Habergham High School was formed in 1981 from the merger of the male Burnley Grammar School and the neighbouring female Burnley High School for Girls and quickly earned a reputation as the borough's leading mixed comprehensive school. Ivy Bank was initially a girls' high school that shared the site of the other two schools, and it also became a mixed comprehensive in 1981. This school enjoyed a steadily improving reputation, becoming one of the first specialist business and enterprise colleges in the country in 2002.
Early history
The school suffered an unexpectedly troubled birth, with the police attending numerous violent incidents in the first few weeks of its opening. This resulted in the installation of a CCTV system in the school’s temporary buildings. The institution was put into special measures by OFSTED after an inspection in February 2007 in which it was placed in the lowest category, and saw a drop in pupil numbers. A serious racially motivated assault in December 2007 resulted in a large drop in attendance, and marked the lowest point in the school’s history to date. In June 2009, the school came out of special measures and was awarded the status of a "satisfactory, but an improving school".
New building
Hameldon moved to a new £22m building on Coal Clough Lane in September 2010. The grounds were host to a variety of student learning resources such as pets: guinea pigs; three chickens ; and fish, frogs and ducks in the pond. In 2016 the headteacher, Gill Broom retired and was replaced by Associate Headteacher, Gillian Jackson, who was then later replaced by three headteachers sharing the role.
Curriculum
At Key Stage 3 students study English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technology, French, Art, Music, Design Technology, Geography, History, Physical Education, Religious Education and Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education. In Years 8 and 9 some students study an additional language. At Key Stage 4 students study English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Religious Education and Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education, together with a range of optional subjects. Both GCSE and vocational qualifications are offered. The student-run radio station, HFM, is one of only two school stations in the northwest to belong to the Student Radio Association. HFM Student Radio now broadcasts over the internet worldwide 24/7, term time only.
Attainment
In 2007, the school's value-added measure was 970.1, which placed it in the bottom 5% nationally for adding value between the end of Key Stage 2 and the end of Key Stage 4. By 2010 this figure had fallen to 953.6, placing it in the bottom 100 schools nationally.
