Hope Academy Prospectus 2021

RESPECT

•

COURAGE

•

AMBITION

Welcome to Hope Academy Hope Academy is an 11-16 Christian Academy which stands at the centre of our local community.

Serving the Archdiocese and Diocese of Liverpool, our mission is to deliver high quality education by working together to inspire excellence guided by Christian values. As a Christian Academy, we consider the spiritual and social development of our young people to be as important as their academic success and we want to ensure that we celebrate and develop the uniqueness of every individual. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we live by our core values of Respect, Courage and Ambition. These values ensure that - as a community - we care for ourselves and one another.

Our team of teachers and support staff are dedicated to making a difference to the lives of our students and we offer a wide, varied and challenging curriculum throughout all key stages. Our students engage with a range of extra-curricular activities in order to develop their wider passions and enhance their Academy life. We believe that all our students have something wonderful to offer and we work passionately to nurture these talents.

Hope Academy enjoys a magnificent building surrounded by spacious grounds. There is every opportunity for students to succeed as we have outstanding facilities which include advanced science laboratories, a recording studio and photography studio, a fully equipped technology suite and a state-of-the-art gym. Students benefit from spacious and stylish surroundings and can enjoy social interaction in both indoor and outdoor situations.

I am proud to be the Principal at Hope Academy and to work with such committed students, staff and parents. My belief is that if we work together, in the light of the Holy Trinity, we can achieve great things for our students and be outstanding in all we do.

Marie Adams Principal

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Our Sponsors A joint Catholic and Church of England Academy The Catholic Archdiocese, the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University are proud to be sponsors of Hope Academy.

Underpinning everything that takes place in Hope Academy is a Christian ethos which welcomes and nurtures students of all faiths and none. We look forward to fulfilling the vision we all share of enhancing the lives and education of the local community in Newton-le-Willows.

The Academy was inspected (Section 48) in April 2018 for our distinctiveness and effectiveness as a Church Academy and how well the Christian ethos and character of the Academy ensures the development and success of all of our young people.

This inspection focuses on four key areas: • How effective the school is in developing its distinctive Christian nature; • The effectiveness of Collective Worship; • The effectiveness of Religious Education and • The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the Christian life of the school.

We are incredibly proud to say that Hope Academy achieved OUTSTANDING in ALL four areas of the inspection framework.

As a research-informed institution, Hope Academy seeks to provide exemplary standards in Teaching and Learning, prioritising excellence in all areas, in an environment which nurtures the highest standards. We have the highest ambitions for our students and believe that our vision is aspirational, innovative and challenging for all.

Governors and leaders have steered Hope Academy’s total re-invigoration of its definition and living of Catholic and Anglican Christian Life according to the school’s owned and shared mission and values.

Quotation from Section 48 Inspection, April 2018

Our Mission At the core of our Academy’s actions is our central mission: ‘Working together to inspire excellence, guided by Christian Values’. It is through this mission that the community live our Core Values of Respect, Courage and Ambition.

The personal and character development of our students is central to how we nurture and support our community. We are very proud of the Hope Inspire Programme which is delivered daily during Inspire time and is underpinned by our core values. During this 5-year learning programme, students regularly engage in critical discussions and activities which explore our Christian Ethos, as well as addressing statutory requirements linked to Personal Health and Social Education (PHSE); Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC); Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG); Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. The Inspire Programme is designed to prepare students to graduate from Hope Academy as young independent learners who are secure in their place in the world, who know themselves and their ambitions for the future and how to achieve them.

Students respond with pride in their school, because it gives them security, happiness and an overall spirit of belonging. They understand school to be a place where they can do hard-work and be well supported and encouraged. They readily identify with the school’s core values of “Respect, Courage and Ambition.”

Quote from Section 48 Inspection April 2018

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Our Curriculum At Hope Academy, our curriculum is designed to encourage a love of life-long learning. We are passionate about ensuring that students evolve to become rounded individuals who can engage with the world around them with confidence and maturity. As such, our curriculum covers a broad range of subjects and ensures that students have opportunities to nurture academic, technical and sporting skill, as well as develop the social and interpersonal skills which are all so vital to their later lives.

