Ad Gloriam Dei et Servitium Omnium
THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY
HEADTEACHER'S WELCOME A warm welcome to our academy. This prospectus gives a flavour of what our academy has to offer and I welcome you to get in contact for a visit to see us first hand.
spiritual development of all our academy community. Our academy is made up of a rich fabric of many different faiths, who all share common values.
The Palmer Catholic Academy is a voluntary aided co educational Academy for students aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1961 by Canon Patrick Palmer as Canon Palmer Catholic School with the aim of serving the Catholic community in Ilford, the academy has grown in numbers and stature. In 1961 the school educated 300 students as opposed to 1,100 today. The academy has undergone many changes over the years, but at the heart, all we do has remained the same. We are a modern academy with traditional values.
Our families have high aspirations and we match this with the highest of expectations for our students. We expect our students to try their very best in all aspects of their academic studies as well as their behaviour and conduct. We offer a truly broad and balanced curriculum and continue to offer an expanding range of subjects and qualifications.
At The Palmer Catholic Academy, we pride ourselves on being a culturally diverse family of learners, both students and staff alike. As a learning community we share and use our gifts and talents for the greater good of everyone. As a Catholic academy we place Christ at the heart of all we do and pay special attention to the
Our learners are also offered a vast range of extracurricular opportunities to enhance their overall development and educational experience. As a previous Canon Palmer Catholic School student, I am immensely proud of all that our academy continues to achieve. We celebrate our continued successes and achievements with the strong underpinning of our faith and values.
ETHOS & SPIRITUALITY Our traditional ethos is underpinned by the Gospel values of serving others, charity, prayer and reconciliation. We welcome students of all faiths who wish to share in a Christian education strengthened by the teachings of the Catholic Church. We insist on the highest standards of personal conduct and we place great emphasis on each student's spiritual, moral and social development to give an understanding of the spiritual and religious dimensions to human life. The Catholic tradition of prayer is central to the academy’s daily life and routine. We meet together for assemblies, chapel time and each lesson begins with a prayer. Mass is regularly celebrated, sometimes in small groups or, on solemn occasions, as a whole academy community. The Church’s liturgical seasons permeate the life of our community. Our beautiful chapel is central to the life of the academy and is a vibrant meeting place for fun activities at lunchtimes. The Lay Chaplain ensures that a good liturgical experience is available to all students: annual retreats, charity events, leadership opportunities and student wellbeing.
The students’ sense of belonging to the Academy community is real, profound and life enhancing. Students said that there is a “genuine Christian ethos”. Their relationships, including those from different backgrounds, are very strong. Relationships across the community reflect the great mutual respect people have for each other. OFSTED Section 48
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR ALL Our vision is to support your child to become a rounded young adult who is inspired to pursue their dreams and who is confident enough to embrace all challenges with determination. Year after year our student progress scores and attainment reflect that our academy adds significant value to each child's potential, regardless of their starting point. We are an academy that will challenge and support each and every student to achieve to the very best of their ability.
PASTORAL CARE & SUPPORT We know a child’s time at school is about far more than the grades they achieve.
We want our students to enjoy their education in a positive and purposeful space where they can form lifelong friendships, discover their talents and become the very best version of themselves. We understand how important it is to have someone to talk to if a student needs extra support or a helping hand. We offer targeted social and emotional support with both an experienced mentoring team and counsellor to ensure that every one of our students has someone to turn to for support and guidance. Our pastoral and senior staff play an active role in everyday life at our academy. You’ll notice them on the academy gates at the start and end of every academy day, in corridors and in the playground to make sure that our academy is a calm, safe and positive place to be. We expect our students to be smartly dressed and display high standards of courtesy and consideration at all times.
been proud to see a large number of students involved in youth-led projects to tackle local issues through our work with Redbridge Citizens - part of London Citizens. The pastoral team works hard to ensure that everyone feels safe, valued and welcome. We pride ourselves in offering a range of services and support packages for our students, some of which include: • • • • • • • • • •
Mentoring Peer Mentoring Small group work Weekly counselling School Council / Student Voice Redbridge Citizens West Ham Foundation Box up Crime Careers Advisor Jack Petchey
Many students also take part in fundraising and community service activities. In recent years we have
Pastoral care is a significant strength, students appreciate the care teachers have in dealing with their concerns. Ofsted Section 48
YEAR 7 TRANSITION We recognise that starting a new school can be both an exciting and challenging time for students and parents/carers. Our priority throughout the transition process is to ensure all students who will be joining us in September are fully prepared, to provide families with the information they need to support their children and to enable our new cohort of students to start a new and exciting journey at The Palmer Catholic Academy. We provide a well-established transition programme for our future Year 7 students, developed through strong links with our feeder primary schools: open evening, open mornings and taster sessions are just some of the many activities we provide to ensure a smooth transition from primary into secondary school. Our Transition Team is very experienced in ensuring that all students have a positive start to their secondary education.
