1 Hard Work Take Contents Contents Be Kind Responsibility Contents Page Introductions from the Executive Principal and Secondary Headteacher 3 Vision and Values - Partnerships 4 Grammar Stream - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Curriculum 5 - 6 Literacy 7 Numeracy and Extending Students’ Performance 8 Prep Work 9 Timings of the Day - Uniform and Equipment - Knowledge Organisers 10 The SA Five Code of Conduct - Behaviour Expectations - See It, Hear It, Lose It 11 Classroom Consequences - Behaviour Incidents—Rewards 12 - 13 Supporting Students - Learning Support - Guidance and Careers 14 Students with English as an Additional Language 15 Colleges - Vertical Tutoring 16 Whatever It Takes Policy - Faculty Teams - Senior Leadership Team 17 Personal Development - Wellbeing Activities - Student Leadership 18 - 19 Citizenship Academy 20 Attendance 21 Assessment and Reporting - Catering - ParentPay Online Payment System 22 Activity Based Curriculum Week 23 Safeguarding - E-Safety 24 - 25 United College Sixth Form - STEM Grammar Stream at Sixth Form 26 Dates to Remember 27 Contacting Us 28 2 Introduction from Executive Principal, Ruth Robinson Dear Parent / Carer We are thrilled that you have chosen Swindon Academy as the school for your child. Rated as Good by Ofsted in May 2017, we are also proud to be the top school in Swindon, and in the top 20% of schools nationally, for student progress. Our constant focus on progress and innovative education facilitated the achievement of these fantastic results and demonstrates how commi ed we are to our vision to inspire our young people to flourish both academically and personally. Welcome Swindon Academy is part of a Cluster of schools run by United Learning, along with Nova Hreod Academy. As a Cluster in a large group of schools, we have access to fantastic training opportunities for our teachers to ensure that teaching standards are always high. We pride ourselves on providing the very best teaching experiences for our pupils but we also ensure that our students have plenty of opportunities to relax, have fun and learn new skills in after school clubs. We look forward to getting to know you and your child over the next few years and encourage you to come and speak to us should you have any questions along the way. Mrs Ruth Robinson Executive Principal A Message from Secondary Headteacher, Karen Wright I’m delighted that your child will be joining Swindon Academy and will become part of our thriving and happy school community. Swindon Academy is a hardworking and happy school. Visitors and, more importantly our students, tell us this; they feel safe and secure and as such are well placed to reach their poten al. The structure of the school day provides our students with significantly more teaching time than other local schools, enabling them to learn in greater depth and make signi cant progress. We are very proud to have gained the title of the best school in Swindon since 2016. We closely monitor students’ progress, which enables us to give parents meaningful feedback on learning and progress. Pupils are set lesson prep-work to complete at home and we provide an online app, which helps parents monitor prep-work and completion deadlines. We actively encourage parents to engage with academy life and we want to hear from you. You can use the contacts on the back page or attend our weekly Parent Drop In Clinics - no appointment necessary. In this Handbook you will learn about our successful school community. Please review the information in the Handbook with your child; you should find everything you need to help them make a successful start at Swindon Academy. Mrs Karen Wright Secondary Headteacher and Cluster Development Lead 3 At Swindon Academy’s Secondary Phase, we are unapologetic in our unique approach to ensuring that every pupil flourishes academically and personally in an aspirational and supportive environment. We pride ourselves on having the highest expectations of all students and staff. We are passionate about working together to drive success for our pupils. Hard work, kindness and responsibility are our shared values. Hard Work means that we give 100% each and every day to be the best we can be. We believe that success comes through effort and determination. Kindness means that we are thoughtful and considered about how we treat ourselves and others. Vision and Values Vision Responsibility means that we hold ourselves to account for our own personal actions, decisions and thoughts. We don’t make excuses, we accept that we all make mistakes and we learn from them. Marlborough College Swindon Academy has a unique educational partnership with Marlborough College, which is a prestigious private school based in Marlborough. This partnership plays a key role in supporting our Vision. Through activities provided by Marlborough College we seek to develop confident, resilient and independent students who are willing and able to face challenges. Students have the opportunity to participate in extension and enrichment activities, which include challenge days, sporting fixtures, music and dramatic events, curriculum-based residentials, attendance at educational lectures, outward bound activities, student exchanges, support with UCAS applications for Sixth Form … and much more. In addition, as two schools we work together to provide professional development opportunities for both sets of teachers to benefit from best practice and ensure that teaching methods are always at the cutting edge. We encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunities offered through Marlborough College and we know that Partnerships you will support them in taking up these unique opportunities. 