Prospectus 2015
2
Contents Principal’s welcome message Our mission, vision and values An enjoyable and challenging curriculum Outstanding progress at Key Stage 3 Top attainment at Key Stage 4 Our Sixth Form The City Experience Our partnership with parents and carers Pastoral care and primary transition Our staff, sponsors and governors Applying to The City Academy, Hackney
3 5 7 9 11 13 17 19 21 23 25
Open Evening Thursday 8 October, 5 - 8 p.m. Meet the Principal, our teaching staff and students. Find out more about the academy, and tour our award-winning building.
Open Mornings Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 October. Booking required via our website. Our Open Mornings will comprise a studentled tour of the academy plus a presentation from the Principal, Mark Emmerson. * Where the term ‘parent’ is used in this document the academy recognises that this includes any adult who has legal responsibility for the child.
A warm welcome from our Principal, Mark Emmerson I am delighted to invite you to consider The City Academy, Hackney as your preferred choice of secondary school for your child. In 2014, our students made more academic progress than in any other school in London. In fact, the attainment of our students in their GCSEs demonstrated the best progress of any co-educational secondary school in the country as a whole. In addition, we have received two ‘Outstanding’ grades from Ofsted; judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in every category twice. Results in 2015 remain strong. When we were established in 2009 our aim was to build a ‘world class’ academy for our students based on the highest expectations. Students are expected to work hard and to show dedication and commitment to their studies. In return, The City Academy, Hackney provides fantastic academic, creative, sporting, linguistic, and personal educational experiences. This ‘City Experience’ is delivered through our outstanding teaching, the formal and informal curriculum and the support of our sponsors The City of London Corporation and KPMG. Of key importance to our success has been the development of students’ originality and independent thinking, which has been fostered through the many creative and engaging learning experiences we offer inside and outside the classroom. At The City Academy, Hackney there is a real emphasis on personal skills and the development of values that all young people need to be successful. The academic progress of our students speaks for itself and our standing as a centre of excellence for secondary education is now the subject of great interest locally, nationally and internationally. We believe that you will be impressed by the outstanding educational experiences we can offer your child, and I would urge you to visit the academy to find out more. Mark Emmerson Principal
3
4
“
Staff, students and their parents and carers have all made a significant contribution to the academy’s vision and success. - Ofsted
Our aim is to provide a high quality education for students in Hackney and pioneer educational innovation Our mission: to develop highly qualified and skilled young adults who achieve to the best of their ability, display the highest standards of professionalism and are ethical, active citizens fully committed to supporting their local and global community. The City Academy, Hackney offers all students an outstanding opportunity to learn and achieve in a purpose-built environment with access to the highest standards of teaching, support and challenge.
Values and success Our success is judged by excellence in examination results, standards of behaviour, sporting and creative achievement as well as the politeness, selfdiscipline and compassion of our students. It is important to us that students enjoy learning and feel safe and happy at school and we enable them to develop the confidence, independence and self-awareness required for their future success and well-being. Students at The City Academy, Hackney are taught in an environment that promotes academic, creative, sporting, linguistic, and personal achievement: this is ‘The City Experience’.
5
6
An enjoyable, challenging and relevant curriculum The core purpose of the academy is to help students learn. We do this by developing comprehensive, detailed teaching and learning strategies that foster excellent academic progress. The City Academy, Hackney ensures all students have the essential skills to achieve in later life and opportunities to excel in every subject. The academy provides: a strong core curriculum that supports literacy and numeracy a range of learning pathways to offer support and challenge the more able innovative and stimulating learning experiences.
Additional Studies and the extended day The academy operates an extended day for all students; the libraries are open both before and after school and our staff offer a range of extra-curricular activities including our Additional Studies programme of enrichment classes, three evenings a week. The PE department also run sports clubs all year round alongside training sessions for the academy’s competitive squads both before and after school.
How are students supported? The City Academy, Hackney values students’ well-being, their opinions and their achievement. All students are individuals and have a variety of complex needs. Students with special educational needs (SEN), those who are more able in a particular subject, and the majority of students who fit into neither of these categories all need support and challenge. All students have a Personal Adviser who meets with them regularly. Aspirational targets are discussed and agreed in partnership with parents.
7
8
“
Teaching is skilled, creative and of consistently high quality so that students’ progress is rapid. - Ofsted
”
Outstanding progress at Key Stage 3
9
Our students’ learning and progress are at the heart of everything we do and this is evident, not only in our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report, but also in the academy’s results. PHSCE/tutor y embl Ass 1
1
4/5
2
4
30
4
2 2 2
ss/ sine Bu ICT
hours 4
3/4
All students follow a two-year programme in the core subjects and begin GCSEs in English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics in year 9. Foundation subjects are taught over three years, with the majority of students completing Key Stage 3 at the end of year 9. All students follow the national curriculum unless the academy (in consultation with students and parents) feels they would benefit from not doing so.
Outstanding progress In line with our vision for the academy, we aim to raise standards and aspirations through leading by example. With 90% of students reaching level 5 and above in English and maths at Key Stage 3, the progress our students make is well above the national average and is truly inclusive. Percentage of Key Stage 3 students achieving level 5 and above compared with the National averages (2014).
90
84%
90%
92%
90%
83%
80
the national average. 23% above
70
English
Maths
TCAH
Nat.
TCAH
National
TCAH
50
National
60
67%
English and maths
10
“
The academy has very high standards and expectations. It is these which have provided the impetus for excellence. - Ofsted
Top attainment at Key Stage 4 In 2014, our students made more academic progress than in any other school in London. In fact, the attainment of our students in their GCSEs demonstrated the best progress of any co-educational secondary school in the country as a whole. This summer, 87% of students achieved five or more A*- C grades with 73% of students achieving five or more A*- C grades including English and maths (20% above the national average), and 49% of students obtaining the English Baccalaureate (again, 20% above the national average).
Whole school
By subject
87% five or more A*- C grades 49% English Baccalaureate 42% three or more A*/A grades 90% at least one A*/A grade
100% A* - C grades in art (2014 & 2015) 100% A* - C grades in Biology and Physics 100% A* - C grades in Further Maths 100% A* - C grades in Business Studies
Percentage of students achieving five or more A*- C grades incl. English and maths compared with local and national averages for 2014 and 2015.
100 90 80
73%
70 60
58%
61% 53%
59%
81%
the national average. 20% above
50 Local Authority
National (All schools)
The City Academy, Hackney
GCSE options All students study GCSEs in English, maths and science, and there is a wide selection of options across the remaining subjects. The vast majority of students follow the English Baccalaureate in Key Stage 4. Our GCSE options subjects include many of those taught throughout Key Stage 3 such as art, music and technology as well as additional choices including computing and economics.
11
12
“
It is a pleasure to work in such a fantastic school and amazing to see not only students reaching their full potential but also becoming such mature and polite young adults. - academy teacher
An enjoyable, challenging and relevant sixth form The aim of our Sixth Form is to develop young learners into independent, studious and professional young adults, by insisting on the same core values that characterise the work of the academy as a whole. The education we offer, and the standards we deliver are not the only reasons for choosing The City Academy, Hackney. We have established links with Russell Group universities including unique links, through our sponsors, with Clare College, Cambridge and Wadham College, Oxford. Our joint sponsor, KPMG, provides volunteer subject mentoring as well as paid alternatives to higher education, while The City of London Corporation offer work experience opportunities. Our dedicated University Support Programme and partnership with The Access Project are designed to help students prepare for university and guide them through the application process. Our hand-picked, experienced, Personal Advisers will support, guide, mentor and provide the help and intervention required for students to achieve the best possible grades in their chosen A levels. In the Sixth Form our commitment to excellence extends to our enrichment offer, where we provide an extensive sports, arts and community enrichment programme certified through the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Our brand new Sixth Form Centre with dedicated cafĂŠ, common room, study areas and library opens this year, adding to our range of excellent facilities including collaborative work areas, gym, Astroturf sports pitch, and industry-standard music and drama studios. Our Sixth Form provides our students, and those who join the academy at 16, with the best opportunities to achieve in a supportive and challenging environment where the highest expectations are reflected in all we do.
