The Farnley Academy

The Farnley Academy
Address
Chapel Lane Leeds , West Yorkshire , LS12 5EU England
Coordinates	53°47′00″N1°37′12″W / 53.78344°N 1.61999°W / 53.78344; -1.61999
Information
Type	Academy
Local authority	City of Leeds
Department for Education URN	137577 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of Governors	Andy James
Executive Principal	Sir John Townsley
Principal	Wayne Little
Gender	Mixed
Age	11to 16
Houses	Bronte House Asquith House Moore House Tomlinson House
Colour(s)	Silver,   Purple
Website	http://www.farnley.leeds.sch.uk/

The Farnley Academy (formerly Farnley Park Maths & Computing College) ^[1] is a secondary school serving the Farnley, New Farnley and Wortley wards of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. ^[2]

The school forms part of the Gorse Academies Trust which also includes The Morley Academy, The Ruth Gorse Academy and Elliott Hudson College. ^[3]

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 ]}

In 1995, arsonists caused £2 million worth of damage at the school. ^[4] In 1997, staff and students at the school celebrated the completion of a new school building by burying a time capsule. ^[5]

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. ^[6] The refurbishments cost £23 million in total. ^[7]

In February 2012, the school joined the Gorse Academies Trust and was converted into an academy, becoming The Farnley Academy. ^{[8] [9]}

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. ^[3]

Facilities

The Farnley Academy shares a site with a centre for children with complex needs, the West SILC. ^[10] The site opened in February 2012. ^[11]

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'. ^{[12] [13]} The school returned to an 'Outstanding' rating after an inspection in 2023. ^[14]

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. ^{[15] [16]} The protest coincided with the teacher strikes organised by the National Education Union. ^[17]

Notable alumni

• Leigh Francis, television presenter ^[18]
• Kalvin Phillips, footballer ^[19]

References

1. Paton, Graeme (21 February 2014). "Hostile teachers 'standing in the way of education reform'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
2. "The Farnley Academy".
3. "New Leeds free school head predicts fewer smaller sixth forms". The Yorkshire Post . Retrieved 26 April 2016.
4. "Arson campaign feared as fourth school fire destroys theatre". The Guardian. 16 May 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
5. Hutchinson, Andrew. "22 photo memories of Wortley and Farnley in 1997". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
6. "School demolition set for approval". The Yorkshire Post. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
7. "Interserve scoops £42m school building work". 27 October 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
8. "THE GORSE ACADEMIES TRUST". Get Information about Schools. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
9. "The Farnley Academy". Get Information about Schools. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
10. Ryan, Emma. "Specialist learning provision in Leeds turns to radio, celebrities and entrepreneurism to make sure students didn't miss out in lockdown". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
11. "Farnley". West SILC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
12. Roberts, John (29 November 2019). "GORSE academy downgraded after taking pupils off roll". Tes. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
13. Hyde, Nathan (30 November 2019). "Leeds school accused of off rolling 'could not convincingly explain' why pupils were being moved, say Ofsted". Leeds Live. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
14. Grant, Alex (11 October 2023). "Farnley Academy: Ofsted hails Outstanding Leeds school as 'aspirational and visionary' after ratings turnaround". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
15. "Pupil protest at Leeds's Farnley Academy over toilet rules". BBC. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
16. Port, Samuel. "'Angry' Leeds Farnley Academy protester, 14, speaks out on standing up to his school". Leeds Live. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
17. Whistance, Abi (28 February 2023). "Farnley Academy: Leeds residents react and brand second strike 'a joke' as school boss issue new statement over toilet policy". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
18. Hutchinson, Andrew (1 February 2022). "21 famous faces who went to school in Leeds". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
19. Hay, Phil (5 July 2022). "The Kalvin Phillips story: A Leeds boy who became a legend". New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2024.

External links

• School Homepage