General Prospectus 2013-14 - Skinners' Academy

Principal Jenny Wilkins
Specialism: Business, enterprise and ICT
Admission number 2012: 180
Age: 11-19 boys and girls
Skinners’ Academy
Woodberry Grove, N4 1SY
t: 020 8800 7411 f: 020 8809 1382
enquiries@skinnersacademy.org.uk
www.skinnersacademy.org.uk
Twitter: @skinnersacademy
Transport
Bus: Woodberry Grove
253 / 254 / 259 / 279 Nearby 29 / 141 / 341
Rail: Stamford Hill then bus 253 / 254
Tube: Manor House
Eade Rd
Eade Rd
A105
Rowley
Gardens
Green Lanes Green Lanes
Woodberry Grove
Woodberry Grove
Manor House
Woodberry Down
Seven Sisters Rd A503
A503
Springpark Dr
prospectus
2013/14

01/02 Skinners’ Academy Prospectus
2013/ 2014
Message from the Principal
Jenny Wilkins
Welcome to Skinners’ Academy, a school for boys and girls
aged 11-19, providing a dynamic world class education.
The Academy is a centre of excellence specialising in Business, Enterprise and
ICT. There is a culture of high expectation for every student. Academic, vocational
and enrichment opportunities are designed to raise aspirations and develop
confident and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.
Our Academy is at the heart of the community. We seek and value the views of
parents, carers and other stakeholders, and believe this will enhance the future
success of the Academy as a beacon of excellence for boys and girls.
Jenny Wilkins
Principal
Skinners’ Academy
Message from the
Chair of Skinners’ Academy
Rt Hon The Earl of Malmesbury
The Skinners’ Company, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of
London, is proud to be the sponsor of the Skinners’ Academy.
The Skinners’ Company has a long tradition of supporting education,
its educational involvement in Hackney dating back to 1890. In 2010, the new
Skinners’ Academy joined the family of four other schools supported by the
Company. We believe in traditional educational values delivered in a modern
context. The Skinners’ Company is excited about the impact the Academy is
making to Hackney.
James Malmesbury
Principal
Chair of Skinners’ Academy
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide a world class
educational environment where all students
will be equipped to achieve success.
Each student will:
• Be literate and numerate
• Be capable of using ICT as a learning tool and as a
means of expanding their horizons and enriching their
knowledge and lives, nationally and internationally
• Embrace creativity and develop a “can do” attitude
through being part of a business and enterprise culture
• Possess a secure sense of self
• Enjoy a broadly based spiritual life including culture and
the arts and
• Develop a strong moral code by which to live
Skinners’ Academy will create 21st Century
learners through exceptional Business
and Enterprise education – and make an
ethical and sustainable contribution to local,
national & global prosperity
Our Core Values
•2Excellence
•2Friendship
•2Courage
•2Determination
•2Inspiration
•2Equality
•2Respect
The best thing about Skinners’ Academy
is its background. Because Skinners’ has
a long history, since 1327, it makes us
stand out from other academies.
Kadisha Kaur-Singh, Year 8
We have good teachers, lots of resources and
eagerness to learn. We welcome newcomers
to our school . You are the most important
person to us because we know you can
achieve success. The best are our future and
the best starts with you. Come to Skinners’
Academy!
Thomas Heintz, Year 8