13
14
“
The quality of teaching at the academy is outstanding. Lessons are interesting and always informative and clear. - academy student
15
16
The City Experience: opportunities to enjoy and achieve Students at The City Academy, Hackney are taught in an environment that promotes academic, creative, sporting, linguistic, and personal achievement: this is ‘The City Experience’. Academic - we will not compromise on students achieving exceptional levels of academic progress. We are rigorous in our teaching whilst ensuring that we engage students’ interest and inspire them to achieve the highest academic standards. Behaviour is exceptional, classrooms are focussed and students are required to complete their classwork, and the regular homework we set them, to the best of their ability. Creative - learning experiences are promoted across all subjects and the creative subjects themselves are highly regarded in our school. Every student has access to a wide range of creative opportunities through the formal curriculum, Additional Studies, trips, concerts and productions. In addition, every student in year 8 is given access to free musical instrument tuition, funded by our joint sponsor, KPMG. Sporting - our commitment to healthy lifestyles means that we encourage wide participation in sports and fitness. We have regular fixtures for all sports teams ranging from football to netball, taekwondo to trampolining. Students take pride in representing the academy and the academy takes pride in nurturing their individual talents and collective success. Linguistic - speaking another language is an invaluable life skill in the 21st century, globalised economy. For that reason every child is expected to study at least one foreign language and they are all given the opportunity to travel to Spain or France as part of their studies; these trips are subsidised by our joint sponsor, The City of London Corporation, widening access to an enriching education. Personal - we believe that academic success and the wider personal development of students go hand in hand. Any school should play a vital role in allowing students to develop a range of wider personal attributes which will help them to succeed in later life. The academy places a great deal of importance on politeness, kindness, responsibility and respect. We promote these values through our high expectations.
17
18
“
Brilliant achievement in supporting a continued enthusiasm for learning... and developing a very happy child. - academy parent
�
Our partnership with parents and carers plays a crucial role in ensuring students achieve at the highest level Often parental involvement in a child’s education reduces when they reach secondary school. We are committed to ensuring that does not happen. Regular communication with parents is incredibly important to us.
Communication The academy regularly provides parents with information and data to ensure they are informed of their child’s progress: newsletters are posted home every half term; reports are compiled five times a year; progress, behaviour and attendance can be monitored online, and the academy does its utmost to support parental engagement by offering numerous opportunities for parents to meet with staff throughout the year.
Consultation We offer opportunities for, and expect parents to, meet their child’s Personal Adviser in the first half term at the school as well as at scheduled meetings throughout the academic year, at which parents can meet with subject teachers, discuss their child’s progress and set targets.
Participation We understand the challenges parents face while supporting their child’s education and we know that many parents, in similar situations, have benefited from talking to one another. The academy has a well-established Parent Staff Association (PSA) whose primary aim is to support communication between parents and the academy, and between parents themselves. The PSA hold open meetings every half term and also run a range of events including taster classes and social events, as well as running a second hand uniform shop.
19
20
“
The academy’s core values which emphasise achievement, enjoyment and respect are also having a positive impact on students’ lives. - Ofsted
”
The positive impact of pastoral care Primary transition Our aim is to make the transition from primary to secondary education as smooth as possible. Students offered a place are invited to the academy with their parent(s) to have an individual meeting with a member of staff, discuss expectations and answer any questions they may have. This meeting ensures we have the early parental support that is crucial to a child’s academic success. In addition to this we offer a full transition day, at which students learn more about life at the academy with their peers.
House system and vertical tutor groups Students are grouped into four Houses with a Head of House - who is responsible for having an overview of students’ attainment, welfare and behaviour - and elected student House Captains. The House system is used to motivate students to achieve through a range of activities and competitions, from reading to sport. The academy operates vertical tutor groups. This means that tutor groups include a mix of ages. In schools that use this system, tutors have much more contact with individual students and there are fewer instances of bullying as students create friendships across and between year groups.
Behaviour and expectations The academy expects the kind of standards of behaviour that would be displayed in any professional workplace. It is our students’ responsibility to be well presented, polite and courteous at all times, and we expect parents to uphold our rules so that every child can succeed. We believe that children should understand that there are always consequences associated with good and poor behaviour. With this in mind, we have a simple and consistently enforced system of rewards and sanctions and a strict behaviour policy to support high standards of behaviour. This encourages hard work, rewards good behaviour and promotes success.
