Harborne Academy Explained

Harborne Academy
Motto:	Aspire Believe Achieve
Head:	Sarah Ross
Address:	Harborne Road
Postcode:	B15 3JL
Coordinates:	52.4619°N -1.9382°W
Dfeno:	330/6910
Urn:	136213
Ofsted:	yes
Capacity:	600^[1]
Enrolment:	595
Lower Age:	11
Upper Age:	16
Houses:	Boulton, Cadbury, Ryland & Zephaniah

Harborne Academy (formerly Harborne Hill School) is a co-educational secondary school in the Harborne area of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England.^[2]

Previously a community school administered by Birmingham City Council, Harborne Hill School converted to academy status in September 2010 and was renamed Harborne Academy. However the school continues to coordinate with Birmingham City Council for admissions. The school is now sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College,^[3] but continues to coordinate with Birmingham City Council for admissions. The school also has specialisms in science and health.^[4]

Harborne Academy offers GCSEs and BTECs as programmes of study for pupils.

History

The exact date the school opened is not known, however it is believed it opened in the 1950s as Harborne Hill SMM School. In 2010, due to economic issues, the school became an Academy^[5] There was some difficulty finding a sponsor for it after Ark Schools pulled out, but it was eventually sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College.^{[5] [6]}

Refurbishment

In around mid 2012, work began to demolish the old building which stood since the school opened, and BAM Construction began work on constructing a new building.^[7] The old Library front was preserved however, and still stands today in the Atrium. In 2013, the building was finished, and Samsung Digital Academy was chosen to provide many of the IT resources at the time.^[8]

Sixth form

The school previously had a sixth form.^[9] This was re-opened in 2014.^{[10] [11]} Inspection in 2016 found that "Teaching in the sixth form is better than in the rest of the school".^[12] In 2017 Ofsted reported that "The sixth form is a medical academy and specialises in helping students to gain the qualifications and skills needed to go on to a range of medical professions".^[13] As of 2023, the school no longer has a sixth form.^[1]

Inspections by Ofsted

• 2010, as Harborne Hill School, Satisfactory^[5]
• 2013, Requires Improvement
• 2014, Requires Improvement^[9]
• 2016, Inadequate^[12]
• 2017, Good^[13]
• 2022, Good.^[14] As of 2023, this is the school's most recent inspection.

Notable former pupils

• Paul Uppal, Conservative Party politician^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Harborne Academy . Get Information about Schools . Gov.UK . 17 January 2023.
2. Web site: Harborne Academy. harborneacademy.co.uk.
3. Web site: Sponsor. harborneacademy.co.uk.
4. Web site: Specialisms. harborneacademy.co.uk.
5. Web site: Riddiough . Trevor . Harborne Academy . Ofsted . 17 January 2023 . 2013.
6. News: Harborne Academy scheme 'on target' . 17 January 2023 . Birmingham Mail . 22 July 2009.
7. Web site: Harborne Academys new building BAM selected - - BAM News . 2024-05-21 . www.bam.co.uk.
8. Web site: Insider Media . 2024-05-21 . www.insidermedia.com.
9. Web site: Fraser . Lisa . Harborne Academy . Ofsted . 17 January 2023 . 2014 . The sixth form requires improvement. Too few students gain qualifications in English and mathematics. Major changes are taking place, with a new sixth form opening in September 2014.
10. News: Royal official opening for Harborne Academy . 17 January 2023 . The Birmingham Press . 17 March 2014.
11. News: Forte . Joe . Prince Andrew's links to Harborne Academy questioned . 17 January 2023 . Birmingham World . 3 March 2022.
12. Web site: Chapman . Chris . Harborne Academy . Ofsted . 17 January 2023 . 2016.
13. Web site: Owen . Dan . Harborne Academy . Ofsted . 17 January 2023 . 2017.
14. Web site: Clarkson . Stuart . Inspection of a good school: Harborne Academy . Ofsted . 17 January 2023 . 2022.
15. Web site: Uppalive and well! . The Plashing Vole . 17 January 2023 . 17 August 2010 . I was started my education at Harborne Hill state School.