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“The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.” OFSTED SCHOOL INSPECTION REPORT, NOVEMBER 2017
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“I was so proud to see my daughter getting an award at the annual Celebrating Achievement Evening.” YEAR 9 PARENT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to The Milton Keynes Academy and thank you for taking the time to find out about what we believe, is the most exciting school in Milton Keynes. Since September 2018, we have been members of Creative Education Trust, working collaboratively with a network of schools to provide even more Opportunities for Everyone through our Knowledge Connected curriculum. MKA is first and foremost a place of learning where students feel safe and enjoy their educational journey. Learning is at the centre of everything we do, both in and out of the classroom, and your child will flourish in the midst of so many possibilities.
the best outcomes possible, whether that be in academic results, community engagement, performing arts or performance on the sports pitch. We hope that the information provided in this prospectus helps you to decide if MKA is the right place for your child and invite you to visit and see for yourselves. The way to fully experience and appreciate what MKA has to offer is to visit during a normal school day. I therefore invite you to contact us to arrange a visit and to discuss any further questions you may have. Gordon Farquhar Principal
We are incredibly proud of our business links and how we use them to enhance the learning of our students. We celebrate every success; from those students who successfully go on to Russell Group universities, to those who thrive in apprenticeships and the wider world of work. At MKA, we firmly believe that our young people should be given every opportunity to achieve beyond their potential. Each one of our students is unique and is recognised as an individual. It is our responsibility to celebrate this and provide them with the skills and ability that prepare them to be successful in the future. Every student at MKA today is a potential leader for the future. Our Academy exists for our community and its children. We set our expectations high and work with all our students, their families, our staff and the wider community to get
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“The support and guidance of my teachers has helped me achieve great GCSE and A Level results. I am now at Cambridge University, very grateful for my time at The Milton Keynes Academy.” FORMER SIXTH FORM STUDENT
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL IN EVERYONE Our curriculum is broad and balanced, supporting students to achieve in both academic and vocational qualifications. The academy has a real drive from day one to ensure our students make rapid progress in the key building blocks they will need for future success, with a particular focus on reading, writing, communication and mathematics. We pride ourselves upon our commitment to recognising and addressing the educational needs of all our students. Our curriculum fully prepares our students for further study and work. This includes an excellent mixture of academic and vocational subjects all the way from Year 7 to our Sixth Form. In Years 7 and 8, students follow the national curriculum, which includes English, maths, the sciences, a modern foreign language, computing, history, geography and PE. In addition, they will have an opportunity to study the Performing Arts of music, dance and drama as well as the Art & Design based subjects such as design technology, catering and textiles. In Year 9, students start their pathway to their GCSE qualifications studying English, mathematics, science and a
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choice of either history or geography. They then additionally have a wide range of further choices and pathways, depending on their own aspirations. For example, students can opt for all three sciences or choose to study vocational qualifications such as performing arts. Many students choose to progress into our fast growing Sixth Form. As well as offering a wide range of academic A Levels and vocationally based BTEC courses, every student benefits from our unique ‘Futures Programme’. This programme is designed to broaden the horizons, thinking and experience of our students. It aims to make them aware of how communities and society work, understand their place within it and to raise their awareness of the wealth of opportunities available to them. Students in our Sixth Form are supported to embark on their next chosen step. Our alumni have successfully achieved studying at prestigious universities, securing apprenticeships and thriving in the world of work.
“Strong role models, combined with effective careers advice, mean pupils have clear routes to employment, education or training when they leave school.” OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT, NOVEMBER 2017
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LEARNING FOR EVERYONE A highly committed and dynamic team of teachers strive to make learning engaging and exciting for everyone. Lessons are challenging and stimulating and signpost the progress that students make as well as what they need to do to improve. Students at The Milton Keynes Academy gain the confidence to stretch themselves, becoming resilient learners. Teachers work hard to ensure every lesson includes activities to stretch and challenge all students. From creative writing workshops to designing Formula 1 functioning models, from art workshops to taking over MK Museum, there are a wealth of opportunities to stimulate eager minds. Learning is further supported with some of the best links with employers of any school in the country. We have
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strong partnerships with local, national and international employers, colleges and local universities. This ensures our students are equipped with the knowledge, understanding and skills to support their successful transition to further and higher education and to eventual employment. The school day starts at 8.45am and finishes at 3.00pm, followed by extracurricular activities. Beyond the classroom, students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of enrichment activities. These range from: The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, Young Enterprise and volunteering and opportunities in the local community. We have a very successful reputation in sport, with students participating in teams spanning all year groups and disciplines. Being part of Creative Educational Trust also affords opportunities for students to participate in cross Trust events, including essay writing competitions, choral events as well as an annual Shakespeare Festival.
TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE We have high expectations of behaviour and instil in our students the values necessary to become the citizens of tomorrow who contribute meaningfully to society. We are an inclusive community, committed to the provision of appropriate support so that every individual can realise their full potential. Whatever their starting point, students make good progress. The involvement of parents in their child’s learning is fundamental to our success. We work in partnership with families and understand the importance of timely communication, so they know the progress their child is making. Our pastoral teams work closely with students on a day-to-day basis. These teams have developed strong relationships with local primary schools to aid students with a smooth transition.
“Leaders place safeguarding at the heart of their practice in school.” OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT, NOVEMBER 2017
“Parents agree that their children are well cared for and safe at school.” OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT, NOVEMBER 2017 7
“Everything is just so modern. I wish schools had been like this in my day... I would have just loved all the sports pitches and the wonderful dance studio. Wow!” YEAR 8 PARENT
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“My son just loves all the things he can do after school... he never stops talking about all the activities he has got involved in.” YEAR 7 PARENT
STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES The Milton Keynes Academy is architecturally inspiring, boasting truly outstanding facilities and cutting edge resources. Purpose built in 2009, the learning environment engages and challenges students to make rapid progress in their learning in modern and exciting ways. Our building and facilities place the students at the heart of their design. The academy benefits from a wellresourced Library, modern classrooms and specialist purpose built areas focussed on the arts, the sciences and the performing arts. Learning throughout the school is underpinned and strengthened by the extensive use of upto-date technology, to ensure that students are equipped to embrace the challenges of a fast changing world. Equally, those with a passion for sports are generously catered for, with large playing fields and all weather multi use games pitches, supplemented by a range of hard court areas such as the basketball courts. In 2018 a major capital investment paved the way for future learners to benefit from being educated in a state-of-theart environment. A new suite of well-equipped science laboratories reflects the importance we place on the science subjects. These will ensure that students continue to receive stimulating and lively lessons that develop their scientific skills. This also provided a brand-new student restaurant and gym offering increased facilities for students outside of the classroom. 9
“Pupils’ personal and social education programmes focus on developing a can-do approach, building self-esteem and confidence for all.” OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT, NOVEMBER 2017
CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST Creative Education Trust’s educational vision for creativity is ‘Knowledge Connected’. Furthermore, connecting knowledge needs to be at the heart of education because it is vital to improving standards and will make young people resourceful and employable in tomorrow’s knowledge economy. Creative Education Trust believes, as have many thinkers over the centuries, that creativity is the ability to recognise and make new connections between the things we know. Knowledge Connected is our framework of six big ideas that are important to consider in any undertaking – for academic study, in business and professional practice, or as member of society. These are the concepts of Structure, Pattern, Meaning, Performance, Human Interaction and Practice. Because one or more of the six concepts influences any situation, the framework gives us a way to connect or compare one situation with the next. This ability to spot or make connections is the essence of creativity. In addition to rigorous processes for academic school improvement, Creative Education Trust schools build the six concepts of Knowledge Connected into the curriculum so that they become creative habits of mind for every pupil in our schools, and tools for life. www.creativeeducationtrust.org.uk.
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A PLACE AT THE ACADEMY The Milton Keynes Academy will consider all applications for places in line with our Admissions Policy. A copy of this is available on our website: www.miltonkeynesacademy.org.uk
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FULWOODS DRIVE MILTON KEYNES BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MK6 5LA
T 01908 341700 @TweetMKA f @TheMiltonKeynesAcademyCET MILTON KEYNES ACADEMY WEBSITE: www.miltonkeynesacademy.org.uk CREATIVE EDUCATION TRUST WEBSITE:
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE