PROSPECTUS 2010
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Our vision for our Academy is to help Barrow’s young people reach their potential, raise their aspirations and improve standards. We will work in partnership with parents, students, teachers and the local community in our pursuit of this goal.
Dear Parents, Carers and Students, Thank you for your interest in Furness Academy. Academies are different from other schools. At Furness Academy, by adopting a more integrated approach to learning, where young people learn how each subject fits with others, we aim to help our students become better equipped for the future. We want to make sure everyone who attends Furness Academy leaves an enterprising, confident individual, having benefited from a high quality education and a rich mix of activities and experiences. We are dedicated to improving the life experiences of the whole Furness Academy community, and have created a welcoming environment for learning.
We will respect and listen to our students’ opinions, motivating them to achieve everything they can, and, as a result, they will respect their school and become valuable members of the community. We have set clear and ambitious expectations for Furness Academy and for its students, and it is hugely exciting to be a part of the challenge ahead. Our talented and enthusiastic teaching staff are committed to delivering first-class education both now and in the future. This will be enhanced by new, state-of-the-art facilities, which are planned to be completed by 2012, just as our new intake move in to Key Stage 4. I hope this prospectus gives you an idea of what Furness Academy is like, and helps you make the decision on your secondary school. If you need any more information, please do get in touch with me and I will do my best to help.
Douglas Blackledge Principal 1 FURNESS ACADEMY PROSPECTUS 2010
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Our Senior Leadership Team has a great deal of experience and expertise, having been involved in education for many years. They are responsible for leading the Academy and making sure it is achieving its goals.
STEPHEN KELLY Director of Learning Zone Creativity and Performance
GORDON WILSON Vice Principal School Organisation
HELEN WALKER Director of e-Learning and e-Teaching
KEVIN GILL Vice Principal School Improvement
PAULINE HUGHES Director of Inclusion and Family Liaison
JULIA INGHAM Director of Learning Zone Community, Culture and Communication Vice Principal Gordon Wilson
NEIL TIPPINS Director of Learning Zone Science and Technology Vice Principal Kevin Gill
THE SPONSORS The three Sponsors of Furness Academy are Furness College, the University of Cumbria and Barrow Sixth Form College. Furness Academy is one of the few academies in the country that boasts only educational Sponsors, all of which have an in-depth understanding of the learning needs in Barrow. FURNESS COLLEGE Furness College has been at the forefront of Barrow’s education system for more than 100 years. Today, it is pioneering young apprenticeship schemes, diplomas and higher education opportunities in conjunction with three universities.
BARROW SIXTH FORM COLLEGE Established in 1979, Barrow Sixth Form College is one of the few purpose-built sixth form colleges in the country and unique within Cumbria. It is an active member of the Furness 14-19 Education Consortium, which aims to develop a strategy for the area that will genuinely enhance education opportunities for young people. UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA The University of Cumbria was formed in 2007. It has strong links and close partnership working with further education colleges in Cumbria and is the lead institution of Cumbria Higher Learning – a further education distributed learning network for Cumbria.
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GOVERNING BODY The Governing Body, which works across both campuses, is responsible for all decisions made within the Academy and it will have a clear role in its ongoing strategy. Any decisions they make come into effect at both sites.
The Governing Body is made up of: -
The Principal
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The Sponsors
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A person appointed by the County Council
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Parent representatives
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Elected staff member
Additional members can become a part of the Governing Body as agreed by the Sponsors, and we are always open to suggestions. Full details of membership and meetings can be found on our website at: www.furnessacademy.co.uk
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CURRICULUM Furness Academy’s curriculum takes students from the secure and close-knit feel of good primary schooling to high levels of independent learning over the five years of their secondary education. Individual learning plans and Learning Group Leaders guide students through their academic studies and help them plan their own personal curriculum pathways. The curriculum is structured around three Learning Zones:
Within the Learning Zones, children study and achieve qualifications in the following subjects:
- Science and Technology - English and Literacy - Creative and Performance - Maths and Numeracy - Community, Culture and Communications
- PE and Sport Science - Technology - PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education) - Modern Foreign Languages - Humanities - RE (Religious and Moral Education)
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LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Furness Academy is based across two sites. The Academy is organised so that students and staff feel closely connected with smaller units within the Academy, as well as feeling a strong sense of identity with the Academy as a whole.
These smaller units have their own assemblies, competitions and dining arrangements. Learning Zones form an important part of the smaller units system. The Principal has close contact with the students and staff, and every student will be supported by and well known to at least one of the Senior Leadership Team. The Academy will be characterised by closely monitored support and a strong feeling of belonging. The individual learning plan will be at the heart of this. Parents and carers will be encouraged to work closely with the Learning Group Leader to establish work patterns that encourage young people to achieve and surpass their goals.
