Unsworth Academy Explained

Unsworth Academy
Motto:"Inspire, Challenge, Excel"
Established:September 1971
Type:Academy
Trust:Shaw Education Trust
Head Label:Academy Principal
Head:Alex Fair
Chair Label:Chair of local governing body
Chair:Keith Bardsley[1]
City:Unsworth
County:Greater Manchester
Country:England
Local Authority:Bury
Ofsted:yes
Urn:143848
Enrolment:824
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Website:https://unsworthacademy.org.uk/

Unsworth Academy (formerly Castlebrook High School) is a coeducational secondary school located in Unsworth, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England.[2]

History

The school opened in September 1971 and was originally called Unsworth Comprehensive School. Its initial enrollment was 146 pupils. In 1983, the school merged with Whitefield High School (aka Albert Road) and was renamed Castlebrook High School.

Throughout 2006, along with several other schools in the wider Bury borough, it had been under a sustained threat of closure. It was believed that there will be 2,000 fewer high school pupils in Bury, so Bury Council wanted to close two high schools in the area. It was possible that Castlebrook would be amalgamated with nearby Philips High School, or that either Castlebrook or Philips will be closed.[3]

The school's GCSE results improved greatly over the next few years; with 61% of pupils achieving 5 A*-Cs in 2008, up to 76% in 2009 and to 80% in 2010, the highest the school has ever achieved.[4] However, in 2016, the school was deemed inadequate by Ofsted (The number of pupils attaining 5 GCSEs (including English and Maths) at grade A*-C in 2014 was below the national average.[5]

Previously a community school administered by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, in February 2017 Castlebrook High School converted to academy status and was renamed Unsworth Academy. The school is now sponsored by the Shaw Education Trust

A new building for the school was started in January 2018 and was completed in 2019.

Notable former pupils

External links

53.5616°N -2.2711°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unsworth Academy - GOV.UK . 4 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Unsworth Academy Bury Part of the Shaw Education Trust Inspire, Challenge, Excel.
  3. http://www.prestwichadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/206/206030_schools_facing_axe_by_2015_are_named.html Schools facing axe by 2015 are named – News
  4. http://www.castlebrookhighschool.co.uk/index.php/Info/GCSE-Results.html GCSE/KS4 Results 2015
  5. Web site: Ofsted Castlebrook High School.