City Heights E-ACT E-ACT Academy Academy (temporary site) Academy message 2 Somerleyton Roadline 020 3691 4600 Brixton Email admin@cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk London SW9 8ND Website www.cityheightse-ac y.org.uk Jim 4600 Henderson MA(Cantab.), NPQH T 02 0 3 691 Principal E admin@cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk Designed and produced by W www.cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk Principal Jim Henderson MA(Cantab.), NPQH w.communitas-pr.co.uk Designed and produced by www.communitas-pr.co.uk ww
“Having languages as a specialist subject with a Spanish focus, makes
CITY HEIGHTS E-ACT ACADEMY
schools round here. I think that’s good” Year 6 pupil
PROSPECTUS 2014
E-ACT 3rd Floor, 10 Whitfield Street, London W1T 2RE T 020 3176 3882 E info@E-ACT.org.uk W www.E-ACT.org.uk
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Welcome to City Heights MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to City Heights E-ACT Academy. I am delighted that you are considering City Heights for your child. Choosing the right secondary school is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent/ carer and I hope this prospectus will help demonstrate our commitment to high academic standards and strong pastoral care. City Heights E-ACT Academy is a brand new secondary school providing an exceptional 21st century education. We are sponsored by E-ACT, a leading Academy sponsor, with whom we have worked closely to develop a strong vision for our Academy. We will provide students aged 11 to 18 with an inspirational setting and an engaging curriculum. The Academy’s specialism is modern languages, with a strong focus on Spanish. With support from E-ACT we look forward to providing a first-class education for young people in this area of Lambeth. I look forward to meeting you and your family to discuss how you can be part of our ambitious and exciting plans for the future. Jim Henderson MA(Cantab.), NPQH Principal
MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNER
E-ACT is delighted to be sponsoring City Heights E-ACT Academy and welcomes you to our community of academies and Free Schools.
Dulwich College has a long tradition of working in partnership with the state education sector and has been the lead sponsor for the Isle of Sheppey Academy in Kent since the start of the project in 2004. Dulwich College firmly believes that students benefit from being set high expectations as they begin their academic careers.
E-ACT has a strong track record in establishing successful academies and a proven record of raising standards and accelerating student progress. We will be working closely with staff and families to help provide an outstanding 21st century education and set new standards in educational excellence. In Jim Henderson, we have an experienced and inspiring leader. He will ensure that all students receive the support and encouragement they need to excel and succeed. David Moran, Director General of E-ACT
These expectations can only be realised with the support of high quality teachers; by the school establishing an appropriate curriculum; by ensuring a wide extra-curricular programme for students; and by the school recognising and publicly acknowledging excellence. Dulwich College has a dedicated senior member of staff whose role is to represent the College in all its external activities. He has been working with E-ACT and Lambeth since the notion of a new Academy in Lambeth was conceived. He is a member of the governing body of City Heights. Dulwich College looks forward to developing initiatives which will lead to teacher and student links between the City Heights Academy and Dulwich College. The College offers world-class provision in the teaching of Modern Languages and we expect that one of the first of these initiatives will be in the area of the City Heights’ specialism of Spanish Ralph Mainard Deputy Master External
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Vision, ethos and aims VISION AND ETHOS
VISION FOR OUR STUDENTS
OUR MINDSET
Working with E-ACT, a leading education sponsor, City Heights E-ACT Academy’s vision is to provide ‘Excellence in Education for All’. This will ensure that the life chances of young people in Lambeth are enhanced by the highest quality of education. Together we want to educate successful global citizens, who contribute fully and effectively to the economic and social well-being of the wider community.
City Heights’ students will: • Thrive on challenge and persist • Ask questions to further their understanding • Take risks and try new experiences • Know that their potential is not fixed but depends on their grit, determination and hard work • Be able to think independently • Be emotionally aware and emotionally intelligent • Be capable and dependable learners • Take on positions of responsibility and leadership • Be resourceful and inquisitive • Embrace the technological world • Interact enthusiastically with the local and global community • Accept the welfare of others as their responsibility • Understand the need for sustainable living both locally and globally
Following the work of Stanford psychologist Dr Carol Dweck, City Heights will emphasise a growth mindset view of how we grow and develop. We believe that the potential of students to achieve and progress is not limited by a fixed talent and ability but is dependent on the grit, determination and practice we put in to developing ourselves.