4 Grammar Stream As with the mainstream curriculum, there are thirty lessons a week. At key stage 3, Grammar Stream students lessons are as follows: Subject Lessons Subject Lessons English 4 History 2 Maths 4 Geography 2 Triple Science 6 RE 1 Spanish 2 Dance or Drama 1 Sport 2 Music 1 Design Technology 2 PSHE 1 Art 1 World of Languages 2 Curriculum Our subject leaders continue to develop our knowledge-based curriculum for Years 7-9, which means that students acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject knowledge and skills required for every subject. This builds their knowledge across the three years in preparation for the examination process that takes place at the end of key stage 4. Some students will receive a tailored curriculum, providing them with the intense accelerated literacy and numeracy development they need. We know that our students thrive when we take a consistent approach across the Academy as they feel more confident and secure in lessons. We continue to strengthen the techniques that we use as teachers in the classroom. Students will notice their teachers using common language across their classes. Student Support Our Grammar Stream Coordinator, Ms Dodsworth, is the first port of call for Grammar Stream students and parents in academic matters. We expect Grammar Stream students to demonstrate impeccable behaviour. If support and monitoring are required in this area, it will be provided by our team of College Managers, as with mainstream students. Prep Students in the Grammar Stream should expect each evening to receive up to 1 hour of prep in key stage 3, and up to 1 hour and 30 minutes in key stage 4. This covers a range of subject areas. They receive a timetable for prep, as mainstream students do. Prep is logged on Epraise for students and parents to check deadlines. Students can work on their prep after school in prep club where they have access to ICT facilities. The Marlborough College Partnership Our partnership with Marlborough College plays an important role in the development of the Grammar Stream. Marlborough College’s teaching staff deliver The World of Languages part of the curriculum (which is reviewed on an annual basis) and have worked collaboratively with us on other elements of the curriculum model. Students in all year groups benefit from the partnership with Marlborough College. Throughout the Grammar Stream, students will experience world language lessons, residentials at the College, extended science investigations and individual study skills for high GCSE attainment. Staff at Marlborough College also support Grammar Stream students in developing their career plans. 5 Key Stage 3 There are 30 lessons each week. Each lesson lasts for 1 hour. At key stage 3, students will study the following subjects: Subject Lessons Subject Lessons We have developed a knowledge-based curriculum for Years 7 - 9, which means English 5 History 2 that students acquire a deep, long-term, Maths 5 Geography 2 secure and adaptable understanding of the Science 4 RE 1 subject knowledge and skills required for Spanish 3 Music 1 every subject. This builds their knowledge Dance or across the three years in preparation for Sport 2 1 Drama the examination process that takes place at the end of key stage 4. Some Year 7 Curriculum DT 2 PSHE 1 students will receive a tailored curriculum, Art 1 providing them with the intense accelerated literacy and numeracy development they need. We know that our students thrive when we take a consistent approach across the Academy as they feel more confident and secure in lessons. We continue to strengthen the techniques that we use as teachers in the classroom. Students will notice their teachers using common language across their classes. Key Stage 4 There are 30 lessons each week. At key stage 4 there are several unique features that make the Academy curriculum different; we have four pathways that students will follow as below: All students follow the Compulsory Core Curriculum – English language and literature, maths and either combined science or triple science. Students will then follow one of these pathways: Grammar Stream, Ebacc, Progress 8 or Progress 8+. Option Subjects Courses A broad and balanced range of vocational, academic and alternative courses are available including art, textiles, product design, photography, engineering, music, dance, drama, sport and fitness, Spanish, computer science, creative imedia and business, health and social care, history, geography, and RE.