Thinking about moving back to the Wigan area for the first time in a very long time. Looking at the Redrow houses opposite Robin Park. Anyone know what the area/schools are like? I know it'll be handy for the rugby and the missus shopping!

You go there to learn but the tutors job is to teach. They shouldn't give up on those who struggle, which in my experience some have done.

There are some excellent tutors at Winstanley. My history teacher was great and helped me get from a predicted E grade to a grade B. I wouldn't have done that without his help.

However people's opinions are bound to be shaped by their experiences, and after walking into a lesson hearing my tutor bitching and gossiping about a friend of mine and making remarks about a family member I was put off. The same thing happened in a different subject a few days later and then said person found her own tutor had been doing the same when she was absent.
I was there to learn rather than to stand up for a friend from rumour and gossip from those who were supposed to be there to teach.

It put me off Winstanley for good.

Completely O/T again, but isn't there a teacher at Abraham Guest at the minute who plays for Keighly?

Very true - but not as good at teaching the basics of rugby than (God forgive me for saying this) the former Lancashire Rugby Union captain and coach, maths teacher and all round good egg Des Seabrook.

He was a bit before my time, I'd say. He was still teaching maths in my first couple of years at UHS, but sadly he suffered a couple of heart attacks and eventually retired.

Mr Cummings was held back a bit, I think. Head of games was a Welsh bloke called Mr Griffiths and we seemed to have some link or other with Orrell Rugby Union, so it was decreed that we had to play union, and Griffiths ran the school team. We were pretty crap and I don't actually recall Griffiths ever really teaching us anything and as a games teacher I just didn't get along with him. That said, he was our head of year in our final two years, and I found him to be great in role. That said, I always was more suited to 'academic' lessons than sport!

Apparently after I left the school, Griffiths either left, or was sidelined, Cummings took over as head of games and the school switched to league.

different strokes for different folks i suppose but in my experience winstanely is a top top place of education and thoroughly deserves its place in the top few colleges in the country. my 'tutors' were as good as they come.