Darton Academy 2019/20 Prospectus

2019–2020

PROSPECTUS DARTON ACADEMY

Darton

WHO WE ARE

D A R T O N A CA D E M Y

DELTA Academies Trust

We are very pleased to welcome you to Darton Academy.

We’re a happy and successful school where all students are valued, regardless of their background or ability. We treat our young people with respect, and we give them all the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Our goal is for all our students to leave us as happy, well-qualified, confident young adults who go on to excel in local sixth-forms, colleges, universities and the wider world.

We’re very proud of our school. In October 2018 Darton Academy joined Delta Academies Trust with Andy Barnett as Executive Principal and I became Associate Principal in February 2019. With the support of Delta Academies Trust we’ve started with confidence on the journey towards ‘outstanding’.

We’re making real progress already: the school achieved record-breaking examination results this summer, and students are now achieving around a half of a grade better than their peers nationally. Our grades are strong across the curriculum, particularly in the core subjects of Science, English and Maths – notably, a third of our students achieved English grades 7-9 (A-A*).

Here at Darton Academy we combine high expectations and high standards with a strong sense of kindness, inclusivity and enjoyment. Our primary focus is to instill a lifelong love of learning, and to encourage all students to be respectful, determined, hard-working, confident and ambitious. We want every student to leave Darton Academy able to live a life full of opportunity and choice.

I hope this prospectus will give you a useful overview of what Darton Academy has to offer. On behalf of the whole team here, I invite you to consider becoming a part of it – it’s a wonderful time for any student to join us!

Elaine Briggs Associate Principal Our entire school community is committed to providing an outstanding educational experience, allowing all students to achieve their potential. We deliver exciting and engaging lessons within a disciplined and supportive environment. We offer high-quality care, guidance and support, a flexible curriculum and an extensive range of activities beyond the classroom.

Since joining Delta Academies Trust, Darton Academy achieved their best GCSE results ever. The school is now one of the most improved in the country. Student numbers are at an all-time high and our new building provides state of the art facilities. I look forward to sharing more of the academy’s successes when you visit.

Andy Barnett Executive Principal

‘Putting students at the heart of everything we do’

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DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST

OUR VISION ...CHANGING LIVES Mission Statement

To improve educational outcomes for communities in the North of England, creating a sustainable organisation that improves our society and the wider environment.

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We will:

– Place children and pupils at the heart of everything we do.

– Place collaboration before competition, working with others for the betterment of all.

– Develop and support professionals in our own and other academies and schools to establish practice that improves lives.

– Ensure that all children make good progress irrespective of their starting point and those young people facing disadvantage are lifted from educational poverty.

– Never do anything to the detriment of learners, staff, or other stakeholders, in a neighbouring community.

– Adhere to the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’.

– Promote environmental awareness and protection locally, nationally and globally.

OUR VALUES 5

DAR TON AC A D EMY DELTA Academies Trust

AN INSPIRING CURRICULUM At Darton Academy our primary focus is to instill a lifelong love of learning while creating confident learners who can live a life full of opportunity and choice. To this end, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum which inspires and challenges all our students.

In terms of classroom standards, we take a rigorous approach, and we push our students to exceed their own expectations. We ensure that the curriculum is accessible to all, but we tailor its delivery so individuals are truly engaged whatever their level or ability.

Different pathways are available for students with different needs, and we offer challenging vocational opportunities to students who are less focused on taking academic routes alongside the many GCSE courses.

We monitor our individual students closely and consistently, and we use our assessments to actively shape their future learning.

ENRICHMENT – EXTRA SUPPORT In addition to regular lesson time, we run an after-school Enrichment programme where students are offered a full range of experiences.

Currently, we offer over fifty different enrichment opportunities. We also provide some students with extra support to enable them to reach their full potential, and hence receive personal coaching in the areas where they need it most.

Enrichment is a compulsory activity for some students – and it gets real results.

Our study buses ensure this offer is accessible for all.

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Darton Academy offers a rich extracurricular offer where students are able to access a wide range of clubs and after school activities.

These include choir, computing, dance, drama, farm club, fashion/textiles, football, graphics, languages,netball, music and rock band just to name a few.

Enrichment opportunities are also offered from all our curriculum areas including Mathletes, STEM club and book club. This year we are visiting France, Spain and our ski trip is to Italy. We also offer trips to sixth form colleges and universities including our annual trip to Cambridge.

The Duke of Edinburgh award is particularly popular at Darton Academy. We offer students from Year 9 upwards the chance to take bronze and silver levels. Students in all year groups have the chance to go on school trips of all kinds.

There is plenty to do in the region – Yorkshire and the Lake District have a huge amount to offer The learning environment at Darton Academy is vibrant and inviting as well as offering state of the art facilities.

There has never been a better time to join us in our learning journey, in order to contribute to and benefit from our growing successes!

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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS Our vision of high quality first teaching and extensive and varied learning experiences, promoting the highest aspirations amongst young people, is central to all we do. When compared with similar schools nationally, we have one of the most positive and significant improvement curves of recent years. This has happened because we have extremely high aspirations and ambitions for all of our students and are unrelenting in our drive to help them to achieve their full potential.

The outcomes are clear to see and in August 2019, the Academy attained its highest set of exam results. The improvements that we have made can be seen in the table below.

There has never been a better time to join us on our learning journey, in order to contribute to and benefit from our growing successes!

