Shortly after academy conversion, in January 2012, Freman yet again retained a good Ofsted grade, as did the sixth form. In March 2012 the school announced a decision to ban skirts because of concerns about skirt length.
Following its transformation into an academy, Freman maintained a high Ofsted rating in January 2012, with the sixth form also achieving this standard. Later that year, the school announced it would no longer permit students to wear skirts, citing issues related to skirt length.