Message from the Principal, Sunita Bains
I am delighted to introduce The Bridge Academy, Hackney and to say how proud I am to be leading the school.
I will champion high standards, promote strong parental and community links and ensure our music and mathematics specialisms create a centre of excellence for teaching and learning.
Under my leadership, and using my background as a successful Headteacher and Head of Mathematics, the Academy will give the young people who attend it the very best education. I look forward to working with the parents and students who will join us in our first year.
Message from the Chair, Jeremy Palmer
Taking up the role of Chair at The Bridge Academy, Hackney is both exciting and a great privilege.
I work for and am a member of the Group Management Board of UBS, the Academy sponsor. UBS has been a strong supporter of education in Hackney for fifteen years. Many of our employees volunteer in local schools. The Bridge Academy, Hackney is part of a continuing commitment from UBS to support the drive for high standards in Hackney.
UBS is just one of many partners Sunita and I want to join us to inspire staff and students. Using the strength of Sunita's leadership skills, which Ofsted highlighted in a recent report, we will build strong partnerships with a whole range of successful educational and community organisations. We all look forward to meeting you at the open evenings and the secondary school fair.
The Bridge Academy, Hackney
The Bridge Academy, Hackney will welcome a further 180 girls and boys in September 2008. By 2013, 1,150 students will attend the school, including 250 sixth formers. It will be a local school for students of all abilities. At its heart, the school's landmark building will have excellent educational facilities, a stunning performance hall, a lecture theatre and excellent music and sports facilities.
An extensive learning resource centre with full ICT facilities and a library will provide strong support for students. There will be areas where young people will be able to study outside the classroom - on their own and in groups. There will be quiet spaces set aside for this.
The building will include a substantial, professional kitchen where fresh food can be prepared each day and a dedicated dining area. The Academy will actively promote healthy eating. The community will be able to use the 450 seat performance space, the 180 seat lecture theatre and sports hall. The Bridge Academy, Hackney will be a centre for a wide range of educational and community activities outside of the school day and school year.
The shape of the building and the open lay out of internal spaces is intended to allow for the management and care of all who use and visit the building. Safety and security is a top priority for the school.
Teaching and learning
The Bridge Academy, Hackney will promote a culture of achievement, deliver high standards and offer a broad
curriculum with music and mathematics at its heart. Strong leadership and teaching across the curriculum will provide a firm educational foundation. The school will ensure that all students have a strong grounding in literacy, numeracy and ICT.
The focus on music and mathematics will enrich the life of the Academy. Students will experience a wealth of music in all its forms and musical performances of all kinds will take place. The musical range will be as diverse as our community and whether classical, world, rap or jazz we will support and encourage students to showcase their individual talents.
The Bridge Academy, Hackney also wants to ensure that mathematics learning and teaching are applied in very practical situations. The aim is to impart a confidence in mathematics so that students can operate effectively in the wider world of education, training and work. Across the school excellent teachers will work with a skilled leadership team to deliver the broad curriculum and the specialist subjects. We will continually search for new and better ways of working both in the classroom and beyond.
Staff will mentor and support students as part of a commitment to individual learning. Students will be equipped with the skills and attitudes to succeed in a rapidly changing world and to approach all challenges with enthusiasm and energy. A school council will give students a voice in the day-to-day life of the Academy. Helping young people to gain qualifications will be the top priority. The school will also place a high value on personal and social achievement, for example in sport and community involvement. An extended day will be part of the pattern of learning with a rich range of activities.
Expectations
The school will promote a culture of courtesy and mutual respect where high standards of behaviour are essential. Learning to take personal responsibility for their actions will be a high priority for all students. There will be a school uniform and we will work with parents and carers to explain the standards expected of students for this. Students will be expected to take pride in attendance as part of their commitment to learning. Everyone will be encouraged to bring out the best in themselves and others.
Partnerships
The Bridge Academy, Hackney will build strong relationships with parents and carers so that they are involved in supporting and contributing to their child's learning and progress from the very beginning. The Principal, Sunita Bains, has met groups of parents from local primary schools, and has heard about their high aspirations for their children.
The Academy has been building partnerships with local community and educational organisations for some time. Involving creative and committed people working and living close to the Academy will be key to its success.
Local people will be welcomed through the Academy's commitment to lifelong learning. There will be opportunities and activities for individuals and groups to continue with their own education and community work. There will also be a range of opportunities for students and staff to share work-related skills and experiences with volunteers from the sponsor UBS, one of many potential national and international partners for the Academy.
The first year and the move from primary school
There are open evenings this September (details can be found on page 15) for everyone who wants to know more about the school and applying for a place. The first students will be welcomed into high quality temporary buildings while the building is completed. Our dedicated leadership team and teaching staff will make sure that the 180 girls and boys get off to a great start.
The Academy is working actively with local primary schools to ensure the move from primary to secondary education is successful. Some of these primaries are already partners in music and mathematics projects. This is just the start of a series of collaborations with the family of schools in Hackney to share ideas, initiatives and facilities.
Applying for a place at The Bridge Academy, Hackney
Like other local secondary schools The Bridge Academy, Hackney will work within the admissions arrangements operated by The Learning Trust. In its first year, September 2008, there will be 180 places for girls and boys who are leaving primary school to move to secondary school.
All applications for the 180 places available will be considered. Where fewer than 180 applications are received, places will be offered to all those who have applied.
What happens if there are more applications than places?
Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places those students with statements of special educational needs, that have named the Academy on the statement, will be admitted first. After that the following will apply:
Fair Banding
A number of schools in Hackney operate Fair Banding and The Bridge Academy, Hackney has adopted this approach. Students applying (except for those students with a statement of special educational needs, in which the Bridge Academy is named) take a non verbal reasoning test designed by the National Foundation for Educational Research. Each student's test is marked, but this is not an entrance examination where students pass or fail. It is a way of ensuring that the school includes young people of all abilities.
The students applying will be divided into nine bands based on their test score. Each band will have the same number of students in it. Places at the Academy will then be offered to the same number of students from each of the nine bands, in the following order:
- Students in public care
- Students with brothers and sisters at the Academy who live at the same permanent address at the time of the proposed admission (brothers and sisters must live permanently at the same address as the child for whom the application is being made. This includes half brothers and sisters, step brothers and sisters and foster brothers and sisters who live permanently as a family unit at the same address).
- Those living closest to the Academy premises in Laburnum Street, London E2, using a straight line measurement drawn between the student's home address and the main entrance of the Academy building.
The full admissions policy, which has more detail on waiting lists, appeals and more, is available on the school's website: www.bridgeacademyhackney.org You can download it and print it off from the parents' section on the site.
If you would prefer a paper copy please write to The Bridge Academy, Hackney, c/o 15 St John's Hill, London SW11 1TN.
Information and open evenings
Copies of the prospectus will be available at the beginning of September this year.
The Bridge Academy, Hackney will also provide opportunities for parents, carers and students to learn more at open evenings to be held on:
Wednesday, 12 September 2007 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Thursday, 13 September 2007 at 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Open evenings will be held at the Ocean,
270 Mare Street (opposite the Town Hall)
Contact details
We want to make sure everyone has the information they need about The Bridge Academy, Hackney. The website is www.bridgeacademyhackney.org and our email address is info@bridgeacademyhackney.org If you would like to speak to someone please call 020 7568 4590.
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0208 820 7000