The Lowry Academy (formerly Harrop Fold School) is a coeducational secondary school located in Salford, Greater Manchester, England,[1] which serves pupils from Little Hulton and Walkden. The school came to prominence from being featured in the Educating... TV series.

The Lowry Academy
Address
Map
Hilton Lane


, ,
M28 0SY

England
Coordinates53°31′20″N 2°24′38″W / 53.5221°N 2.41048°W / 53.5221; -2.41048
Information
TypeAcademy
Local authoritySalford City Council
TrustUnited Learning
Department for Education URN148393 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalClaire Coy
GenderCoeducational
Age11 to 16
Websitehttps://www.lowryacademy.org.uk/

The school is named after the noted Salford artist, L.S. Lowry.[2]

History

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The school was formed in 2001 from the merger of Joseph Eastham High School in Salford and Little Hulton Community School in Little Hulton. Originally on both former schools' sites, a new building was subsequently constructed on the playing fields of Joseph Eastham High School and the old building demolished in 2008.

The school has a very high proportion of pupils who are economically disadvantaged.[3]

In 2003, Ofsted inspectors told the governing body that Harrop Fold was the "worst school in the country".[4]

In 2005, the school had improved and 94% of teaching was judged satisfactory or better.[5][6]

In 2010 and again in 2013 the school was judged Good.[7][8]

In 2018 the headteacher, Drew Povey, was first suspended and then resigned.[9] This was linked to allegations that the school had wrongly recorded information, possibly in order to make results appear better than they were ("off-rolling").[10] He had served as headteacher since February 2010.[11] Later in the year the school was judged Inadequate and placed back into Special Measures.[3]

Previously a community school administered by Salford City Council, in March 2021 Harrop Fold School converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by United Learning.[12] In September 2021 the school completed its transformation and was renamed The Lowry Academy, after the Salford-born artist, L.S. Lowry,[2] with a new uniform and logo.[13]

Television coverage

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The school featured in Educating Greater Manchester on Channel 4.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Prospectus" (PDF). The Lowry Academy. 2022. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Harrop Fold School: School report". Ofsted. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. ^ Billen, Andrew (13 October 2018). "Drew Povey interview – why the Educating Greater Manchester star left Harrop Fold School". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Improved school wins PM's praise". Bolton News. 19 December 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. ^ Alistair Smith (3 February 2010). Winning the H Factor: The Secrets of Happy Schools. A&C Black. pp. 76–. ISBN 978-1-85539-570-1. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Harrop Fold School". Ofsted. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Harrop Fold School: School report". Ofsted. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  9. ^ Pidd, Helen (18 September 2018). "Educating Greater Manchester head quits over 'council vendetta'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  10. ^ Keeling, Neal (18 September 2018). "Drew Povey: 'They have used this admin error to get what they really wanted - which was me out'". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Harrop Fold School: Inspection report". Ofsted. 28 September 2010. p. 3. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  12. ^ "United Learning > Home". Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Logo". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021.
  14. ^ Ryan, Gary (25 September 2017). "Those who can". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.

Further reading

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  • Povey, Drew (2017) Educating Drew: The real story of Harrop Fold School (John Catt Educational)
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