Education with Character

Whilst academic success is very important, we believe that there is more to a good education. As well as ensuring our students succeed in exams, we aim to develop the whole person.  

Throughout their time at Irlam & Cadishead Academy, students are expected to contribute to our school community and to society. We want students to try things they cannot do, to persist in the face of difficulty and to become resilient in overcoming obstacles. Some of the most memorable moments in life come from trying something completely different or developing a new skill. 

With this in mind, we provide a breadth of opportunities and experiences designed to help our students become confident, well-rounded and ambitious young adults. Whatever our students’ individual interests or talents, we seek to nurture them through our wide-ranging curriculum and enrichment programme. 

Our students enjoy trips to the theatre, Russell Group university visits, talks by inspirational speakers as well as countless opportunities to collaborate with their peers at United Learning schools across the country. We run the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme each year and engage with local businesses on everything from science, music and architecture workshops to charity fundraising. Likewise, our annual performing arts production is always a highlight of the year for students, their families and friends. 

We deliver a great deal of our character education through a programme that we call Aspire.