Totteridge Academy

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Welcome to The Totteridge Academy Dear Students, Parents and Carers The Totteridge Academy is an ‘outstanding’ 11 – 18 school (OfSTED 2008) with approximately 900 students, situated on a stunning 29 acre green belt site in Totteridge, North London. We converted to Academy status in September 2011 and this has provided us with the opportunity to build upon our many previous successes. We see ourselves as ‘more than a school’ in that our vision is based on continually improving academic standards, with consistently improving exam results over the past 10 years, whilst providing an all round education focussed on the development of the whole person, including excellent extra-curricular opportunities and trips.

We pride ourselves on the breadth of experience that we provide at The Totteridge Academy: high quality teaching in a calm, positive working environment, focussed on learning at all times; exemplary pastoral care for every individual, with their needs understood and met by a team of dedicated and committed staff; together with a huge range of trips and visits, extra-curricular opportunities and superb facilities. We have high expectations of all our students, regardless of their ability level or background and we seek to inspire and enthuse them with a love of learning and an understanding of themselves and their place within their community.

We welcome students of all abilities and cultures and we are proud to celebrate diversity in all its forms. We strongly believe in the potential of every individual to achieve and we foster a sense of respect both for self and for others. The values of cooperation, tolerance and courtesy underpin all aspects of school life and we ensure that students feel happy, safe and valued. This allows learning to be at the heart of the Academy and promotes the highest standards – we expect hard work from all and that students show respect to all.

I am proud to lead The Totteridge Academy and its team of highly professional staff. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to the Academy – we genuinely believe in working in partnership between parents, students and ourselves to ensure the best possible education and future for your child.

Paul Ferrie – Headteacher

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“ The Academy has amazing children and great teachers. I really enjoy the school.”

Year 9 student

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AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL The Academy has enjoyed a period of sustained and continuous improvement over the past ten years. Standards have risen consistently year on year and the progress made by students, measured by contextual value added, is in the top 20% in the country.

These outstanding achievements were recognised in 2009 by the DCSF awarding the school High Performing Specialist Status.

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust also recognised The Academy with their ‘Shining Star’ award (2009), for the school which is considered to be the “shining star” for educational achievement in the Local Authority.

The Curriculum was awarded ‘outstanding’

by OfSTED (2008) and is responsive to the needs of students and creates a personalised learning experience for all students. Pastoral care was described as ‘inspirational’ by OfSTED (2008) and this is a reflection of the care and commitment of all members of staff.

“ Leadership and management in the school, including governance, are outstanding.” OfSTED 2008

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Enrichment

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The Academy offers a fantastic range of extra-curricular opportunities for all students. These include a wide range of lunch time and after school clubs, sporting activities, in school events and educational visits.

In the last 12 months there have been over 90 educational visits. These have included residential visits abroad, residential visits to adventurous activity camps in the UK, Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, academic visits to several universities, including both Oxford and Cambridge as part of the ‘Aim Higher’ project and numerous other curriculum related and social visits.

Clubs are run every lunch time and after school, providing opportunities for every Year Group from 7 to 13. The ‘Young Leaders’ project sees students from every Year Group organising and running very successful and very well received sporting events using the schools specialist sports facilities for a number of local primary schools.

The Academy frequently has outside speakers and events including visits from The Science Museum, London Zoo, Birds of Prey Exhibition, The Mayor of Barnet, Theresa Villiers MP, The Educational Business Partnership and many more.

In 2011 all students took part in the ‘100 Day Challenge’ an event that raised thousands of pounds for a wide range of charities identified by students.

“ The Academy is a diverse community with a range of extra-curricular activities available for students. Teaching is superb, embracing the needs of all students regardless of their abilities.” Parent

Student Care & Guidance

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“ I think this school is Our teachers are very us things that will help My tutor is loving and she helps us with our

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The Academy places great emphasis on the Pastoral Care of every student.

This is reflected in the structures in place to support students with their transition to The Academy and their future welfare and guidance.