VISION FOR OUR ACADEMY • To develop happy, enthusiastic and independent learners who show grit, resilience, curiosity and a determination to succeed • To build character alongside knowledge and wisdom • To cultivate responsible, trustworthy, wellinformed citizens and leaders of the future • To deliver enriching experiences to encourage talent, potential and self-confidence • To establish positive and fruitful relationships with our local and global communities
Prior attainment is an indicator of a student’s achievements to date but does not need to be an indicator of any limit to their future achievement. We will therefore use the language of prior attainment rather than ability to describe the starting points of students and student grouping and differentiation.
These students and their needs are the centre of our vision and the core of our professional being and purpose.
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Teaching and learning CURRICULUM In their first year, Year 7 students will follow courses in English, Maths, all three Sciences, Spanish, History, Geography, RE, Art, Dance, Drama, Music and PE. There will also be opportunities for more able students to learn a second language and to learn some computer programming. City Heights E-ACT Academy will grow year on year so that by 2019 we will have students in all year groups. At that stage we will offer a broad and inclusive curriculum, providing individual pathways for all students to learn and progress, whether that is to university, college, apprenticeships or employment. Our curriculum will ensure that the most able students study an academically rigorous curriculum, providing them with qualifications that will gain them places at the top universities and developing a lifelong love of learning. It will also provide support for those students who need to work on their literacy, numeracy and learning skills in order to be able to gain the foundations for success in other subjects across the curriculum.
Our Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) curriculum will include a wide range of courses, including separate courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It will also include a range of modern languages, which is our Academy specialism, with an emphasis on Spanish. We will also provide opportunities for students to follow a course in Computing and Programming. In addition there will be vocational courses for students who thrive best when they learn in a practical context. These courses will all provide the appropriate qualifications to allow students to continue into our Sixth Form.
TEACHING AND LEARNING It is our belief that high quality teaching is fundamental to ensuring success for students. Our teachers will be enthusiastic about teaching, have excellent subject knowledge and be imaginative and engaging in introducing students to new ideas. They will create positive relationships with the students they teach and assess their work regularly to ensure that what is being taught has been understood. Lessons and homework will be structured carefully to ensure that every student is stretched and challenged.
We recognise that we have a responsibility to develop all of our students as capable and independent learners. Therefore, as well as having learning objectives which relate to the subject, every lesson will also have activities which develop the students’ skills in research, group work, leadership, presentation and independent work.
HOMEWORK City Heights E-ACT Academy believes that homework plays a vital role in developing the ability of our students to work independently and to take responsibility for organising their time. We also recognise that many students will have other pursuits and interests outside of school to which they will want to give some time. In Year 7 we will expect our students to complete a range of homework tasks each week, ranging from written tasks to learning and research. Homework will be set regularly each week across a range of subjects, and deadlines will be co-ordinated between teachers to ensure that they are achievable.
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SEN Provision “I’m going to put City Heights for my first choice. It sounds like a good place for me.” Year 6 pupil
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS City Heights E-ACT Academy is committed to being an inclusive Academy. We will work in collaboration with families and other agencies to ensure that children with special educational needs are given appropriate support and resources to allow them to gain full access to our curriculum, to make good progress in their learning and to be happy and successful throughout their education. Our purpose-built Academy has been designed to ensure that it is accessible to any student or visitor with mobility issues. In addition, City Heights E-ACT Academy will employ a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) who will work closely with families of students with special educational needs. Our SENCO will also lead a team of staff who will support those students academically in the classroom and be the point of contact for any pastoral or practical issues. From September 2014 we will be able to offer dedicated provision for students on the autistic spectrum. Places in this provision will be allocated and funded by Lambeth CYPS. By 2019, when the Academy has students in all year groups, there will be 15 places in total within this provision. It will be City Heights E-ACT Academy’s intention to integrate students with special education needs into the main curriculum of the Academy as much as possible, while providing out of class support where needed. This balance will be reviewed on a regular basis. Students identified as gifted and talented will, in addition to personalised learning within timetabled lessons, have a range of extension opportunities such as master classes and focused visits, thereby ‘raising the bar’.