21
Virginia Rounding, Chair of Governors The City of London Corporation and KPMG continue to be absolutely committed to our partnership in sponsoring the academy and to helping to ensure that our students fulfil their potential in a happy, healthy, supportive and safe environment. We are particularly pleased this year to see the Sixth Form up and running successfully, and that our students continue to achieve well above the national average in their public examination results. Employees from both sponsors volunteer as Personal Advisers to our students, and other initiatives include The Access Project - a one-toone tutoring programme - and a wealth of workrelated learning and cultural opportunities. The Governing Body is made up of Governors appointed by the City of London Corporation and by KPMG, as well as parent, staff and local community Governors. It is our role to set the strategic direction for the academy, working with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team in helping to create a culture of high expectations, aspirations and scholastic excellence. Virginia Rounding Chair of Governors
22
Our staff, sponsors and governors share a strong commitment to the ethos and values that support our success A clear vision from the outset coupled with the enthusiasm and determination of our staff have been fundamental to the development and ongoing success of the academy.
Our staff and sponsors Students say they greatly appreciate the way all staff support and help them, whilst Personal Advisers play a significant role in monitoring progress and well-being. We believe the success of the academy is dependent upon providing a structured and safe environment, rich and varied curriculum, and consistency in behaviour management, rules, routines, and quality of teaching. We have two excellent sponsors: financial services firm KPMG and the City of London Corporation, who both have first class track records in supporting education. Our shared vision is to provide a professional ethos that gives students the confidence, skills and ambition to move on to the wider worlds of higher education and work.
Ofsted Since opening in 2009 we have achieved two ‘Outstanding’ grades from Ofsted. We were judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in every category and Ofsted were so impressed that our work has been promoted as best practice in a national publication. Please see our website to read the report in full.
23
24
Applying to join The City Academy, Hackney Applications for places at the academy will be made in accordance with Hackney Learning Trust’s coordinated admission arrangements. All children applying to the academy, including children with statements of Special Educational Needs and looked after children, will be required to take the GL Assessment, CATS3 Level C test. Children who do not sit the test will be considered after those who sit the test. Applicants will be placed in one of four bands, based on their performance in the test. Approximately the same number of children will be admitted in each of the four bands so that each band represents 25% of the applicants. Children with statements of SEN/an EHCP and looked after children are placed in a band. If they are unable to take the test, their band allocation will be based on their primary school teacher assessments. The academy will consider all applicants for places. Where fewer than 180 applications are received, the academy will offer places to all those who have applied. After the admission of pupils with statements of SEN where The City Academy, Hackney is named and the number of applications for admission is greater than the published capacity, applications will be considered within each band against the following criteria: 1. Children in public care 2. A child subject to a child protection plan 3. Students whose siblings currently attend the academy and will continue to do so on the date of admission 4. Up to nine students resident in the City of London (if more than nine students apply, selection within fair bands to be determined by drawing lots) 5. Students will then be offered places on the basis of the proximity of their home (permanent residence) to the main entrance of the academy measured in a straight line on a map.
25
26
“
All aspects of the academy’s work are outstanding, its vision encompassing the whole community. - Ofsted
”
Visit us online at: www.thecityacademy.org
Please refer to our website where you will find a wide range of supporting material and useful information including: an up-to-date events calendar including Open Evenings, Open Mornings, admissions and appeals deadlines guidance of how to apply for a place through Hackney Learning Trust news of individual student achievements, whole-school successes, photos and videos from recent events, trips, concerts and sports fixtures a link to the school performance tables and the academy’s full Ofsted report, graded ‘Outstanding’ in all categories in January 2012 our SEN information report detailing the academy’s provision for students with special educational or disability needs.
27
The City Academy, Hackney, Homerton Row, London, E9 6EA 020 8525 5440 admin@thecityacademy.org www.thecityacademy.org Principal: Mark Emmerson
The City Academy, Hackney is sponsored by KPMG and the City of London Corporation. The City Academy, Hackney is a registered charitable company. Registered office: The City Academy, Hackney, Homerton Row, London, E9 6EA.