MEASURE

2016

2017

2018

2019*

Difference

Progress 8

-0.27

-0.40

-0.44

0.51

0.95

49

43

43

50

7

-

41%

39%

55%

+16%

61%

59%

63%

73%

+10%

Attainment 8 Basics English and Mathematics Strong Pass Basics English and Mathematics Standard Pass

*These results are unvalidated and will be verified in January 2020

‘One of the most improved schools in the country.’

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‘I was thrilled to achieve the highest grade possible in the country’ Year 11 student

‘Seven 9’s and two 8’s – can’t believe it’ Year 11 student

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DAR TON AC A D EMY DELTA Academies Trust

RAISING ASPIRATIONS AT DARTON ACADEMY WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO SUCCEED AND FULFIL THEIR POTENTIAL. The Academy is dedicated to creating an environment which enables young people to grow and develop their independence in preparation for further education, university and employment. We work closely with parents, local partner schools and community groups, to build a caring ethos which meets the needs of our learning community.

We are forging links with Universities up and down the country through the involvement in new schemes and creating opportunities which

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will help students fulfil their dreams and goals and to understand and experience higher education.

We are committed to developing extensive resources to raise students’ aspirations.

We offer students the chance to explore a variety of career paths which cover a wide range of employment skills and opportunities, bridging the gap between secondary, higher education and employment.

D A R T O N A CA D E M Y     DELTA Academies Trust

We regularly reward effort via positive praise assemblies with certificates and prizes.

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DAR TON AC A D EMY DELTA Academies Trust

BEHAVIOUR We have a very clear, rigorous and fair approach to instilling the highest conceivable standards of behaviour at Darton Academy. This serves to guarantee the best possible learning experiences and subsequent life chances available to our young people.

Clear Delta Academies Trust policies and practice empowers us to ensure our students learn in lessons with clear learning objectives, challenging, well-paced and engaging activities, along with high, aspirational learning outcomes.

The Academy has high expectations and any student failing to fully focus their efforts will receive consequences accordingly.

This ensures that any disruptions to learning are swiftly addressed, teaching students to develop the self-discipline required to be successful throughout life.

as themselves, developing a sense of personal responsibility. As an Academy, the emphasis on students having their planners available at all times is paramount and relentless. This also gives parents a full overview of their child’s daily activities, rewards, homework and Consequences.

Our Behaviour Policy is fully transparent with the aim to create a harmonious Academy culture that holds in high regard, effort, consideration and self-awareness, in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Throughout the year we regularly reward effort via positive praise assemblies with certificates and prizes. This emphasises that our educational vision is about the recognition and rewarding of students above all else for trying their best throughout the whole academic year. We also hold an annual Achievement Presentation Evening, giving parents an opportunity to participate in their child’s achievements.

We believe that developing effective working relationships is essential in underpinning our fundamental core values. We share this with students in a way that enables them to act positively and to help them understand how their actions can directly affect others as well

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PASTORAL SUPPORT Darton Academy’s vision and values underpin everything we are striving to achieve on a daily basis for all staff, students and the community.

We believe in the values of: • Hard work, resilience • Ambition, achievement • Teamwork, personal development, democracy • Mutual respect, loyalty, care and support • Safeguarding the welfare of students and staff • Follow academy rules We take pastoral care very seriously at Darton Academy, and we do everything we can do to make sure our students are happy and settled with no barriers to what they can achieve.

We use a tried and tested student support system where non-teaching staff focus on how each individual is progressing through the school, and step in if their help is needed. Each year group has a Learning Manager who is there to deal with any other issues our students may encounter, in or outside school. We have other staff responsible for helping students with areas such as attendance and welfare, and we also have close working links with several external agencies.

All our students have regular meetings with their Learning Managers, so they know they always have someone to talk to if anything’s troubling them. Parents and carers are also welcome to make an appointment if they’d like to discuss any matters concerned with their child’s development, academic or otherwise.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to bullying at Darton Academy, and we encourage our students to challenge it if they ever encounter it. If bullying is reported, our staff are trained to deal with it swiftly and sensitively.

‘You can talk to your Learning Manager about things you might not want to mention in class, I think it’s good that we have another level of people who can support us at school, because life if quite stressful with everything that’s going on.’

Year 9 Student

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DAR TON AC A D EMY DELTA Academies Trust

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D A R T O N A CA D E M Y DELTA Academies Trust

COMPULSORY ACADEMY UNIFORM

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—

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Delta Logo Blazer Delta Tie Plain White shirt/blouse with collar (top button must be fastened and tucked in, long or short sleeved) Black Delta Trousers or Delta Skirt (worn with tights) Flat, plain black shoes (No logos, no heels, no pumps/trainers/boots and no embellishments e.g. Bows) Black socks or black or neutral plain tights A school bag (big enough to fit an A4 sized folder)

PE KIT — — — — —

Delta Polo Shirt Delta PE shorts Delta reversible outdoor games top Plain black knee length socks Appropriate trainers

OPTIONAL UNIFORM — Academy Logo Jumper

(Worn with Academy Blazer, not as a substitute) — Plain Black belt (no large buckles) We provide the uniform for every student.

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Darton Academy Ballfield Lane, Barnsley S75 5EF T: 01226 232306 info@dartonacademy.org.uk www.dartonacademy.org.uk Principal: Mrs Elaine Briggs

Academies Trust Darton Academy is a member of Delta Academies Trust Education House, Spawd Bone Lane, Knottingley, WF11 0EP