Wayland Academy Prospectus

An Inspiration Trust Academy

We care, we share, we dare to do more

Welcome

We’re a community school dedicated to widening the world of every single one of our students, both academically and culturally.

We are dedicated to always striving ahead and innovating, making sure that every pupil entrusted to us is equipped not only for the careers of today, but also for those that do not yet exist.

I am proud to lead a school that is at the heart of its community. Our students, families, teaching teams, support staff and wider community are all united by a shared aimto create a brighter future for Watton, for its surrounding villages, and for the people that call these places home. Our mission is clear. We put our students first, enabling success and building essential life skills.

At Wayland Academy we approach change with a clear focus on the Big IDEA. Rather than rush for quick fixes or knee-jerk responses we Innovate, Discover, Explore and Activate.

Every day at Wayland Academy is rewarding. It is an exhilarating school to lead and being able to work with our brilliant students is a great privilege and I am so proud of how they inspire others.

Glen Allott, Principal

The Wayland Way: Our Big IDEA

Innovate

The only way we grow is by trying new things. From the way we teach to finding new technologies, we are always looking out for better ways of doing things. We are not afraid to push boundaries, break tradition and innovate to educate.

Explore

There is a big wide world out there and we want to share it with our pupils. Our teaching goes beyond the classroom, giving our students real-life experiences which allows them to develop the key skills needed to grasp new opportunities, leading them to create a life they love.

Our Vision

At Wayland Academy our goal is to improve student achievement, develop character, create an academic culture and raise aspirations. We do whatever it takes to make sure every student, irrespective of their starting point, receives an excellent education.

We are proud to be an inclusive school at the heart of the community. We are keen to help that community grow and thrive; both to give back to our area, and to give our students the best possible opportunities in the wider world.

We have high expectations, and just as there are no shortcuts, there are no excuses.

Discover

Understanding what makes someone who they are is extremely powerful. From their strengths to their weaknesses, their beliefs to their culture. We give our young people opportunities to discover who they are and who they want to become, academically and emotionally.

Activate

We equip our young people with the confidence to believe in themselves, supporting them on every step of that journey. We help them overcome obstacles and we reward successes, so that when it’s time for them to move on, they feel like they can take on the world.

Our Curriculum

We are proud to have a nationally-recognised knowledge-based curriculum that is structured by traditional subjects. It is properly sequenced to ensure systematic, thorough teaching for all.

The curriculum at Wayland Academy is designed with long-term learning in mind. Students should be able to take what they learn into adulthood and use it to provide them with the opportunities to succeed in life. Our curriculum takes students beyond what they already know and enables them to be more socially mobile, ensuring they acquire knowledge they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to.

Based upon the principle that all students will acquire an understanding of their subjects and gain mastery of a body of subjectspecific knowledge that we have defined, our curriculum provides the capacity for students to learn even more and develop their understanding.

No matter what a pupil’s starting point or prior learning is, our students will be able to access knowledge. For example, we work with Accelerated Reader in Year 7 through to Year 9 as we know a strong reading ability directly correlates with a pupil’s ability to access the curriculum.

Every student has equal access to our curriculum and their progress is rooted in what we expect them to know at each stage of their education.

We see the importance of making the curriculum relevant and meaningful, ensuring it is transferable and allows our pupils to build links across all subject areas.

Subject-specific vocabulary is emphasised in all lessons with formative and summative assessment used to capture student progress throughout their school life. We take the time to ensure gaps of knowledge are identified and use this to inform lesson planning and curriculum design.

Wayland Academy is proud to be an Inspiration Trust school. Being part of a large academy trust provides us with access to a wide range of specialist knowledge and expertise, allowing us to provide the very best education for your child.

Learning at Wayland Academy

During Key Stage 3 our students study a broad curriculum including English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, History, Geography, French, Religious Education, Technology, Physical Education, Art and Music.

We guide students as they narrow their studies towards GCSE, ensuring they achieve their goals and make the right choices for them as individuals.

Science and Maths at Wayland Academy

Referring back to our Big IDEA, Innovate and Discover are directly linked to careers in STEM industries. At Wayland Academy we focus on these subjects to support the inspiration and development of our future scientists, engineers and technological innovators.

The teaching of Mathematics is strong and our students’ outcomes reflect this, and even when students arrive with lower prior attainment they achieve GCSE outcomes that exceed national levels.

All students complete GCSEs in Mathematics and Statistics at the end of Year 11. GCSE Further Maths is also offered as an option to specifically support progression to A-Level Mathematics, widening opportunities for all of our students.

