Introducing the principal
I am extremely pleased to be returning to Hackney after a gap of nearly 20 years, to be the first Principal of the new Petchey Academy. In the mid-1980s I taught at Haggerston School. More recently I have been Headteacher at two different but very demanding schools. This, I hope, has given me the right experience for this exciting new Academy and allows me to share in the trustees' vision for the school.
David T. Daniels B.SC., M.SC., MBA. MCIPD, MCIM. The Petchey Academy
The Petchey Academy opened in September 2006 with our first year group of 180 students and in September 2007 we will look forward to welcoming our second group of Hackney students. In September 2007 we will have moved from our temporary accommodation into our brand new ‘state of the art’ school.
The Petchey Academy will provide:
- a bright, modern, attractive ‘world class’ building with flexible classroom spaces
- excellent sports and games facilities both indoors and outside
- up-to-date music facilities and equipment. The Academy plans to form its own orchestras, bands and choirs representing different genres of music while also supporting those sponsored by The Hackney Music Service
- a training kitchen and training restaurant where students can become actively involved in planning and cooking healthy meals
- easy access to computers and a well-equipped learning resource centre
- a safe and secure environment
- an emphasis on achievement in all spheres of activity especially academic.
When the school is fully operational there will be 1,200 students including a sixth form of 300 students. The Academy will be truly multicultural and accept students from all religious backgrounds or none.
The Petchey Academy will provide a demanding academic and vocational environment with a focus on “health, care and medical sciences,” challenging all students to fully develop their intellectual, physical, and creative abilities, and their potential for responsible citizenship. The Academy will address the challenge of raising achievement through the provision of high-quality teaching and learning. The specialisms at the Academy: “health, care and medical sciences” will raise aspirations and open up opportunities traditionally not readily available to young people in Hackney. The Academy is continuing to develop partnerships within the medical and healthcare fields including teaching hospitals, the Royal College of Nursing, the National Health Service (NHS), the local healthcare trust, the Centre of the Cell (Queen Mary College, University of London) and the University of East London. With the support of our sponsors “health, care and medical sciences” will permeate the life and work of the Academy. In addition, students attending the Petchey Academy will derive the benefit of belonging to a wide network of activities devoted to raising achievement for all young people. The Jack Petchey Foundation is a grant-making Trust, which focuses on projects and programmes that benefit young people aged 11–25. The Foundation started in East London but now includes North and South London and West Essex. The Jack Petchey Achievement & Leader Award Scheme operates in more than 500 schools and clubs. This Academy will naturally feature the Petchey Awards as a principal means of recognising and celebrating our students’ achievements.
The vision for the academy includes:
- teachers who are experts in teaching and learning
- a wider range of subjects than at most secondary schools
- specific support for students with special needs; those whose first language is not English; those in difficult circumstances
- targeted encouragement and support for particularly able students and the development of centres of excellence
- the whole curriculum – overt and covert – will celebrate the full range of cultures, traditions and values of students
- an emphasis on developing students' confidence, skills and attitudes to succeed in a rapidly changing world
- Pro-active pastoral care and mentoring support
- a longer working day than is currently normal in schools, including 'out of school hours' activities at breakfast, lunch and tea time
- the correct wearing of the chosen uniform will be rigorously upheld and parents/carers will be expected
to support the Academy in maintaining uniform standards, by purchasing the agreed items through Crossbow Wear our chosen providers based at Broadway Market, Hackney
- establishing a school where courtesy and respect are valued by all
- challenging both students and teachers to find new ways of learning, without losing the discipline of
traditional styles and expectations.
In effect, we will become a community of learners of all ages. Our learning philosophy is simple, it is based upon the concept of ‘I can and will’. Failure will not be a word which we use, because we will strive to ensure that early identification of barriers to learning are recognised and plans are put in place to overcome such barriers for all learners:
- the use of ‘home’ languages, which will figure highly in ensuring that students have every opportunity to achieve. It is anticipated that the staff profile will over time represent the ethnic diversity of the students, thus ensuring that most students can identify with appropriate role models
- a ‘house system’ based on famous people associated with our specialisms. The Academy intends to work towards becoming, in time, a Full Service Extended School.
