Blackfriars Academy
Location
Newcastle-under-Lyme/Bucknall , Staffordshire England
Coordinates	53°00′30″N 2°13′55″W / 53.00824°N 2.23181°W / 53.00824; -2.23181
Information
Type	Special school; Academy
Established	1960
Local authority	Staffordshire
Trust	Shaw Education Trust
Department for Education URN	141448 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Gender	Mixed
Age	5 to 19
Website	http://www.bcfederation.co.uk/

Blackfriars Academy (formerly Blackfriars School) is a mixed special school of approximately 200 pupils, covering an age range of 11 to 19,^[1] with a range of physical, learning, medical and sensory needs who come from North and Central Staffordshire and the Unitary Authority of Stoke-on-Trent. The school is based in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. It has a swimming pool on campus.^[2]

History

Blackfriars Academy opened in September 1960. It was granted High Performing Specialist Status in February 2006.^{[citation needed]} One of the first Beacon Schools, the school is also part of the Leading Edge Partnership programme. It is also integrated into the community due to its Technology College status. In October 2014, the school converted to academy status as part of the Shaw Education Trust,^[3] and the school was then renamed Blackfriars Academy.

Staffing

The school's teams of staff consist of teachers, teaching assistants, physiotherapists, speech therapists, medical and social agencies and ancillary staff. The total staff is 90.^[1]

Notable former pupils

• Denise Leigh, winner of Channel 4's Operatunity
• Paul Henshall, actor