The Voyager Academy Prospectus 2016

RESPECT AND ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL

WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to The Voyager Academy. I am delighted that you are interested in our school and do wish that you hope to join us.

I am extremely proud to be the Principal of this Academy where we are totally committed to providing the very best education for all our students irrespective of their ability or background.

We seek to ensure that students receive a broad and balanced education which enables them to achieve their potential and take the appropriate next steps in their lives as valued and confident members of society.

We have high expectations of our students in all that they do and this is underpinned by a set of guiding principles focused around the key concept of respect, ensuring that our Academy is a purposeful, calm and safe place to learn. Similarly, we have high expectations of ourselves and strive to provide high-quality support and guidance alongside stimulating and engaging learning experiences.

We are very much committed to working with parents and carers and firmly believe that effective, long-lasting partnerships are crucial in supporting our students to be the best that they can be.

Through high standards in teaching and pastoral care and the many opportunities provided both within the formal curriculum and beyond, our students are prepared for entrance to higher education, high quality employment and the future careers of their choice.

Quite clearly a prospectus can only give a snapshot of our Academy and we would encourage you to contact us if you would like to find out more.

Scott Hudson, Principal

“The new Principal has established a very positive culture and ethos�

OFSTED February 2016

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JOINING THE VOYAGER

Selecting the right school for your child is one of the most crucial decisions you will ever have to make. The right decision will be profoundly rewarding for your child’s future.

The Voyager Academy seeks to provide parents with as much information as possible and there is an Open Evening in October when parents and children are invited to meet staff and students.

The Voyager Academy operates a year group system and each student has a tutor who will stay with them throughout their secondary career. This relationship is vital as it allows the Tutor to establish continuity of care. Each year group has a Progress Leader and a Student Support Officer, who oversee pastoral care for the year group and play a key role in monitoring and tracking progress, attitude to learning and attendance.

To ensure that children feel secure and happy in making the move to secondary school we provide: • Our Nurture Team who meet students and teachers in their primary schools • Progress Leader Year 7 • Student Support Officer Year 7 • SEN (Special Educational Needs) / CP (Child Protection) / EAL (English as an Additional Language) Leads • Production Day – for Year 5 students in July get to experience what life is like at The Voyager Academy • Rehearsal Day – for Year 6 students in July when they visit, tour the academy, sample lessons and meet their new tutors • Parents’ Evening – in July where parents/carers of Year 6 students can peruse stalls with vital information about the academy and meet tutors • Performance Day – the first day in September where new students have the academy to themselves and develop essential skills, make new friends and meet many of their teachers • ParentMail, our online communication tool where letters and other important information can be accessed and sent home. It is also a place to buy our school uniform • A Parents’ Evening in the Autumn Term and another in the Summer Term • Each new student is allocated a Student Mentor, who works with students to make them feel secure and to resolve any issues they may have.

Admission enquiries: carol.hobbs@thevoyager.co.uk

Charlotte Burrows Year 7 & 8 Progress Leader

“Pupils are well looked after and their physical and emotional well-being is well checked and managed.”

OFSTED February 2016

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EXCELLENT BEHAVIOUR IN AN ETHOS OF RESPECT FOR ALL

We are very clear about the standards of behaviour that are expected from all of our pupils.

The school follows a very clear charter of ‘respect for all’ as part of the Rights Respecting Schools Award. , As such correctly-worn uniform is a requirement and provides a clear sense of identity.

Polite, courteous and calm behaviour is expected from all pupils. Through this, we are able to have an environment where really good teaching and learning can take place, enabling every pupil to flourish and achieve. We seek to use rewards wherever possible to encourage the positive behaviour that we want, but will use sanctions where appropriate to insist on high standards in this area.

“Pupils from a wide range of backgrounds get on with one another well and respect differences.”

OFSTED February 2016

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Effective teaching and learning, which uses knowledge of student achievements, abilities, attitudes and aspirations to challenge and enthuse everyone to achieve their potential, is at the heart of our Academy mission.

Strong, professional development, underpinned by self-reflection, collaborative training and student and parental feedback, is ongoing; to ensure that all staff are actively involved in the continued drive to raise standards in engagement and attainment.

We are privileged to benefit from excellent facilities and a vibrant, welcoming environment where quality teaching and learning contribute to the academic and personal growth of students as they stride towards their futures.

TEACHING AND LEARNING 5

RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS AWARD Damon Lewis Director of 6th Form and Ethos

We, as a school, follow the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools programme and have already been successfully accredited at Level 1 of this award.

We place the rights of the child (from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) at the centre of everything we do and seek to work collaboratively with all our partners to ensure that ‘every child has the right to an education.’ By following this programme we have learnt to celebrate our significant diversity and develop an ethos of mutual respect between students, staff and families, fostering excellent working relationships.

“The school is following a programme about teaching pupils to respect the rights of others and take responsibility for their own behaviour. This is contributing well to a culture of respect for diversity within which there is no tolerance of any form of discrimination as well as understanding other fundamental British values such as democracy and the rule of law.”

OFSTED Feb 2016

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WIDER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

We aim for education to be more than just good qualifications for all pupils at The Voyager.

There is a wide range of opportunities for all pupils to explore their particular interests and talents and to develop their character.

The Academy offers a wide range of sports and fitness clubs and students with an interest in the Arts are very well catered for, both through the extensive, outstanding facilities at the school and the expertise of the staff in this area. There are a number of musical and drama performances throughout the year and a regular community choir.

As well as academic subject-specific programmes such as Language Leaders and Science Club, the Academy also offers a full Duke of Edinburgh programme, enabling Voyager students to achieve awards at all levels in this scheme. There is also a very well-attended Army Cadet programme. Trips and visits throughout the UK are available, as are opportunities to travel to Europe and the rest of the world through our partnerships and projects based in several continents.

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The Voyager Academy Mountsteven Avenue Walton Peterborough Cambridgeshire PE4 6HX info@thevoyager.co.uk 01733 383888 www.thevoyager.co.uk