The school was originally built in 1933 as Rothwell Grammar School to serve the needs of children in Rothwell and the surrounding areas. Edwin Robert Manley was headteacher from 1933 to 1965. He was active in local politics, and he wrote and self-published Meet the Miner.^[2]

In 2008 it moved into a £93 million building.^{[citation needed]}

The school became an academy in summer 2012.^[3]

Rodillian Multi Academy Trust edit

In December 2013 the Rodillian Academy was approved by the Department for Education to become an academy sponsor.^[4] The Rodillian Multi Academy Trust was formed in September 2014 with the Rodillian Academy acting as the lead school in the trust that also includes The Featherstone Academy.^{[citation needed]}

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2016, the school's overall effectiveness was found to be 'good'. Both the effectiveness of the school's leadership and management and the personal development, behaviour and welfare pupils were judged to be outstanding.^[5]

In September 2008, Rodillian moved to a newly built school as part of the Leeds BSF Project. At the new school are a lecture theatre, a library, sporting facilities including fitness centres and gyms, dance halls and PE classrooms.^[6] Part of the new build is a children's centre that allows for use of the school's sporting and educational facilities by children up to five years of age.^[7]

The school's main sport was Rugby Union.^[8]

The school's academic performance has improved over the last 5 years and it is now regarded^{[by whom?]} as one of the most improved schools in the North of England. Rodillian has improved its exam results from 19% 5 A*-C including English and Maths in 2007 to 49% in 2010, 48% in 2011 and in 2012 64%

The school has also improved its percentage of pupils gaining 5 A*-C from 35% in 2007 to 87% in 2011.

Rothwell Grammar School edit

• Jack Birkenshaw MBE – Cricketer^[9]
• Richard Newby, Baron Newby OBE – Liberal Democrat peer^[10] 101st Captain of the Sovereign's Body Guard^[11]
• John N. Reeve – Professor of Microbiology at Ohio State University
• Ian McNaught-Davis – mountaineer and broadcaster^[12]
• Jean Denton, Baroness Denton of Wakefield – racing driver, businesswoman, Conservative government minister^[13]
• Sir Hugh Fish CBE – Chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council from 1984–88, President of the Institute of Fisheries Management from 1987–99 and of the Freshwater Biological Association from 1972-74^[14]

Rodillian School edit

• Carl Ablett – Leeds first team rugby league player
• Mark Bell – musician, one half of LFO
• Gareth Evans – former Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Blackpool footballer
• Alan Smith – former Leeds United, Manchester United and Newcastle United footballer
• Robert Shaw Cameron – actor and theatre director

• Harry Gration – journalist & broadcaster, former head of history

• The Rodillian Academy official website^{[dead link]}
• The Rodillian OFSTED report^{[dead link]}
• EduBase^{[dead link]}
• School Net ^{[dead link]}
• Direct Government Website^{[dead link]}
• Official School Website^{[dead link]}
• Ofsted 2008^{[dead link]}
• BSF Details