Albany Academy (formerly Albany Science College, Albany High School and St Alban's) is a

secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...

with academy status located on the south side of

Chorley Chorley is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England, north of Wigan, south west of Blackburn, north west of Bolton, south of Preston and north west of Manchester. The town's wealth ca ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, England. Albany Academy has specialist status in science and was one of the first schools in the country to convert to academy status. The school is the founding member of the Albany Learning Trust, a

Multi-academy trust Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) or academy chain is an academy trust that operates more than one academy school. Academy schools are state-funded schools in England which are directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local aut ...

- the first Trust of its type in Lancashire.

History

Secondary school

The school was originally opened as St. Alban's, and was built on the former Yarrow House next to the

river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

of the same name. In 1982, the School adopted a new name, Albany High School, and was subsequently renamed Albany Science College, before becoming Albany Academy when it converted to academy status. The school was rated good by Ofsted in January 2023

Buildings

The former house was the birthplace and childhood home of ''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British ocean liner that sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 as a result of striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers a ...

'' first mate Charles Lightoller. This has been commemorated by a blue plaque on the school gates and the renaming of the school's canteen to ''Lightoller's Diner''. Albany Academy have developed opportunities and social activities focused on leisure, health and career development. In addition, a wide range of services and facilities available to hire by community groups, local sports clubs and businesses in the local area. Facilities are available for hire. These include: Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Fully fitted fitness suite Classrooms with ICT facilities and large hall with stage and a sports field.

Educational Results

Albany Academy is consistently one of the top ten performing schools in Lancashire. The school is outstanding in pupil behaviour and safety and is also outstanding in leadership and management

Media

The school appeared on the TV Show Canteen Rescue in 2010, after winning an award to have the school canteen re-decorated. The theme was a 1950s style American Diner.

Employment

Albany Academy is accredited as a Living Wage Employer.

References

Schools in Chorley Educational institutions established in 1960 1960 establishments in England Secondary schools in Lancashire Academies in Lancashire {{Lancashire-school-stub