The Morley Academy Explained

The Morley Academy
Coordinates:53.7425°N -1.6076°W
Motto:Exceptional, every day
Established:1906
Religion:Mixed
Head Label:Principal
Head:Adam Ryder
R Head Label:Executive Principal
R Head:Leanne Griffiths
Chairman Label:CEO
Chairman:Sir John Townsley
Chair Label:Chair of Governors
Chair:Karen Lawson
Trust:The GORSE Academies Trust
Address:Fountain Street
Country:England
Postcode:LS27 0PD
Dfeno:383/4101
Urn:136392
Ofsted:yes
Enrolment:1,581
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Houses:Moline, Pomme, Clechée, Potent
Colours:
Red, Green, Yellow and Purple
Website:http://www.morley.leeds.sch.uk/

The Morley Academy is a mixed secondary school located in Morley, West Yorkshire, England.[1]

The school forms part of the Gorse Academies Trust which also includes The Farnley Academy, The Ruth Gorse Academy and the Elliott Hudson College.[2]

History

1906–1930: Morley Secondary School

The school was established as Morley Secondary School on 17 September 1906. The school was temporarily situated within the Sunday school premises of St Mary in the Wood Church, before moving to a permanent location on Fountain Street in 1909.[3] [4] The school's foundation stone was laid by Alderman Samuel Rhodes, the Mayor of Morley, in 1907. The first head teacher was John Robinson Airey (1868–1937), a nationally renowned mathematician.[5]

During the First World War pupils at Morley Secondary School raised £5,000 to pay for school uniforms for struggling families in the school. In total, 17 school pupils died during the war. After the war, the school raised over £1,200 to pay for a memorial organ commemorating those who had died.[6]

1930–1975: Morley Grammar School

Morley Secondary School became Morley Grammar School in 1930.[7]

In 1963, the school was extended to include a kitchen, main hall, dining room, and sports changing rooms.[8]

1975–2011: Morley High School

Morley Grammar School became a mixed comprehensive in 1975, under headmaster J. R. (Ralph) Carr.[9]

In 1996, the school's Assembly Hall was destroyed by fire.[10] [11] Two Second World War plaques were saved from the fire, and re-dedicated in 1999.[12]

2011–present: The Morley Academy

In early 2011, Morley High School became The Morley Academy, under the Academies Act 2010.[13] [14]

On 25 June 2012, The Morley Academy hosted the Olympic Torch during its tour of the United Kingdom.[15]

Between 2014 and 2016, The Ruth Gorse Academy operated from temporary facilities within the grounds of The Morley Academy.[16]

In early 2015, the school caused controversy when head teacher Leanne Griffiths announced by letter that the school would withdraw all privileges, such as trips, from pupils where "personal or insulting comments" had been made by their parents on social media, or where there had been any "breakdown in rapport" with the school and that the school was working with police to stop this.[17] [18]

The Morley Academy stopped taking students into its sixth form provision in September 2015 due to the opening of Elliott Hudson College, a dedicated sixth form centre.[2]

Ofsted

An Ofsted inspection in 2006 found the school Grade 3 (Satisfactory) for overall effectiveness,[19] and in 2009, Grade 1 (Outstanding).[20] Ofsted re-evaluated the school with the same Grade 1 rating in 2013.[21]

Awards and recognition

In July 2001, the Arts Council awarded the Morley High School the Silver Level Artsmark. The school was one of three in Leeds and of only thirteen in Yorkshire to be so recognised.[22] The Morley Academy is a Specialist Technology College.

The school is one of only 200 schools in the country that have been awarded Teaching School Status.[23]

The Morley Academy was awarded the British Council's International School Award in 2014,[24] after forming a partnership with Buffelsdale Secondary School in Durban, South Africa.[25]

Notable former pupils

Morley Grammar School

Morley High School

Notable former teachers

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Morley Academy. 26 April 2016.
  2. News: New Leeds free school head predicts fewer smaller sixth forms. The Yorkshire Post. 26 April 2016.
  3. News: Morley Secondary School . 6 June 2022 . Leeds Mercury . 27 August 1906.
  4. Web site: Aerial View of Morley Grammar School . Leodis . 6 June 2022.
  5. http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Obits2/Airey_RAS_Obituary.html Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 98 (1938), 243–244
  6. Web site: McManus . Clive . Morley Secondary School and the Great War . November 2015 . Morley Local History Society . 5 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Morley Secondary School, the library, Fountain Street . Leodis . 6 June 2022.
  8. Web site: Fountain Street, Morley Grammar School, extension . Leodis . 6 June 2022.
  9. News: Carr . Stephen . Ralph Carr obituary . The Guardian . 10 March 2011 . 6 June 2022.
  10. Web site: Morley High School – WW1 Organ . Imperial War Museums . 3 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Hutchinson . Andrew . 25 photo memories of Morley in 1996 . Yorkshire Evening Post . 3 June 2022.
  12. Web site: Morley Grammar School – Plaques WW2 . Imperial War Museums . 3 June 2022.
  13. Web site: Chambers . Peter . The pros and cons of academy conversion . SecEd . 10 January 2013 . 2 June 2022.
  14. Frank . Norris . Academy conversion and predecessor schools. 16 February 2012 . https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/1904345 . 2 June 2022 .
  15. News: Morley torchbearers are honoured by their role . 3 June 2022 . Morley Observer & Advertiser . 20 June 2012.
  16. Web site: Broad . Stephanie . Academy invests in offsite building in order to open early . Academy Today . 3 June 2022.
  17. News: Morley pupils 'punished' over parents' social media posts . . 18 September 2015 .
  18. News: Police role in Leeds school's social media row . 18 September 2015 . Yorkshire Evening Post .
  19. Web site: Ofsted Communications Team . 15 December 2019 . Find an inspection report and registered childcare . 3 June 2022 . reports.ofsted.gov.uk.
  20. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/108078 "Morley High School"
  21. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/136392 "The Morley Academy"
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20021211223907/http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/artsmark/round1.htm "Round 1 Artsmark Awards"
  23. http://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/morley-academy-gains-teaching-status-1-4415066 "Morley Academy gains teaching status"
  24. News: International award for academy . 3 June 2022 . Morley Observer & Advertiser . 4 October 2014.
  25. News: South African links strengthened at The Morley Academy . 3 June 2022 . Morley Observer & Advertiser . 6 July 2013.
  26. Web site: Barker . Neil . Fan Karl cools off . Manchester Evening News . 30 June 2005 . 4 June 2022.
  27. Web site: Ritchie . Meabh . My best teacher – Brian Turner . Tes Magazine . 30 May 2022.
  28. Web site: John Ronald Womersley. O'Connor . J. . Robertson. E. F.. September 2021. MacTutor. University of St Andrews, Scotland. 19 July 2024.
  29. Web site: Dan Cammish outlines driving ambition to succeed in British Touring Cars . Yorkshire Evening Post . 30 May 2022.
  30. Web site: Spereall . David . Leeds South West and Morley: Labour Party selects Mark Sewards to fight new city seat in next general election . Yorkshire Evening Post . 1 August 2023 . 5 July 2024.
  31. News: Rose . Gary . Non-league's 'Mr Gibraltar' aiming to outshine Robert Lewandowski . BBC Sport . 30 May 2022.