Hammersmith Academy is a non-denominational, all-ability, co-educational secondary school for 11-18 year olds.
Vision
To develop highly qualified, aspirational young adults who make outstanding progress and as active citizens take a lead within the community and are committed to giving 100% in everything they do.
Values
- We inspire pride and confidence in our students to achieve their full potential. Everyone in the Academy is responsible for modelling a positive and professional attitude at all times.
- We create a stimulating and enriching learning environment where high expectations and challenge prepare students for a global society.
- We succeed by developing a growth mind-set through the skills of resilience, resourcefulness, reflectiveness and reciprocity.
Hammersmith Academy Aims
Hammersmith Academy aims to ensure that students are happy, safe and secure in their learning and through a culture of success develop into self-confident independent learners that become highly valued members of their community. Further, that strong leadership at all levels of the organisation continually challenges underachievement so students make outstanding progress and achieve the highest standards of attainment.
Hammersmith Academy is an inspiring and creative place to learn where rich digital and creative media technology stimulates and develops students’ academic and vocational skills.
We aim for all students to develop holistically, that is, to become a ‘well-rounded and grounded’ person. There are three tenets to an HA student’s growth, which are to develop their character, their learning and their leadership capacities.
AIM 1: The HA Citizen Characteristics
Charitable
Assisting those in need is an important part of being a HA citizen. We encourage students to help those less fortunate. We teach students that being charitable does not just relate to the giving of money, but the giving of time is just as important.
Kind
Students are encouraged to be kind to themselves, their surroundings and each other. We teach students that being kind has a positive impact on their mental wellbeing and make the HA community a harmonious one.
Leaders
Students are developed to become leaders within their communities, influencing other for the good of their family.
Egalitarian
Treating all people equally, regardless of their background is important and students understand this. Students appreciate their differences but understand their differences actually enrich the HA community. Differences are celebrated, but students are also encouraged to remember what unites us, as members of the HA community.
AIM 2: The 4 Rs Learning Characteristics
We believe in the power of having a growth mind-set. People who see challenges as learning opportunities – and not something to be avoided – are inherently more successful. That’s why we reward hard work and dedication over ‘intelligence’. Adopting a growth mind-set can be hard for some students, so we place a huge amount of importance on helping them develop four key skills, which we call the Four Rs:
Reciprocity
Listening to others and understanding what they are saying, seeing things from others’ perspectives, adding to the team.
Reflectiveness
Reviewing learning, revising and applying, understanding how to use experience.
Resilience
Managing distractions, focusing learning, persevering even when learning becomes complex and difficult.
Resourcefulness
Capitalising on the resources available to me and problem solving using creative, rational and logical thought.
AIM 3: HA Expectations – Behaviour Characteristics
Ready
- To be through the gates by 8.20am for line up
- To always wear my full uniform
- To be equipped for all lessons
- To be prepared for learning with the correct uniform and equipment
- To do nothing to prevent others from working.
Respectful
- To not be rude and answer back to teachers who are trying to help you
- To be polite, kind and considerate to all adults and students in the school
- To do nothing to intimidate others
- To arrive and leave showing consideration for the community and members of the public.
Responsible
- To complete homework every night
- To tell this truth if mistakes are made
- To remain on task in class, join in the learning and not interrupt the learning of others
- To work hard and do their best at all times
- Accept responsibility for their actions
The Overall HA Character
At all times HA learners should demonstrate:
- Pride and Commitment
- Professionalism and Leadership
- Community participation
- Honesty and Reliability
- Respect and Integrity
- Confidence and Independence
We expect students leaving the Academy to have the following profile:
- A strong portfolio of accredited achievement
- A highly developed sense of responsibility and pride in the own performance
- Outstanding communication skills, including digital literacy
- Well-developed literacy and numeracy skills
- Strong leadership skills coupled with a professional attitude to enhance employability
- An ability to work collaboratively and develop team cohesion
- An aptitude for research, enquiry, problem solving and creativity
- Are actively kind, caring and socially responsible
Character – growth mind-set:
Be the best you can be – 100% committed
Good character development coupled with academic success is essential to a high quality education. We succeed by developing a growth mind-set through the skills of resilience in the face of challenge, resourceful when solving problems, reflective when evaluating progress and reciprocal when working in teams. To be fearless when striving for excellence and contributing positively to life in a global society.
We want each individual to be better than they thought they could be. We believe everyone is powerful beyond measure and capable of extraordinary achievements. We expect more from ourselves and each other in our drive to be the best and are 100% committed in everything we do. We constantly challenge students to push their limits, to work hard, to be resilient and inspire each other to outstanding success.
We expect the same from all adults. That they are determined and committed to be the best they can be, demonstrate a ‘can do’ attitude and transmit these expectations to the students.
Learning: Knowledge creates power
Knowledge creates power. First, Intellectual power- -primarily through the core disciplines of literacy and mathematics which are the building blocks in accessing a successful life. Second, Economic power – a deep understanding of the links between self-management and problem solving skills in becoming rounded and grounded in preparation for the world of work and thirdly, Social power – developing our social and moral responsibility as active citizens.
We prepare students for successful lives through a stimulating and engaging curriculum where our practices mirror those found in the wider world of work. Using a broad experiential approach, students are given the opportunity to make choices, take responsibility for their learning and accelerate their interests in greater depth.
Developing a thirst for knowledge through inspirational teaching is powerful. Its value is limitless. It enables students to absorb challenging concepts and develop the skills of critique, analysis and evaluation.
Leadership
Leadership is central to our ethos of success as an individual, a team and a learning organisation. We work closely together to improve. We consistently look to enhance the quality of what we are doing and seek inspiration from inside and outside the Academy.
Our students are future leaders who develop a clear sense of ownership and pride in their own performance which empowers them to support others. We expect students to value and celebrate success and champion their community.
All adults are expected to lead and to build a performance culture. In every action, attitude and expression, they set direction and expectation. Every adult is trusted to act with integrity and take personal responsibility to do the right thing for the students.
