How long is the school day?

The school is 6 hours and 20 minutes long, the school day starts at 8:30am every day and finishes at 2:50pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday the day finishes at 2pm. We also run extra-curricular clubs after school until 3:50 pm every day except Wednesday.

Which way do I come into school?

You’ll enter school via the playground entrance.

Can I ride my bike to school?

Yes, you can cycle to school and a bicycle store is available for students to store their bikes. The school accepts no responsibility in the event a student’s bike is damaged or stolen.

How long are lessons?

Lessons are one hour long.

How many lessons are there in a day?

There are five lessons every day except Wednesday which finishes an hour early.

How will I find my way around the academy?

On your first day you will be issued with a map of the academy. Staff and student ambassadors will also be on hand to guide you between lessons.

Do I get issued with a timetable?

Students will be issued with a timetable on their first day. The timetable is a two-week timetable. Your form tutor will explain this in detail on your first day.

How long is lunchtime?

Lunchtime lasts for 35 minutes, starting at 1:15pm and finishing at 1:50pm.

Can you play Football at lunchtime?

During good weather, the astro is open to all students to play football.

What kind of food is served in the canteen?

The canteen serves a range of food, sandwiches and hot meals which caters to a range of dietary requirements. You can find the menu for the canteen under the school meals section of the website.

How do I pay for my lunch?

Throughout The Academy, we operate on a cashless basis which includes the canteen. Students are able to bring small amounts of money with them and add it to their canteen account using the fingerprint scanning machines in the Atrium. Parents are able to use their ParentPay accounts to top up students’ accounts online only.

When do I find out who my tutor is?

All students will have received a letter from the academy advising them of their form and tutor.

Can girls wear trousers?

Girls have the option to wear either navy blue trousers or a skirt, for further information regarding the school’s uniform click here.

What do I need to bring on my first day?

Students are expected to attend school in full uniform, and bring with them the listed equipment. For further information click here.

Students should also bring a packed lunch during the first week until their Parent Pay accounts are activated.

Where do I go if I need help?

Your form tutor is your first point of contact with any issues you may have. We also offer counselling with  Place2Be, we also have a pastoral team who will be able to help.

How much homework will I get?

You will be set homework each day. You will find all homework that has been set on your Google Classroom account.

What clubs are there?

There are a range of clubs running every day after school from 2:50pm — 3:50pm. A clubs list will be allocated the first week of term.

Where should I go if I lose something?

Lost property is usually taken to Reception. If the item has your name on it, we will get it back to you as soon as we can. If it is not named that makes it much harder to reunite you with your things. If you have lost something please go and check with Reception. Also think about where you last had it – it may still be there. Make sure you have a safe place for your important things (phone, bus/rail pass) and get into the habit of checking they are safe.

What if I feel unwell when in school?

First tell the teacher or staff member you are with. They will send a message for you to be checked by a First Aider. If you need to go home or be collected our attendance officer will ring and make arrangements with your parents/carers. You must not leave site without a member of staff’s authorisation.

I am worried about travelling to school on the bus/train on my own

Make sure over the Summer you find out exactly where and when you need to catch your bus or train. We suggest making few practice journeys with your parents/carers or a friend. Is there anyone you know who will be travelling on the same bus/train? You could consider travelling together.

What is Enrichment?

It is the chance to try new activities, make new friends across the year groups and meet different members of staff. Our aim is that Enrichment provides you with a chance to challenge yourself, feel success, and be given the opportunity to find out more about your interests and passions, as well as discover new pursuits. You will be issued an enrichment timetable each term.

Can I bring my mobile phone to school?

Mobile phones are allowed on site but should not be seen or heard in lessons or at breaktime. They must be switched off and placed in your bag or pocket at the start of the school day. We take online safety very seriously. Young people need to understand how to use mobile devises and social media safely and the responsible and appropriate use of mobile phones in school is part of that process. If you need to urgently contact home during the school day, please ask a member of staff who will assist you. We ask that parents/carers ring school if a message needs to be passed to a student, so their learning is not disrupted by phones going off in lessons

Are there lockers available?

We do not have lockers available for students to use.  If you have a medical or other need to use a locker please contact us with your request.

Does the canteen have Vegan/Vegetarian options?

The canteen caters to many dietary requirements, you can find the menu for the canteen under the school meals section of the website.

How do I keep track of my Child's progress?

The Academy uses My Child at School (MCAS) where you can track your child’s progress, college points and school reports. The school also issues reports on a regular basis.  Details of how to sign up for MCAS will be sent to parents at the start of the academic year.