Two of our science laboratories were renovated in 2021 and are the centrepiece for our teaching, making it a rich and exciting experience.

The Science department currently collaborates with STEM Learning to deliver funded projects across Key Stages 2-4 with the department working towards completing the Science Mark. Students are able to access separate sciences at GCSE.

Our inclusive curriculum celebrates diversity and promotes tolerance and mutual respect of others within our community. Our curriculum has been carefully mapped to empower students’ personal growth and promotes fundamental British Values that cover social, moral, spiritual and cultural awareness, as well as personal, social, health, relationship and sex education.

Personal Development Enrichment and Extended Learning

To accompany our students’ academic study, we are proud to also provide a wealth of support, guidance and engagement opportunities that enrich our students’ educational experiences and support their learning. We understand that it is not always possible to find a quiet area at home to complete work and therefore extended learning is not simply viewed as an out-ofschool activity.

Any activity that broadens our students’ experience, knowledge and understanding is encouraged and we are proud to offer a wide range of extended learning opportunities that include online learning programmes, small group catch-up interventions, after-school academic support sessions, as well as well-planned homework that truly complements their at-school learning.

To complement scholarship in academic subjects, our Personal Development Strategy has been set up to provide a wealth of opportunities to develop students’ personal growth and understanding of the wider world, helping to set them up for their future lives.

To further develop our students’ learning and experiences, we provide a programme of trips, visits and events, as well as the opportunity to be involved with a number of charity projects. We operate an excellent selection of after-school enrichment activities and clubs that cover sport, performance and crafts as well as social and academic opportunities.

Students are encouraged to be involved with our Student Voice programme and to become Anti-bullying and Mental Wellbeing Ambassadors.

The Wayland Way: #NoExcuses

At Wayland Academy we want to empower our students. “We have high expectations; and just as there are no shortcuts, there are no excuses”.

We intend to give every pupil the same chances in life, no matter where they start from, irrespective of challenge or barrier. Our motto is #NoExcuses and has lead to a campaign which has seen our students produce posters which provide a narrative around significant figures that

have overcome challenges and difficulties to become successful.

Those featured are from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and belief systems, but they all have something in common - they persevered and had #NoExcuses.

For our students these figures act as inspiration and show them that anything is possible.

Community and Charity Work

Charity work is a vital part of the curriculum as it helps children understand the world around them and increases their awareness of issues in the local community and beyond.

Our staff work closely with local charities to raise awareness and funding.

Atmosphere, Identity, Respect (AIR)

In order to achieve outstanding behaviour, we need to maintain high expectations, allowing for no shortcuts. Together we are shaping the Identity of our young people to ensure they will be independent and ready to fully integrate into society once they leave our Academy.

As a result, we create and facilitate a positive but challenging learning Atmosphere that instils the importance of showing Respect to everyone. At Wayland Academy we use these three core principles to create a culture of strength and character around our Academy and beyond.

Throughout the year we organise specific trips and activities to support the learning of various subjects. This may include trips out as well as the organisation of visitors and speakers coming into our Academy to lead an activity or assembly. Such activities may include:

BBC Radio Norfolk

Macbeth performance

Diana Award and Anti-Bullying conference

Careers conference

Theatre trips

Geography field trip.

Trips and Visitors Activities Week

Each year we run an Activities Week where students are offered the opportunity to participate in a range of activities during the week, planned for both in and out of school. A full programme of activities is scheduled for students in Year 7 to 9 and are designed to cater for a variety of interests. Families and students have the opportunity to opt in to either a paid or free programme of events.

We also offer our students the opportunity to participate in a number of international trips. Again, this is to support our pupils’ learning and help them understand their subjects in greater depth. Previously, such international trips have included:

The Battlefields of France and Belgium

Ski Trip to Italy

Activity trip in the Ardeche

Paris and Disneyland.

Activities likely to be involved are:

Visits to London

Water sports activities

Escape Room activities

Theme Park Trip

In school activities

Careers workshops.

Music Matters at Wayland Academy

Inspiration Trust strongly believes in the power of music to enhance lives, both through the sheer pleasure of listening to and enjoying music, and through the discipline of individual and group playing and singing. As part of our extended Arts and Culture Programme, pupils have the opportunity to take part in a variety of plays, concerts and music competitions.

As part of our commitment to music education, we also offer our students a range of peripatetic lessons with our highly-skilled and experienced team of Visiting Music Teachers.

These include piano, guitar, singing and drum lessons. Learning to play an instrument helps students to develop cognitive and social skills, expand language and motor skills, as well as help build determination and patience. Plus, it is fun!