Across our whole school, the ‘Access All Areas’ initiative seeks to underpin all areas of study with the development of fundamental literacy skills. Through reciprocal teaching approaches, students are encouraged to develop reading skills which are vital to success when engaging with the world around them.

At Key Stage Three, a broad range of subjects enable students to develop a range of transferrable skills which will underpin their later level studies. Within subjects, they are encouraged to critically consider the world around them, linking work in the classroom to the wider world around them. This is also supported by our Inspire Programme, which seeks to encourage students to consider themselves as members of local, national and a wider global community.

As they enter Key Stage Three, students not only nurture their skills in foundational subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science and Religious Education, but they experience subjects such as Computing, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials and Food Technology, which are all delivered in specialist suites. Through the study of Geography, History and Modern Foreign Languages, students are encouraged to view themselves as members of a diverse world, whilst in Creative Arts, students can nurture creativity as they engage with Art and Design, Drama and Music. Students are also supported in engaging with a range of Physical Education opportunities, with timetabled lessons making use of our numerous indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as specialist sporting equipment including a fully equipped gym suite.

As students progress into Key Stage Four, they can select options to reflect their developing interests. Working alongside subject specialists, they will begin to hone their own understanding and expertise within their subjects, and begin to take greater responsibility for their own learning and development.

At Key Stage 4 we have an open and equitable offer for students. All students will study: • English Language • Combined Science • Geography or History • English Literature • Religious Education • Mathematics • Physical Education In addition, students will be provided with personalised guidance to select a number of options including • • • • • • •

Modern Foreign Languages Computer Science Separate Sciences Music Drama Media Studies Photography

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

• • • • • • •

Art Design Technology Physical Education Business Sports Studies Engineering Health and Social Care

• • • • •

Child Development and Care Digital Information Technology Hospitality and Catering Graphic Design Enterprise

Our Wider Provision Pastoral Support Pastoral support and personal development is a vital part of life at Hope Academy: as students progress through our academy, we provide a range of bespoke interventions and programmes which aid students in understanding how their views and perspectives evolve as they mature. From transition support in Year 7, to support with further education applications in Year 11, we are drawing on expertise from our staff and external agencies. Across their time at Hope Academy, students are able to access a range of support, from careers advice to bespoke counselling sessions.

Collective Worship is a key component of the school’s Christian Life, embedded and delivered within Hope Inspire.

Provision is an essential combination of prayer expressed through action.

There is total focus on inclusion through the remit of the school’s Collective Worship policy.

Section 48 Inspection April 2018

Student’s personal development underpins the curriculum at Hope, building resilience and preparing students for their next steps when they leave the academy. As a joint Catholic and Church of England Academy, our Collective Worship is Christian in nature but is welcoming and inclusive for people of all faiths and none. This is developed by our dedicated Academy chaplain who continually looks at how collective worship and the Inspire Programme can work together to support students on their journey through Hope Academy.

The Inspire Programme Through our daily Inspire Programme, students can explore a vast array of topics and issues, responding to the emerging needs of the students and the community to develop well rounded young adults. The Hope Inspire Programme is delivered daily during morning Inspire time, with students working alongside their Inspire tutors to explore a range of themes and ideas, as well as deliver a daily act of Collective

Worship. Each week, students will attend a Year Group Collective Worship where our community gather together to reflect on the weekly theme, whilst also sharing and celebrating the year group’s successes from the previous week. Students also have regular opportunities to extend these discussions within our chaplaincy provisions.

The role of our Inspire tutor is not only to support students as they progress through their time at Hope, but also to assist students in reflecting on their progress, celebrate their current successes, and set targets for future improvement. This process culminates in our yearly graduation services, where students can celebrate not only their academic progress, but their personal growth and development.

