‘Believe in yourself, in others, in God’

Principal’s WelcomeI am truly proud and honoured to be Principal at Bluecoat Aspley Academy. This is an Academy where we do our utmost toprepare our students for future success. As well as this, we pride ourselves on working with the whole child, not solely onacademic performance. It is important for our students to be confident, resilient and most importantly for them to believe,i.e. Believe in yourself, in others and in God. We are proud to be a Church of England Academy which runs throughout life atthe Academy and welcoming pupils from all faiths, leads to an inherent respect for all people and their views. Becoming amember of Bluecoat Aspley Academy means a welcome into the Bluecoat family. With the first pupils being taught at Bluecoatin 1706 this family is steeped in a wonderful history in No�ngham which we celebrate and build upon each day. We are a trulydiverse Academy that welcomes students and staff from all backgrounds.

As an Academy we prepare our students for academic success but do ensure that we provide a broad and balanced curriculumthat includes opportuni�es in the Arts, enrichment, sport and many other areas. We also work to ensure that the skills requiredfor academic success are enhanced throughout the Academy and our ‘Read it, think it, speak it, write it’ theme runs throughoutlife at the Academy.

We are all learners and it is this philosophy that ensures the Academy commits to professional development for our staff which will con�nue to enhance theexperience for our pupils at Aspley.

Cath RowellPrincipal, Bluecoat Aspley Academy

“Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and understanding of Bri�shvalues are at the heart of the school’s work.”

BLUECOAT ASPLEY ACADEMY OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2018

Photograph by Steve Li Photography

“Pupils take pride in being part of the school. They know that they are part of a community, and diversity in this Church of England school is welcomed. Pupils are confident and respectful towards each other and adults.”

BLUECOAT ASPLEY ACADEMY OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2018

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Ethos and ValuesWe are a Church of England Academy and our mission is to create adistinctive educational community for all based upon Christian faithand values. Our ethos is based on our mission statement ‘believe inyourself, in others, in God.’ This is grounded in the principle from theBible to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all yoursoul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love yourneighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

Our belief is that every student is unique and valued by God. This iscritical to the relationships and personal approach to the curriculumthat we take with every young person. We aim to develop confidentstudents who have a strong sense of justice and doing what is right. We encourage students to develop belief in themselves in order to bethe best they can be. Our students are resilient, they can workindependently and have a good understanding of where they havecome from and who they are.

Our belief is that we should value and care for each other. This isreflected in the harmonious community that makes up Bluecoat.Students feel part of a local, national and global community, believingin others and working together towards a common purpose. Studentsdevelop into respectful, supportive and considerate members of thecommunity who are passionate about making a difference.

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“A harmonious community where behaviour and relationships are excellent and everyone is respected.”

SIAMS, SECTION 48 SCHOOL INSPECTION, MAY 2016

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Curriculum: an OverviewThe curriculum offer at Bluecoat Aspley Academy reflects its learners: itis diverse, vibrant and driven by a desire for success. It equips ourstudents with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to succeedthroughout their time at the Academy and excel in the next steps in theireducational journey, be that at the Academy Sixth Form, university,college, apprenticeship or employment.

In Year 7 and 8 (Key Stage 3), students follow a curriculum that is broadand balanced which includes experiences from the Arts, DesignTechnology, Humanities and PE to the core subjects of English,Mathematics and Science. We believe that students should be fullyprepared for Key Stage 4 experience so we ensure that Knowledge, Skillsand Understanding taught during Key Stage 3 are closely aligned torequirements at Key Stage 4.

At the start of Year 9, students personalise their curriculum by choosingoptions which include a wide range of GCSE and Vocational courses.Assessment in these courses takes place in a variety of forms includingNon Examined Assessment during the course and public examinations atthe end of Key Stage 4. All subjects and qualifications are carefullyselected to provide the best possible range of opportunities for ourstudents and provide a platform for continued study through to the SixthForm.

