Hanson Academy has a proud heritage being established as a place of education over a century ago, in 1897. Delta Academies Trust welcomed Hanson into its Trust in July 2022.

Hanson is a large academy with an average of 285 students in each lower year group. The long established Sixth Form caters for a further 200 – 300 students, offering a range of level 2 and level 3 academic and vocational courses, and including a partnership with Pro-Elite which is a Football & Education Programme for students 16-18 years.

Hanson is a large academy (11 – 18) located in BD2 and predominantly serving Bolton and Undercliffe. These are areas characterised by pockets of deprivation, with the main socio-economic indicators of unemployment, income and life expectancy falling outside the average for Bradford.

The academy serves a largely disadvantaged community with 49.8% of pupils identifying as pupil premium, significantly above the national average of 29%, and 43.5% eligible for free school meals, compared to the national average of 12%.

Hanson Academy has 48 main feeder primary schools, with the majority of our students living within a 3-mile radius and either walking or cycling every day.

The highest proportion of our students identify as White British (67.9%), with a further 15.3% of students identifying as being from one other ethnic minority (Pakistani). 24.2% of our total cohort are designated to be EAL. We have a small cohort of students who qualify for an EHCP (4.9%) and have a further 12.1% of students who are designated as SEN and receive support. Hanson Academy also has a centre called The Arc where the needs of visually impaired and hearing impaired students from across the whole of Bradford, are met by specialist teachers.

To ensure all our students access the appropriate provision for their individual needs we access support for those with extreme behavioural and emotional needs from the Elland Academy in Leeds, which is a registered Alternative Provision within Delta Academies Trust.

As a diverse but integrated population we take great pride in developing students’ characters and developing their understanding and acceptance of each other and their different backgrounds. We continually promote high expectations of our students, fully appreciating that nurturing the development of young people is a unique privilege. We strive to provide a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum that respects the needs of all pupils as well as one that encourages young people to seek continuous development and improvement, which in turn will enhance their life chances.

Mr Sam Sheedy – Principal