03/04 Skinners’ Academy Prospectus
2013/ 2014
Curriculum
• Students complete Key stage 3 within two years, year 7
being viewed largely as a foundation year
• Students will spend three years at Key Stage 4 and
engage more deeply with community based projects and
work based education
• At KS4, we offer a range of vocational and academic
pathways, including the English Baccalaureate (EBacc),
a qualification which recognises achievement in
english, mathematics, sciences, a language and a
humanities subject
• Some gifted and talented students will begin to follow one
or more AS courses as early as Year 10
• We also have a flourishing Sixth Form which offers
a range of academic A/AS programmes as well as
vocational courses in subjects such as BTEC Business,
Health and Social Care; and Childcare. Art and Design is
also offered
• Our inclusion team offers support to students with
identified needs such as SEN
Our Specialism
The academy specialises
in business, enterprise and
ICT. Enterprise education
is about innovation and
creativity and develops the
ability to:
• Handle uncertainty and respond
positively to change
• Create and implement new ways of
doing things
• Make reasonable risk and
reward assessments
Our business and enterprise culture
influences all we do, including
the international dimension of our
Academy. We have achieved the
International School Award 2010-2013
and are building strong links with
schools in Turkey, South Africa, New
York, Georgia, India, Bangladesh
and Malaysia.
The Academy works closely with
local employers, other educational
establishments and international
organisations, which ensures students
benefit from professional industry
expertise. These include:
• Lawyers (at firms including
Allen & Overy and Linklaters)
contributing to our business and
citizenship curriculum
• Collaboration with IBM to promote
careers in ICT and business
• Involvement in local regeneration
projects – involving Berkeley Homes
and Transport for London to date
• Young Enterprise projects and
running their own small businesses
– including MyBnk
We provide a state-of-the-art virtual
learning environment (VLE): a one-stop
online portal where learning can be
supported and accessed by students
and parents, 24 hours a day.
The best things about
Skinners’ Academy are
that we choose enrichment
activities to participate in...
and we choose our GCSEs
earlier than any other school
Ayub Abumaye (Year 8)
Extended Studies
Extended Studies, more traditionally known as homework,
is an integral part of achieving excellence and provides
opportunities for independent study. The amount of
extended study will increase as the student progresses
through the Academy.
We insist that students fully apply themselves to their
extended studies as it is essential in enabling students to
reach their maximum potential.
What is great about Skinners’ Academy
When the teachers are teaching they are
trying their best to get us to do the work
so we can learn. They don’t give up!
Guilherme Da Silva, Year 8

05/06 Skinners’ Academy Prospectus
I believe Skinners’
Academy is brilliant
because as students, we
are provided with so many
facilities to help us with
our education so we will
have a range of (careerrelated)
options in the
future.
Jaden Hope (Year 8)
The teachers believe in us
and they believe that we
can do anything if we put
our minds to it
Tyreeka Williams (Year 7)
Our school day
and timetable
The school day begins early and ends
late to provide maximum flexibility and
opportunities for our students. A choice
of enrichment activities complements
the core curriculum and encourages
them to explore new areas of interest.
Our Students
The Academy recognises and
celebrates all student achievement.
Through the co-construction of learning
and initiatives such as the student
council, Young Chamber, Specialist
School & Academies Trust (SSAT)
conferences, Achievers International
and other leadership programmes,
we encourage student voice. This is
a means of including our students in
the organisation of the school, which
further strengthens the partnership
between students, staff and parents.
All students are expected embrace our
values, to work hard, abide by the code
of conduct, make maximum use of the
opportunities offered and become fully
engaged in the school community.
Celebrating Success
We consistently reward good work,
effort, initiative and behaviour through
merits, positives, certificates, badges
and in assemblies. We also share
student successes in the newsletter,
on internal screens and in letters
to parents. The Governors annual
prizegiving ceremony for the academy
takes place in November.
Pastoral Care
Students are placed in vertical advisory
groups by key stage, with an advisor,
and meet twice a day. The advisor is
the first point of contact.
Uniform
The uniform is formal, reflecting our
business and enterprise culture. It is
applied across the Academy and all
students are expected to adhere to it.
Extended school
and community links
Our vision is to become a hub of the
Woodberry Down community. We are
working in partnership with a number
of businesses, to bring its communities
together and to raise awareness of the
school’s activities.
Parent/Carer
Partnership
All parents and carers are invited
to join our active Parents’ Forum (in
person and online), to discuss issues
relating to their child’s education.
Parents and carers are also
represented on the Governing Body.
Skinners’ Academy is the
perfect choice of school
if you desire an excellent
education for your child
as well as a safe and happy
learning environment with
staff who genuinely care
about your child. My son’s
experience has been full of
positivity and adventure
culminating in him
taking part in the opening
ceremony of the Olympic
Games, something that he
will never forget.
Claire Keany has a son Conrad
(Year 8). Conrad is pictured
ahead of a BBC News interview
below