Highfield Leadership Academy Joins Trust

Highfield Leadership Academy in Blackpool is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with capacity for around 1,200 students. The school became part of Star Academies — a multi-academy trust that operates a range of schools across the country — on 1 April 2016. Since joining the trust, Highfield has focused on fostering a culture of aspiration and self-belief, aiming to raise standards through personalised learning and consistent monitoring of each pupil’s development.

The school implements a structured and data-driven approach to education. Each student has an individual learning plan tailored to both challenge and support them in reaching their academic potential. Attendance, behaviour, and academic progress are all closely monitored, with interventions put in place early when concerns arise. Parents play a key role in this system, receiving detailed report cards every half-term and being invited to performance review meetings when necessary. These sessions aim to create a shared responsibility for improvement, setting realistic but ambitious targets for the students involved.

Highfield operates within a modern, purpose-built facility that was developed as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative. Completed with a BREEAM “Excellent” environmental rating, the three-storey, 12,800 square metre building offers a forward-thinking educational environment. It features a large central atrium that connects various learning spaces, including eight fully equipped science laboratories, specialist classrooms, and an array of creative and performing arts facilities. These include a 350-seat theatre, a drama studio, a music suite with recording facilities, and a design technology suite. The building also houses a well-resourced library, a large restaurant-style dining area, and a full-sized sports hall, providing a broad platform for both academic and extracurricular development.

Much of the mechanical and electrical work on the new campus was delivered by Blackpool-based firm Ameon, with Eric Wright Construction serving as the main contractor. The result is a comprehensive learning environment designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body, combining high academic expectations with the infrastructure to support success across a wide range of subjects.