Academy Prospectus
Contents Welcome from the Principal........................ Page 3 The Academy Trust...................................... Page 4 Success Stories............................................. Page 6 The Academy Identity.................................. Page 7 Vertical Tutoring........................................... Page 9 House System............................................... Page 9 The Year 7 Experience................................ Page 11 Academy Pledges....................................... Page 13 Session 6...................................................... Page 14 Enrichment Opportunities........................ Page 15 The Curriculum........................................... Page 17 Valued member of the community.......... Page 18
Welcome from the Principal I am proud to be the first Principal of Stamford Welland Academy and part of the on-going project to deliver an excellent school for Stamford, a school of which Stamford can be proud. Stamford Welland Academy has high expectations of all its students and in return offers a high-quality education at the heart of its local community. We will develop our pupils into successful, confident, responsible and employable citizens. The school will be a cultural hub for its students, their families and the community. The academy is supported by the ethos and values of the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT), decribed by Ofsted as: ‘an absolute belief that every child matters’. The Trust’s founding member was Swavesey Village College – a school regarded as ‘Outstanding in every respect’ by Ofsted. The core of this philosophy is:
Profile of Anthony Partington Over the last five years, Anthony has held leadership positions in several of the trust’s schools. Seconded from Swavesey Village College to improve standards at a vulnerable school in Peterborough, Anthony helped raise achievement levels at GCSE and particularly at A level as Head of Sixth Form. As a result of this work, 40% of A level grades this year were A*/A and the school was awarded its first ever ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted. He has worked as head of house and head of English at a number of successful schools in Cambridgeshire, including leading the internationally renowned English and media faculty across the Parkside
Achievement for all
Providing a high quality learning environment
The pursuit of excellence
Extending the boundaries of learning
Federation of academies in Cambridge. Graduating from Oxford University in 2000 with a degree in English Language and Literature, Anthony worked in the City
Valuing people
of London in public, media and analyst relations. A passion for English Literature and life-long learning led him
This prospectus provides a useful summary of how we translate these aims into reality for each student.
back to Cambridge University to train as an English teacher in 2002. He has conducted research with the Institute
I would be delighted to answer any questions you might have in person or via email. If you would like to meet with me, or would like to visit the new academy please do get in touch to arrange a convenient time. I look forward to meeting you in the future and hope that you will join us in achieving the aim of knowing and supporting every student to achieve and enjoy their school experience. Anthony Partington
of Education into the teaching of literacy, whilst working toward a master’s degree in this area. Anthony is a frequent conference speaker on English and curriculum design and author of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and ‘Twelfth Night’ in the Cambridge University Press’s Cambridge School Shakespeare series.
The Pursuit of Excellence The Academy Trust Stamford Welland Academy joined the CMAT family in September 2014. The Trust was formed with a simple and clear vision: ‘to ensure high quality education at the heart of the community.’ It also enabled Swavesey Village College to sponsor other academies, and help spread the best education practice. Swavesey Village College is considered to be ‘outstanding in every respect’ by Ofsted.
Valuing People
We truly value the success of every child and place the sharing of excellent education practice at its core. We are committed to improving the quality of education and life in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and now Stamford. We are dedicated to maintaining our core principles and focus as we grow – sharing the success of the values that were developed at Swavesey Village College.
A high quality learning environment
Each academy within the CMAT family retains their own local governing bodies, identity and individuality. The young adults who leave our care are prepared for the next stage of their education and are ready and confident to move forward as responsible and employable citizens.
Achievement for all
The pursuit of excellence
Extending the boundaries of learning
For more information about CMAT, visit our website: www.cmatrust.co.uk
Swavesey Village College
Success Stories “Creating a successful new academy requires a very strong leadership team, subject leaders with talent, pastoral staff the students value and effective teachers, support staff and governors who want to be involved and who give their time and expertise every day. Vital to the whole project is a sponsor who can offer advice, experience and role models at every level. Nene Park Academy is fortunate in all of these respects.”
In recent years, Swavesey Village College has consistently topped the Cambridgeshire school league tables as one of the very best schools in the county. In 2011, the Sunday Times ‘Good Schools Guide’ named Swavesey Village College as the fourth best non-selective 11-16 state school in the United Kingdom.
Ofsted result: ‘Outstanding in every respect’ (2011) Awarded Artsmark Gold and PE Quality Mark with distinction DfE designated Teaching School
Nene Park Academy The academy was the first school to work in partnership with the Trust which has led to dramatically improved results – a 76% rise in students achieving 5 A*-C GCSE grades including English and maths in just three years. Ofsted result of ‘Good’ (2013): ‘Achievement is good and rising rapidly.
