We have seen first hand the level of care and consideration shown towards the children. The school’s deliberateness towards levelling the playing field speaks to our values around social justice, inclusion and diversity. Parent
Welcome
Benedict Academy is an excellent one form entry school with a nursery, based in spacious grounds in Mitcham, Merton.
We are delighted to welcome you to Benedict Academy, where we support children to be the best that they can be.
Choosing the right school for your child’s education is an important decision. At Benedict, we put pupils at the centre of decision making, and are committed to ensuring that each child thrives. We pride ourselves on our strong relationships with the children and the community, our history of academic success and how we support each child’s wider development. We know that our pupils are the future of the community. Therefore, everything that we do strives to ensure that each child is successful; better placed to make knowledge-informed decisions about their future, and that of the world!
At Benedict, we deliver a values-driven curriculum that develops character. This is one where children are encouraged to work hard, be kind and courteous, show self-regulation and to recognise the importance of gratitude. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum, and we have a carefully sequenced, broad and balanced offer whereby children are taught the powerful knowledge needed to be curious about and engage with the world around them.
We make it our duty to teach the whole child, ensuring that children have the knowledge and skills needed to navigate our increasingly complex world. Furthermore, all pupils have access to specialist provision for music and sports.
Our approach to teaching and learning is based on the latest scientific evidence. We understand that learning is a change in long-term memory and that deliberate and intentional practice leads to fluency. Our staff engage in ongoing and rigorous professional development to ensure that children make excellent progress. Our high standards has meant that we are one of the top performing schools in Merton for academic success.
We are privileged to work with the talented team of teachers, support staff and pupils at Benedict Academy. We welcome visitors and ask you to contact the school office and arrange a tour as we would be proud to show you around our wonderful school. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Felicity Gilmore Executive Head Teacher
Our Values:
Passion
Urgency
Positivity
Aspiration
Commitment
STEP Academy Trust
STEP Academy Trust was established in 2011. The mission of the Trust, to improve the life chances of all children, where we have the capacity to make a difference, we are morally bound to so, is what binds the Trust together as one.
Our unique way of operating as one organisation across multiple sites allows an agreed level of consistency, and support, which enables all children to access the highest level of education.
As part of our commitment to equality, we champion respect and inclusivity in our academies. The well-being of our pupils, staff and stakeholders is paramount to us and we aim to provide a happy, safe and secure environment across our communities.
Because we work as one team across many academies, your child will have the opportunity to enjoy inter-STEP tournaments for Sports and Debating. We also safeguard your child’s health by providing a nutritious meal, freshly prepared by our in-house catering team.
We hope you enjoy finding out more about our academies, though please do look around and ask our team anything further you would like to know. We would love for you to pick one of our amazing academies for your child’s ongoing educational journey.
Paul Glover CEO
What Pupils Say About Us:
I love how I represent other children in the academy on the Pupil Parliament. I like the fact that I can act like the Prime Minister. I have learnt about the skills of debating and this has helped me to be patient, be a good listener and know that children have the right to speak.
Our Curriculum Approach
What Parents Say About Us:
I have really enjoyed all of the provision for parents that help with the children’s learning! The school is a well-knit team, and it has really helped me to engage with new experiences provided within the school.
At Benedict Academy, we value the importance of developing well-rounded, emotionally intelligent learners who have the values, knowledge and skills to engage positively and curiously with the world around them.
Our pedagogical approach to teaching and learning is based on the latest scientific evidence. We understand that learning is a change in long-term memory, that excellent conduct is essential and that deliberate practice leads to fluency.
When implementing our curriculum, each subject is taught according to the following principles:
• That learning is a change in long term memory.
• To prioritise teacher-directed-instruction: Teachers explicitly teach knowledge in small steps and in a hierarchical manner, making links between concepts explicit, and carefully selecting models and examples. This results in a well-organised schema.
• To teach to mastery – promoting a deep understanding of a particular concept, before moving on.
• That pupils engage in deliberate practice, and that they are guided through the learning process until they can perform independently.
• To assess frequently and deliberately, providing systematic feedback and corrections.
• To regularly retrieve knowledge from memory to help pupils in remembering and organising their knowledge.
You can find detailed plans and information regarding our curriculum by visiting our website: www.benedictacademy.org
Enrichment and Extra-curricular Activities
We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities, trips and activities to support pupil’s wider development.
At Benedict Academy, it is important for us to ensure we are enriching our curriculum with a wide range and variety of experiences for our children and community. We carefully plan out additional opportunities that consolidate or develop further learning, and harness pupils’ curiosity and excitement about a unit.
We provide children with a variety of trips and experiences across the school year. We make sure that there is a clear link back to our curriculum, so that the visit consolidates or extends the children’s learning.
Clubs, classes and creative sessions provide fun ways for children to play, learn new skills and gain fresh experiences. At Benedict, we offer a wide range of clubs and activities. We also have full wrap around provision. This includes a Breakast Club starting from 7:45am, and After School Club lasting until 5:30pm.
To ensure that pupils are able to develop their understanding of community engagement, and to support them in developing as young citizens, we have roles of responsibility that are in addition to Pupil Parliament. These include taking on a role as a Librarian, Eco-Committee Member or a Playground Buddy.
We know that education works in partnership, and we host regular workshops, classroom sessions and community events with parents and carers. This may be a reading or science workshop in the classroom, or a colour run on the field! We also host weekly coffee mornings to promote positive mental health with Off the Record and work with Merton College to support courses and training.