Highfield Leadership Academy

Highfield Leadership Academy
Address
Map
Highfield Road

Blackpool
,
Lancashire
,
FY4 3JZ

England
Coordinates53°47′17″N 3°01′44″W / 53.7880°N 3.0290°W / 53.7880; -3.0290
Information
TypeAcademy
Established2016
Local authorityBlackpool
TrustStar Academies
Department for Education URN142469 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalAndrew Galbraith
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 16
Enrolment1,130
Websitehttp://www.highfieldleadershipacademy.com/

Highfield Leadership Academy is a co-educational secondary school located in Marton, Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

History

It was originally known as Highfield High School. In 2004 the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) awarded the school specialist school status as a Humanities College,[1] focusing on the teaching and study of History, Geography and Religious Education. The school was subsequently renamed Highfield Humanities College.

In 2007 the school featured in the DCSF list of schools that had made the best sustained improvements in their GCSE results over the previous four years.[2]

In August/September 2012 the school moved into a new building on the old playing field. The old school building, which stood for nearly eighty years, was demolished shortly after.

Previously a community school administered by Blackpool Borough Council, in April 2016 Highfield Humanities College closed and converted to academy status and was renamed Highfield Leadership Academy. The school is now part of Star Academies.

Academics

Highfield Leadership Academy offers GCSEs as programmes of study for pupils.

Unlike other schools in the area, the academy is notable for the number of subjects it offers and expects of its pupils. Whilst most pupils of British secondary schools only study around 6 GCSEs,[citation needed] those at HLA study up to 13. All pupils must study the mandatory subjects (English, Maths, Science etc.) as well as at least one language, a humanities subject (RE, Geography, History) and a computer-based subject.[citation needed] Art subjects remain optional.

Governance and Ofsted

During its time as 'Highfield Humanities College', its philosophy was a more liberal one, hence the name 'college'. During this period, it was considered to be a mid-tier secondary school for the area. This was until 2014, where it was rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted. As such, it was ordered to become an academy, and was put in the hands of Tauheedul Education Trust, which is now Star Academies.

Prior to the takeover, the school was the subject of negative reports from local press, telling of an apparent student riot.[3] The headmistress at the time witnessed to the incident and compared it to the Hillsborough Disaster.[citation needed] In the same year, there was also a case of arson from two pupils, where the entire student body was evacuated and the building flooded by sprinklers.[4] The headmistress later resigned.[citation needed]

In February 2019 the school was declared by Ofsted to be inadequate on all fronts, with reports of discrimination, failure to tackle bullying, failure to safeguard pupils, and an apparent "overgenerous view of the school’s effectiveness".[5]

In September 2019, Ofsted stated that the academy had much improved.[6] In February 2020, Ofsted wrote:

Since the last monitoring inspection, more pupils are benefiting from high-quality teaching. Many teachers present subject matter in a way that helps pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding." Although, Ofsted have still identified areas for improvement, the academy stands today as a good school, albeit a strict one.[7]

After the title of ‘Highfield Humanities College’ was relinquished in 2015, the school moved to the Star Academies education trust, which specialises in Islamic faith schools, with HLA the first of its partners to be secular.[citation needed]

Notable Person(s)

References

  1. ^ "Specialist Schools Home". Department for Children, Schools and Families. Archived from the original on 3 August 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  2. ^ "The 'most improved' schools". BBC News. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  3. ^ "'The kids have the power and they know it' claims insider after 'riot' in Blackpool school". 2 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Pupils are '˜dealt with' after fire at high school".
  5. ^ "School Report: Highfield Leadership Academy" (PDF). Ofsted. 11–12 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Letter to the school from Ofsted, 2 July 2019" (PDF) – via Highfield Leadership Academy.
  7. ^ "Letter to the school from Ofsted, 27 February 2020" (PDF) – via Highfield Leadership Academy.