Principles into practice

A detailed knowledge and understanding of the individual learner’s needs is central to our goal of bringing out the best in all our children and young people. It is from this that we will develop a robust and engaging curriculum which is meaningful, purposeful and relevant.

All learning will be collaborative and informed by peer assessment and feedback, with strong and coherent teaching teams free to cross traditional age and curriculum boundaries. Teachers will work and collaborate together to ensure greater effectiveness.

Relentless focus

In our Academy there will be a relentless focus on literacy to ensure that our learners not only have the basic skills to fully access the curriculum and achieve, but also to develop the higher order skills associated with the highest levels of success in both the school and the working environment.

Our principles will mean nothing if our learners lack the confidence to put them in to practice. That is why the development of learner confidence will be fundamental to all aspects of learning and teaching in the new Academy. It will be the focus of strategic planning and opportunities to develop confidence will be integral to curriculum development and all our teaching and learning strategies.

Confidence to learn

Learners need to develop the ability to take on new challenges, to confront difficult situations, and to have the confidence to learn from their mistakes in order to support high levels of achievement. A programme of activities appropriate to a learner’s age and maturity will help take them beyond their normal experience and enable them to test themselves in new contexts.

Confidence to teach

Teacher confidence is also critical to our success and will inform the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for all staff in the Academy. This will strengthen our leadership capacity and ensure that staff have the drive to extend their range of teaching and learning skills to both develop and capitalise on their expertise.