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Alongside this emphasis on learning will be an equally important focus on personal development and wellbeing. The Learning Group Leader, along with specialist support also available in the Academy, will oversee all aspects of care, welfare and support for special needs.
SPECIALISMS Furness Academy’s two specialist subjects provide a balance between practical and academic skills and reflect Barrow’s rich sporting and engineering heritage. SPORT - Participation in a wide range of sports, including athletics, football, netball and rugby; - Strong emphasis on teamwork and the achievement of excellence; - Additional focus on healthy living. APPLIED MATHEMATICS - Develops understanding and application of mathematical concepts through a variety of different teaching methods; - Pure and applied mathematics both taught;
EXTENSION AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES Each student builds his or her own programme to support academic and personal development, based on individual talents and interests. The majority of our activities have been chosen by our students based on what they want and need from their Academy. We have a wide range of activities to suit every student and help them grow and prepare for the future. These include music and drama, sport, student voice and supplementary academic tuition for those who need additional help or for those who are particularly able.
- Practical relevance of mathematics demonstrated through lessons and extra-curricular activities.
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SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS We believe that the education of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is the responsibility of every member of staff. The Academy aims for all students to achieve their potential and to be an inclusive institution. Gordon Wilson, Vice Principal of School Organisation, is responsible for SEN across the Academy. We provide a curriculum that is broad, balanced and differentiated, and accessible to all students.
Students with SEN are entitled to the whole curriculum and special educational provision will be organised according to individual needs, whether they be communication and interaction, cognitive and learning, behaviour, emotional and social development, or sensory and/or physical. For more information, please ask us for a copy of our SEN policy or download it from our website at: www.furnessacademy.co.uk
PASTORAL PROVISION In addition to year-based Learning Groups, Furness Academy has four Houses, each with its own identity. The structure is characterised by a strong sense of family and belonging. Each student is a member of a House, and all five year groups are represented in each House. Each House is led by a senior member of staff with overall responsibility for students’ academic progress, care and welfare.
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Within the House structure, there will be the opportunity for mixed age activities. Students are encouraged and supported to take on responsibilities within their Houses and to develop a sense of ownership and pride and will be encouraged to develop a spirit of mutual care and respect.
UNIFORM All students are required to wear the Academy uniform, to maintain a professional image which reflects our values and ethos.
The uniform was designed with the help of students at the three predecessor schools, and represents the high standards and aspirations of the Academy.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS We work with parents and with the wider community, including Children’s Services, to make Furness Academy a place for everyone now and in the future.
We hope to build state-of-the-art facilities that local people can use in the evening and at the weekend. We also aim to put together a curriculum that will meet the needs of local businesses and the wider business community to continue the regeneration of Barrow.
STUDENT VOICE We involve and listen to the ideas and opinions of all our students in everyday life at Furness Academy, and they have already helped us to choose the name of the Academy, the logo and the uniform. We want students to feel confident that their ideas are valued, respected and acted on where appropriate. The Academy has an elected student council, which helps us to make decisions that are right for the Academy and the students, and an elected Head Boy and Head Girl, who are in close contact with the senior leadership team to represent the students.
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STATUTORY GRANTS Statutory grants for qualifying students include: -
Free school meals
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Free school travel
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Clothing allowance
ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE Furness Academy’s new admissions policy will apply from September 2010. If you would like a copy of the full document, please get in touch or download one from our website www.furnessacademy.co.uk In the case of oversubscription, parental choice, the school that siblings attend, site oversubscription and the distance from home to another school where a place is available will be taken into consideration. Applications will be considered in the following order of priority: 1. Children in public care; 2. Children in the catchment area who will have brothers or sisters at the Academy when they will be attending; 3. Children outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters at the Academy because they have been directed to the Academy by the Local Authority;
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4. Other children in the catchment area, with priority given to children who live furthest away from their nearest alternative; 5. Children outside the catchment area who will have brothers or sisters at the Academy when they will be attending; 6. Other children in the catchment area, with priority given to children who live closest to the school (measured by the shortest walking route by road). The admission limit for Furness Academy is 240 students. It is highly recommended therefore, that should you be interested in your child attending Furness Academy you will need to make the academy your first choice.
HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT The Home School Agreement is available to download from www.furnessacademy.co.uk or can be requested in hard copy from the Academy.
FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, please do get in touch with us. Furness Academy Thorncliffe Road Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria LA14 5QP North Site: 01229 894 605 South Site: 01229 894 661 enquiries@furnessacademy.co.uk www.furnessacademy.co.uk
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Furness Academy, Thorncliffe Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5QP www.furnessacademy.co.uk