Sixth Form students choose from over 40 courses at both level 2 and 3including ‘A’ levels and vocational qualifications which are assessedthrough Non Examined Assessment and public examinations at the endof Key Stage 5.

“Leaders provide pupils witha wide range of subjects and different approachesto learning. They design the school’s curriculum to meet the needs of different pupils.”

BLUECOAT ASPLEY ACADEMY OFSTEDREPORT, MAY 2018

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Teaching and LearningAt Bluecoat Aspley we recruit and retain high quality teaching staff whowe expect to be excellent by delivering inspirational teaching thatignites a love of learning and instils a belief in learners that anything ispossible.

Senior leaders visit lessons regularly and find young people engaged intheir learning determined to make the most of their time at theAcademy. Our visitors notice this too; there is a wide acknowledgementthat our classrooms are calm and purposeful at all times.

We believe that learning should be fun, engaging and a rewardingexperience for all our students. These are qualities that are testamentto the way in which we nurture the close bond between the studentsand their subject specialist staff. Our staff are experts in their field usingtheir knowledge, experience and extensive academic research todeliver imaginative practice and exceptional results. Our focus onacquiring knowledge is central to our students’ success in our variedand engaging curriculum. We underpin this with a rigorous assessmentsystem to ensure that we can identify students’ needs and supportthem in and out of lessons. Our students know the value of hard workand work together as a family.

Homework is well structured and challenging. Exceptional progress inthe students’ learning is achieved by reinforcing crucial knowledge.Homework strengthens their understanding of key information,concepts and subject specific terminology directly related to thesyllabuses that inform the GCSE examinations.

“Teachers use strong subject knowledge to planinteresting learningactivities. A variety ofteaching approaches andappropriate use oftechnology engage pupilsand match their differentlearning styles.”

BLUECOAT ASPLEY ACADEMY OFSTEDREPORT, MAY 2018

Pastoral CarePastoral care at Bluecoat Aspley is fundamental as it underpinseverything we do to ensure that students feel safe and happy at alltimes. Communication with parents is essential to ensure we areworking together for the best possible outcomes for each child.

Central to the personalised care that we are able to offer is that we havenon-teaching Year Leaders whose fundamental role is to ensure that thepastoral support meets the needs of every child and that they are happyand purposeful in their studies. As well as coordinating the year group asa whole, they ensure that the high standards we have are maintained.Their dedication to each child’s needs means that transition into, andthrough our academy, is smooth and successful.

We make no apologies for the unequivocally high standards that we havehere at Bluecoat Aspley; we expect students to have excellent behaviour,attendance and attitudes to their learning and support them on theirway to achieving this. These are reinforced with a strong rewards systemwhich celebrates the wealth of talents that our students possess,promoting the consistent behaviours that will make them successfulbeyond our school gates.

Our family-feel permeates the culture that exists here at Bluecoat Aspley.It is achieved by the way in which we also encourage children to supportone another and through our belief that anything is possible for thechildren that we serve. Belief is central to all we do as a church school;‘believe in yourself, in others, in God’.

“The school’s work to promote pupils’ personaldevelopment and welfare is outstanding. The effortsof staff to break down barriers to pupils’ learningand provide high quality support are exemplary.Some pupils who would otherwise find learningdifficult thrive in the school.”

BLUECOAT ASPLEY ACADEMY OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2018 07

TransitionStarting a new school is always daunting but our comprehensivetransition programme is designed to give each of the students joiningus the very best start to life here at Bluecoat Aspley, to ensure that theyare made to feel welcome and part of our ‘family’ from the outset.

We do have students who travel from a large number of primaryschools to join the school, often over 50 schools in any one year group.However, every child is unique and there are lots of activities to makesure staff, students and parents can build good relationships.

As part of this process parents can expect that we will visit each childin primary school and liaise closely with the staff there. We also offer anumber of visits to experience lessons within the Academy in thesummer term prior to them starting, so as to make friends and meetnew people.

