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Chairman’s Report January 2012
This is the third report to parents from Sandwell Academy’s Governing Board and as Chairman, I am pleased to share with you details of progress and success at the Academy during the academic year 2010 / 2011.
Examination Results and Key Performance Indicators
Annex 1 details the examination results achieved by our students in the Sixth Form, Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11) and in Key Stage 3 (Year 8).
2011 / 2012 was a significant year for the Academy with the first cohort of students reaching the end of Year 11 and their GCSE outcomes. The Governing Board are delighted with the impressive outcomes of this group of students with 73% achieving 5 A* - C grades including English and Maths. This has set new standards for the borough and provided parents of the Academy ample reward for their decision to send their children to the Academy. Indeed, 99% of students achieved 5 or more grades (A* - C) passes across all subjects and an amazing 84% of students achieved 10 or more good (A* - C) passes.
Students in Year 10 also have reason to celebrate with 64% achieving English (A* - C) and 64% achieving Maths (A* - C) with a combined total of 55% achieving both English and Maths by the end of Year 10 with a year of GCSE studies still to go. Confidence is therefore high that in 2012, the bar can be raised higher still.
Once again, our Sixth Form outcomes were impressive, seeing students push the average points score per student up to a massive 361 UCAS points. This represents the equivalent of an average of 3As or 3Bs and a D across the entire year group.
Whilst we recognise that Key Stage 3 SATs are no longer obligatory, the Academy is keen to ensure that students are appropriately assessed in order to monitor performance and to make sure parents have valid information about their child’s progress. As SAT papers are still available, the Academy continues to use them in conjunction with internal marking. The results achieved demonstrate that collectively, students are making accelerated progress in their first two years at the Academy, and this can only give students an improved chance of achieving in Key Stages 4 and 5.
The Governing Board would like to thank parents for supporting their children in helping to achieve excellent attendance figures which significantly exceed local and national averages.
Ofsted Report
Ofsted inspected Sandwell Academy in November 2011 and graded the Academy as Outstanding. For an organisation that has been in existence for less than six years, the Governors are delighted with the report.
Parents were sent a copy of the full report which is available in Annex 2 and should be very proud to read the overwhelming praise for the achievement of students; the quality of learning and teaching; the high levels of care and guidance and the outstanding leadership and management.
Sport and Business Enterprise
Sandwell Academy specialises in Sport and Business Enterprise and places an emphasis on these two areas in the curriculum and as part of the extra-curricular programme. Annex 3 reports on developments in Sport, including a Sporting Roll of Honour. Annex 4 reports on Business Enterprise at the Academy.
Performing Arts
The Academy’s productions to date have included a wide range of shows including ‘Fame – the Musical,’ ‘We Will Rock You!’, ‘Timestep,’ ‘A Night at the Musicals’ and most recently ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ This year will see a cross section of talented students re-tell the favourite Disney story of ‘The Jungle Book.’ Auditions took place during the last two weeks of the Autumn Term and rehearsals for the March Production have started in earnest. The Academy continues to develop a reputation of superb performances and the professional West End stage sets have been enjoyed by students, parents, staff and governors.
In addition, the annual Christmas Concert has showcased the blossoming talents of our musicians and performing arts students across the Academy. The main emphasis for this year was the work of students who attend session 3 Music School. Academy staff enjoy support from Sandwell Youth Music Service and a range of ensembles are steadily growing. It was especially pleasing to be able to showcase our talented young pianists who this year performed on the Academy’s new Grand Piano. In addition, all students who study Performing Arts prepare at least one piece for this performance. This provides opportunities for many students to learn new skills and experience the thrill of live performance.
Visits and Trips.
Visits and trips form an important and regular part of the Academy’s year. These include local trips to businesses, examination revision conferences, theatre visits and backstage tours as well as more active excursions to the Snow Dome, Ackers Trust and Outward Bound at Aberdovey and Plas Gwynant. Field study trips vary, from a student’s first experience in Year 7 at Cardingmill Valley, to a more intensive 3 day residential in Yorkshire for A Level Geography students.
