The Rodillian Academy

The Rodillian Academy (formerly Rodillian School) is a mixed secondary School and sixth form with academy status located in Lofthouse, West Yorkshire, England. The school has 1,337 pupils aged between 11 and 18. The school also has Specialist Arts College status. The name 'Rodillian' is derived from the name that was given to former pupils of the Rothwell Grammar School.

History

The school was originally built in 1933 as Rothwell Grammar School to serve the needs of children in Rothwell and the surrounding areas. E.R. Manley was headteacher from 1933 to 1965. He was active in local politics and published Meet the Miner.^[1]

In 2008 it moved into a state-of-the-art £93 million building.

The school became an academy in August 2012 and is now in the top 1% of schools delivering most improvement in the country.

The Rodillian Multi Academy Trust

In December 2013 the Rodillian Academy was approved by the Department for Education to become an academy sponsor.^[2] The Rodillian Multi Academy Trust was formed in September 2014 with the Rodillian Academy acting as the lead school in the trust that also includes the Featherstone Academy and Leeds Jewish Free School.

Inspections

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2016, the school's overall effectiveness was found to be Good. Both the effectiveness of the school's leadership and management and the personal development, behaviour and welfare pupils were judged to be outstanding.^[3]

Buildings

In September 2008, Rodillian moved to a newly built School as part of the Leeds BSF Project. At the new school are lecture theatres, a library, sporting facilities including fitness centres, and gyms, dance halls and PE classrooms. Part of the new build is a Children's Centre that allows for use of the school's sporting and educational facilities by children up to five years of age.

Rugby

The school's main sport was Rugby League.^[4] In recent years the 03-08 year and 05–10 years have dominated the Leeds Rugby League competitions. Both have won the Leeds Schools Cup, reaching the Yorkshire finals, and reaching the semi finals of the national competition, the Carnegie Champion Schools Cup.

Academic performance

The school's academic performance has improved over the last 5 years and it is now regarded as one of the most improved schools in the North of England. Rodillian has improved its exam results from 19% 5 A*-C including English and Maths in 2007 to 49% in 2010, 48% in 2011 and in 2012 64%

The school has also improved its percentage of pupils gaining 5 A*-C from 35% in 2007 to 87% in 2011.

In 2012 the school achieved a percentage pass rate of 90% of pupils gaining 5* A - C in their GCSE's.

At A-Level student performance is graded as an ALPS of 2, equalling the teaching of A-Level to some of the best nationally.

Notable alumni

Rothwell Grammar School

• Jack Birkenshaw MBE – Cricketer^[5]
• Richard Newby, Baron Newby OBE – Liberal Democrat peer^[6] 101st Captain of the Sovereign's Body Guard^[7]
• John N. Reeve – Professor of Microbiology at Ohio State University
• Ian McNaught-Davis – mountaineer and broadcaster^[8]
• Jean Denton, Baroness Denton of Wakefield – racing driver, businesswoman, Conservative government minister^[9]
• Sir Hugh Fish CBE, Chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council from 1984–88, President of the Institute of Fisheries Management from 1987–99 and of the Freshwater Biological Association from 1972-74^[10]

Rodillian School

• Carl Ablett – Leeds first team rugby league player
• Mark Bell – musician, one half of LFO
• Gareth Evans – former Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Blackpool footballer
• Alan Smith – former Leeds United, Manchester United and Newcastle United footballer
• Robert Shaw Cameron – actor and theatre director

References

External links

• The Rodillian Academy official website
• The Rodillian OFSTED report
• EduBase
• School Net
• Direct Government Website
• Official School Website
• Ofsted UK Schools Inspectors
• Ofsted 2008
• BSF Details