:The Chalk Hills Academy
{{Multiple issues|
{{One source|date=January 2025}}
{{Notability|1=Organizations|date=January 2025}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| motto = Integrity • Ambition • Excellence
| address = Leagrave High Street
| location = Luton, Bedfordshire
| country = England
| postcode = LU4 0NE
| coordinates =
| type = Academy
| trust = Advantage Schools
| established =
| closed =
| sister_school = The Stockwood Park Academy
| local_authority = Luton Borough Council
| ofsted = yes
| urn = 135337
| principal =
| principal_label1 = Principal
| principal1 = Natasha Jabbar
| principal_label2 =
| principal2 =
| head_of_school =
| executive_headteacher =
| staff =
| secondary_years_taught = Year 7 through Year 13
| gender = Co-educational
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 18
| enrollment = 1401
| enrollment_as_of = May 2021
| colours = {{Color box| red|}}Red
| website = {{URL|thechalkhillsacademy.co.uk}}
| logo = The Chalk Hills Academy logo.png
}}
The Chalk Hills Academy (formerly Halyard High School, Barnfield West Academy and West Academy) is a Mixed secondary school and sixth form, part of Advantage Schools located in the west of Luton in Bedfordshire, England.
History
Halyard High School converted to academy status on 1 September 2007 and became part of the Barnfield Federation.{{Cite web |date=2013-10-22 |title=Barnfield College investigated by Department for Education |url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/education/barnfield-college-investigated-by-department-for-education-2319566 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Luton Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Archive |first=F. E. |date=2008-03-12 |title=Barnfield College to take over two Luton high schools |url=https://www.fenews.co.uk/resources/archive/barnfield-college-to-take-over-two-luton-high-schools/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=FE News |language=en-GB}} Many school buildings were renovated as part of Building Schools for the Future programme.{{Cite web |title=Building Schools for the Future Programme - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2010-03-02/debates/10030317000071/BuildingSchoolsForTheFutureProgramme |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en}}
From 2006 until 2010, Rachel de Souza (now Children's Commissioner for England) was the headteacher at Barnfield West Academy and received recognistion for significantly improving the overall performance of the school since it became an academy, as significantly noted in its ofsted reports.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/rachel-de-souza-we-went-to-pupils-homes-and-got-them-out-of-bed-2376273.html|title=Rachel de Souza: 'We went to pupils' homes and got them out of bed'|work=The Independent|access-date=5 December 2017|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Ofsted |first=Ofsted |title=Ofsted report |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/973013&ved=2ahUKEwjSoqv_rvuKAxXnR0EAHacLMaMQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3h--qqpu-qUQcAS5byH_6Q |website=Ofsted}} With the academy being issued a "Outstanding" grade from Ofsted in its 2010 inspection.{{Cite web |last=enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk |first=Ofsted Communications Team |date=2024-09-24 |title=Find an inspection report and registered childcare |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/135337 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=reports.ofsted.gov.uk}}
In 2012, Barnfield West Academy achieved excellent value for money status from Ofsted as being run by a federation and was shown as good practice example in the governments drive to increase the number of academies.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-25 |title=[Withdrawn] Academies: achieving excellent value for money through federation |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-achieving-excellent-value-for-money-through-federation |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
In 2015, the school split with the Barnfield Federation and became part of The Shared Learning Trust.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=FE Week |date=2015-07-06 |title=Barnfield academy chain gets new name |url=https://feweek.co.uk/barnfield-academy-chain-gets-new-name/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=feweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}} This was due to an investigation into the Barnfield Federation by the Skills Funding Agency & the Education Funding Agency into financial mishandling, claiming for students incorrectly and grade issues.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=FE Week |date=2014-03-06 |title=Commissioner findings add fuel to the Barnfield Federation fire |url=https://feweek.co.uk/commissioner-findings-add-fuel-to-the-barnfield-federation-fire/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=feweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Linford |first=Nick |date=2014-07-24 |title=Barnfield Federation to end with separation of college and academies |url=https://feweek.co.uk/barnfield-federation-to-end-with-separation-of-college-and-academies/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=feweek.co.uk |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=More bad news for the free school agenda: DfE investigates Barnfield Federation over finances {{!}} Tes Magazine |url=https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/more-bad-news-free-school-agenda-dfe-investigates-barnfield-federation-over |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.tes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2014-07-24 |title=Barnfield Federation education chain 'to be split up' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-28458478.amp |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}} The school was subsequently renamed West Academy for a short time before being renamed The Chalk Hills Academy in December 2015. On 1 September the academy joined Advantage Schools after The Shared Learning Trust merged with Advantage Schools.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/careersandeducation/the-shared-learning-trust-merge-with-advantage-schools/ar-AA1pQm2F |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.msn.com}}
Notable alumni
- Jernade Meade, footballer
- Andrew Tate, media personality and kickboxer{{cite web |title=Andrew Tate: What turned the son of a chess champion into the world's most toxic man? |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/andrew-tate-what-turned-the-son-of-a-chess-champion-into-the-worlds-most-toxic-man-c-9518307 |website=PerthNow |date=21 January 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://thechalkhillsacademy.co.uk|The Chalk Hills Academy official website}}
{{Schools in Bedfordshire}}
{{Luton}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chalk Hills Academy}}