The Hayfield School is a secondary school in Auckley, Doncaster, in the county of South Yorkshire, England. As of 2010, it teaches around 1100 pupils of 11–16 years of age. It has specialist statuses in Mathematics and Computing and also in Languages. It is also a training school and registered in 2010 to become an academy.
History
The school opened in 1971, with Tony Storey OBE as headmaster. In 1990 school finances came under control of the governors and the school. Further independence was gained in 1995: Grant Maintained Status with the Governors becoming 'owners' of the site and buildings, and employers for all staff. Some of these authorities were lost in 1999 as the school became a foundation school. In 2008, Tony Storey, Britain's longest serving headmaster, retired after 37 years of service and was succeeded by Sai Patel. In March 2012 Patel was suspended by the school governors. Maria Rock stood in as acting headmistress during Patel's absence. In the summer term of 2012 it was announced to parents and students that Patel would not be returning to the Hayfield School, and on 29 October 2012 Rock was made headmistress. On 13 April 2015 Fox was made as headmistress as Rock retired in Easter. The Hayfield School closed its sixth form in August 2017 due to changes in funding. NEW College, Pontefract openedNEW College, Doncaster on The Hayfield School site in a new building which opened in September 2017, accommodating 1200 sixth form students.
School site
Construction of the original school building began in 1969 on a greenfield site in a rural suburban setting. It is square-shaped but contains two courtyards. There is a field behind the building used by the school that is one kilometre in perimeter. Additionally there are floodlit AstroTurf, and concrete courts owned by the school but managed by Hayfield Community Sports Centre. The facilities are utilised by both the school and the community of Auckley A new block with specialised science classrooms was added to the school in 2003. On 5 December 2013 sections of the school roof blew off during high winds leading to a temporary roof being installed to enable the school to reopen in January 2014.
Curriculum
The school's curriculum includes a compulsory modern foreign language, and optional triple science at GCSE level. General studies and critical thinking can be taken at AS level by pupils and a project was undertaken to offer students a critical thinking course before sixth form. In 2009 the school received a Grade 2 Ofsted rating.
Branding
Originally, the school's colours were brown and yellow. The school uniform was primarily brown until 2005; at this point, the uniform became primarily black. Striped ties signify the student's year group - a single year group keeps the same colour tie for the entirety of their time at the school. A re-branding occurred in 2009 in which the colours were changed to black and green along with a new logo and website. From September 2012 school blazers were an optional part of the uniform, previously only v-neck jumpers or cardigans being allowed. The Sixth form, until this time following the same uniform as the rest of the school, now wear formal business attire. From September 2013 the blazers were worn for only certain year groups. September 2017 saw the introduction of a new Navy and Blue uniform along with a modified logo. February 2017 saw the launch of a new rebranded website.
Notable alumni
Steven Judge, twice World Champion in Paratriathlon, at the 2011 ITU World Championship Series in Beijing and the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series in Auckland, competing in the TRI 3 category. Dan Cocker, current producer of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, attended Hayfield between 1989 and 1996. Louis Tomlinson, former band member of One Direction also is an alumnus of the Hayfield Academy. His single, "Just Hold On", his solo venture post the band's hiatus, won great accolades. He also subsequently released his other singles, "Miss You", "Back to You" and "Just Like You"
