Outwood Academy Freeston

Outwood Academy Freeston
Motto Students first
Established 1592
Type Academy
Principal Rachel Smith
Location Favell Avenue
Normanton
West Yorkshire
WF6 1HZ
England
53°36′29″N 1°47′02″W / 53.608°N 1.784°W / 53.608; -1.784Coordinates: 53°36′29″N 1°47′02″W / 53.608°N 1.784°W / 53.608; -1.784
Local authority Wakefield
DfE URN 145937 Tables
Ofsted Pre-academy reports
Gender Mixed
Ages 11–16
Publication The Freeston Academy
Website freeston.outwood.com

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.[1] It is a Business and Enterprise specialist school.

The school is operated by Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and the current principal is Rachel Smith.[1]

History

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.[2][3] The school was later moved to its current location in the 1950s, where only a chimney remains in the original location.

The school has experienced much success over recent years with results improving consistently. In 2006, the school provided the highest number of pupils gaining five A-C GCSE grades in its history with 50% of students reaching five A-Cs, an improvement from 33% in 2004. The school has witnessed a recent injection of investment, becoming a Business and Enterprise College in 2003.

Since the start of 2003, most classrooms were given electronic whiteboards with touchscreens (as opposed to the earlier use of overhead projectors), personal laptops for teachers, a new science block and a sports centre.

Freeston College in 2009, viewed from Snydale Road

The school was previously undergoing plans of demolishing, re-designing and re-building Freeston within the grounds, with a school expected to be built around 2011. Unfortunately, due to cutbacks by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government, most school-redesign projects were called off.

The school has recently been noticed by the British public after Head of Business Ed Vickerman won 'The SSAT Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year' at the Teaching awards 2009.

Academy

Along with a number of other secondary schools, Freeston changed itself to an academy status in 2011 following cutbacks by the Conservative/LibDem coalition to the Education sector. 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. As this was during the school holidays there were no classes, however it was the same day that GCSE results were released, and pupils had to collect their results later in the day and from the sports hall. The academy reopened for the start of term on Wednesday 2 September as planned.[4][5]

On 8 September 2017 Wakefield City Academies Trust announced it was disbanding.[6]

On the 30th January 2018 Outwood Grange Academies Trust was named as the new sponsor for The Freeston Academy.[7] The school transferred to its new sponsor on 1 June 2018, reopening as Outwood Academy Freeston.[1]

Academics

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.[8] The school has Enterprise Hub Status and works successfully with nine West Yorkshire schools.

Notable features

  • Six ICT rooms (With 20+ PC units in each)
  • Modern Maths block - Renovated summer 2013
  • Over 70 classrooms
  • Outdoor tennis courts, rugby, football and cricket fields and an all-weather pitch
  • Community centre and sports hall providing numerous facilities for the public in and out of school hours

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Outwood Academy Freeston". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Mackinnon, John. "History of Normanton". www.normantontowncouncil.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "School History". Frestonian. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Fire ravages Normanton school building
  5. ↑ Blaze hit school "will be open for start of term"
  6. ↑ Perraudin, Frances (21 October 2017). "Collapsing academy trust 'asset-stripped its schools of millions'". The Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Education/Schools/Admission/Secondary/Schools/Freeston/Default.htm Freeston School Inspection Report
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