Our pupils are encouraged to participate in numerous Trust-wide music competitions and Inspiration Trust has made a pledge to have a full orchestra or musical ensemble in every one of its schools by 2027.

Every year our students get to take part in our Trust-wide Carol Service.

An annual tradition, the Carol Service sees pupils from all across our sister schools - primaries, secondaries and sixth forms - join forces to perform a series of traditional carols and hymns in the Winter Term.

Always a big calendar event, the Carol Service is a fantastic opportunity for our students and staff to showcase their brilliant musical capabilities, whether through playing instruments or singing, while getting to perform in an iconic location.

The Carol Service is a fun Christmas event that always makes for a lovely family evening.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is many things. It is a life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement and something that is highly-regarded by employers, supporting generation after generation to successfully navigate life.

Completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is not an easy feat and we are proud to say that a significant number of pupils persevere and see the challenge through to the end.

Any young person can do their DofE, regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving the award isn’t about competition or about being first, it is about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

Each year a cohort completes the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in their own time. At Wayland Academy students volunteer for 6 months, completing physical and skill sections. Pupils go on to complete a practice expedition for 3 days (2 nights) in Rutland before participating in the assessed expedition in the Cotswolds.

SEND Support

At Wayland Academy, we are aware of the needs of each individual student and recognise that we have a responsibility to support every student to achieve their potential.

At Wayland Academy we aim to:

Ensure that all members of the school community support students with special educational needs and disabilities and that SEND students are integrated fully into the life of the school.

Ensure that all students have access to high-quality teaching.

Ensure that all students identified as having SEND have, as far as possible, equal access to all aspects of the curriculum, with modifications made to the curriculum if appropriate.

Provide appropriate scaffolding to ensure that all pupils can master knowledge.

Meet the special educational needs of children with physical disabilities as far as is practicable in terms of the layout and resources of the Academy.

Increase the confidence of students with SEND, encouraging them to be involved in their own provision.

Communicate with parents about all aspects of the special needs provision made for their children and seek to develop this partnership.

By providing a whole-academy approach we are able to deliver student-centred planned provision through resources, intervention and support. As well as providing early review, identification and assessment of pupils we believe may need extra support so that they have the best opportunities to succeed.

Committing to this approach helps improve attainment and progress of pupils with SEND. We are able to remove barriers to learning so that students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum and provisions for students to match their needs. Listening to the views and wishes of pupils is also considered with the effective working partnership between the Academy and your family to reach a common goal for our pupils success.

Our House System

When students join the Academy, they will be placed in a tutor group of approximately 30 students with their own Form Tutor. All students are allocated to one of four Houses which represent local historical figures: Chapman Lincoln Carter Boudica.

Each House comprises of a Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 tutor group and sees students engage in a wide range of House-themed competitions and challenges, the biggest of which is our highly-competitive Sports Day. All House competitions are linked to our Academy Rewards System and when students are rewarded the points go towards their House’s total points.

Instilling a House system drives school culture and encourages pupil development through access to a wide selection of experiences. Pupils learn how to work together and share ideas, building confidence as they interact and build friendships with other year groups.

In order to promote a sense of community, cohesion and a sense of rivalry between Houses, all of our staff and leaders are also allocated a House to be a part of. Each half term our students attend a House Update Assembly where everyone is able to reflect and celebrate everything they have been part of. House rivalry is also embedded into weekly Year Group Assemblies.

Taking Part in Trust-Wide Sports Competitions

At Inspiration Trust we pride ourselves on our sports provision which not only includes a nationally-recognised sports curriculum, but includes half-termly Trust-wide sports competitions.

These competitions include football, athletics, swimming and rugby, and sees us working in partnership with brilliant local organisations such as the UEA Sportspark and The Nest in order to offer our students the very best facilities in which to compete. The atmosphere at these events is always described as electric!

Through taking part in sporting competitions our students are given the chance to shine outside of the classroom and learn vital skills such as the importance of team work, determination, patience and perseverance.

It is also proven that taking part in sport encourages higher standards of achievement, improves cognitive function and improves overall wellbeing through having fun and making friendships.

Whilst outstanding sports provision is often overlooked within the state sector, all of us at Wayland Academy believe it is a core part of what every pupil should expect from their time in education and we are proud to deliver that.

Secondary Olympiads

All pupils have the opportunity to be involved in our Trust-wide Olympiads. These see pupils compete in competitions within their favourite subjects, allowing them to shine in areas where they are gifted.

One of our strategic aims is to ensure each and every child fulfils their potential. We believe this potential is not only reached through academic success, but through wider opportunities such as competitive programmes.

