The Morley Academy

The Morley Academy is a mixed secondary school located in Morley, West Yorkshire, England.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The school forms part of the Gorse Academies Trust which also includes The Farnley Academy, The Ruth Gorse Academy and the Elliott Hudson College.<ref name="yorkshirepost.co.uk">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="aerial">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The school's foundation stone was laid by Alderman Samuel Rhodes, the Mayor of Morley, in 1907.<ref name="aerial"></ref> The first head teacher was John Robinson Airey (1868–1937), a nationally renowned mathematician.<ref name=JRA>Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 98 (1938), 243–244 Obituary: John Robinson Airey</ref>

During the First World War pupils at Morley Secondary School raised £5,000 to pay for school uniforms for struggling families in the school.Template:Citation needed 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1930–1975: Morley Grammar School

Morley Secondary School became Morley Grammar School in 1930.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1963, the school was extended to include a kitchen, main hall, dining room, and sports changing rooms.<ref name="extension">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1975–2011: Morley High School

Morley Grammar School became a mixed comprehensive in 1975,<ref name="extension"></ref> under headmaster J. R. (Ralph) Carr.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1996, the school's Assembly Hall was destroyed by fire.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Two Second World War plaques were saved from the fire, and re-dedicated in 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2011–present: The Morley Academy

In early 2011, Morley High School became The Morley Academy, under the Academies Act 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite letter </ref>

On 25 June 2012, The Morley Academy hosted the Olympic Torch during its tour of the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Between 2014 and 2016, The Ruth Gorse Academy operated from temporary facilities within the grounds of The Morley Academy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="yorkshirepost.co.uk"/>

Ofsted

An Ofsted inspection in 2006 found the school Grade 3 (Satisfactory) for overall effectiveness,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in 2009, Grade 1 (Outstanding).<ref name=HighSchoolOfsted>"Morley High School" Template:Webarchive, Ofsted reports 1999–2009. Retrieved 13 November 2013. PDF download required</ref> Ofsted re-evaluated the school with the same Grade 1 rating in 2013.<ref>"The Morley Academy", Ofsted report 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2013. PDF download required</ref>

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.<ref>"Round 1 Artsmark Awards". Arts Council (web archive). Retrieved 13 November 2013</ref> 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.<ref>"Morley Academy gains teaching status", Morley Observer and Advertiser, 4 April 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2013</ref>

The Morley Academy was awarded the British Council's International School Award in 2014,<ref name="international">Template:Cite news</ref> after forming a partnership with Buffelsdale Secondary School in Durban, South Africa.<ref name="international"></ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable former pupils

Morley Grammar School

• Karl Harrison, rugby league footballer and coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Brian Turner CBE, chef.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• John R. Womersley, mathematician and computer scientist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Edwin Bolland, diplomat.

Morley High School

• Dan Cammish, racing driver.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Mark Sewards, Labour politician.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Notable former teachers

• Jeremy Jackman, choral director, composer and arranger, and formerly a counter-tenor of the King's Singers
• Adam Priestley, Gibraltar football player.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• "Morley Grammar School, aerial view", Leodis.net
• "Morley Grammar, Secondary or High School", Homepage.ntlworld.com