A-Level: 99 per cent pass rate/ 40 per cent A* or A Awarded Artsmark Gold and PE Quality Mark with distinction Unique football academy partnership with Peterborough United Year 7 first choices increased by 150% in three years
(NPA, Ofsted Report, 2013)
North Cambridge Academy In 2012, Manor Community College achieved just 20% 5 A*-C GCSE grades including English and maths. A year later after joining with CMAT, this had doubled. This year the figure stands at 60% and the school is one of the most improved in the country.
GCSE: 60 per cent 5+ A* - C grades (inc. English and Maths.) Year 7 numbers doubled in two years
Challenging Promise
The Academy Identity
Student care
Stamford
To reflect the new expectations and ambition a new name and brand has been developed for the academy. Working with current students, staff and the local community, we came up with a brand that reflects the aspirations of the Stamford community. This process was overwhelmingly positive and our brand matches the Stamford community’s pursuit of excellence. Everyone felt it was important that the new academy was forward thinking and modern, reflecting our desire to build and grow an exciting and challenging new academy, but maintain an authentic link to Stamford’s tradition and history. The academy’s new logo links directly with local Stamford history drawing from the three lions on the town shield and on the crest of Burghley.
Personal growth
Team spirited
High standards
The lion further symbolises the strength and pride we wish to see in our students during their time at the academy. We have high expectations of all our students in all areas of their development. We expect them to achieve above and beyond their personal targets and to make the most of our stimulating curriculum.
Confident / Proud
Going beyond expectations
Friendly / Approachable
Valuing People Stamford Welland Academy embeds CMAT’s core values at the heart of everything we do. These initiatives have been developed and proved to be successful at other schools in the trust.
Vertical Tutoring The mixed aged tutor group system is known as Vertical Tutoring. Each tutor group will have a mixture of pupils from all year groups. The Vertical Tutoring system has many benefits, fostering a family spirit where older students offer guidance and provide support to younger students. It also ensures students have a sense of the whole school picture as the younger pupils see the older ones preparing for work experience, subject choices and important examinations.
This allows them to easily build great relationships with students and their families and ensure they receive the support they need. Each tutor will contact a child’s family three times in the year to discuss progress and address any concerns. An encouraging House ethos for students to strive in is developed and strengthened by healthy competition. Students will have the opportunity to compete alongside their House peers in a variety activities in order to claim victory and win the prestigious House Cup.
The tutors will follow the students from their first few days to their last at the academy.
House System Stamford Welland Academy has three House groups:
Austen House
DaVinci House
The Houses provide crucial support and guidance, and the needs of every student are acknowledged and understood by their tutor and senior tutor. The system enables individual progress to be monitored much more closely and the House is the key focus of the relationship between the academy and families, with siblings joining the same House. The House Offices are a great base for students and parents to find the support and assistance they may need. Each House has a dedicated senior leader, senior tutor and student support advisor. There are five tutor groups per House with each comprising of approximately 15 students ranging from Year 7 to Year 11.
Newton House
A high quality learning environment
The Year 7 Experience Once students are allocated a place at Stamford Welland Academy, our main aim is to get to know each individual student as soon as we can through regular, personal contact. Here is an outline of the key elements which form our Year 7 transition process. This is the least that we can offer students upto and within that vital first term. Should situations arise where a student may need more support, we promise communication will be easy, valued and effective from the very start of your partnership with us. Our commitment to transition starts early, with many activities planned, organised and supported by Stamford Welland Academy’s staff and students throughout the course of the academic year with our partner primary schools. This is crucial because it allows the primary students to familiarise themselves with the academy, its values and its culture before arriving in September.
Year 7 Transition Process Open Morning Tours and Meet the Principal – every Friday throughout the year School visits by Principal and student support advisors to aid transition and meet individual needs – May Taster Days for Year 6 students - June Induction Days for Year 6 students – July Meet your child’s tutor evening – early September Settling In Parents’ Evening – early October Parents’ Forum – late October Year 7 Team Building Camp – November
Achievement for all
Academy Pledges We have an uncompromising commitment to ensure that every child achieves their academic potential at Stamford Welland Academy. Our curriculum has been carefully designed to secure the best possible outcomes for our pupils. We also have support systems in place for students that need extra support and guidance to achieve. In order to support our challenging curriculum, we have also developed and invested in a simple but broad set of Academy Pledges that students are expected to complete during the course of their time at the academy, at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels: Participation Pledge
Giving Pledge
Leadership Pledge
Environmental Pledge
Excellence Pledge
Service Pledge
Diversity Pledge Pledges is an awards system which offers students a range of characterbuilding opportunities that enhance their learning and development. It is an expectation of every pupil to complete their Pledges during their time at the academy.
Did you know?
The Pledge system aims to encourage and support many important qualities in students, such as responsibility, expectation, intuition and citizenship, all of which are crucial for giving students employability and brighter futures.
Completing Pledges can also help your House to win the House Cup
Pledges is also designed to help students meet requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme up to Gold level.
