Airedale Academy

Airedale Academy is a secondary school and sixth form on Crewe Road in a suburb of Castleford in West Yorkshire, England.AdmissionsIt teaches children from 11 - 16. It was recently given the status of Arts College for its performing arts.HistoryIn February 1995, the school suffered its first arson attack, in which a large teaching block was lost.In June 2003, arsonists burnt down part of the lower school, causing £1 million of damage. The refurbishment after the fire was officially opened in September 2005.Arsonists set the school alight again on 17 January 2006. Around 100 firefighters attended the blaze. It destroyed three drama studios and the upper school's main hall. A new state of the art Drama department and theatre (Castleford Phoenix Theatre) was officially opened in October 2008.In the academic year 2011-12, Airedale Academy took its first cohort of sixth form students in at AS LevelIn late 2011, Principal, Paul Frazer, left and, Michaela Blackledge took his place.Academic performanceIn 2008 the school received a rating of Grade 2 from Ofsted.Castleford Phoenix TheatreThe Castleford Phoenix Theatre (at Airedale Academy), is West Yorkshire's latest Performing Art's, conference and education centre.Academy statusThe school has been granted academy status and converted on 1 April 2011.Sixth FormIn the academic year 2011-12, Airedale Academy opened a satellite sixth form of Ossett Academy. The five main study areas are, Business Studies, English Literature, Performing Arts, ICT, and Health & Social Care.