The Farnley Academy

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.

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

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. The refurbishments cost £23 million in total.

In February 2012, the school joined the Gorse Academies Trust and was converted into an academy, becoming The Farnley Academy.

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. The site opened in February 2012.

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'. The school returned to an 'Outstanding' rating after an inspection in 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. The protest coincided with the teacher strikes organised by the National Education Union.

Notable alumni

• Leigh Francis, television presenter
• Kalvin Phillips, footballer

References

References

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