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“E-ACT is ambitious in its aspirations; for students, for academies, for local communities and I am confident that City Heights E-ACT Academy will meet each one with innovative teaching, learning and leadership.� David Moran, Director General, E-ACT
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Our new building CITY HEIGHTS E-ACT ACADEMY BUILDING City Heights E-ACT Academy will have a modern, eco-friendly building designed to support students’ high quality learning and social development within a safe and secure site. The building will provide a comfortable learning environment with particular attention to the control of the temperature and air quality. The Academy has been designed so that many of the facilities can be used outside of the school day and at weekends. City Heights E-ACT Academy will become a valued community asset and focal point for learning and leisure in the community.
Each department will have rooms clustered around a central open space. As well as general teaching classrooms, there will be specialist accommodation including science laboratories, a food technology room, workshops, graphics and art studios, music teaching and practice rooms and recording studios. The drama room will open out to form a 200 seat theatre. A particular feature of the Academy will be the double height professional quality dance studio with sprung floor and mirrored wall. Sports are well supported with a four court sports hall and a large fitness suite with industry standard workout equipment. The Academy’s all-weather sports pitches are located just a few minutes’ walk from the main site. All students will have their own locker. Sixth Form students will have their own suite for private study so that they are well prepared for university life.
ICT will be a central feature of the Academy. The whole site will provide wireless access and teaching spaces will have interactive white boards, computers, hand held devices and other specialist hardware and software to support learning for students of all abilities, including those who have particular gifts and talents. Outdoor space is designed to make use of the natural mature landscape. Students will have supervised access to the Academy via the Christchurch Road in the morning and at the end of the day. Once students are on site the only access will be via a controlled reception at the main entrance. Staff offices are located throughout the building so that there is close supervision of students at all times. The kitchen and separate café have been designed to provide varied and healthy food in a relaxed setting.
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Dulwich College partnership “We are delighted to support the opening of this new Academy in our borough, adding to the family of very successful schools locally and providing much needed extra school places for our community.” Debbie Jones, Executive Director, Lambeth CYPS
EDUCATIONAL PARTNER We are delighted to have Dulwich College as our educational partner. We share a belief in the importance of setting our students high expectations from the moment that they start with us so that young people apply grit and determination to their studies which will help them achieve their ambitions. We look forward to developing our partnership over the coming years. Our early partnership projects include: • Input from Dulwich College’s proven expertise in the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages to help us to bring our Languages specialism alive • Sharing a teacher of Mandarin Chinese with Dulwich College and the Isle of Sheppey Academy • Provision of an “Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture” course • The employment of two Dulwich College “gap year” students at City Heights as Learning Mentors • Sporting fixtures between our two schools • The involvement of the Dulwich College archivist to support us in developing our own archive In the future we hope also to: • Hold joint student conferences • Arrange for teacher exchanges both ways especially to support newly-qualified teachers to broaden their experience • Engage City Heights students who have the potential to gain places at Oxford or Cambridge with the preparation programme run by Dulwich College
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Our promise and expectations WORKING WITH PRIMARY SCHOOLS
WORKING WITH PARENTS/CARERS
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
City Heights E-ACT Academy will ensure that a student’s move from primary to secondary school is as smooth and happy as possible. We will meet with every family once offers have gone out in March 2014, in order to start building that strong relationship to support each child.
City Heights E-ACT Academy will encourage parents/carers to be involved in their child’s education as part of working with the Academy’s staff. There is a Home-Academy Agreement that the Academy, parents/carers and students will all sign at the family meeting, prior to the start of the academic year. The Agreement sets out everyone’s responsibilities and covers areas such as upholding the Academy uniform dress code, and ensuring punctual, regular attendance and exemplary behaviour.
Students and staff will be expected to demonstrate their pride in being part of City Heights E-ACT Academy community through the highest standards of appearance, behaviour and courtesy and consideration of others.
The Academy will invite parents and carers to be fully involved, to talk to teachers and to meet staff, in order to understand as much about their child’s education as possible. Regular parents’ evenings will be held and there will be individual opportunities for parents/carers to discuss their child’s progress.
Our staff and students will be ambassadors for our Academy, both during the school day and when they are in our local community. City Heights E-ACT Academy will have a zero tolerance approach to bullying so the school is a safe place for all students and staff.
