Oldham Academy North
The Oldham Academy North (TOAN) is a mixed gender secondary school with academy status for 11- to 16-year-olds located in the Royton area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.
| The Oldham Academy North | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
Broadway, Royton , , OL2 5BF England | |
| Information | |
| Former name | Grange High School |
| Type | Academy |
| Motto | Trust, Endurance, Autonomy & Mastery |
| Established | 2010 |
| Trust | E-ACT |
| Department for Education URN | 136115 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Headteacher | Jessica Giraud |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 16 |
| Enrolment | 1138 |
| Website | https://theoldhamacademynorth.com/ |
The academy is sponsored by E-ACT. The school relocated to a new campus in Royton in 2013. It is also the home to Shaw Millionaires Ball Hockey Club.
In September 2019, TOAN opened the doors to its new £5 million building, which facilitates the entire Humanities' classrooms - along with several miscellaneous subjects and a "state-of-the-art" lecture theatre[1][2]
Some of the former headteachers were (oldest first): Gillian McMullen (at Grange School), Colette Burgess, Martin Knowles,Christopher Davis and Rachel Hallam.
Controversies
Students forced to pray outside
In 2021, video of Muslim TOAN students performing Friday prayers outside the academy "in the cold" circulated online. They attempted to pray inside, before a member of staff shouted at them. This caused online "outrage", condemnation and criticism from Muslims, and praise for the students for the commitment towards their religion.[3][4][5][6] The academy worked with Oldham Council and the Oldham Interfaith Forum to issue a joint statement, offering a "wholehearted" apology.[7]
Derogatory remarks by former headteacher
Old Tweets made by TOAN's headteacher Rachel Hallam were discovered in 2022 containing "racial and derogatory comments".[8] This too caused unrest and disappointment, though the Tweets were made more than a decade ago.[9] Hallam subsequently resigned before being appointed as headteacher at another school.[10]
Notable former pupils
Grange High School
- Anthony Flanagan, actor
References
- North, Oldham Academy (20 November 2019). "#TEAMTOAN Year 11 are the first students to use our brand new lecture theatre today. Absolute focus in their English lecture this morning. Thank you to all of the team for making it happen! @EACTNorth #Masterypic.twitter.com/hH247cuj8s". @OldhamAcademy. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "PA/340876/17 | 1) Proposed three storey teaching block to the rear of site with an attached single storey changing block 2) Single storey extension to existing building to increase dining area. 3) Internal upgrades and reconfiguration to the existing building. | Oldham Academy North Broadway Royton Oldham OL2 5BF". planningpa.oldham.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- MUSLIM STUDENTS FORCED TO PRAY OUTSIDE, retrieved 10 March 2023
- 5Pillars (RMS) (6 December 2021). "Oldham Academy North apologises after pupils pray outside in the cold". 5Pillars. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Oldham school apologises for pupils praying in freezing weather". islamchannel.tv. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Investigation launches after photos of Oldham pupils praying outside". The Oldham Times. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "In light of recent events at the Oldham Academy North please see a joint statement from the Oldham Interfaith Forum, Oldham Council and the Oldham Academy North". Twitter (in Danish). Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- Wilkinson, Damon; Matthews, Chris (3 February 2023). "Oldham headteacher who stepped down after derogatory tweets lands new job". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- "Headteacher accused of calling pupil a 'sl*t' in historic tweets". The Bolton News. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- Wilkinson, Damon; Matthews, Chris (3 February 2023). "Oldham headteacher who stepped down after derogatory tweets lands new job". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 March 2023.