Tag: Education

Karen Hunter Starts Tiptoes Dance Academy

Karen Hunter started Tiptoes back in 1996 and sold it to Stephanie Harker in 2007, though Stephanie worked with Karen from those early days. Based in Blackpool, their dance school offers friendly children’s dance classes in ballet, modern, acro and tap dancing to all levels of ability from the age of two and a half upwards. They encourage and support their students in order to establish a strong foundation to help them grow in confidence and improve their technique. From experienced dancers to first timers, the school makes sure all of their students have a great time! As the Principal,…

Armfield Academy Opens on Former Site of Arnold School

Armfield Academy is a new school that opened in September 2018, built on the site of the former Arnold School, which was established in the late 1800s. The academy was named in honor of Blackpool FC legend and former Arnold pupil, Jimmy Armfield, and is run by the Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT). The new building was created to replace the outdated Arnold School facilities, aiming to provide a better learning environment for young people on the Fylde Coast.

Scream Theatre Schools

Scream Theatre Schools was established in 1998 in Blackpool. It offers classes in dance, drama, and singing for both children and adults. The school is known for its accredited Arts Award program and its focus on developing students’ confidence and skills in the performing arts. Scream Theatre Schools also has a talent agency component, helping students pursue careers in TV, film, and theatre. The school provides training in acting, dance, and singing, aiming to nurture students’ talent and confidence. It is an accredited Arts Award School. Over the years, the school has expanded its offerings and facilities, including the establishment… Read more »

Alicia School of Dancing in St Annes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 »