These include: an Assistant Headteacher for Pastoral Care, Directors of Learning for each Year cohort, tutors, SENCO, Pupil Support Manager, teaching assistants, learning mentors, EAL support, Students Services Manager and a dedicated transition teacher.

Students thrive in an environment where they feel safe, trusted and can take responsibilities both within and beyond school.

Throughout The Academy students are elected to Year Councils and to The Academy Council, where issues that affect all students can be discussed. The Academy appoints prefects from among Year 11 pupils, who are asked to represent The Academy at a number of important community events. The Deputy Head Boy and Girl are selected from the prefects and these two have a place on The Academy Council along with the Head Boy and Girl appointed from the 6th Form.

“ We have lots of fun here, learning is fun and the sports are really good.”

Year 9 student

fantastic. positive and teach us in the future. caring, problems.” Year 9 student

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“ Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school, as are students. They note the caring attitudes of the teachers and the warm and welcoming ethos of the school.� OFSTED T TA

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AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL

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There are also a wide range of links with local employers The Academy has excellent working through our highly successful work experience programme. relationships with a range of The Academy is proud of the diversity of cultures community partners These include: represented within it and the mutual respect with which everyone in the school treats each other. A culture of many local primary schools, has to be founded on self-respect and pupils secondary schools, local FE Colleges, respect are encourages to take pride in their achievements, their work and their appearance. The Academy provides the local Primary Healthcare Trust, an environment in which the ideas, values, beliefs and Barnet Football Club, Arsenal Double traditions of others can be explored, discussed and understood so that mutual respect exists between all Club, Rotary Club, local external members of the school community. training providers, Barnet Education Business Partnership, The Outward “ A notable feature of this ethnically Bound Trust, Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, Saracens Foundation. and socially mixed community

is the very good relationships between students.� OfSTED

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The Totteridge Academy Post 16

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An increasing majority of Year 11 students now make returning to the Academy’s Sixth Form their first choice for post 16 Education.

Students greatly appreciate the support The Academy offers and the fact that the curriculum it is able to provide is tailored to their needs.

“ The belief in the potential of every child to achieve and to overcome the barriers they may face is driving the work of all in this harmonious school community.” OfSTED

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We are equally proud of the students we receive from other Barnet schools and the contribution they are able to make to the Sixth Form.

The Academy is able to offer a range of traditional GCE Advanced Level qualifications at AS and A2 in an increasing number of subjects. We are able to offer an exciting range of vocational subjects at level 2 and level 3.

The Academy is committed to maximising achievement and academic excellence. The vast majority of students are able to embark on university degree courses.

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“ The staff, Sixth Form and wider community work together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to flourish, and go on to achieve success in Higher Education and in the global employment market.� OfSTED 2008

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Expectations At The Totteridge Academy we believe success comes from the Academy, students and parents working in partnership with the aim of fulfilling and exceeding the potential of every child.

The Academy asks that Parents, Guardians and Carers will: • Ensure punctual and regular attendance and inform the school of all absences by sending a note on the first day of return • Respect and co-operate with the staff, other adults and students in the school • Support the aims of the school • Ensure that full school uniform is worn, that hair styles are appropriate for school, avoiding extremes • Ensure that homework is completed and planners are checked and signed regularly • Attend student-parent consultation events • Avoid family holidays in term time • Participate in parent-school activities

The Academy will seek to: • Respect and co-operate with parents and students • Provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment • Provide a broad and balanced curriculum • Ensure high expectations • Ensure that all the needs of students are recognised • Ensure that homework is set and marked according to the Marking and Assessment Policy • Provide information and opportunities in relation to careers and Higher Education • Provide programmes of extra-curricular activities to enrich student’s experience

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Headteacher: Mr Paul Ferrie The Totteridge Academy Ltd Barnet Lane London N20 8AZ Tel: 020 8445 9205 Fax: 020 8343 5437 Email: office@tta.barnet.sch.uk

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Registered office: Barnet Lane, London, N20 8AZ