Content Welcome 1 Academy 2 Committment 3 Enrichment Programme 4-5 Facilities 6 Opportunities 7 Contact 8
Haleema and Dylon tell you about their first year at Heartlands Academy.
“
Heartlands Academy: a place to prosper
and learn. Every day since walking through the elephantine doors last year, I have either learnt something new, polished my knowledge of something that had felt as if it had been hiding behind a black fog within my curious mind... I wasn’t scared of joining Heartlands Academy
because of how kind and considerate the teachers had been during our transition project. The
“
I have really enjoyed my first year at
Heartlands Academy because it is a very vibrant place to learn and the teachers are extremely
Academy’s reward system is fantastic and I am showered with praise for the vocabulary I have
helpful. At first I was a bit worried about being with the older students but it turns out they are really
learnt and the good behaviour I enact. Every child’s
friendly and I have even made friends with some of
needs are catered for, whether they have special
them.
needs or are budding forensic scientists. All the
We have had numerous opportunities to do
new facilities are of extremely high quality from the
something new – the best was the Year 7 residential
science laboratories to the dining area.
in October where we were able to get to know each
Speaking of science, all the lessons are very hands on; we have been exploring chemical reactions
other better. Since being here I have found the teachers to
and much more! Every teacher aims to ensure all
be amazing, made some really great friends and
students gain something from their lessons.
benefitted from the excellent facilities in a brand
“ “
If I were to sum up this fine palace of education in
one phrase I would exclaim “For each the best, from
new building.
I have also made good progress with my levels and
each their all!” because the teachers adjust to every
I intend to keep it that way. Heartlands Academy is
child’s needs, which in my opinion is amazing.
great!
Welcome
something mundane, or been taught to understand
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“Heartlands Academy is one of the best schools in the country for both outperforming expectations for their students and improving
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Heartlands Academy provides an orderly, safe
their future prospects.”
and stimulating environment in which students
Sue Williamson, Chief
can learn effectively. It aims to provide a broadly based and balanced education relevant to the needs
Executive of SSAT (The
and abilities of its students, and mindful of the
Schools Network).
requirements and aspirations of modern society. Staff at the Academy have a positive approach to learning; helping students to develop their skills
Academy
and abilities and enabling them to reach their full
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potential, in preparation for life’s opportunities and experiences. In support of the Academy’s aims, students are encouraged to: • Enjoy learning and to continue learning throughout life. • Have a positive attitude and to recognise their unique worth. • Respect the religious and moral values of both their own and other cultures. • Develop a sense of responsibility, selfdiscipline and good time management. When students are ready to leave the Academy at age 18, they should be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to be responsible adults, good citizens, and be prepared for university life and/or the world of work.
E-ACT is ambitious in its aims - for students, for schools, for communities, and for the country. As the Academy’s sponsor, E-ACT’s ethos is based on high aspirations, expectations and achievements. The sponsor’s vision is to support Heartlands Academy to remain an outstanding place of education within an inclusive ethos that promotes tolerance and respect for others. This will be characterised by diversity, equality and excellence. E-ACT’s expectations are that students will develop into citizens who actively contribute towards the building of peaceful and cohesive communities and are able to represent themselves confidently in all aspects of public life. Heartlands Academy will provide innovative and personalised learning opportunities to ensure that all students learn effectively and achieve their maximum potential. E-ACT will promote the professional development of proven best practice in teaching approaches and be at the forefront of the Adademy’s drive for excellence, enhancing the current focus on raising educational standards. This will include flexible and original approaches to curriculum delivery in response to identified needs and initiatives.
“I have changed so much since joining Heartlands. I have become much more mature.” Mohamud, Year7.
Heartlands Academy encourages high levels of
teaching, inspiring our students with a brand new
self-discipline and learning. This is supported by a
learning environment. Using the latest software,
strong pastoral structure which helps to maintian
equipment and training, lessons are interactive,
high standards and expectations of each student.
fun and effective. There is a strong emphasis on
The Academy requires students to demonstrate
personalised learning. Students are expected to take an active role in the
appropriate courtesy, and to respect and cooperate with others at all times. Students are
life and work of the Academy. In return, we focus
encouraged to take responsibility for their own
on the development of the individual and engage
behaviour especially where it impacts on the
fully with parents and carers so they may jointly
learning of others. Behaviour that is conducive to a
support us in enhancing their children’s learning.
beneficial learning environment will be rewarded;
We believe it is important to discover our students’ individual strengths and to give them
innappropriate behaviour will be challenged. Students have regular meetings with their
appropriate support. As a result, some students are
Learning Managers and parents are invited to
able to accelerate their learning, while others can
monitor their children’s progress by checking their
focus for longer on certain curriculum areas before
planner on a weekly basis. Parents’ Evenings are
progressing to the next stage. Students benefit
held annually and provide a valuable opportunity
from mentoring, role models, individual learning
to meet with teachers to discuss their child’s
plans and careers advice.
progress and to receive a written report.
