Tag: Education

Alicia School of Dancing in St Annes

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Alicia’s School of Dancing operated from the 1920s to the 1960s from a studio behind this house at 123 St Andrews Road South in St Annes. It was a dance school offering classes in various styles, including ballet, tap, and modern. The school was active during that period, with students taking lessons and participating in showcases. While the full history beyond this period is not detailed, it represents a part of the local dance scene in St. Annes at that time. It was a place where students could develop their dance skills and participate in stage performances. The school’s presence… Read more »

Sir John Alcock Attends Heyhouses Endowed Church of England School

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Captain Sir John William Alcock KBE DSC (5 November 1892 – 19 December 1919) was a British Royal Navy and later Royal Air Force officer who, with navigator Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown, piloted the first non-stop transatlantic flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in June 1919. He died in a flying accident in France in December later that same year. John Alcock was born on 5 November 1892, perhaps in the coach-house adjoining Basford House on Seymour Grove, Firswood, Manchester, England. His family lived for eight years in Lytham. He attended Heyhouses School in Lytham St. Annes, from… Read more »

St Annes College Moves to Current Location

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St. Annes College is an independent co-educational day school for students from 2 to 18 years of age. There are three main departments; a Nursery for children aged 2 to 4+, an Infant and Junior School for children aged 4+ to 11 and a Grammar School for students aged from 11 to 18+. One of the main features of the College and one of its greatest strengths is the individual attention given to the students by virtue of the small classes. Classes in the College generally do not exceed 16 pupils and in such a small community both staff and… Read more »

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School

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St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School remains as Blackpool’s oldest school still providing education within its original building, which still survives on School Road. The original school on the Moss was a dame school, a converted c1830 cottage on Division Lane. When it became too small (and it literally is the size of a cottage) the school moved across to School Road where it shared some of the church buildings and gradually extra buildings were added. It opened on April 16th 1873 as a one room school and schoolhouse with 79 pupils. The present school was gifted to the… Read more »

Blackpool Girls’ Secondary School & Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls

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The Education Act of 1902 made local authorities responsible for providing secondary education for all, and so plans were put in place to provide an educational establishment in Blackpool that could deliver this. In 1906 the Blackpool Secondary School opened on Raikes Parade, with the school playing fields on St Walburgas Road; this rather impressive building would later become, and still is home to the Salvation Army. September 1925 saw the girls move to the Blackpool Girls’ Secondary School at the junction of Beech Avenue and Forest Gate, which was officially opened by Lady Stanley on the 23rd of October… Read more »

Fleetwood’s Brown & Jackson Becomes Eric Wright Construction

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Brown and Jackson in Fleetwood was founded in 1923, but was purchased in 1979 by Eric Wright, who changed the company name to Eric Wright Construction. This laid the foundation for what is now the Eric Wright Group (EWG). From those early beginnings, the company has been dedicated to developing a culture of excellence across the sectors of: construction, civil engineering, facilities management, water infrastructure and property development. Underpinned by a genuine belief in the value of establishing long-term relationships with partners and clients, the Group’s unique social focus and continued commercial success has also enabled them to consistently expand… Read more »

Highfield Leadership Academy Joins Trust

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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… Read more »

Opening of St John’s C of E Primary School

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St John’s CE Primary School may appear modern with its striking, award-winning building, but its legacy stretches back over two centuries. Established in 1817, when Blackpool was a small village of around 750 people, the school was born out of a community effort led by John Gisborne. Recognising the lack of educational provision for local children, he gathered subscriptions from residents, friends, and visitors to fund the town’s first free school. The original school building was constructed on Church Street—then known as Poulton Road—and the school has remained on that site ever since, apart from short breaks during rebuilding phases…. Read more »

The Opening of Palatine Leisure Centre & South Family Hub

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The Palatine Leisure Centre in Blackpool opened on 11 August 2005 after six years of planning and development. Located on St Anne’s Road in the South Shore area, it is operated by Blackpool Council and shares its site with the Palatine Library and South Shore Academy. The centre offers a wide range of facilities including a 25-meter, 8-lane competition swimming pool with a moveable floor, allowing for swimming competitions, water polo, and sub-aqua diving. There is also a family learner pool designed for swimming lessons and recreational use. The centre includes a well-equipped gym with cardiovascular and resistance machines, functional… Read more »

Palatine Library and Learning Centre First Opens

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The Palatine Public Library officially opened to the public on 8 September 1923, marking a significant moment in Blackpool’s cultural and educational history. Its origins, however, trace back to 1920, when Boy Scout Troop One began collecting books with the aim of creating a community resource. Their efforts laid the foundation for what would become a cornerstone of public learning and literacy in the area. The library’s formal opening in 1923 signalled the beginning of a new chapter in accessible education and community enrichment, offering local residents the opportunity to borrow books and engage with a growing range of services…. Read more »