Blackpool Aspire Academy

School history

Notable former pupils

Collegiate High School

• Matty Kay, professional footballer
• Matthew Blinkhorn, professional footballer
• Peter Lloyd Jones, PhD, scientist, author, inventor & co-founder of LabStudio at The University of Pennsylvania with Jenny E. Sabin

  Blackpool Grammar School

• Ian Anderson, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the head of rock band Jethro Tull who played two concerts at the school on 20 December 1965 and 4 April 1966.
• Colin Bradbury, principal clarinet, BBC Symphony Orchestra, 1960-1993
• Alistair Cooke, journalist, television personality and broadcaster
• John Robb, journalist, television personality and broadcaster and musician
• Rt Rev Kenneth Cragg, Anglican priest and scholar
• Peter Crampton, Labour Party MEP for Kingston upon Hull, 1989–99
• George Cunningham, Labour and Social Democratic Party MP for Islington South West from 1970 to 1974, and Islington South and Finsbury from 1974 to 1983
• Alfred Gregory, mountain climber, explorer and professional photographer
• Tony Gubba, journalist and sports commentator
• Sir Peter Hall, town planner, urbanist and geographer.
• Jeffrey Hammond, bass guitar player with Jethro Tull
• Arnold W. G. Kean, most notable for his contribution to the development of civil aviation law
• Bernard Langton, President of the Association of Port Health Authorities from 1972 to 1973
• Ernest Mason, World War II flying ace
• Mick McGuire, footballer for clubs including Coventry City and Norwich City
• Eric Mottram, teacher, critic, editor and poet
• Hargreaves Parkinson, Editor of the Financial Times from 1945 to 1950
• John Reynolds, Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen from 2003 to 2007
• Prof Tom Whiteside, Historian of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge
• Joseph Wright OBE, Chief Executive of the National Pharmaceutical Association from 1961 to 1981
• Rt Rev John Yates, Anglican clergyman. Bishop of Whitby from 1972 to 1975, then Bishop of Gloucester until 1992, and finally Bishop at Lambeth until 1994.

  Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls

• Ann Chant CB, Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency from 1991 and the Child Support Agency from 1994 to 1997
• Debbie Mellor OBE Head of the Employment Branch in the HR Directorate of the Dept. of Health
• Barbara Robotham, opera singer and voice teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music
• Annie St John, television continuity announcer and presenter.