Prospectus 2018
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
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Open Evening Tuesday 2nd 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 Thursday 11th & Friday 12th October. Booking required via our website. Our Open Mornings will comprise a studentled tour of the academy plus a presentation from the Principal, Mark Malcolm. * 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 Malcolm I am delighted to invite you to consider The City Academy, Hackney as your preferred choice of secondary school for your child. When we were established in 2009 we set out to build an exceptional academy for our students based on the highest expectations of academic achievement and personal development. Our students have achieved outstanding GCSE results and our third set of A-level results are excellent. Our sixth form students have progressed to university or high-level apprenticeships. In 2017 for the fourth year in a row, our students have achieved one grade higher for each of their best eight GCSE grades than the equivalent average progress of students in other schools and the Progress Eight score was above 1. In 2014 our students were placed second in the country for the progress they made, in 2015 they were fifth and in both 2010 and 2012 we were judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in every Ofsted category. The City Academy, Hackney is built on five principles called the Foundation for Learning. All adults firmly believe that all students can achieve their potential and these high expectations are underpinned by a strong behaviour policy that enables students to access the learning and teachers to teach the lessons they have prepared. Teaching and learning is exceptional and students are assessed regularly to inform students, parents and their teachers so timely intervention takes place when required. A rigorous and challenging curriculum enables all students to aspire to further education at sixth form, college and university. This is an exceptional academy, please take some time to explore the website to find out more about our approach, our community and our very special ethos. Mark Malcolm Principal
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Staff, students and their parents and carers have all made a significant contribution to the academy’s vision and success. - Ofsted
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Our Mission Our aim is to provide an outstanding education for students in Hackney Our mission: to develop highly qualified and skilled young adults who achieve to the best of their individual ability and embrace a desire for lifelong learning in their chosen path when they leave. We will fully equip our students to deal with the challenges of the 21st century by displaying the highest standards of professionalism and becoming 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. We achieve those standards by promoting a working environment which pioneers innovation, professional development and the highest standards of teaching and support.
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. We aim to: • • • • •
provide an outstanding education for students in Hackney and pioneer educational innovation offer a curriculum that is enjoyable, challenging and relevant enable students to fulfil their potential and participate fully in society raise standards and aspirations for young people regardless of their prior attainment build partnerships with parents and carers, local cultural organisations, businesses and other educational communities
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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, two 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 and disability (SEND), 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.
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Teaching is skilled, creative and of consistently high quality so that students’ progress is rapid. - Ofsted
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Outstanding progress at Key Stage 3 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. All students follow a two-year Key Stage 3 programme in all National Curriculum subjects. At the end of year 8 they choose options for GCSEs and begin Key Stage 4 in year 9. English, maths, science, geography/history and Spanish are required to be taken by almost all students. GCSE subjects are taught over three years. Students are expected to follow an academic EBacc pathway unless the academy (in consultation with students and parents) feels they would benefit from not doing so.
Outstanding progress at Key Stage 3 In line with our vision for the academy, we continue to raise standards and aspirations with an expectation that all students make equal progress towards their challenging targets. The higher the starting point, the higher the target.
TCAH
By the end of year 8, 80% of students have reached grade 2 or higher in English and maths.
Percentage of year 8 students achieving grade 2 and above.
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93%
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84%
English
80%
National
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TCAH
60
National
70
Maths
English and Maths
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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 2017 students sitting GCSE exams made exceptional progress for the fourth year in a row. The Progress 8 score of 1.06 indicates that students make one GCSE grade better for each of their best eight GCSEs than national average progress. This summer, 76% of students achieved five or more 9-4 grades with 73% of students achieving English and maths (9% above the 2017 national average), and 53% of students obtaining the English Baccalaureate (more than 29% above the national average).
Whole school 76% five or more 9-4 grades 53% English Baccalaureate at 4+ 33% English Baccalaureate at 5+ 31% three or more 9-7 grades 59% at least one 9-7 grade
Percentage of students achieving five or more 9-4 grades incl. English and maths compared with local averages for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
100 90 80
73%
70 60
82%
60%
67%
77% 64%
69%
73%
50 Local Authority
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.
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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 offers work experience opportunities, and access to unique facilities. 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. The Mark Emmerson Sixth Form Centre opened in November 2016 offering exceptional accommodation including a dedicated cafĂŠ, common room, classrooms, study areas and library, adding to our range of excellent facilities including collaborative work areas, gym, astroturf sports pitch, and industrystandard 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.
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The quality of teaching at the academy is outstanding. Lessons are interesting and always informative and clear. - academy student
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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 focused 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 7 is given access to free musical instrument tuition. 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 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.
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Brilliant achievement in supporting a continued enthusiasm for learning... and developing a very happy child. - academy parent
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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: reports are compiled four 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.
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The academy’s core values which emphasise achievement, enjoyment and respect are also having a positive impact on students’ lives. - Ofsted
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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.
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Dawn Elliott, 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 were particularly pleased last year to see the completion of the magnificent Sixth Form centre and that our students continue to achieve well above the national average in their public examination results. The support of The City of London Corporation has allowed the establishment of new Music Academy scholarships, adding to the already extensive range of extra-curricular activities which make the Academy such an energetic place to study. Employees from both sponsors volunteer as Personal Advisers to our students, as one-to-one tutors via The Access Project and to support a wealth of work-related learning and cultural opportunities throughout the year. 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 vibrant culture of high expectations, aspirations and overall excellence.’ Dawn Elliott Chair of Governors
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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.
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All aspects of the academy’s work are outstanding, its vision encompassing the whole community. - Ofsted
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Applying to join The City Academy, Hackney All children applying to the academy, including children with statements of Special Educational Needs and looked after children, will be required to take the Cognitive Ability Tests (CAT4 Level C) designed by GL Assessments. 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. An equal number of children will be assigned to each band (where possible) based on the range of ability of the applicants. Each band represents approximately 25% of the applicants. Children with EHCP identifying SEND and looked after children are included in the appropriate 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 EHCP identifying SEND 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
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A child subject to a child protection plan
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Students whose siblings currently attend the academy and will continue to do so on the date of admission
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Up to a maximum of nine children (across all bands) resident in the City of London (if more than nine students apply, selection within fair bands to be determined by drawing lots).
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Children of staff employed at the academy, where a member of staff has been employed for two or more years at the time at which the application is being made, and/or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skills shortage.
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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 or using a GIS system (proximity is measured using a straight line measurement from the main entrance of the academy to the main entrance of the child’s home).
Tie break Random allocation undertaken by an independent body will be used as a tiebreaker in categories 2-6 above to decide who has highest priority for a place if the distance between a child’s home and The City Academy, Hackney is equidistant in any two or more cases.
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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
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guidance of how to apply for a place through Hackney Learning Trust
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news of individual student achievements, whole-school successes, photos and videos from recent events, trips, concerts and sports fixtures
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a link to the school performance tables and the academy’s full Ofsted report, graded ‘Outstanding’ in all categories in January 2012
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our SEN information report detailing the academy’s provision for students with special educational or disability needs.
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The City Academy, Hackney, Homerton Row, London, E9 6EA 020 8525 5440 admin@thecityacademy.org www.thecityacademy.org Principal: Mark Malcolm
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.