Airedale Academy

Airedale Academy
Address
Crewe Road Castleford , West Yorkshire , WF10 3JU England
Coordinates	53°43′16″N1°18′44″W / 53.72124°N 1.31219°W / 53.72124; -1.31219
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Respect Ambition Bravery
Local authority	City of Wakefield
Specialist	Arts College
Department for Education URN	136613 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Academy Council	Ali Crompton
Principal	Andy Percival
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11to 18
Enrolment	1025
Houses	None
Colour(s)	Gold & Black
Website	http://www.airedaleacademy.com

Airedale Academy (formerly known as Airedale High School) is a secondary school and sixth form on Crewe Road in a suburb of Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. Castleford Academy Trust recently merged with Northern Ambition Academies Trust. Castleford Academy Trust now has 9 schools. 3 secondary Academies and 6 Primary.

Admissions

It teaches children from 11–16. It was recently given the status of Arts College for its performing arts.

History

In February 1995, the school suffered its first arson attack, in which a large teaching block was lost.

In June 2003, arsonists burnt down part of the lower school, causing £1 million of damage. The refurbishment after the fire was officially opened in September 2005.

Another arson attack occurred on 17 January 2006. Around 100 firefighters attended the blaze. It destroyed three drama studios and the upper school's main hall. ^[1] A new state of the art Drama department and theatre (Castleford Phoenix Theatre) was officially opened in October 2008.

In the academic year 2011–12, Airedale Academy took its first cohort of sixth form students in at AS Level. In late 2011, Principal, Paul Frazer, left and, Michaela Blackledge took his place.

In early 2016, Principal, Micheala Blackledge, left and, Elizabeth Fairhurst took her place.

In 2019, Elizabeth Fairhurst took up the role of CEO of the Trust and Lyndsey Proctor took her place as Principal.

In 2023, Lyndsey Proctor left her role as Principal and Dan Neal took her place as the Interim Principal.

In 2024 Cheryl Eastwood was promoted internally to Head of School, on an interim basis.

Academic performance

In 2008 the school received a rating of Grade 2 (Good) from Ofsted. ^[2]

Castleford Phoenix Theatre

The Castleford Phoenix Theatre (at Airedale Academy), is West Yorkshire's latest Performing Art's, conference and education centre.

Academy status

The school has been granted academy status and converted on 1 April 2011. ^[3]

Sixth Form

In the academic year 2011–12, Airedale Academy opened a satellite sixth form of Ossett Academy. The five main study areas are, Business Studies, English Literature, Performing Arts, ICT, and Health & Social Care.

References

1. "Boy held as blaze wrecks school". BBC News. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
2. "Ofsted report 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
3. "Academies". Wakefield Council. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2011.

External links

• School webpage
• Castleford Phoenix theatre

News items

• Arrests over arson in January 2006
• Fire in January 2006
• 2006 fire