The Academy intends to work towards becoming, over time, a full Service Extended School.
The transition year 2007
The second year will be special for the students arriving at The Petchey Academy. They will be privileged to be among the ‘early’ students to start their Petchey education in the brand new ‘state of the art’ building and they will have the advantage of being guided by their senior colleagues. Many of the ‘start up’ niggles will have been ironed out and staff and pupils will work closely together to take advantage of the incredible facilities.
For young people (and their parents/carers), transfer from primary to secondary school can be a challenging period in their lives. The Petchey Academy will be committed to ensuring that the transfer process will be as seamless as possible.
During their first year at the Academy, students will be taught for some of the time in ‘HOUSE’ rooms, with the exception of when specialist facilities are needed. This will ensure that there is no sudden discontinuity when adapting from the primary to secondary phases of schooling.
Being part of the community
The Academy will strive to become a focal point of the local community by sharing its resources and facilities with other local schools, businesses and the wider community. Additional services will include study support, adult education, sports and games provision, family learning, cultural activities and ICT training and the provision of appropriate courses for those whose first language is not English.
Service
Within the Academy's specialisms is an underlying philosophy of service: to each other as a school community and to the wider community. Consequently, all of our students will be expected to engage in activities within the community. This will lead to additional qualifications for many students such as the Sports Leadership Award, Red Cross training and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Applying for a place at The Petchey Academy
The Petchey Academy will welcome students of all abilities. Like all other public-funded schools in the borough, the school will work within the admissions arrangements operated by The Learning Trust (Local Education Authority). The Academy will consider all applications for places. Where fewer than 180 applicants are received, the Academy will offer places to all those who have applied.
What happens if the school is oversubscribed?
Where the number of applicants is more than 180, potential students will be considered against the criteria below, in the order shown, and after the admission of pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs where The Petchey Academy is named on the statement.
- Children in the public care of the local authority.
- Admission of pupils on the basis of proximity to the school using straight line measurement from the main entrance of the Academy (near the Reception Desk) to the main entrance of the child's home. In the event that it is not possible to distinguish between applicants on the basis of distance lots will be drawn as a final tie breaker.
The banding system
The banding system is not an entrance examination, but a means for ensuring that the Academy accepts children of all abilities. The system will operate as follows:
- Each applicant will be required to take a non-verbal and verbal reasoning test which will place the applicants in a rank order. The tests will last approximately two hours and will be held at a time and venue to be determined in December and January each year.
- Each applicant will be placed in one of five bands based on their performance in the test. As far as possible each band will contain the same number of applicants so that it represents 20% of the applications. Places will be allocated so that an equivalent number of applicants are admitted from each band. The test is not an entrance exam which students pass or fail. It is a way of ensuring that the school includes children of all abilities.
And finally
Making an application to a new school, is an act of faith on the part of parents/carers and potential learners. What can we say to help you decide whether to choose The Petchey Academy? The Petchey Academy will provide:
- A new and exceptionally well equipped learning environment.
- A Principal with a first rate track record
- Diversity in which 'to be different is normal' . This will underscore all aspects of school life
- An environment in which high levels of achievement will be pursued relentlessly
- An Academy which is proud to become the latest addition to the 'family' of schools working in Hackney to provide a non-selective education for learners in the borough
Information/open evenings
The Petchey Academy will provide opportunity for parents/carers to learn more on:
Tuesday 9 October 2007
2.30pm – 4.30pm or 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Thursday 11 October 2007
11.30pm – 1pm or 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Please call or email the Academy to book your selected date and time.
Visits will be held at the Academy, 1-35 Downs Park Road, E8 2EY.
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0208 820 7000