Pledge awards will be recognised as additional qualifications by local Post-16 providers
Session 6 Stamford Welland Academy offers a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities through a timetabled programme over the year. These encompass traditional activities such as sports, music and additional subject support, and less traditional activities such as military self-defence, RockBand and Green Team. The academy day extends to 4.15pm for those students who wish to stay for after-school activities or additional curriculum assistance – these sessions are called Session 6s. It is expected that students will attend at least two Session 6s a week. Every curriculum area offers at least one Session 6 after school and we continue to develop other opportunities – for example, Duke of Edinburgh, World Challenge, Army Cadet Force, and Water Sports, as well as elite programmes in rugby, hockey, football, and netball across our partnership with the Trust. Session 6s also factor crucially in ensuring our students achieve their absolute best. Tutors will recommend sessions that will be useful if a student needs additional support or clarification. Students can also drop into extra-curricular study support sessions themselves if they are feeling overwhelmed or need assistance.
Did you know? Attending Session 6s can help you work towards your Pledges
Enrichment Opportunities We believe in an all-inclusive education where every child not only develops academic skills, but self-confidence, life-skills, and leadership experiences. In addition to the weekly enrichment programme, there is a wide-range of other whole academy community events: Inter-House competitions Extended curriculum days Enrichment week Charity events, including the annual charities morning There are student leadership opportunities to be found throughout all aspects of academy life – from the informal leadership that is inherent in the mixed age tutor groups, through to the academy Student Council, and local and national representative groups. Similarly, internationalism is promoted through the House structure with Houses linking to different continents on an annual rotation. This is also supported by a range of foreign trips and links to partner schools on other continents.
Extending the boundaries of learning We have an uncompromising commitment to ensure that every child achieves their academic potential at Stamford Welland Academy. Our curriculum has been carefully designed to secure the best possible outcomes for our students and to create well-rounded and cultured individuals.
Year 8 curriculum Year 7 curriculum Year 7 students at Stamford Welland Academy follow a new and exciting curriculum designed to help settle students into secondary education by partially replicating the primary model. This means that they will study English, reinforced through Humanities subjects, with one teacher for half of the week. That teacher ensures that new Year 7 students learn History, Geography, Religious Studies and English through development of projects and the teaching of literacy skills at the heart of the curriculum. Mathematics is also a key focus for Year 7 and our setting structure for classes ensures that students are able to enjoy their maths while being challenged to progress rapidly. Indeed, the Year 7 curriculum has the best of both the secondary model, where they learn by moving around the academy and experience new and exciting opportunities, with the primary model, where one teacher really knows the child.
By Year 8 the transition has been completed and the student immerses themselves in an exciting curriculum where English, Maths and Science are the core focus. At Stamford Welland Academy students follow the KS3 curriculum for two years. This means that during Year 8, students choose, with the guidance of their form tutors and parents, their GCSE option choices.
Year 9, 10 and 11 curriculum Students begin their GCSE studies in Year 9, which provides time to develop breadth and depth before taking examinations in Year 11. Our guided choices programme allows students to access the creative and technical subjects, such as Dance, Construction, Sport, Product Design, Computing and Food Technology, alongside a curriculum that focuses on developing students’ achievements in the core subjects: English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Ethics and practical PE. The essence of Stamford Welland Academy’s curriculum is to ensure that every child achieves his or her maximum potential in the pursuit of striving for excellence across all subjects.
Valued member of the community
Drawing upon the village college roots of the Trust, we firmly believe our role is to provide for all members of the community we serve. This means that we will look to open the school’s facilities to the community and seek to run community education courses.
Stamford Welland Academy to take part in a range of sporting, science and cultural projects. Some of the academy’s teachers will also be attending local primary schools to provide the pupils with wider opportunities in areas such as high-ability maths and English, modern languages and sport.
Students will also be exposed to many opportunities in which they can help their in-school communities. They can take up a Head of House role or join the Student Council, and, in doing so, will work towards their Leadership Pledges whilst airing their views and concerns.
As part of the promise to deliver on the vision of the Free School, Stamford Welland Academy will seek, with the Department for Education’s support, to develop sixth-form provision in time for the students joining in September 2015. Drawing on the Trust’s experience of growing and setting excellent standards for post-16 learning, we believe that this total 11-19 years provision will benefit the school and Stamford communities.
Establishing close links with younger pupils at nearby primary schools is also important, and we will be inviting them into
Photos courtesy of Pip Warters – acelensman.com
Stamford Welland Academy will be a valued member of the wider community and a source of immense pride.
Stamford Welland Academy Green Lane Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 1HE Tel: 01780 751011 Web: www.stamfordwellandacademy.org E-mail: enquiries@stamfordwellandacademy.org
Part of the CMAT family.