Outwood Academy Freeston

(Redirected from Normanton Grammar School)

Outwood Academy Freeston (known locally as Freeston), formerly The Freeston Academy, is a state run, coeducational high school situated in Normanton, West Yorkshire near the city of Wakefield.[2] It is a Business and Enterprise specialist school.

Outwood Academy Freeston
Address
Map
Favell Avenue

, ,
WF6 1HZ

England
Coordinates53°41′43″N 1°24′45″W / 53.69528434708006°N 1.4123782517282983°W / 53.69528434708006; -1.4123782517282983
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoStudents first
Established1592; 432 years ago (1592)
Local authorityWakefield
Department for Education URN145937 Tables
PrincipalLisa Allott
GenderMixed
Age11 to 16
Number of students1061[1]
PublicationThe Freeston Academy
Websitefreeston.outwood.com

The school is operated by Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and the current principal is Lisa Allott.[3]

History

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The school's history dates back to the late 1500s, when Normanton Grammar School was founded and endowed by John Freeston of Altofts, a local barrister.[4][5] The school was later moved to its current location in the 1950s, where only a chimney remains in the original location.[citation needed]

 
Freeston College in 2009, viewed from Snydale Road

Along with a number of other secondary schools, Freeston changed itself to an academy status in 2011. Its school motto was "Making the Difference in the Business of Learning".

On 20 August 2015 the academy library and ICT lab caught fire and burnt down as a result of maintenance work being carried out on the roof.[6][7]

On 8 September 2017 Wakefield City Academies Trust announced it was disbanding.[8]

On 30 January 2018 Outwood Grange Academies Trust was named as the new sponsor for The Freeston Academy.[9] The school transferred to its new sponsor on 1 June 2018, reopening as Outwood Academy Freeston.[2]

Academics

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The last Ofsted report in September 2017 concluded that Freeston provides a sound education for its students, supported by a strong governing body and providing support for students and parents alike.[10] The school has Enterprise Hub Status and works with nine West Yorkshire schools.

References

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  1. ^ http://www.tes.co.uk/jobDetailsSilver_schoolInfo.aspx?ac=2734822&qry=keywords%3dFreeston&rslt=1&cur=1&UK=true TES
  2. ^ a b "Outwood Academy Freeston". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Outwood Academy Freeston". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  4. ^ Mackinnon, John. "History of Normanton". www.normantontowncouncil.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. ^ "School History". Frestonian. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Fire ravages Normanton school building". BBC News. 20 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Blaze hit school "will be open for start of term"".
  8. ^ Perraudin, Frances (21 October 2017). "Collapsing academy trust 'asset-stripped its schools of millions'". The Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  9. ^ Hazell, Will (30 January 2018). "Outwood Grange confirmed as sponsor of six schools from failed Wakefield City Academies Trust | Tes News". www.tes.com. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  10. ^ http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Education/Schools/Admission/Secondary/Schools/Freeston/Default.htm Freeston School Inspection Report
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