Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport

OUR VALUES

We aspire to create:

• A school which places great importance on its core purpose – that of teaching and learning. We all see ourselves as learners.
• A ‘can do’ culture where people are able to pursue ideas and take risks.
• Good relationships which exist at all levels based on openness, team work and respect.
• A strong sense of optimism and pride in the school’s successes and a capacity to develop and improve.
• High expectations and aspirations where challenges are met and achievements in all areas are celebrated.

THE SCHOOL

Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport is a foundation 11 - 18 mixed comprehensive school with currently 971 pupils on roll. The school is one of the oldest schools in Essex, founded in the year of the Armada, 1588. The school currently admits 168 pupils into each year group who are divided into 6 teaching groups. The school is oversubscribed and there is a waiting list for the current Year 7. There are currently 118 students in the Sixth Form. Around two thirds of Year 11 students stay in the sixth form and a number of students also join the Sixth Form from other local schools.

The school draws on a very wide area for its intake. Pupils come from as far as Cambridgeshire to the north, Royston to the west, Suffolk and Braintree to the east and Harlow, Roydon, Hoddesdon, Epping and Ongar to the south.

Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport is an aspirational establishment with a strong emphasis on the individual.  Our 2014 Ofsted inspection noted that “Students develop personal qualities that prepare them well for the next stage of their education and adult life, and the extensive range of enrichment activities supports this. They are proud of the school’s heritage and the distinct opportunities it offers.”  Our students are significantly above national expectation on entry: 67% of students achieve 5 A* - C including English and Maths with 83% achieving A* - C in Mathematics.  Our aim is to improve in all areas and continue to raise our standards.

At A-Level our results were excellent, with an overall pass rate of 98.5% (an improvement on last year). The A*-B pass rate was 37.4% and the A*-C pass rate 71.4%.  Pleasingly, students exceeded their externally set targets by some distance, particularly at the top end of the ability range.

Examination results are very important to the school and its students. We also believe that development of personal qualities is just as important. The school therefore offers a wide range of out-of-class activities to promote self-confidence, raise self-esteem, give opportunities for team work and to develop leadership potential. We encourage every pupil to undertake at least one out-of-class activity. The range is enormous and the school has a reputation in particular for its drama, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, sport and music. We are keen to broaden the horizons of our pupils by means of trips and exchanges at home and abroad. In the last year groups of pupils have visited Austria, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Nepal, South Africa and Spain. The staff at Newport is strongly committed to such activities. The school has recently been awarded the prestigious “International School Award” by the British Council and is an Artsmark Gold school in recognition of its excellent provision in the arts.

Please note that the school operates a non-smoking policy.

Students are well behaved and there is a rigorous behaviour policy with well developed systems of rewards and sanctions.

THE SETTING

The school is set in 34 acres of very attractive, undulating countryside in North West Essex. The village of Newport lies 3 miles south of Saffron Walden and 9 miles north of Bishops Stortford on the B 1383. Communications to the north, towards Cambridge (17 miles away), and to the south, towards Harlow (18 miles away) and London (37 miles away) on the Liverpool Street railway line are good. They are further improved by the M11 which runs to the west of Newport.

THE STRUCTURE

The school is in Group 6 and currently has a teaching staff of 69.5 FTE.

The Structure

The Academy Leadership Team comprises the Principal, Vice Principal and five Assistant Principals.  The Academy operates a faculty structure overseen by the Assistant Principals who also have a teaching commitment.

Upon entering the Academy, students are placed into one of 12 combined year tutor groups overseen by a Director of Key Stage.  There is also a House system within the school and tutor groups throughout the Academy are allocated to one of the six Houses, Banstead, Caius, Frankland, Morden, Saxie and Trappes.  The Governors have laid down clear and structured guidelines on behaviour.

CURRICULUM POLICY

At Newport, every learner is entitled to a curriculum that is rich and varied, challenging and inspiring, which enables every individual to fulfil his or her potential.

Students follow the National Curriculum. Current provision aims to offer a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8)

All students study the following:

• Art and Design
• Mathematics
• Design & Technology
• Music
• Drama
• Physical Education
• English
• Science
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Religious Studies
• Geography
• PSHE
• History Information and Communication Technology

NB i) All students take a second language (in addition to French) from Year 7 choosing from Italian, Spanish or Latin.
ii) Citizenship is delivered across the curriculum to all students.

Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10, 11)
All students follow a core curriculum which consists of: English, Maths, Science, ICT, PSHE (including citizenship), PE and games.
In addition, students are asked to choose four subjects from the following options:

• Art
• Business Studies
• Italian
• Drama
• Music
• Electronics
• PE
• Expressive Arts
• Religious Studies
• Food Technology
• Resistant Materials
• French
• Spanish
• Geography
• History
• French
• Italian
• German
• Statistics
• Graphics
• Latin