Bexleyheath Academy

Pride Through Achievement

“ A relentless focus on improving students’ learning and progress permeating through all aspects of school life.” Ofsted

The ultimate aim of Bexleyheath Academy is: “to unleash the talents of these young people to both raise their horizons and develop the necessary skills to become successful citizens and thrive in their future lives.” Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Pride Through Achievement

Welcome

Bexleyheath academy is a co-educational comprehensive school open to students of all abilities between 11–18 years of age.

Bexleyheath Academy is sponsored by the London Academies Enterprise Trust and is one of the first of ten Mayor’s Academies in London. This means that we have made a pledge to ensure that all Academy leavers have access to further education, training or employment.

The Mayor’s Academies will use the support of the Greater London Authority and all its networks to ensure that all students leaving the Academy leave to a positive pathway. This may involve either a full-time academic or vocational place in a post-sixteen institution or work-based learning or training or a job offer.

The sponsors seek to use the links to London’s international business community to involve local, national and international organisations in providing real life situations for students.

This will ensure the promotion of problem solving and project based work integrated into the curriculum as a standard feature of the Academy approach, so that students are familiar with and become experts in this area.

The sponsors believe, that with successful learning, self confidence will flow. The aim is to develop a vigorous and successful culture of social enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship.

At Bexleyheath Academy we hold high expectations for students.

We are committed to providing an outstanding environment for learning with state-of-the-art facilities that offer students the highest quality of education, care and teaching, ensuring that: • Teaching is engaging, innovative and attainment is relentlessly driven upward.

• The educational experience is rooted strongly in traditional values and their application to the reality of living in the local community.

• Every child is provided with an appropriate pathway and opportunity for progression throughout their time at the Academy and beyond.

• The curriculum is innovative and professionally orientated with employment and educational pathways, to ensure that it meets the needs of the student population.

• The critical role of parents, carers and families is welcomed and built upon, in a strong partnership between the Academy and families underpinning our success.

We believe in nurturing ambition and creativity and welcome students from across the full range of ability, celebrating the diverse social and cultural heritage of our community.

Through the Academies Enterprise Trust we are committed to the continued improvement of standards and the creation of an outstanding education and learning community in the heart of Bexley for the local residents. We aim to build on our popularity as a high performing community orientated 11–18 Academy that will meet the needs of its immediate community and address the educational aspirations of the Bexley residents.

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Pride Through Achievement

a message from the

Principal

As Principal, I am pleased to welcome you, our present and perhaps future students, parents and friends to Bexleyheath ACADEMY. The staff of BA are committed to the provision of an excellent education for all our students. Our aim is to work in partnership with yourselves as parents and carers and your children to enable each individual to achieve their full potential, make the nationally recognised progress whilst providing them with the personal skills which will prepare them for life and work in the modern, challenging world. As such we will strive to offer an increasing range of opportunities related to the employment, enterprise, independence and wider educational pathways.

The academy provides a well maintained and developing learning environment. We have recently opened a new “Techno-Gym”, two music rooms, an editing suite, hairdressing salon as well as expanding the provision for post 16 pathways.

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The “Raising of the Participating Age” is already starting to attract new opportunities with accredited links to Universities and local business.

will provide the foundation for improved partnerships between local business, the immediate community and their parents/carers.

We have very high aspirations for our Academy, the staff and students, and we are committed to raising the standard of teaching and learning and in pursuit of this we are continually evaluating our progress and using national benchmarks and support from nationally recognised bodies.

Our prospectus is intended to give an overview of what Bexleyheath Academy is striving to achieve and will hopefully aid your understanding of how the Academy operates. We hope you will find it useful and enlightening, prior to your visit to the Academy. A visit is the best way for you to get to know the learning environment, the extensive curriculum and the staff. As such, we will always be pleased to receive you when the student ambassadors will provide you with an “open tour” of the academy during the working day.

We have equally high expectations of our students in terms of their attitude towards learning, effort and willingness to take an active role in Academy life and life beyond the Academy gates.