Opportunities for international travel continue to develop, with sports tours and language trips to Spain now an annual event. 2012 will see the first group of Academy students participate in a Ski Trip where 40 upper school students will travel to the ski resort of La Molina in the Spanish Pyrenees during the Easter break. We are also excited that during this summer, Sixth Form students working towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award will be participating in an Expedition to Namibia working on an environmental project and developing their leadership and teamwork skills.
Careers and Industry Links
Careers education and guidance is vitally important to ensure our students make the most of the opportunities available to them. Students across the Academy use the Careers Resource area on a regular basis seeking help and support on a broad range of issues including employment search and university entry.
Annex 5 provide details of the extensive work carried out by Miss Sandra Caddick and her team during the last twelve months.
Destination of Leavers
The Governing Board are keen to know the destination of all students that leave Sandwell Academy and a list of destinations for 2011 is available from Annex 6: Year 11 Leavers and 6.2 Leavers.
Enrichment Programme – October 2011
The Enrichment Programme in October has been an exciting and enjoyable part of the curriculum since the Academy opened. Year 7 once again attended Boreatton Park where they participated in team building activities designed to help them build relationships with other students. Year 11 participated in work experience which gave them the opportunity to ‘try out’ some of their career aspirations.
Years 8, 9, 10 and the Sixth Form were involved in a range of trips:
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2012 Olympic Stadium in London
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Ackers Outdoor centre in Birmingham
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Closer to the Edge activity centre
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Sandwell Valley
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Horse Riding
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The Black Country Museum
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Wolverhampton Art Gallery
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Master classes at two local universities
Being mindful of current economic conditions, the Academy also arranged a significant number of ‘in-house’ activities to try and reduce the overall cost to students. These included:
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PE House tournaments for all years (with an Olympic theme)
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Poetry and Drama workshops
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Demonstrations / team building activities with the Army and the Police force
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Business Enterprise days.
All of the activities were carefully designed to enrich students’ experience of the curriculum at Sandwell Academy and for the Sixth Form in particular, to focus thoughts on their plans for life after Sandwell Academy.
Parent Advisory Group
The Academy’s successful Parents Advisory Group (PAG) meets termly with the Head, with parents providing advice, information and support to help benefit students during their time at the Academy.
A number of fundraising events have been organised since the formation of the PAG, including Christmas raffles, three Summer Fayres and Race Nights. Over £2,800 has been raised through the PAG’s activities in 2011. The funds raised by the PAG contribute towards additional equipment or resources for students. This is achieved through departments submitting bids which are then discussed, evaluated and distributed by the PAG.
Finance, Administration & Premises
We are most fortunate to have the services of Mr Steve Turton, Governor and Director of Finance, Mr Daljeet Kangh, ICT Manager, and Mr Andrew Currier, Operations Manager.
Mr Turton manages the finances of the Academy expertly and ensure that our annual funding is used efficiently for the benefit of all our students.
Mr Kangh always ensures that Sandwell Academy’s technology is first rate and up to date. He and his staff work tremendously hard during the year to install new systems and carry out upgrades and maintain the performance of our computer facilities.
Mr Currier continues to maintain the Academy to an exceptionally high standard. His diligence and the hard work of his staff keeps the Academy clean, safe and graffiti free.
The administration and support staff work extremely hard to provide an efficient and valuable service to the Senior Leaders, teachers and parents.
The Academy has a Concerns and Complaints procedure which is used when a parent has expressed a concern or a complaint. During this year, this procedure was invoked on three occasions and a speedy and satisfactory outcome was achieved in all cases.
The Catering staff continue to provide varied and healthy meals and snacks in the restaurant and have recently been recommended for the ‘EAT Gold Good Hygiene Award.’ This award reflects the high standards of hygiene and cleanliness present in the Academy kitchens and restaurant.