Students are taught in subject and focus groups,
Our pastoral care system engenders a safe
and meet daily in tutor groups. Flexible timetables
evironment within the Academy; one where the
and project-based learning enables them to learn
students are aware of their responsibilities towards
through experience and teaching.
their own safety and that of others. This fosters
Progress is continually monitored by assessment,
an ethos that supports and encourages learning to
teaching group tests and, where necessary, holding
take place and ensures the needs of every student
termly and end of year examinations.
are met.
Commitment
Heartlands strives for the best practice in
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“Heartlands Academy
part of teaching at Heartlands Academy and
results not possible in any other way. This approach to learning is supported by most
so, at the end of each term, regular lessons are
leading teaching organisations including the
suspended for one week in favour of delivering a
UK’s National College, which has carried out
‘Creative Curriculum’. This not only consolidates
research showing that weaving creativity into
students’ learning but also provides them
the daily process of structured learning delivers
with a variety of opportunities and additional
very high standards of education.
experiences. Core subjects such as maths and
Other activities held during Creative Curriculum
science are still taught, but in utilising cross-
weeks are extra revision classes for students
subject themes, topics can be explored to a
with imminent external exams or trips to
greater depth, producing creative and exciting
locations of educational interest.
A few weeks after joining Heartlands Academy,
students to up-to-date methods of learning
offers a wide range of
Year 7 are given the opportunity to spend three
which will be necessary for their progress
opportunities to students
days at a residential outdoor activity centre.
during their future years at the Academy.
This is a key trip in their academic diary and
outside of lesson time, through clubs before and after school, trips and enrichment weeks.” Ismaeel, Year 7.
Year 7 Residential
Enrichment
Creative Curriculum
Fostering creativity and innovation is a key
We expect most of the outdoor pursuits to
an invaluable way for students to become better
be a new experience for many students. They
acquainted with both their teachers and peers,
typically include: abseiling, and den and chariot
helping them to forge new friendships.
building.
During the day, students partake in a
Students work together in groups to develop
combination of classroom-based lessons and
their co-operation and team-building skills and
more adventurous outdoor activities. Lessons
consequently they are able to quickly build
are in line with the curriculum and a single
freindships with each other.
theme will often be explored across a number of different subject lessons. This introduces
Students gain enormously from this trip and it is an important start for life at the Academy.
links within the community and our partners
mentoring, interview techniques, personal
regularly work alongside the Academy to
confidence workshops, communication skills
deliver enrichment activities and employability
and business speed-dating. All of which give
programmes.
students excellent core transferable skills which can
Deloitte deliver an annual after-school business enterprise course at the Academy,
be referenced both on their CV and UCAS forms. This is a unique opportunity for our students,
for which they provide professional enterprise
ensuring they leave the Academy equipped with
training, and a variety of other activities
the aspiration to succeed. They will benefit from
are provided by Price Waterhouse Coopers
these valuable employability skills in the future
and Enabling Enterprise. These include
market place.
The Academy has strong links with other
Community Links
employability workshops, CV writing, business
University, where pupils from both Fox Hollies
community organisations. We seek to share
Special School and the Academy work alongside
our expertise and facilities with others and our
each other engaging in creative activities. This
students play an important role in that provision.
has proved mutually beneficial to both students
Students from Heartlands Academy play a vital role in organising the “Zone Games”, a
and staff. Maths Master Classes for gifted and talented
sporting competition between local primary
Nechells primary school are delivered by
schools held annually at the Alexander Stadium.
teachers and students from Heartlands
As representatives of the Academy, they are
Academy who engage with the children. The
involved in many areas including arranging the
students gain invaluable experience, passing
races and identifiying the winners.
on their knowledge to younger children and
The music department is currently involved in a research project run by Birmingham
thereby consolodiating their own understanding of the subject.