AN INSPIRING CURRICULUM At The Palmer Catholic Academy, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum, allowing your child to develop a passion for learning across a wide variety of subjects. Our curriculum raises the aspirations of our students and encourages them to become well-rounded young adults able to enter and embrace the modern world and work place.
qualifications from a range of creative and vocational based subjects. Your child and yourselves will be fully supported during this exciting transition stage towards GCSEs.
Along with traditional subjects, we offer courses in Psychology, Economics, Media Studies, Sociology and Computer Science to name just a few. Religious Education is a compulsory subject in all year groups and enables students to discuss and explore complex issues and ethics and very much prepares them for adult life. Classes, with the exception of Maths, English and Science are taught in mixed ability groups. Excellent teaching practice inspires our students and creates a love of learning which enables our students to develop their passions and interests.
Our sixth form curriculum has ‘traditional’ A-level subjects and in addition to these we offer some high quality, well recognised vocational courses. External exams play an important part in the success of our students, but we do not compromise the broader curriculum and the development of all aspects of young people. This which very much links to our ethos of supporting the academic and personal development of each child as they grow and develop into young adults prepared for the modern world.
Many students study the full range of English Baccalaureate qualifications at GCSE, alongside further
You have established an ambitious culture of high expectations. Pupils are motivated and focused on their work. Ofsted
SIXTH FORM The Palmer Catholic Academy Sixth Form is the last stage of your child's journey with us. Many students come directly from our Year 11, though we also attract and welcome students from other local schools. Our students can enjoy a wide range of A level courses who are taught by highly qualified, dynamic and enthusiastic teaching staff who challenge and motivate students to succeed. We encourage our students to follow our highly focused pathways that open up to further study and career opportunities. All our students leave with excellent qualifications and experiences which will serve them throughout their lives. The vast majority accept a place at university, with over 40% gaining entrance to Russell Group universities including Cambridge in 2021. Our students are hardworking and ambitious. We have very high expectations for them and they leave us well equipped to continue to pursue their chosen career path.
SIXTH FORM ACHIEVING FULL POTENTIAL We also understand that universities and employers look beyond academic success and we give our students opportunities to develop skills outside the classroom setting. Some of these activities include: • Personalised work placement linked to future aspirations • Subject specific learning experiences • Represent the Sixth Form as a student leader • Support for English as an additional language • Support for students who may have additional needs • Deliver year group assemblies • Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) • Project manage charity events and fundraising activities • Plan and run lower school talent shows • Liturgy leaders • London Citizens
STUDENT VOICE & STUDENT LEADERSHIP Students know that they have a voice that is heard and valued at The Palmer Catholic Academy. One of the core ‘Student Voice’ activities is the School Council. Students are able to apply to become representatives then meet regularly to discuss a range of issues affecting school life. This process teaches the students about the importance of citizenship and democracy. The views of our students are taken very seriously. They are involved in fundraising work, interviews for staff vacancies and meet with senior staff on various committees. Student Voice helps inform the whole school policy - from our school vision, the curriculum, teaching and learning strategies, to the liturgy and spiritual life of our school and the development of healthy lifestyles. The Palmer Catholic Academy provides an education which combines academic excellence with the development of the whole person. Our aim is to develop students spiritually, academically, morally, emotionally, culturally and socially, so that they are well-equipped to face the many challenges of the 21st century.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM We offer a huge range of extracurricular activities for our students. These include sporting, musical, artistic and technological clubs and societies. The academy has a strong tradition in sporting and musical achievement with very successful teams in football and basketball to name a few. Our musicians, including our orchestra, soloists and school choir, regularly contribute to academy events and masses. Visits to theatres, art galleries and historical sites are regularly organised. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities designed to make their lives more fulfilling and enjoyable. Many of these take place at lunch time and after school. We also organise an annual trip to Lourdes in France, field trips and a variety of study linked educational
visits within the UK and abroad. Our students are also able to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme. We want our students to see The Palmer Catholic Academy as preparation for life as a happy and successful adult. We ensure that resources are available to help them make the right choices about their future. We have a comprehensive careers programme providing information and advice, support and encouragement as well as practical help with university, college and apprenticeship applications. We are proud that students leave our academy as confident and well-rounded young adults, with a professional outlook and positive ideas for shaping their future lives.
During their time at school they make the most of the wide range of opportunities available and develop into mature articulate individual. Ofsted
Ad Gloriam Dei et Servitium Omnium
THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex IG3 8EU T: 020 8590 3808 E: office@tpc.academy www.tpc.academy
Designed & Produced by FSE Design Tel: 01933 303520 www.fsedesign.co.uk