We are a school where every child can shine. Our pupils are confident, love learning and flourish here at Etonbury. Our staff are dedicated professionals who care and nurture every individual child by unlocking their full potential to be the best that they can be. Our proven track record of excellent examination results gives you every reason to consider Etonbury as the right school for your child.
Our first-class learning environment will provide a seamless education through to Sixth Form, offering an excellent all-through education and enabling our children to aim high.
Our curriculum vision here at Etonbury is clear: we want to ‘Develop the learner, develop the person.’ By encouraging a love of learning and building confidence, we ensure every child fulfils their individual potential according to their own abilities, skills and interests. We believe in educating the whole child - inside the classroom and beyond, by giving them an engaging curriculum and a vibrant and adventurous programme of extra-curricular activities.
Set in rural Central Bedfordshire, Etonbury Academy is at the heart of the community. We are a local school with a global outlook, preparing young people to be successful citizens of the future. Our facilities, resources and specialist teaching are second to none. So is our commitment to pastoral care. This is a place where every child is safe, secure and supported. Every single member of our learning community – pupils, staff and parents – are part of our success story. Together we make Etonbury Academy a school to be very proud of. Our children are happy and achieve their full potential.
Come and see for yourself what makes Etonbury special. We would be delighted to welcome you.
Joanne Young Principal
Our Values
The ETA way is our lived experience each day. We believe that these values are the key to success at Etonbury and ensure everyone who is part of our school community understands them and how to embrace them every day.
Everyone is respectful
Every member of our school community is valued and respected. We celebrate the uniqueness of each child and provide a framework for them to succeed. The welcoming and friendly environment we create allows our pupils to thrive.
Together we care
Care and compassion is our lived experience every day. We support pupils to care about every aspect of their educational experience. The journey through school years will present pupils with challenges every step of the way. We want to nurture resilient learners who are ready to leave the school and be successful adults and we do this through a lens of care and compassion.
Always aim higher
We have a culture of high expectation, and our pupils achieve in many different ways. From academic and sporting achievements, to standards of care and behaviour, we set the bar very high for every child.
Proven Results
When our children leave Etonbury, their results are exceptional and above the national average. We place a significant emphasis on delivering high quality teaching and learning and this has led to the high performance in attainment and progress of our pupils. This success is a reflection of the dedication of staff, students and parents; ‘everyone is always aiming higher.’
All staff want pupils to be successful. Pupils are encouraged to achieve good examination results and be active citizens. There is a culture of high expectation for all pupils. “ OFSTED 2020
The Etonbury Experience
When you are ready to join us, whether that is in Etonbury Juniors, secondary or Sixth Form, you will become part of a friendly and supportive community that will help you and your child settle in to Etonbury school life.
The junior school experience is like no other in the area. We provide a specialist, nurturing and environment, with windows of opportunity to explore the specialist subject areas and facilities in the secondary school, making for a smooth transition in year 7.
Our strong pastoral teams made up of Key Stage Managers, Head of Years, Form Tutors, SEND and dedicated pastoral staff will be there for you and will celebrate your child’s successes.
Your child will be offered numerous clubs, activities, events and trips each term to enhance their learning experiences and we want to encourage curious learners who will excel.
We can not wait to welcome you.
Develop the learner. Develop the person.
Inside and outside of the classroom
We know that every child is different and that one size does not fit all. That is why we provide an inclusive education that recognises the individual and equips every child to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.
Our broad and enriching curriculum develops the learner and the child. We encourage a love of learning through inspirational teaching and strong relationships based on mutual respect. Our pastoral care ensures that every child has an opportunity to shine, and is provided with the right care at the right time.
We are an outward-looking community where everyone is valued and their talents and personality are celebrated.
Our commitment to each individual child is underpinned by our values. We bring these to life through the ETA Way in everything we do.
OFSTED 2020 “
Leaders have designed a curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils.
A Broad & Inclusive Curriculum
We believe that every child has potential – and that great teaching can unlock it. Our curriculum is inclusive by design and offers a wide-range of subjects at GCSE and Sixth Form. It is enriching and designed to fire enthusiasm, igniting a life-long love of learning.
We are committed to developing every child as an individual. We help our pupils to become confident, well-rounded individuals who possess the skills for a rapidly changing world.
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Curriculum leaders have designed and planned the curriculum well in all subjects. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding.
OFSTED 2020
KS2 Firm Foundations
We are very proud of the unique and enriching environment for our year 5 and year 6 children. We provide specialist primary teaching following the National Curriculum, with expertise in numeracy and literacy.
The children benefit from excellent teaching in their own smaller building, with the benefit of accessing the secondary facilities from time to time and making their transition to secondary a seamless one.
