An inclusive Academy

The Northumberland Church of England Academy will provide an education that stretches the mind, strengthens the body, enriches the imagination, nourishes the spirit, encourages the will to do good and opens the heart to others.

The Academy would not select learners according to their faith or that of their families. Children of all faiths and those of no faith are welcome at the Academy.

Partnership

A partnership wide, all age Academy which admits children from the age of 4 will enable the staff team to construct a curriculum and pedagogy which builds on learner skills and development throughout their school career, securing progression for individuals without the barriers that can be created by the need for transitions from one school to another.

Improved standards

The Northumberland Church of England Academy will make a significant contribution to key local objectives by improving standards through an unrelenting focus on literacy development; by improving continuity and progression across the Key Stages; and by developing robust and sustainable approaches to personalised learning.

Special needs

The provision for learners with highly specific special needs will be integral to the life and ethos of the Academy and all staff and learners at the Academy will be expected to actively engage with the process of inclusion.

As part of the all-age Academy, a 3-19 Special Educational Needs Unit will provide 100 places for learners with complex needs and high dependency on the Hirst site merging the current provision of the 32 places at Abbeyfields First School and Seaton Hirst Church of England Middle and Hirst High schools (to be completed September 2011). This will provide bespoke all-age provision for such learners in new or re-modelled buildings with greatly improved facilities. The opportunity of integrated provision in the same school on the same site for these learners would lead to greater continuity and range of educational provision.

From 2009 the Academy will incorporate the current regional provision for children with complex special needs at the Hirst site.

A history of service

For over two hundred years the Church of England and the Duke of Northumberland have together played a valuable role in education in the county. Our joint goal is to serve all the children in the community in which the new Academy is located.