Whitley Academy (formerly Whitley Abbey Community School) was a

coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

and

sixth form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...

located in Whitley,

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The school was rebuilt and opened on 13 October 2000, replacing the former Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School built in the 1950s, which was one of the first

comprehensive schools A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is res ...

in Coventry. As of 28 January 2021, the school is permanently closed. In July 2007, Whitley Abbey Community School gained specialist status in Business and Enterprise and was renamed Whitley Abbey Business and Enterprise College. On 1 July 2011 Whitley Abbey Business and Enterprise College became an

Academy An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...

and was renamed to 'Whitley Academy'. The new academy was formally opened on 13 March 2012 by the

Princess Royal Princess Royal is a substantive title, style customarily (but not automatically) awarded by a United Kingdom, British monarch to their eldest daughter. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of th ...

. It was one of the seven schools in the RSA Family of Academies, all in the West Midlands, of the

Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), also known as the Royal Society of Arts, is a London-based organisation committed to finding practical solutions to social challenges. The RSA acronym is used m ...

. In July 2019 the governors of the school decided to leave the RSA. In January 2021 the school joined the Finham Park Multi Academy Trust.

Ofsted

Whitley has been inspected by

Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

3 times in the last 10 years. After 9 years of being 'Outstanding', in March 2019 the school received the 'Requires Improvement' grade, with it eventually receiving the 'Inadequate' rating in January 2020, possibly having lead to the school's closure a year later, with the school's reputation having been reportedly "ruined".

Whitley Arts

The website
‘Whitley Arts’
was launched in March, 2013, as an eCommerce website to sell unique pupil artwork, whilst at the same time showcasing the excellence and artistic flair of Whitley Academy pupils to a local and national audience. The project idea of Whitley Arts was commissioned by Lorraine Allen, then Principal, after initial discussions with Centre Stage Digital, the school Art Department and the Business Manager. The website was the first of its nature in Warwickshire, and one of only two such sites nationally, and has raised over £1,000 for pupils and the Whitley Art Faculty. Money raised from Whitley Arts and purchase of pupil art will help support the arts, the pupils and their learning.

Notable former pupils

Steven Armes Steven Peter Armes (born 1962) is a Professor of polymer chemistry and colloid chemistry at the University of Sheffield. Education Armes was educated at Whitley Abbey Comprehensive School in Coventry and the University of Bristol where he w ...

FRS, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield *

Peter Boddington Peter Boddington (1 October 1942 – 19 December 2020) was a British boxer. He was the Amateur Boxing Association 1967 heavyweight champion and subsequently a professional boxer. Boddington was member of his local boxing club, Rootes ABC. He ...

(b. 1942), British heavyweight amateur boxing champion in 1967 * Ian Taylor (b. 1945), politician *Sir

Paul Scott-Lee Sir Paul Joseph Scott-Lee QPM DL is a retired British police officer who served as Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary and West Midlands Police. Early life and career Scott-Lee was born in Coventry, and educated at Whitley Abbey Comprehen ...

(b. 1953), Chief Constable of West Midlands Police *

Richard Keys Richard Keys (born 23 April 1957) is an English sports presenter who has worked for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Talksport, Al Jazeera, Fox Sports, ESPN Star Sports , BeIN Sports; and has presented many top-level football matches. Career His ca ...

(b. 1957), television sports presenter *

Pete Waterman Peter Alan Waterman, (born 15 January 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterm ...

(b. 1947), record producer *Andrew Lomas, intellectual property lawyer and elected Councillor for Colville ward in Kensington and Chelsea *

Hitesh Thakrar Hitesh ( hi, हितेश) is a common Hindu masculine given name. The name literally means "one who thinks well of everyone." or "Lord of goodness." Hitesh हितेश in Hindi means Subh Chintak सुभ चिन्तक or well wisher. ...

, Portfolio Manager for Global Innovation Fund at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), awarded Innovation Fellowship by

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in 2012

References

External links

Whitley Academy official website
{{authority control Academies in Coventry Secondary schools in Coventry