Westminster

Westminster: Your choice for secondary school // Apply online at www.westminster.gov.uk/admissions 27
“My first year at the Academy has
been brilliant! I have had the chance
to learn the drums, go on a residential
where we got to go rock climbing,
abseiling and mountain biking, and
I have learnt lots of new things in
each of my subjects – my favourite
subject is Spanish!
Richard Smith, Year 8, Paddington Academy
“
Location and facilities
From September 2007, Paddington Academy will be
housed in a multi-million pound purpose-built facility on
Marylands Road, W9. From the outset, the design of
the new building has been inspired by how children
learn best and how the facilities and layout can support
our innovative curriculum structure.
The Academy’s facilities – including those for sport,
science, the arts and technology - will incorporate
everything that students and staff could want in
a cutting-edge 21 st Century learning community.
The Academy receives extra funding for its twin
specialisms, Media and Performing Arts with Business
and Enterprise, ensuring that its facilities (including a
theatre, dance and drama rooms, TV, media and a wide
range of specialist recording studios) are amongst the
best of any maintained school in the country.
You are invited to visit the Paddington Academy
website www.paddington-academy.org where you can
access a virtual tour of the new building. Opportunities
to visit the new building will be possible during the
autumn term.
Focus on the classroom
Students in Years 7 and 8 are taught in Home Bases
(apart from the need for specialist facilities) and the
number of teachers they see is kept to a minimum.
Every Year 7 student will complete a course in Learning
to Learn – this will provide a foundation set of skills to
ensure they get the best out of all their other subjects.
These measures help to ease the transition from
primary to secondary phase.
Every classroom is fitted with the very latest in ICT,
including an interactive whiteboard connected to a data
projector. Year 7 and 8 students will also use the
Academy’s state-of-the-art specialist facilities in areas
such as music, drama, science and sport.
Specialism
The curriculum at Paddington Academy is broadbased,
offering all subjects within the National
Curriculum, but also extending well beyond this,
presented in an exciting and innovative way.
All Academies have a specialism. Paddington
Academy’s specialism is Media and Performing Arts
with Business and Enterprise. This means that, in
addition to the curriculum that you would expect
students to follow in any good school, all Paddington
Academy students are offered a broad range of
courses in business and enterprise, ICT and media and
performing arts. The learning experiences in these
areas not only develop knowledge, talent and
understanding, but also key skills for life such as
leadership, communication, problem solving and
confidence.
Focus on the outside world
If all students are to extend themselves and develop
every aspect of their knowledge, skills and talents, it
is important that they become fully involved in all that
the Academy can offer. Paddington Academy expects
that all students will involve themselves in activities
and enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom.
From music to cheerleading to Young Enterprise and
chess, students are given many opportunities to
develop their interests.
As the Academy develops, trips both in the UK and
abroad will feature regularly in Academy life, giving
students a unique opportunity to broaden their
experience and outlook.
Strong work experience links are being developed
within the local and wider communities to give older
students the opportunity to explore a variety of careers
and work environments before making academic
choices at both GCSE and A Levels.