Welcome Thank you for your interest in Waterside Academy. Since becoming Headteacher here in April 2022, it has been my personal mission to ensure that this school becomes the school of choice for parents in Hackney. The highly skilled staff and teachers at Waterside Academy are experienced educators and have created a small nurturing environment where every child is challenged to achieve their full potential. They deploy excellent teaching and are given a range of excellent opportunities beyond the classroom. Having been Deputy Headteacher at the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Forest Gate Community School, I know what it takes to provide a world class education and I am proud to replicate that here.
As a Headteacher and a parent I know how important it is for families to be involved in their child’s education. I am also in the fortunate position as head of a small school to be able to meet and get to know every child and their families. I encourage all families to visit our school regularly and to see their child at work and play. I also urge you to come and visit our school; I would love to show you around personally.
As a small school we are able to offer all students a personalised curriculum in a caring environment where every child is greeted by name. We support students through every stage of their secondary education, starting with transition to ensure that they have the very best possible start. Mr Francis Bray, Headteacher
“ My whole world has been transformed because of this school and what they are doing for us as students. I cannot thank them enough.” 2021 Alumni
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Academic success We have very high expectations at Waterside Academy. Our children achieve excellent GCSE grades. We have small class sizes, a high staff to student ratio and early intervention for all students who may need extra support. This, along with our bespoke online tool ‘Dynamic Progress Reporting’ means that parents can see for themselves the progress their child is making. Our award winning curriculum, which was developed with Forest Gate Community School and I have brought here, has been recognised by Ofsted as Outstanding. Students can study a broad range of subjects. I am very pleased to inform you that your child will have the opportunity to use our brand new state-of-the art design technology rooms offering Resistant Materials and Food Technology.
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Developing the whole student Confidence and courtesy are the key to everything we do at Waterside Academy. We explicitly teach good manners and skills to develop the whole child. At Waterside Academy we want students to be confident well-rounded individuals who are able to express themselves clearly in every situation when they leave us. We work with students explicitly on their articulation and projection in all interactions. Students are encouraged to try a range of activities and experiences including Speak Out challenges, the Brilliant Club, kayaking and volunteering. School starts each morning with a warm welcome from all of our staff who greet students at the gate
and in the playground and who know each child by name. We love poetry at our school and at the moment the whole school community has learned three classical poems. We perform poetry at every opportunity and it’s a sight to behold. Our Master Mission programme encourages students to try new things and builds resilience and confidence. Music, Art and Drama are particular strengths of the school and there are regular clubs and performances to ensure students shine.
Our offer to every child includes: 1. A place at the smallest, most polite secondary school in Hackney where every child and teacher know each other by name and where they are known as individuals and they can develop their creativity. 2. A warm friendly school with an outstanding curriculum offer, engaging lessons and highly qualified dedicated teachers. 3. A calm orderly school environment with our core values of Care, Challenge, Confidence and Courtesy present in absolutely everything we do. 4. A dedicated Wellbeing and Achievement Coach who advises and guides each student personally every week.
5. A bespoke futures programme with planned and personalised careers and confidence interventions to prepare students for each step of their lives beginning in Year 7. 6. Opportunities for parent engagement like no other secondary school. Regular scheduled meetings with the Headteacher, the possibility for parents to review their child’s learning and communicate directly with subject teachers daily using our online ‘Dynamic Progress Reporting’ tool. 7. An outstanding enrichment programme known as the Master Mission to allow students access to a range of experiences, workshops and lessons outside of the timetable, generating rewards and building student resilience – as well as having fun!
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Happy and safe environment Waterside Academy was named due to our unique water side location by the Haggerston Basin of the New Regent’s Canal. The name reflects the natural, calm and cleansing nature of water mirrored in the atmosphere and ethos of the school. The name also sits well alongside our school values which are defined as ‘care, challenge, confidence and courtesy’. These values are embedded in our school culture.
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At Waterside Academy students are happy and safe. Because we are a small school, it is like a family. We are able to get to know each child individually and cater for their needs and preferences. The school is calm and purposeful.
Connecting our community Waterside Academy is proudly part of the London Borough of Hackney and benefits from its central location in a diverse and interesting community. Part of our mission is to ensure that students are prepared for life beyond school and this means that we have a focus on developing employability skills and work experience relevant to the local area through our Master Mission programme.
Similarly Waterside Academy welcomes Sixth Forms, Further Education colleges and local employers to its annual careers fair. Previous years have had over fifty exhibitors so that students can learn about opportunities in the local area.
Waterside Academy works with local organisations including Tropical Isles Carnival group, The Crib youth centre, Young Hackney, Hackney Council and Britannia Leisure Centre in order to ensure that our students access what’s on offer and are positive role models in their community.
The school supports a variety of charities in Hackney. Over the last two years we have collected a vast amount of non-perishable goods as a school community. Our students have visited the food bank and are keen to help those less fortunate than themselves.
The Academy has very strong links with the closest primary school, Hackney New Primary School, and has collaborated on projects such as Reading Partners, musical ensembles and sports events.
“ Waterside Academy is a lovely school. Everybody is polite, respectful and well mannered.” Parent
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Life beyond our school In every interaction from Year 7, we prepare students for life beyond our school. Students begin careers workshops almost immediately and are visited by a range of professionals throughout their school life. We offer bespoke careers advice and support with choosing post 16 education from very early on. Our Scholarship programme has successfully placed students in fee paying Sixth Forms including
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Wellington College, City of London School, Highgate School and Fulham School. These full scholarships would usually cost each student over £60,000.
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020 8466 7222 www.cleverbox.co.uk Designed & Produced by Cleverbox
317-319 Kingsland Road, Hackney, London E8 4DL Tel: 020 3870 7500 www.watersidecst.org info@watersidecst.org Waterside Academy is part of the Community School Trust (CST). CST is an established academy trust, passionate about the life chances of young people. We provide a first-rate education for every child and work hard to create outstanding schools that change perceptions and expectations across whole communities.