Eye on Education: Royds Hall High School and Specialist Science College

IT has been at the heart of its community for the last 90 years as an educational institution.

And now Royds Hall High School and Specialist Science College is celebrating the old and also embracing the new as it becomes a Foundation school with Trust partners.

The school, which opened on September 20, 1921, will still be financed by the local authority.

But as a Foundation it will be able to set its own admissions policy and terms and conditions for staff.

The Trust will include headteacher Melanie Williams and chairman of governors Antony Scott, along with two other nominees from the school.

The Trust partners are Huddersfield Town Football Club, Holmfirth Fair Traders Co-operative Society, Huddersfield New College and Sheffield Hallam’s Centre for Science Education.

Ms Williams said: “We feel the partners we have are the partners who will enhance the educational provision of our school and staff.

“Together they will help to broaden the aspirations and horizons of our students.

“We really feel we are at the start of something very exciting here and are developing the future of the school.”

Preparations are well under way for a year of celebrations to mark the school’s nine decades as a community educator.

Afternoon tea with a string quartet in the school gardens on Saturday September 24 will be the first main event to mark the anniversary.

During the evening there will be a black tie event with buffet and live music.