Every child will aspire and achieve through hard work and perseverance
Students value how teaching has improved OFSTED 2014
ASPIRATION HONESTY PERSEVERANCE
Principal’s Message I am extremely proud to welcome you to Droylsden Academy. Our reputation is growing and for a very good reason. Our vision is to establish Droylsden Academy as a centre for educational excellence in Manchester. We are doing this by creating a safe, happy and challenging environment for students where they develop a love of learning and respect for themselves, each other and their community. We are striving to ensure that all our teaching is as good as it can be and students are supported in their personal development as well as in their academic progress. Our mission is to see every child develop into a confident young adult and provide them with the confidence and knowledge to pursue and live a successful and happy life. We believe that all students can achieve that goal through hard work and perseverance. We have extremely high expectations, and just as there are no shortcuts, there are no excuses. We enjoy what we do together because we remain positive and we never give up. We try to live by the values of honesty, aspiration and perseverance. Since joining the Academy in September 2013, I have already seen many improvements. Our students have responded to our expectations and they are very proud of their Academy and in turn have very positive attitudes towards it. This can be seen in the calm and well-ordered behaviour around the school. I am very excited about our progress as an Academy and I can guarantee that we will continue to improve year after year. This is an exciting time to join Droylsden Academy! Karl Mackey, Principal
Minds are like parachutes – they only function when they open THOMAS DEWAR
Key Learning Skills At Droylsden Academy we believe firmly that positive Behaviour for Learning helps your child become happy and successful. We focus on the development of the following learning skills so that our students become highly effective learners. Self-Management Being on time and prepared for lessons ○ Talking about emotions and sharing them with others ○ Setting challenging targets and taking controlled risks ○ Respecting oneself and others ○ Perseverance ○
Participation ○ Speaking out in class ○ Taking on new challenges ○ Getting involved in the learning process ○ Sharing ideas Team Work Working well in a team ○ Taking on different roles within a team ○ Helping other students who may be finding the work hard ○ Praising other members of the team if they are working well ○
The Prefect Team are clear about their role and the impact it has on the Academy OFSTED 2014
Reflection Setting challenges to improve oneself ○ Planning what to do before starting a task ○ Listening to feedback and acting on it ○
Creative Thinking Using imagination ○ Producing creative work and ideas ○ Trying learning experiences that may be unfamiliar ○
Enquiry ○ Asking questions to deepen one’s understanding ○ Looking for evidence to support ideas ○ Looking for ways in how to develop an understanding of topics ○ Considering different approaches to completing tasks ○ Understanding what to do to improve
Pastoral Care Droylsden Academy has a strong pastoral care system that aims to fully support your child throughout their life at the Academy. Our Pastoral Aims To enable each child to fulfil their own potential both academically and socially ○ To ensure that each child has access to personal, vocational and academic guidance and support where necessary ○ To provide opportunities for, and encourage your child to exercise individual and social responsibility ○ To promote in children the self-awareness and self-confidence that they need to face the challenges, both academic and personal, that are placed upon them ○ To establish and maintain an appropriate relationship with every parent, so that together, we can help to prepare your child for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life ○ To create a caring environment where children are valued for who they are, not just for what they can do ○
The Year System Each child is placed into a Tutor Group. The Tutor’s role is to support students with Academy life ○ The Head of Year and Year Manager ensure that the relevant systems are in place to allow each child to be safe, happy and successful during their time at the Academy ○
Pastoral Care Inclusion Droylsden Academy is a fully inclusive Academy providing equality of opportunity for all students. We are committed to removing barriers to learning and making any reasonable adjustments so that all students, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in the excellent education, facilities and services which the Academy offers. Special Educational Needs Our Inclusion team provide specialist help for students with additional needs such as specific learning difficulties and emotional or behavioural difficulties. When a student is identified as needing extra help, we involve parents/carers and regularly review support plans. The Academy has strong links with outside agencies that can offer specialist support and advice. High Prior Attainers HPA students are students who have previously demonstrated a significantly higher level of ability than most students of the same age. We offer a range of extension opportunities for HPA students. These provisions include: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Personalised learning within timetabled lessons Residential opportunities and focused visits Events and activities at Universities to challenge HPA students and to allow them to make use of specialist facilities Academic mentors to raise aspirations A programme to encourage HPA students into further and higher education
The Curriculum An Innovative and Exciting Curriculum Droylsden Academy strives for excellence across its curriculum. We teach a broad and balanced range of subjects including all the key areas of the National Curriculum. Students receive an all-round education and are encouraged to pay particular attention to the core skills of English, Mathematics and Science. At Droylsden Academy we value the progress and development of our learners and our curriculum aims to enable them to become: ○ ○ ○
Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Every student at Key Stage 3 follows a broad and balanced curriculum which develops their knowledge, understanding, skills and personal qualities. This includes: The Core Subjects English Mathematics Science
Foundation Subjects Technology Computing Modern Foreign Languages Geography History RE PE Art Drama Music Dance PSE and Citizenship
Where our students experience difficulties in literacy and/or numeracy, we personalise the curriculum to better fit their needs by giving extra support and time in these key areas. Key Stage 4 Curriculum At Key Stage 4 the curriculum is personalised to meet the needs and aspirations of the individual learner. Learners will follow different pathways and courses according to their strengths and needs. All students study the core subjects of: English Mathematics Science
Students are clear about the very high expectations for their conduct OFSTED 2014
An Innovative and Exciting Curriculum In addition, students choose from a range of options and pathways carefully designed to allow them the most suitable personalised curriculum to fit their needs. These include: ○ GCSE options in a wide range of subjects ○ Applied and work place based learning A major feature of the Academy’s personalised curriculum is the enrichment and engagement opportunities available to all. There is something for all our students: High Prior Attainers Team D of E Award Scheme Sports Leaders Music lessons Sporting activities E Learning club Expressive Arts
The Academy also provides students with the opportunity to undertake residential trips to a variety of places both within this country and abroad. Countries visited include France, Spain, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Thailand. Students are also encouraged to be part of our community, both locally and globally, through charity work and community projects such as charity fundraising days. At Droylsden Academy we recognise that to be successful we must work in partnership. We have forged successful links with numerous external agencies, business and enterprise programmes. We have also formed beneďŹ cial strategic alliances with other educational establishments including our Academy Sponsor, Tameside College.
Relationships between students are positive, they respect each other OFSTED 2014
For more information contact: Droylsden Academy Manor Road, Droylsden Manchester M43 6QD T 0161 301 7600 F 0161 301 7601 admin@droylsdenacademy.com www.droylsdenacademy.com
We are also on Facebook and Twitter