The Farnley Academy
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox school
| name = The Farnley Academy
| image = The_Farnley_Academy_Logo.jpg
| image_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|53.78344|-1.61999|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| motto =
| established =
| closed =
| type = Academy
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label = Executive Principal
| head = Sir John Townsley
| r_head_label = Principal
| r_head = Wayne Little
| chair_label = Chair of Governors
| chair = Andy James
| founder =
| address = Chapel Lane
| city = Leeds
| county = West Yorkshire
| country = England
| postcode = LS12 5EU
| local_authority = City of Leeds
| dfeno = 383/4026
| urn = 137577
| ofsted = yes
| staff =
| enrolment =
| gender = Mixed
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 16
| houses = Bronte House
Asquith House
Moore House
Tomlinson House
| colours = {{color box|Silver}} Silver, {{color box|Purple}} Purple
| publication =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = http://www.farnley.leeds.sch.uk/
}}
The Farnley Academy (formerly Farnley Park Maths & Computing College){{cite web |last1=Paton |first1=Graeme |title=Hostile teachers 'standing in the way of education reform' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10651978/Hostile-teachers-standing-in-the-way-of-education-reform.html |website=The Telegraph |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=21 February 2014}} is a secondary school serving the Farnley, New Farnley and Wortley wards of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.{{cite web| url = http://www.farnley.leeds.sch.uk/| title = The Farnley Academy}}
The school forms part of the Gorse Academies Trust which also includes The Morley Academy, The Ruth Gorse Academy and Elliott Hudson College.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/education/new-leeds-free-school-head-predicts-fewer-smaller-sixth-forms-1818308|title=New Leeds free school head predicts fewer smaller sixth forms|work=The Yorkshire Post|accessdate=26 April 2016}}
History
The Farnley Academy is built on the site of Cow Close Secondary School which became Harrington High, then Farnley Park High and then Farnley Park Maths and Computing College.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
In 1995, arsonists caused £2 million worth of damage at the school.{{cite news |title=Arson campaign feared as fourth school fire destroys theatre |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260792096 |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=16 May 1995 |page=5}} In 1997, staff and students at the school celebrated the completion of a new school building by burying a time capsule.{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Andrew |title=22 photo memories of Wortley and Farnley in 1997 |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/22-photo-memories-of-wortley-and-farnley-in-1997-3300123?page=1 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |access-date=12 August 2024}}
Between 2010 and 2012, Farnley Park High School was refurbished as a part of the government's Building Schools for the Future programme. Sections of the school were demolished and rebuilt, with planning permission approved on the condition that new sports pitches and a new changing area were created.{{cite web |title=School demolition set for approval |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/school-demolition-set-for-approval-1974814 |website=The Yorkshire Post |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=18 May 2010}} The refurbishments cost £23 million in total.{{cite web |title=Interserve scoops £42m school building work |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/interserve-scoops-42m-school-building-work |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=27 October 2010}}
In February 2012, the school joined the Gorse Academies Trust and was converted into an academy, becoming The Farnley Academy.{{cite web |title=THE GORSE ACADEMIES TRUST |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Groups/Group/Details/3206#list |website=Get Information about Schools |access-date=12 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=The Farnley Academy |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/137577 |website=Get Information about Schools |access-date=12 August 2024}}
The school stopped taking students into its sixth form provision in September 2015 due to the opening of Elliott Hudson College, a dedicated sixth form centre.
Facilities
The Farnley Academy shares a site with a centre for children with complex needs, the West SILC.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Emma |title=Specialist learning provision in Leeds turns to radio, celebrities and entrepreneurism to make sure students didn't miss out in lockdown |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/education/how-power-of-radio-soap-making-and-washing-cars-helped-special-needs-students-3279884 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |access-date=12 August 2024}} The site opened in February 2012.{{cite web |title=Farnley |url=https://www.westsilc.co.uk/oursites/67f45e26-9b6f-4358-92d8-01f3c4091410-xsyhr-hratg |website=West SILC |access-date=12 August 2024}}
Incidents
In November 2019, Leeds City Council accused the school of off-rolling Year 11 students into an alternative provision which was also run by the GORSE Academies Trust. This led to an Ofsted inspection, during which it noted that the school 'could not convincingly explain' why it was in the pupils' best interests to move them to the provision, and after which the school received a rating of 'Requires Improvement'.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=John |title=GORSE academy downgraded after taking pupils off roll |url=https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/gorse-academy-downgraded-after-taking-pupils-roll |website=Tes |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=29 November 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Hyde |first1=Nathan |title=Leeds school accused of off rolling 'could not convincingly explain' why pupils were being moved, say Ofsted |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-school-accused-rolling-could-17338288 |website=Leeds Live |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=30 November 2019}} The school returned to an 'Outstanding' rating after an inspection in 2023.{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Alex |title=Farnley Academy: Ofsted hails Outstanding Leeds school as 'aspirational and visionary' after ratings turnaround |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/education/farnley-academy-ofsted-hails-outstanding-leeds-school-as-aspirational-and-visionary-after-ratings-turnaround-4368350 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=11 October 2023}}
In February 2023, a three-day student protest was organised surrounding the school's toilet policies. The school responded by stating that they allow students to use the toilet during lessons where necessary, however they 'strongly encourage' doing so outside of lessons.{{cite web |title=Pupil protest at Leeds's Farnley Academy over toilet rules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-64786140 |website=BBC |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=27 February 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Port |first1=Samuel |title='Angry' Leeds Farnley Academy protester, 14, speaks out on standing up to his school |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/angry-leeds-farnley-academy-school-26345740 |website=Leeds Live |access-date=12 August 2024}} The protest coincided with the teacher strikes organised by the National Education Union.{{cite web |last1=Whistance |first1=Abi |title=Farnley Academy: Leeds residents react and brand second strike 'a joke' as school boss issue new statement over toilet policy |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/education/farnley-academy-leeds-residents-react-and-brand-second-strike-a-joke-as-school-boss-issue-new-statement-over-toilet-policy-4044140 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=28 February 2023}}
Notable alumni
- Leigh Francis, television presenter{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Andrew |title=21 famous faces who went to school in Leeds |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/21-famous-faces-who-went-to-school-in-leeds-3548929?page=3 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=1 February 2022}}
- Kalvin Phillips, footballer{{cite web |last1=Hay |first1=Phil |title=The Kalvin Phillips story: A Leeds boy who became a legend |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3389376/2022/07/05/the-kalvin-phillips-story-a-leeds-boy-who-became-a-legend/ |website=New York Times |access-date=12 August 2024 |date=5 July 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.farnley.leeds.sch.uk School Homepage]
{{Schools in Leeds|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
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