Previously a community school administered by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Hayward School converted to academy status in September 2009 and was renamed Essa Academy. However the school continues to coordinate with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council for admissions.
The school moved to new buildings in 2011[2] which include sports facilities that are available to pupils and the local community.[3] In September 2014 Essa Primary School opened in the grounds of the Essa Academy in separate buildings.[4]
BBC journalist and newsreader Clive Myrie was a pupil at the then named Hayward Grammar School.