We expect students to develop a respect for their peers in the learning environment, supporting each other to develop a learning community which

ROBERT DORE

“Students appreciate the commitment shown by staff, including the extra support and guidance offered outside of lessons.” Ofsted

Pride Through Achievement

Learning At Bexleyheath we provide a broad and balanced curriculum that offers all students the opportunity to succeed.

Our students are enthusiastic, motivated and ambitious to succeed and maintain high standards of behaviour and engagement in their studies. They are encouraged to be reflective and creative in their thinking and to become singly independent learners as they progress through the Academy.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES All our classrooms are equipped with digital interactive smartboards which enhance teaching and bring learning into the digital age.

LEARNING SUPPORT We focus on teaching students the skills to be effective learners, and to encourage in them a love of learning that they will develop throughout their lives.

The work that takes place in classrooms is the cornerstone of academic improvement. A dedicated team of well qualified and skilled teachers and support staff provide excellent learning and teaching for students.

We have three Learning Resource Centres – one for each Key Stage. Each one is fully equipped with a suite of computers and a variety of resources designed to assist students in their learning journey.

Our Sixth Form Library even has a bookshop style coffee shop!

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Pride Through Achievement

“The commitment to raising achievement is shared by all.” Ofsted

Achieving We constantly seek to raise student aspiration and achievement. Our aim is to encourage students to have a ‘can do’ attitude and to aspire beyond their expectations by maximising their achievement in class and through a programme of extended learning opportunities.

The progress of all students is constantly monitored and assessed to ensure they are achieving to the best of their ability.

Realistic, but challenging target setting is undertaken, both through subject areas and our academic tutoring programme.

We have high expectations for pupil behaviour and achievement and equally high expectations for the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.

This means a common commitment to creating a respectful and orderly environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.

We provide a number of pathways for students to follow academically, and have started Key Stage 4 examination studies in Year 9 allowing for greater flexibility and personalisation of our students’ learning experiences. We recognise that people learn at different rates and seek to address this in the structure of our curriculum.

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Caring At Bexleyheath Academy we believe that each individual is uniquely important. Whilst students are in our care we seek to develop them academically, socially, morally and spiritually. We also take seriously their physical health and well being.

We place great emphasis on the pastoral care of every student. This is reflected in the structures we have in place to support them with their transition from primary Academy and future welfare and guidance. The Every Child Matters agenda gives us a structure to do this and we take our responsibilities very seriously.

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We set up our Guidance, Welfare and Support systems so that all the students can succeed, whatever their background or circumstances.

Pride Through Achievement

Awareness Every year our students raise thousands of pounds for charities and good causes locally, nationally and internationally.

Having Fun

Supporting Each Other

Social events at key times throughout the year allow students and staff the opportunity to interact and have fun – often while raising money for others.

Every student is a member of a tutor group with a tutor to act as mentor and guide throughout their time at Bexleyheath Academy.

“Students feel safe in school and are confident that any problems will be dealt with promptly and effectively.” Ofsted

Pride Through Achievement

Performing Our motto is ‘Pride Through Achievement’ and our students consistently achieve across the board. Our mission is to inspire young people to make their best better and our priority is to provide a broad, balanced and challenging education that prepares all students for the demands of the 21st century – becoming world class citizens. We encourage all students to develop an enthusiasm for learning and take an interest in the community and the world around them.

Over the years we can look back on countless outstanding successes in art exhibitions, dance shows, drama productions and music concerts.

We hold termly music concerts and many Drama productions each year which help students develop their performance skills and their selfconfidence. These are often done in conjunction with West End theatres and professional productions.

Academy Visits To enhance students’ experiences, we run exciting visits and trips to broaden the students’ horizons, and to provide challenging activities in a safe and secure setting. These are invaluable experiences for personal and social development.

Examples include visits to museums, galleries and the theatre, geography field trips, and trips to Europe and the United States.

