Please click here to view the St Aldhelm's Academy Policies
Parents and carers are key partners in our drive to make St Aldhelm’s Academy a vibrant learning community for 12 to 19 year olds, where innovative learning and teaching, and traditional values, go hand in hand with a caring, supportive Christian ethos. We want parents and carers to be our partners in a shared ambition to create a centre of excellence for lifelong learning that will be at the heart of the community. We recognise that being a parent or carer can be one of the toughest jobs in the world. We want to work with you so that all our young people make the most of their learning and get fully involved in the life of St. Aldhelm’s Academy. We want you to feel that you know everything that is happening and feel confident to be able to meet and talk to staff. To support you, we will be offering a number of workshops and activities on different topics, and hope that you will wish to participate. We will also be offering less formal support, including drop-in coffee and chat sessions, a parent information point in reception, and a library of support books and DVDs for you to borrow.
Ofsted Report 18 & 19 October 2011
Working with parents and carers
The Academy encourages you as, parents and carers, to be involved in your child’s learning so that they can make the most of their learning and life at the Academy. We work to ensure you are well informed about your child’s progress through workshops and activities on different topics, our Virtual Learning Environment, drop-in coffee and chat sessions, a parent information point in reception, and a library of support books and DVDs for you to borrow. We can also provide opportunities for you to assist staff as skill instructors or volunteer helpers and through community education programmes. We want you to feel confident to come and talk to us about your child and to be able to help them effectively at home with homework or preparing for exams.
Transition from primary to secondary
Moving from primary to secondary school can be an anxious time for both parents and carers and the child. Our transition co-ordinator works to ensure that the move is as seamless and stress-free as possible. All Year 7 young people in our partner schools meet and know our co-ordinator and get the opportunity to meet other staff at induction days before transferring to the Academy.
Admissions
At St Aldhelm’s Academy there is no selection by ability, faith or aptitude in the admissions arrangements as the Sponsors’ vision is of an Academy that serves all of the local community. Click here to download a copy of the Academy’s Admissions policy.
Admission number
The admission number for 2011-12 is 180 pupils in Year 8
Application process
Arrangements for applications for places at St. Aldhelm’s Academy are made in accordance with the local authority’s co-ordinated admission arrangements on the Common Application Form provided and administered by the local authority.
Consideration of applications
The Academy Trust considers all applications for places at St. Aldhelm’s Academy. Where fewer than the published admission number for the relevant year groups are received, the Academy Trust will offer places at St. Aldhelm’s Academy to all those who have applied.
Oversubscription procedures
(Admissions to Year 8)
Where the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the following criteria. After the admission of young people with statements of Special Educational Needs where St. Aldhelm’s Academy is named on the statement, the criteria will be applied in the following order:
a) Children in public care.
b) Pupils whose siblings currently attend the school and who will continue to do so on the date of admission; (siblings would include half, step, adoptive and foster siblings provided they also live at the same address as the applicant.)
c) Pupils who live in the catchment area of St. Aldhelm’s Academy.
d) Admission of pupils on the basis of the proximity to the Academy using the shortest, safest, practicable route using the centre line of public roads and footpaths from a point outside the entrance to the pupil’s home address to the front door of the Academy.
Operation of waiting lists
Subject to any provisions regarding waiting lists in the local authority’s co-ordinated admission scheme, the Academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year St. Aldhelm’s Academy receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate until the end of the second term (normally late December). This will be maintained by the Academy Trust and open to any parent to ask for his or her child’s name to be placed on the waiting list, following an unsuccessful application. Children’s position on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria set out above. Where places become vacant they will be allocated to children on the waiting list in accordance with the criteria.
Pastoral support
We believe young people need support and encouragement in their self-development as they progress through the Academy. On a day-to-day basis, the Academy provides this through effective teamwork between the young people, House staff, mentors and parents. The Academy has a dedicated full-time student support team who take the lead on all pastoral and welfare support. These staff are available to see parents and carers during the Academy day if there are any issues you want to raise.
Faith
Students are expected to participate in inclusive daily acts of worship or quiet reflection, which the Sponsors believe contribute significantly to the Academy’s ethos and values. If you, wish to discuss your child’s participation in these activities we encourage you to view an act of worship and discuss any concerns with us.
Reflecting the nature of the Christian year, at specific times of that year, there will also be Eucharist services. There will also be a multi-faith chaplaincy, providing visiting chaplains from local faith communities. The Academy’s programme of religious education will offer young people the opportunity to learn about and from a range of faiths and their festivals. Facilities at the Academy will be available for worship groups in the evenings and at weekends.
Healthy eating
Healthy eating is promoted in all areas of the Academy. Our canteens offers a wide range of choices and can meet the dietary needs of all young people.. It is important that the young people arrive at the Academy ready to work and to ensure this happens we offer a free breakfast to all of our young people every day.
Uniform and equipment
All our young people are expected to wear full uniform while at and travelling to and from the Academy. We want them to take pride in their appearance and in how they wear their uniform. We want to work with parents and carers to ensure that all our young people are smartly and appropriately dressed for school.
The St. Aldhelm’s Academy uniform comprises of the following items:
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Boys grey suit
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White shirt and Academy tie
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Black shoes – suitable for the workplace. Trainers are unacceptable except for PE
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Dark socks
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Girls Academy tank top or v-neck sweater – optional
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Grey suit – choice of skirt or trousers
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White blouse – plain
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Black shoes – suitable for the workplace and with a maximum heel height of two inches
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Black or natural tights/black or white socks. PE kit for boys and girls Academy polo shirt
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Academy tracksuit bottoms
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Academy fleece
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Academy shorts – optional
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White socks
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Trainers
Equipment
All the young people must have a school bag for their books and equipment (this should include a pen, pencil, rubber and ruler). They are issued with Academy Bags to enable them to be responsible for the day-to-day organisation of their homework, coursework and extra-curricular activities. At Key Stage 4, young people also need a scientific calculator.
Community opportunities
St. Aldhelm’s Academy wants to be at the heart of the community and develop partnerships with businesses, local community groups and individuals.. We will consult with the community about what services are needed and work to ensure they are available. In addition to after-school clubs, young people and the local community can access a variety of activities and facilities during the day, evenings and weekends. These include everything from one-off taster sessions to year-long courses leading to qualifications. Free literacy and numeracy courses will be available to adults without formal qualifications who are looking to brush up on their English and Maths skills. If you’re looking for a new hobby, we will offer special interest courses in skills such as cooking, arts and crafts.