014–present

In November 2006, Crompton House had a bomb scare when a year 11 pupil took in what appeared to be a First World War hand grenade for a history lesson. Around 200 pupils had to be evacuated from the new block while the rest of the school stayed inside, well away from danger. In a panic the student ran from his Chemistry lesson which was being taught by Dr Midgley and placed it down a grid. Greater Manchester Police, along with the bomb disposal unit, confirmed the grenade was inactive and the school was back to normal in the afternoon. The pupil involved was suspended for a fixed term.[9]

• School website