Musicals, performances, recitals and choral singing are all cornerstones of our outstanding provision for performing arts.

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“Students’ achievements and inclusion are at the heart of the Academy’s ethos”. Ofsted

Staying Healthy

Students throughout the Academy take part in an extensive physical education programme and participate in all the major sports at Key Stage Three.

Pride Through Achievement

“Their understanding of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle is good and there is a high rate of student participation in sporting activities.” Ofsted

In addition to the PE curriculum students are provided with opportunities to represent the Academy in our very successful teams which enjoy considerable success at local and national level.

Opportunities to experience outward bounds activities exist, such as our regular skiing trips.

We are proud of our Healthy Schools status and have taken a lead on this throughout Bexley. We strive to promote good eating habits and active lifestyles.

Excellent Facilities Our sporting facilities include a brand new state of the art multi-gym, Sports Hall, rugby and football pitches and eleven all-weather five-aside pitches.

There are specialist Performing Arts areas including a dance studio and digital music studio.

Healthy Eating Our two large cafeterias provide a range of food, all of which comply with the Food Standards designed to promote healthy eating. Our caterers are innovative and committed to providing nutritious cooking that young people actually want to eat.

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Pride Through Achievement

Contributing As a large academy in the heart of Bexleyheath, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities locally, nationally and internationally. Consequently we value our links with the community and we are constantly striving to extend and consolidate these.

We work closely with all our local primary schools in sharing our resources – in terms of teaching facilities, staff and students. We have links with local community groups and businesses and are always grateful for the support they give us.

We have challenging ambitions for all students and place strong importance on the involvement of parents and carers in their child’s education and the life of the Academy.

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We are constantly looking for new ways to involve and be involved with our community – we believe that the shared experiences that result enrich us all.

We have a well established and proactive Student Voice through the school council. Our students are also involved in numerous schemes run by external groups. For example, we are part of a pilot project run by the local NHS Trust to promote Youth services, and are consequently at the vanguard of a national scheme that will affect the lives of millions of young people.

Leaders Wanted At Bexleyheath Academy we expect students to take on positions of responsibility. We have an extensive leadership programme of prefects and senior students across year groups.

This level of responsibility, with its demands and challenges, is a learning opportunity in itself and will stand our students in good stead when they come to apply for jobs, college and university.

In addition, Student committees have been set up to initiate and coordinate extra-curricular activities, fundraising, peer mediation and social awareness.

“Opportunities to make a positive contribution to the school community are valued.�  Ofsted

Pride Through Achievement

Staying On

Bexleyheath Academy’s Sixth Form provides students with access to the best resources, and through our links with the Mayor’s Office and the London Academies Enterprise Trust some exclusive opportunities with top businesses.

Our modern facilities, combined with a fantastic range of courses and an excellent programme of pastoral care enable students to realise their academic and personal potential.

We aim to develop in each student a mature and responsible attitude to learning and life. Our examination results continue to improve year on year and each Summer the commitment of students and staff is well rewarded.

Getting Involved Students have the opportunity to undertake voluntary work or to help teachers with younger pupils. Sixth Formers also organise a range of social, charitable and extra-curricular activities through our strategic committees. Our links with local businesses, primary schools and community groups are constantly expanding and our students have built a reputation to be proud of.

Mature Minds The majority of our students aspire to further their education with many gaining places on degree courses at some of the country’s leading

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universities. Our Sixth Form Centre has a dedicated Careers and Guidance Office dedicated to giving our students the information and advice they need to move forward in the world.

Professional routes have also been developed to create access to the world of work and further training.

Taking Responsibility Students will be expected to play an active role within the school community. They are regarded as ambassadors and viewed as role models by younger pupils. The roles of Senior Prefects and School Captains are particularly prestigious, challenging and rewarding.

Pride Through Achievement Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7DA T: 020 8303 5696 F: 020 8303 9151 info@bexleyheathacademy.org

www.bexleyheathacademy.org