The Academy continues to provide a transport service for students using 17 coaches provided by Thandi Coaches, a locally based company. The safety of students when travelling on these coaches is of the highest priority and Thandi is subject to rigorous vehicle, personnel and driving ability checks.
Student safety when arriving at and departing from the Academy continues to be of paramount importance and we continue to work closely with Sandwell MBC to improve the pedestrian and highways facilities at the front of the Academy. A matter which remains of concern to the Governing Board are the small number of parents who persist in turning round in the Academy entrance and parking on the yellow lines. May I request your co-operation to ensure that students are not placed in any danger. Your co-operation in this matter is greatly appreciated.
New Facilities
We are delighted with the latest enhancement of facilities at the Academy with the additional building being in operation and used by students since July 2011. The new building consists of four changing rooms; a fitness centre with capacity for 60 – 70 students; a physiotherapy room; two ICT equipped classrooms; grounds accommodation (including a garage) and outdoor PE storage. In addition, the building also houses the nursery and allows our youngest children immediate access to outdoor facilities.
These additional facilities have significantly enhanced the curriculum and have ensured that our students and staff continue to have premium working conditions in PE and ICT. Furthermore, the existing fitness suite has been re-designed to enhance the Academy’s inclusion work. The old nursery space has been re-furbished to become a training kitchen which provides opportunities for students in the vocational area of hospitality and catering.
Teaching Staff
We are fortunate in continuing to attract and appoint hard working, experienced or newly-qualified teachers to maintain our full complement of teaching staff. Their high standard of teaching ensures that each child achieves their potential. Where there is a need in any subject area, support is provided by committed and conscientious teachers. Supply teachers are never used for cover, as our own staff cover for absent colleagues.
Outreach Work
Sandwell Academy works very closely with our three sister schools, Thomas Telford CTC, Madeley Academy and Walsall Academy, all very successful establishments in their own right. The Headteachers meet termly to discuss ways of supporting each other for the benefit of students and the professional development of staff.
In addition, the Academy undertakes a range of other outreach and community work which are detailed in Annex 7.
Governors & Sponsors
The Academy is sponsored by Tarmac, The Mercers’ Company, Thomas Telford School, HSBC Education Trust and West Bromwich Albion FC and these sponsors are totally committed to the aims and objectives of the Academy. They continue to offer generous financial support to our students in a wide variety of ways. Each sponsor nominates Governors to serve on the Governing Board and this provides the Sponsors with ongoing information regarding the achievements of the Academy and the Head is also able to seek advice from Governors when needed.
This year, I was pleased to welcome Miss Jo Harvey as the Academy’s Parent Governor. Miss Harvey replaces Mrs Debbie White as Parent Governor and I would like to record the thanks of the Governing Board for her valuable input and hard work during her tenure.
Miss Harvey has two children at the Academy and looks forward to representing the views of parents. If you would like to contact Miss Harvey, this is possible through the Head’s PA, Mrs Treverton-Jones who will be able to take your contact details, and then pass these to our Parent Governor.
A full list of Governors can be found in Annex 8.
In conclusion, I would like to record the Governors and the Sponsors thank to the teachers, support staff and the Head for all their hard work and commitment since the Academy opened. Our thanks also go to the students and to you the parents for, without the students’ hard work and the parents’ support, Sandwell Academy would not be able to achieve its lofty ambitions. It has been a privilege to be able to share and celebrate the superb outcomes achieved to date and I was particularly delighted with the outstanding Ofsted judgement. The task now is to build upon these early achievements by seeking year on year incremental improvements in all aspects of our work.
Roy Harrison OBE
Chairman of Governors
The Chairman of Governors is pleased to receive comments or feedback concerning this report via email to chairmansreport2012@sandwellacademy.com.
This email address will be available from Monday 13 February 2012 to Friday 30 March 2012 and after this date will not operate.
At the end of the feedback period, the Chair of Governors will have access to all comments which concern this report from parents.
The Chairman will not be able to consider any items unless they directly concern this report and parents should contact the appropriate persons listed in the Student and Parent Charters if they wish to raise any other matter.