“Staff and students from Heartlands Academy made sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time and worked hard organising the races and spotting the winners.” POD-Post
Programme
Business Links
We are very fortunate to have strong business
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A new building for the Academy was completed and opened in September 2012 providing state-of-the art
lunch breaks and has late evenings for Sixth Form
facilities for our students and staff.
students. Private study is very much encouraged,
Throughout the building, light and space are
on literacy and the Accelerated Reading scheme. It
for our students. All floors have a combination of
also has the advantage of a Promethean table which
specialist learning and traditional classrooms, but
has a multi-touch, interactive smart display and a
also benefit from innovative open plan learning
surface designed for collaborative learning. All of our specialist teaching rooms are equipped
The sports facilities are outstanding. They
to a very high standard. Design Technology has ultra-modern equipment in all areas and an
learning. The facilities are
size basketball court, three self-contained smaller
exceptional quality of work is produced as a result.
absolutely phenomenal for
courts which can also be used for separate teaching
The hardware and software provision in the ICT
groups, floor to ceiling cricket batting nets, a
department is excellent as the Academy recognises
trampolining harness, and space for other indoor
the importance and relevance it has in a 21st
sports including 5 a-side football, tennis, netball and
Century learning environment. There are suites
computers, the food room,
badminton. Outside, there is a large 3 Generation
of iMac computers for music technology, art and
all weather sports field with full size football and
design technology. Art has a prominent position
the sewing machines in
hockey pitches. Students are encouraged to keep fit
at the top of the builiding where roof-windows can
by making use of the fully-equipped multi-gym.
impart proper lighting for the subject.
Facilities
comprise a very large indoor sports hall with a full
example: the Apple iMac
textiles and the all-in-one
rd
On the ground floor, there is a dedicated drama
Overall, the facilities at the Academy are
studio adjacent to the main hall with tiered seating,
exceptional. If you would like to find out more, the
computers for ICT. So many
a delightful dining area which overlooks an outdoor
best way to see and experience our facilities is to
I lost count.� Mohamud,
teaching and recreation area, and the Learning
come to one of our Open Events. Please contact the
Resource Centre.
Academy if you would like to visit at another time.
Year 7.
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as is reading for pleasure to complement our focus
maximised to produce a calm learning environment
spaces.
“We have a great place for
students before and after school as well as during
The LRC is the hub of the Academy, open to
We would be very pleased to show you around.
Jiaqi Shi, former student, tells you about her time here.
increased in popularity and grown year on year. There is a dedicated Sixth Form Centre adjacent to the main academy building and lessons are taught at both locations. Sixth Form students environment combined with the excellent facilities of the new building. All students who remain to complete their education in the Sixth Form will receive unparalleled support and monitoring, meeting with their tutor on a daily basis. There are a wide range of courses on offer with the main focus on A level but we also offer some BTEC level 3 courses. We recognise that qualifications are only part of a balanced education and so offer courses involving study skills, independent learning, team building and employability skills. We have several students enrolled on the Higher Education Access Programme for Schools (HEAPS). This is a two year programme in which each student is assigned a graduate mentor and will have the opportunity to attend residential trips to some of the best universities in the UK. If you would like more information, please ask for a copy of our Sixth Form prospectus or visit our website.
“
My story at Heartlands started in the autumn
of 2002, about two months after I arrived in the UK from China. It was quite a daunting process as anyone, who has
had a similar experience of emigrating and living in a very new and different environment, would testify. However, I am thankful for the support and encouragement I received from my tutors and teachers. Their actions spoke no boundaries and I was able to grow from strength to strength, not only academically but also in terms of learning the English language. I could always rely on the teachers to push me
“
have the benefit of their own learning and social
to the best of my abilities which has helped me to achieve my ultimate dream: I am now in my fourth year at Imperial College London studying medicine in order to become a doctor.
Opportunities
Since opening in 2010, our Sixth Form has
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Information
Principal Mrs G Jones
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No. 10, Great Francis Street Birmingham B7 4QR T F E W
0121 464 3931 0121 464 6562 enquiry@heartlands-academy.org.uk www.heartlands-academy.org.uk
Transport links By bus: Number 14 stops outside; Numbers 55, 72, 94 and 95, are within a 5 minute walk; Numbers 66, 66a and 8 are within a 10 minute walk. By train: Duddeston Station is a 5 minute walk away. Trains stop here on the cross-city line (Four Oaks - Redditch), and on the Walsall line (Walsall - New Street).
Heartlands Academy, No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QR Produced and Designed by Heartlands Academy Š 2013 All content correct at time of going to print.