Our Olympiads cover everything from Maths and Modern Foreign Languages through to Geography and Computer Science. They help children learn about teamwork and morals, and offer a fun, alternative way to explore the subjects they love.

Our Student Council

We believe our students’ voices should be heard and therefore we give them the opportunity to voice their opinions across a number of key areas.

Members of our Student Council are elected to cover the key areas below:

Anti-Bullying Diversity

Behaviour

Careers

Environmental Academic Extra-Curricular Rewards

SEND.

Running for Student Council

Students that want to be part of the Student Council are asked to complete an application form specific to the role they are hoping to be elected for.

They can apply for multiple positions but can only be successful in one area. Staff then shortlist candidates and a wholeschool election will take place. To be elected, students must produce a slide stating why they are right for the role they have applied for. These are displayed in form time so everyone has the opportunity to see who is standing for election.

Student Council Meets

The Student Council meet every half-term and each person provides information on what they have been doing within their roles. The time is also used to discuss the agenda items that appear throughout the school year.

School Meals

School meals are produced by Vive, the catering brand of Vertas. The menu is ever evolving to replicate food innovation and trends. Wholesome health food is produced by our chef who works hard to create a bespoke menu which benefits our pupil’s wellbeing and ability to study.

We often host themed events and special taster menus throughout the year. Our school is cashless and all canteen purchases require students to use the biometric or PIN system.

The school day at Wayland Academy runs from 8:40am until 2.45pm on Monday and Friday, and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday school finishes an hour later at 3:45pm. Our pupils receive three extra hours of learning per week compared to most other schools.

Our Uniform

Our expectations are that students will always be in full uniform when on the academy site.

We want pupils at Wayland Academy to take immense pride in their dress, behaviour and learning.

You can order your uniform from our supplier, Stevensons. Our mandatory uniform includes:

Academy blazer with logo

Plain white shirt

Academy tie (House specific)

Black tailored trousers (straight legs)

Black pleated skirt

Black tights

Black socks

Black shoes, smart and polishable V neck knitted sweater (Optional).

Our mandatory PE kit includes:

Academy t-shirt with logo

Academy shorts with logo

Academy 1/4 zip training top with logo

Academy PE socks

Trainers

Gum shield (when appropriate)

Studded boots (when appropriate).

Optional PE Kit:

Plain black leggings or tracksuit bottoms

Academy Skort with logo.

Post 16 Provision and Sixth Form

Students go on to study at a variety of Post-16 providers from Wayland Academy. Whether that be to institutions in Norwich, or to a provider based in one of our local towns and villages.

As part of Inspiration Trust we are fortunate to have excellent links with Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, Jane Austen College Sixth Form and Thomas Paine Sixth Form, all commutable from Watton.

Jane Austen College Sixth Form

As one of Norfolk’s top sixth forms, students from Jane Austen College Sixth Form consistently achieve some of the county’s best results.

Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form

Rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form is a specialist Maths and Science sixth form in the heart of Norwich. At Sir Isaac Newton there is a focus on academic excellence and high aspirations for the future.

With encouragement to aim high, staff are supportive and committed to helping students achieve their goals. Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form has the vision to create the next generation of leaders within STEM industries. Named as one of the best sixth forms in the UK, the A-Level provider provides its students with the very best learning opportunities so they achieve the very best possible outcomes.

As a sister school to Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, there is an option to study some subjects at both sixth forms - perfect if you would like to study a mixture of STEM and Humanities subjects.

The school is focused on academic excellence and is committed to creating a supportive learning environment for all students. Students at Jane Austen College Sixth Form are encouraged to aim high and achieve their goals with the help they need to reach these targets.

Thomas Paine Sixth Form

Connected to Thetford Academy, Thomas Paine Sixth Form offers various academic and vocational subjects alongside personalised pastoral support. They are committed to ensuring that young people have access to the high-quality education they deserve, and ensures that students don’t have to travel further afield to achieve highly.

The Admissions Process

Most students join us at the start of Year 7, however we do accept students mid-year or into other year groups when we have capacity to do so. Applying for a place at Wayland Academy is straightforward and as with all secondary schools in Norfolk is organised through Norfolk County Council.

The process tends to begin in the autumn of the year prior to when the student wishes to start with applications closing at the end of October. Norfolk County Council then allocates places with offers sent out at the beginning of March. Should more students apply than we have places, spaces will be allocated based on our admissions policy of which can be found on our website - waylandacademy.org/admissions

Admissions Team, County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich NR1 2DL

We are part of Inspiration Trust, twice ranked the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress

Telephone: 0344 800 8020

Email: admissions@norfolk.gov.uk

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