We will also visit each of the primary schools which have pupils coming to City Heights E-ACT Academy in order to understand more about how those pupils learn best.
We expect high standards of behaviour at all times, both in the Academy and when students are arriving in the morning, or leaving at the end of the school day. Students will be required to stay on site during lunch times.
“I love the City Heights E-ACT Academy uniform. It makes you feel really smart.” Year 6 pupil 11
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Applying for a place
APPLYING FOR A PLACE The Academy has an admissions number for the year 2014/15 (and all subsequent years) of 180 Year 7 students. Applications must be made from your home borough using the Common Application Form. The deadline for completed forms is 31st October 2013. However, we are encouraging applicants to submit their application no later than the 25th October 2013 (i.e. the Friday before half term), to allow sufficient time for processing and checking.
OPEN EVENINGS Prospective parents and carers are warmly invited to meet the Academy’s Principal Jim Henderson at the following open events. There is no need to register for these events, simply come along on the evening. Wednesday 18 September 2013 Tuesday 1 October 2013 Thursday 17 October 2013
5:30-7:00pm 5:30-7:00pm 5:30-7:00pm
CHILDREN WITH A STATEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEED A child who has a Statement of Special Educational Need where City Heights E-ACT Academy is named on the Statement, will be admitted to the Academy.
OVERSUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA E-ACT is the admissions authority for City Heights E-ACT Academy. If there are more applications than places available E-ACT will give priority to children in the following order: Criterion 1 Looked After Children & previously Looked After Children Criterion 2 Siblings Criterion 3 Children with Exceptional Medical or Social Needs Criterion 4 Distance. Straight-line measurement between the child’s home (defined as the address at which the child spends most of the school week) and a central point in the grounds of City Heights’ permanent site at Abbots Park.
OPERATION OF WAITING LISTS These evening meetings will be held at the Fenstanton Primary School, Abbots Park, London SW2 3PW, which is adjacent to the permanant site of the new City Heights E-ACT Academy.
OPEN MORNINGS See our Academy in action at 2 Somerleyton Road, London SW9 8ND. Thursday 26 September 2013 Wednesday 9 October 2013 Tuesday 15 October 2013
9:00-10:30am 9:00-10:30am 9:00-10:30am
The Academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. However, please note that the Academy opened in September 2013 for Year 7 students only and will grow year on year as each new Year 7 group joins. There will only ever be waiting lists for those years that are already present within the school.
are places available, a waiting list will operate until a term after the start of the school year. Any parent/carer can ask for his or her child’s name to be placed on the waiting list. An applicant’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to students on the waiting list in accordance with the oversubscription criteria.
APPEAL ARRANGEMENTS Unsuccessful applicants will have the right to appeal against the decision to an Independent Admissions Appeals Panel established under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Independent appeals for this Academy are arranged by Academy staff. Please contact the Academy for an appeals form.
GOVERNING BODY City Heights E-ACT Academy will be run by a Local Governing Body (LGB), which will consist of governors appointed by E-ACT, as the academy’s sponsor as well as elected parents/carers and staff governors and a governor nominated by the London Borough of Lambeth.
For example, the academic year 2014/2015 will have Year 7 and Year 8 waiting lists and so on. Where, in any year, City Heights E-ACT Academy receives more applications for places than there
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City Heights E-ACT E-ACT Academy Academy (temporary site) Academy message 2 Somerleyton Roadline 020 3691 4600 Brixton Email admin@cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk London SW9 8ND Website www.cityheightse-ac y.org.uk Jim 4600 Henderson MA(Cantab.), NPQH T 02 0 3 691 Principal E admin@cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk Designed and produced by W www.cityheightse-actacademy.org.uk Principal Jim Henderson MA(Cantab.), NPQH w.communitas-pr.co.uk Designed and produced by www.communitas-pr.co.uk ww
“Having languages as a specialist subject with a Spanish focus, makes
CITY HEIGHTS E-ACT ACADEMY
schools round here. I think that’s good” Year 6 pupil
PROSPECTUS 2014
E-ACT 3rd Floor, 10 Whitfield Street, London W1T 2RE T 020 3176 3882 E info@E-ACT.org.uk W www.E-ACT.org.uk
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