In the first few week of starting with Bluecoat Aspley, students will beintroduced to new routines and expectations. Within the first monthstudents will also undertake additional activities to get to know eachother including an activity day. Tutors and student leaders will helpsupport these days.

Relationships with home are promoted strongly too. We activelyencourage parents to visit us often. With over 300 years of experience,we are committed to fostering the effective partnerships with homethat we know will help to make each child successful.

“Appropriate support tailored to the needs of eachstudent, and in some cases their families, underpinsthe excellent records of progress, attainment andattendance that are achieved.”

SIAMS, SECTION 48 SCHOOL INSPECTION, MAY 2016

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Student LeadershipHere at Bluecoat Aspley Academy, we believe students should be given awide range of opportunities to develop and practise leadership skills inpreparation for the challenges of today’s “real” world: the responsibilitiesand needs of life beyond the realms of home and classroom. In order toachieve this, we have created a student Leadership structure which enablesour students to get involved in all different aspects of the Academy.Students have the option of joining one of our seven different groups.

1. Literacy Group

2. Peer mentoring Group

3. Sports Group

4. Charity Group

5. Christian Young Leaders Group

6. Culture & Attitudes Group

7. Teaching & Learning Group

This structure is overseen by our Head Boy and Head Girl who work closelywith staff and students to ensure each group’s objectives are being met.

Aims of Student Leadership at Bluecoat Aspley

· To empower students to work in partnership with staff towards shared goals

· To enable creativity to flourish as the school community benefits from the wealth of experiences, ideas, skills and sense of fun that students bring

· To provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills through a variety of inspiring, challenging and valued projects which impact positively on learning, teaching and well-being for both students and staff

· To prepare students for Higher Education and for achieving personal and professional excellence in life after formal education

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EnrichmentBluecoat Aspley is passionately committed to developing every facet of the young people in our care.We believe that while academic success is of prime concern we should treat students as whole people, caring for and encouraging their physical, mental and spiritual potential. Our enrichment programme reflects this ethos, providing opportunities for all students to explore new interests, challenge themselves and have a lot of fun.

Thursday afternoon enrichment for Years 7 & 8

Every Thursday afternoon (period 5) the normal timetable is suspended and the Year 7 students takepart in enrichment activities. These activities are voluntary for Year 8 should they wish to take part.

At the beginning of each term students will choose the enrichment activity they wish to take part infor the two 5 week blocks of that term. Activities include sports such as basketball, tennis, racketball,cricket and athletics with professional coaches coming into the academy to lead the sessions e.g. Nottingham Forest, Notts County Cricket Club and the National Ice Arena. There are also other activitiessuch as web design, dance, making films and drama for students to choose along with many others.

The sessions will last 1 hour, 1 ½ hours or 2 hours depending on the activity and all activities are free of charge. Students are encouraged to choose a variety of options over the 6 blocks in the year.

Lunchtime clubs

We have a wide variety of lunchtime clubs suited to all tastes and interests. These clubs are run by staffwho give up their lunchtimes to provide fun places to meet friends and explore new activities. Theclubs include sports, STEM, arts, Christian unions, movie clubs, music clubs and much more. They areall free and members receive a membership card that entitles them to an early lunch.

Study clubs

A number of subject specific and general study clubs are available every week in order to enhance andsupport the curriculum. These clubs run before school, at lunchtime and after school and operate on adrop in basis. The study clubs are there to help with class work, homework and Non Examined Assessment as well as to give support in areas where students may be struggling.

Photograph by Steve Li Photography

Aspley Lane,No�ngham NG8 5GY

T: 0115 929 7445E: office@bluecoataspley.co.uk

ArchwayLearning Trust

www.bluecoataspley.co.uk

@BluecoatAspley

Design by: DHC Creative Tel: 01509 881466 Photograph by Steve Li Photography