Shuttleworth College, Padiham

Gawthorpe High School was a mixed 11-16 comprehensive school, originally opened in 1967 on land bequeathed from the Shuttleworth Estate.[1]

Following an OFSTED inspection in February 2008, the school went into special measures prompting the resignation of the then head teacher, Andrew Mackenzie.[2] Shortly afterwards Martin Burgess was appointed as the new head.[3]

Shuttleworth moved into new buildings on the former Gawthorpe site at the start of the 2008–09 academic year. Due to the nature of the BSF programme, the £20m, Capita Architecture designed structure and all its equipment is owned and maintained by Bovis Lend Lease.[4]

The building has a square exterior and features a full-height round atrium (which doubles as an auditorium), and eco-friendly features such as a Biomass heating system. The classrooms are grouped into colour-coded departments (e.g. Humanities = Orange), arranged over three floors. The all new facilities included: cutting edge IT and gym equipment, restaurant style kitchen, a dance studio, sports hall, fitness room, tennis courts, and all weather sports pitches.[5]

An Ofsted inspection report in June 2010 resulting in a “satisfactory but improving” grade, marked the end of the special measures status.[6] Following the retirement of Martin Burgess, Bob Wakefield was appointed head teacher in summer 2011.[7] In June 2014 Bob Wakefield stepped down, and Ruth England was appointed as the school's new head.[8]

137 were eligible, 43.1% of whom had special educational needs.

Absence: 10.5% total (7.2% locally, 7.3% nationally) 13.1% persistent (5.9% locally, 5.9% nationally). Source BBC.[10]