Staff and pupils returned to school after the six week holiday with lots to be proud of. Not only were they greeted with stunning new facilities, Worden were also celebrating yet another improvement in their GCSE results. The proportion of pupils leaving Worden, this summer, with five good passes, including the all-important English and maths qualifications, was up yet again by an impressive 12%.
Over the summer break Academy@Worden has been transformed and further funding from the government will see additional improvements throughout 2017-18. The school kitchens have been completely renewed and the dining facilities extended and transformed with new flooring, lighting and furniture. Old style tables have been replaced with modern light coloured ones with new bench seating. There is seating for an extra one hundred pupils which was essential due the increased popularity of Leyland’s premier academy. Chris Catherall, Headteacher, said “The school was basically a building site during the holiday but everyone has pulled together to ensure school was ready to welcome everyone back after their break. The kitchens are now state of the art and the new dining rooms look fantastic. The pupils were amazed at the changes we’ve made and new till points mean that service has speeded up considerably. They love it.”
At the other end of the school, an old kitchen is now a plush new conference room which has further enhanced facilities at Worden. The Headteacher added, “The work we have done so far has cost over £300K and was financed by the education funding authority. We have also secured an additional grant, in excess of £600K, to carry out further improvement which should be fully completed by this time next year.” Planned work includes improvements to fire safety with new doors, ceilings and lighting in corridors and several classrooms. There will be new surfaces to the outside courts as well as in the gym and sports hall, providing additional space and resources for the increasing number of pupils attending the continually improving academy.
Finally, Chris Catherall, spoke about the future of the academy, “It’s been a fantastic summer and I am confident that prospective pupils and parents who attend our Open Evening on the 28th September will be delighted with the improvements and standard of education and support we provide for every single pupil. I am confident that we will be oversubscribed again for September 2018 and I am looking forward to another great set of results next year and beyond.”