KS3
Inquisitive Learners
Years 7, 8 and 9 will be an exciting journey exploring and discovering their potential, finding new interests in the specialist subjects and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Our children are taught by specialist subject teachers, and the curriculum is designed to deepen knowledge in English, maths and science, along with a range of EBACC subjects to prepare them for choosing their option subjects for their formal qualifications in KS4.
KS
4 Flourishing
During these crucial years, the children will have selected the subjects for GCSEs and vocational courses that they enjoy most.
Our year groups are small, which enable us to get to know every child and bring out the best of them in their subjects. They will be expected to aim high, with every child knowing what they can achieve. Learning is tailored to their individual needs and abilities. Our experienced careers advisor is on hand to help with those next steps.
KS5
Independent Learners
Develop the learner, develop the person is the Etonbury vision and this is exemplified in all aspects of Sixth Form life. Whilst the whole school community works together to ensure our students leave with a fantastic set of qualifications, in the Sixth Form we also focus on developing the transferable skills through enrichment opportunities that are so highly valued by universities and employers. A well-rounded Sixth Former is more than just a good set of academic results, they show leadership qualities, teamwork, effective communication and creativity.
Our proven and excellent GCSE results are down to our dedicated staff, hard working children and The Etonbury Experience.
First Class Facilities & Resources
All our children, from Juniors through to secondary and Sixth Form, will benefit from our state-of-the art facilities which provide amazing spaces to learn, feel inspired and achieve. Our Juniors will have opportunities to experience a real feel of what exciting things are to come as they move in to the secondary school.
We have new and impressive teaching spaces; large light-filled workspaces equipped with the very latest technology including an Apple-Mac suite, hi-tech music rooms, design and technology workshops, engineering and food technology rooms, outdoor art and sculpture terraces, and a learning resource centre which are all ready to help maximise every child’s potential.
Along with the Pendleton Sports Centre and 3G pitches, our children will be able to experience every sport imaginable.
Beyond the Classroom
We believe learning must go beyond the classroom to build confidence and allow our children to pursue new opportunities or grow their interests.
We have an established and extensive programme of extra-curricular activities, events, trips and visits for every child. These are run by our dedicated staff who have a passion for their subject area, some achieving national or international accolades.
Clubs
From sport to the arts, from science to engineering, there is a club for everyone at Etonbury. Every teacher is involved in running a club and every child is encouraged to take part. Our clubs expand horizons, as well as giving students a space to explore their interests and talents.
Sport
Sport at Etonbury is an integral part of school life. Our students compete in fixtures at all levels locally and nationally, and we are committed to sport for all.
Our wide-ranging sporting programme nurtures talent across all abilities and our school teams include football, netball, dance, rounders, rugby, hockey and cricket.
With impressive new facilities and extensive grounds, our sporting provision is something we are very proud of.
Experiences
We run residential trips in the UK and abroad each year, with students offered the opportunity to take part in unique experiences and create memories to last a lifetime.
Overseas trips include Opal coast French/food trip, battlefields trip to France & Belgium, ski trip, USA trip to Washington DC as well as UK based residential and day trips
Our curriculum takes students to the theatre, museums, on field trips, as well as offering the opportunity of visiting speakers including industry professionals. High prior attaining student workshops are an integral part of our extra-curricular offer.
Just some of our wider activities and clubs include:
• Art
• Dance
• Drama, LAMDA and theatre trips
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Netball, Football, Rugby, Cricket
• Music events
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
• Student Voice
See a full list of extra-curricular activities on our website
Where People Matter
Our school is a community where everyone is recognised and has a voice. We are proud of the support we give to all our children, including those with special educational and pastoral needs. Our SEND and pastoral provision is led by highly experienced staff, specially trained Teaching Assistants and pastoral teams.
We want to get to know our families, share our knowledge and sometimes may call on your own expertise for career events. We will be welcoming you into our school for progress meetings, school performances and celebrations.
Our ambitious staff are supported to extend and expand on their own professional development. All staff have high quality training to further develop their practice and will also be supported in the pursuit of their goals. Our staff are offered the opportunity to undertake a variety of higher level qualifications including Masters degrees.
We have the right foundations to know our children and staff so we can continue to succeed together.
Leaders provide many professional opportunities for teachers and support staff, so staff continue to develop their skills.
OFSTED 2020
Etonbury Academy is proud to be a founder member of the Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST).
BEST is a growing multi-academy trust, which provides exceptional education to 7,500 children across its community of schools and nurseries.
While we are all unique, we share a core belief of the importance of high expectations, hard work and community-based provision.
Being part of BEST gives us access to an extensive range of dedicated shared services in areas such as finance, human resources and estates management, which support the day-to-day running of our school.
We receive additional financial support, too – our new Sixth Form, for example, was jointly funded by the school and the trust.
The BEST Education Services and School Improvement Team also supports us to develop our curriculum, while our staff all have access to an extensive range of free or subsidised training courses and CPD opportunities.