Enrichment opportunities Across the year, students can extend learning beyond the classroom through a broad range of enrichment activities. Each week, a full timetable of sporting provisions emphasises our school’s dedication to sporting excellence, whilst our timetable of lunchtime clubs and societies showcase the diverse interests and talents of our students and staff. Students are also invited to take part in our after-school enrichment programme which seeks to broaden student horizons and raise aspirations in a range of areas. In all areas of our extra-curricular provision, students are given frequent opportunities to live out our mission and demonstrate our core values. Each year, our students engage in a range of charity fundraising, community support and outreach, as well as engaging in local, national and international competitions.

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Pastoral Care and Safeguarding Safeguarding

Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)

Hope Academy is a caring Christian community and we ensure that the safeguarding of students is central to everything we do. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students is everyone’s responsibility: our approach is always child-centred, and all staff are trained to ensure that the best interests of our students are prioritised at all times. Every adult has a responsibility for students’ welfare and safety and there are many layers of care in place.

At Hope Academy, we ensure that students know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way. As a consequence of the Christian belief that we are made in the image and likeness of God, gender and sexuality are seen as God’s gift, reflect God’s beauty, and share in the divine creativity. RSE at Hope Academy will therefore be placed firmly within the context of relationship as it is there that sexuality grows and develops.

Pastoral Care

We acknowledge that Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship, as well as Relationship, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), are all underpinned by a theology of relationship and are all encompassed in the title ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ (RSE).

Our pastoral care system aims to promote our core values of Respect, Courage and Ambition. We are committed to a positive approach and use praise and rewards to motivate and encourage our students. At Hope Academy, we pride ourselves on the fact that our students are supported in all areas of their education. All students are recognised as individuals who are seen and heard within our community. Effective pastoral care underpins life at our school: from their first day with us, students are highly aware of the support systems that they can draw upon, from their Heads of Year and Pastoral Managers, to their Inspire Tutors, to the more bespoke supports offered within our Learning Hub and Chaplaincy provisions.

To ensure outstanding support and care is embedded across the Academy, we have introduced a House System, alongside our year groups structure, which further creates a sense of family and belonging. Each of our students are allocated to a House (Taizé, Iona, Corrymeela and Othona) which will allow students across all year groups to work together and get to know each other in a supportive and collaborative way.

Stemming from this vision of what it means to be human, we seek to educate the whole child spiritually, intellectually, morally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically towards our understanding of Christian maturity.

Relationship, Sex and Health Education will be in accordance with Christian moral teaching. It will emphasise the central importance of relationships, marriage and the family whilst acknowledging that all students have a fundamental right to have their life respected whatever kind of household they come from and support will be provided to help students deal with different sets of values.

Our RSE programme is taught through a wide range of subject areas and through our daily Inspire programme. Our RSE curriculum gives young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds, not just intimate relationships. Our RSE provision enables students in all year groups to know what a healthy relationship looks like and what makes a good friend, a good colleague and a successful participant in committed relationships.

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Our Academy Day Year 7 and 8 Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri

Wednesday Only

INSPIRE

8.40am - 9.10am

8.40am - 9.10am

Period 1a

9.10am - 10.10am

9.10am - 10.10am

BREAK

10.10am - 10.30am

10.10am - 10.30am

Period 1b

10.30am - 11.10am

10.30am - 11.10am

Period 2a

11.10am - 12.00pm

11.10am - 12.00pm

LUNCH

12.00pm - 12.40pm

12.00pm - 12.30pm

Period 2b

12.40pm - 1.30pm

12.30pm - 1.20pm

Period 3a

1.30pm - 2.20pm

1.20pm - 2.15pm

Period 3b

2.20pm - 3.10pm

End of Day

3.10pm

2.15pm

Year 9, 10 and 11 Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri

Wednesday Only

INSPIRE

8.50am - 9.20am

8.50am - 9.20am

Period 1a

9.20am - 10.10am

9.20am - 10.10am

Period 1b

10.10am - 11.00am

10.10am - 11.00am

BREAK

11.00am - 11.20am

11.00am - 11.20am

Period 2a

11.20am - 12.10pm

11.20am - 12.10pm

Period 2b

12.10pm - 1.00pm

12.10pm - 1.00pm

LUNCH

1.00pm - 1.40pm

1.00pm - 1.30pm

Period 3a

1.40pm - 2.30pm

1.30pm - 2.25pm

Period 3b

2.30pm - 3.20pm

End of Day

3.20pm

2.25pm

There is no Period 3b on Wednesdays to facilitate staff training.

