A Proposed New Academy for Hammersmith & Fulham
1. Local Authority support:
• An approach made to sponsors as…
• 50% do not attend borough secondaries;
• School for local pupils, central area of LA;
• Good working relationship with sponsors has emerged.
2. The Sponsors and their Education backgrounds:
A partnership between the 1st and 100th City Livery Companies:
The Mercers’ Company
– 15 other schools & academies & a London Schools’ Network
– Trustee of the St. Paul’s Schools, and
The Information Technologists’ Company
– Links to ICT & Media industry
– Education activities ( sponsor of Lilian Baylis Technology School).
3. Building strong links within the community:
• Primary Schools & Secondary Schools
• Residents’ & Community groups
– Community use of facilities
– Regular contact with residents
• Local businesses and amenities.
4. Our Vision:
• An all-ability, mixed,11-18 school:
– Admissions Code compliant, local priority admissions area
– 120 per year group 11-16, 180 in 6th form
5. The core mission is to:
‘Develop the talents of all students to the full and to raise educational standards, through effective practice and the innovative use of Information and Communication Technology.’
6. The Specialisms:
• ICT and Creative & Digital Media
• Academic/vocational balance
• Effective use of technology.
• A strong focus for the curriculum that promotes enterprise and innovation.
7. Through strong leadership and governance to achieve high standards of attainment, developing into a centre of excellence readily challenging underachievement and being characterised by:
– Good academic/vocational balance maximising the use of technology;
– A School Design that creates a flexible and effective learning
– Highly qualified and experienced staff committed to and supported in researching, developing, implementing, evaluating innovative practice;
– Purposeful preparation for a life of work and citizenship that fosters entrepreneurial behaviour, life-long learning and employment.
8. Innovative and effective approaches to teaching and learning.
9. Curriculum in Years 7-9:
• An integrated, problem/project based curriculum design;
• Core subjects will retain a strong curriculum presence to drive literacy and numeracy levels, with discrete specialist teaching on a balanced base;
• Students are likely to embark on Key Stage 4 studies in Year 9;
• Curriculum time is to be split 45% Core, 25% Specialism and 30% Breadth & Balance in Key Stage 3.
10. A distinctive 14 - 19 programme:
• Aim to become a leading national exponent of the new Creative and Media and Information Technology specialised Diplomas, offering specialisms in some of the following areas:
Visual Art, Graphic Design, Publishing, Advertising, Film, Television, Radio, Interactive Media, Animation, Computer Games, Photo Imaging.
The Curriculum underpinning the Creative and Media Specialised Diploma will cover:
1. Creativity, including critical awareness of a range of products and materials;
2. Thinking and working creatively, including being inventive and flexible in responding to others;
3. An understanding of the various production processes for a range of media;
4. Business and enterprise skills, including designing a proposal, planning and negotiating.
The Information Technology Specialised Diploma
• Careers as technology professionals and entrepreneurs; it will also prepare students to respond to the ever-changing face of technology in the 21st century;
• Students will learn how to deliver successful projects; how to create technology solutions to meet business requirements; and how to work effectively in a professional environment;
The Curriculum: Years 10-11
• With the Academy’s remit of an all-ability school, core subjects should retain a central role in Key Stage 4, with the balance of 45% Core, 45% Options (assuming a guided options package giving an even split between specialism-related courses and breadth & balance courses), and 10% on an integrated careers/sport/health related fitness/PSRE/citizenship programme.
The Curriulum in Years 12-13
• An equally strong vocational and academic blend to the post-16 offer;
• A specialist, relevant academic and vocational 6th form curriculum will be offered, delivered through a specialist-oriented curriculum, taught on site and through close collaboration with other local providers to achieve a full and comprehensive curriculum offer;
• Collaboration with other local schools and colleges will be required to cover minority subjects.
Progress to May 2008:
• Expression of Interest accepted
• Now in Feasibility stage until late 2008/early 2009
• Site appraisal, business case underway and first phase consultation completed
• Aiming for Funding agreement October 2008
• If agreed:
– Design work will follow, construction from mid 2009
– Target opening date now Sept 2011 with Years 7 &12, a year ahead of the LA’s BSF programme
– Gradual growth to 780 pupils by 2015
The Sponsors welcome a dialogue, to hear your views and to share ours with you:
• Keep in contact via the website:
www.hammersmithacademy.org
Hammersmith Academy Trust