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Our Facilities Hope Academy is fortunate to occupy a magnificent building which offers every facility necessary for any student aspiring to an excellent education.

We offer: •

Spacious Chapel for worship and reflection

•

State of the art theatre/assembly hall

•

Fully-equipped modern Science laboratories

•

Extensive ICT provision with an emphasis on individual learning

•

Specialist facilities for a range of Arts subjects, including Music, Drama and Photography

•

Spacious modern teaching and learning rooms throughout the building

•

Specialist Technology areas including Graphic Products, Resistant Materials and Food Technology

•

Extensive indoor and outdoor sport and fitness facilities

•

A fully resourced library

•

A fully-equipped gym suite

•

Dedicated student conference area

•

Large relaxed dining arrangements including outside catering and dining facilities

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

Our Students At Hope Academy, we place students at the centre of all that we do. As such, we frequently give students the opportunity to have their voices heard: students serve as student ambassadors in a range of contexts. Students regularly partake in student voice activities linked to classroom, department and whole school practices, with suggestions and feedback being used to raise standards to an even higher level.

As a team, we work to ensure that students are sufficiently supported in their transitions across Key Stages, and are equipped with a range of strategies to support them as they face new challenges. Students are frequently asked to reflect on the effectiveness of these systems, and work alongside staff to evolve and improve our approaches over time.

“When I started at Hope Academy, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the workload but I have been supported in how to build good routines and organise my work and homework. I love my Maths lessons because my teacher makes it interesting and fun. There are lots of opportunities to take part in group activities and I would encourage people to come to our school.”

“At first, I felt really nervous and uncertain. I felt like I didn’t know anyone. At the start of the year, staff did lots of activities to help us to learn names and make new friends. I really liked our Inspire sessions too – I challenged myself to read out one of the prayers. By the end of my first term, I was helping to lead discussions with the teacher at the front!”

“When I first started at Hope Academy, I had a bit of trouble finding my way around the school but I asked older students and teachers for directions and they were always friendly and helpful.

There are lots of clubs and activities to get involved in which I really like and I also enjoy my Art and Drama lessons because they allow me to be creative.”

Y7 Student, formally from St. Peter’s C.E Primary School

Y7 Student, formally from Lyme Community Primary School

Y7 Student, formally from All Saints Catholic Primary School

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Admission Arrangements Hope Academy is an academy for students of all faiths and none, sponsored by the Catholic Church, the Church of England and Hope University. The admission number for the Academy will be 270 students in Year 7.

The Academy has agreed to follow the co-ordinated admission arrangements determined by St. Helens Local Authority.

To apply for a place in Year 7, applicants have to complete the Common Application / Preference Form issued by St Helens Local Authority.

If the Academy receives fewer applicants for places than it has places available, all applicants will be admitted.

If the school receives more applications for places than there are places available, the criteria used to decide which children are admitted are listed in our admissions policy.

Following negotiation with the Local Authority, children with a statement of special educational needs which names the Academy will be admitted.

At Hope Academy, we are committed to a fair and equal treatment of all individuals, regardless of disability. Applications for admission from potential students will be considered in line with the published admission arrangements. The Academy’s buildings will be accessible to students and others with disabilities, so that they may be integrated fully into Academy life. The Academy recognises that special arrangements may be required to enable students with disabilities, including specific learning difficulties, to demonstrate their capabilities and knowledge. Special arrangements will be made to enable such students to perform to the best of their ability by meeting their individual needs. The Academy will not treat a student with a disability less favourably than any other and will make reasonable adjustments to ensure the full participation and integration of disabled students.

www.hopeacademy.org.uk

OUR VISION Outstanding in all we do.

OUR MISSION Working together to inspire excellence, guided by Christian values.

OUR CORE VALUES Respect • Courage • Ambition

Hope Academy, Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0AQ Tel: 01744 671930 Email: enquiries@hopeacademy.org.uk @Hope_Academy www.hopeacademy.org.uk