A message from our Principal

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The Principal leads this academy extremely well.

He is very well supported by his senior team, governors and the academy sponsors.All share his high expectations of staff and students.”

“The Principal demonstrates exceptionally strong leadership of the academy.”

Clarendon Academy is a thriving school,

created to deliver outstanding

education for all children who come to

us. I was appointed as head-teacher in

June 2011. Working with an amazing

team of people,

I was delighted when we were graded

by OFSTED in October 2012 as a ‘Good

school with outstanding leadership’.

Our subsequent step was to join The

Education Fellowship in December 2012

and begin the next chapter of the

school’s history as an academy; aiming

to go beyond the expected in delivering

superb education for children and

young people.

Our commitment is to the highest

standards for every child, providing

excellent teaching and learning to

ensure that all students reach their full

potential. Clarendon is a disciplined

establishment where students are happy

and safe, respected and respectful,

superbly behaved and always

encouraged to ‘aim high’. Excellent

schools are supportive schools and

we pride ourselves on knowing our

students as individuals so that they can

be successful and enjoy school from

joining us in Year 7 to graduating from

our 6th Form in Year 13. The Clarendon

promise is that every child matters.

You can be assured that as the

Principal of Clarendon I regard it as my

duty to ensure the very best for all

students and all staff must share that

commitment. Only those staff with a

commitment to outstanding work are

employed by the academy. Fourteen

superb new teachers join our already

excellent team in September 2013. This

really is a transformational place to

learn and work.

As an academy we are an independent

school and we organise learning

slightly differently from the traditional

secondary school. Our student

groupings, our curriculum and

our lessons are all tailored to ensure

that we are able to deliver exactly what

our students need to become

successful adults.

We do hope you enjoy reading about us

and we look forward to meeting you.

Mr M Stenton BA, NPQH

Principal

The Clarendon WayOur vision for every student

Secondary school education is

preparation for life. At Clarendon we

take that privilege and responsibility

very seriously. We begin with the end in

sight, knowing that over seven years,

from leaving primary school at

eleven to graduating from the 6th Form

at eighteen, we have to provide

the inspiration, knowledge, teaching,

learning and support to encourage

every young person to hold onto their

dreams and turn them into reality.

This is a child centred school. We have

to provide for the needs of the 21st

century and be very sensitive to the

challenges facing young people. Every

decision made in this school is done for

the benefit of every student. For staff

and students alike, we are committed to

the values of The Education Fellowship

academies:

Working hard to achieve excellence

Courage to stand up for what we

believe in

Respecting others

Having fun and a good quality of life

Honesty and integrity

Humility, compassion and concern

for others

Tolerance and forgiveness

Confidence to lead

Kindness

Respect is a key word. The academy

day operates in a calm and business-like

manner. Senior staff visit every lesson

and students stand when we enter the

room. Teachers are addressed as Sir

or Miss. Discipline matters and our

students know this is a very safe school.

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The atmosphere around the academy is very calm.

Students are exceptionally polite and courteous. They have pride in their school, which is evident inthe way they wear the uniform and the absence of litter and graffiti.”

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The strong focus on ensuring that students are safe and well cared for is a strength of the academy.”

Our core purpose is of course ensuring

maximum success for every student.

We set stretching targets for all students;

from the moment we speak to their

Year 6 teacher we are planning their

route to success. Targets are reviewed

regularly and parents kept well

informed. Progress is our purpose.

You will receive six progress reports a

year and have at least one consultation

meeting with all of your child’s

teachers and senior leaders (more in

examination years).

All teachers are challenged to be

consistently ‘outstanding’ and lessons

are rigorously reviewed. We believe that

the modern classroom should be an

inspiring blend of contemporary

technology and the eternal art of

good teaching.

The curriculum is planned to meet the

needs of all students offering rich

academic, creative, practical and

vocational learning. Years 7 and 8 are

devoted to the development of key skills

and immersion in all that the curriculum

offers. Students are then guided through

an options programme and spend three

years, 9 to 11, studying for their GCSEs.

Throughout Year 11 students are

mentored for success and post-16

choices. Our 6th Form is highly

successful and offers a rich mixture of

‘A’ Level and their equivalent BTEC

Level 3 qualifications in preparation for

university and quality careers.

OFSTED MAY 2014:“Students’ progress is tracked and monitored exceptionally well. Consequently, students of all

abilities make good progress from their starting points across a range of subjects.”

OFSTED MAY 2014:“Teaching is at least good and some is outstanding. Students say how much they value their teachers’

support and encouragement to prepare them for their examinations.”

Success for AllSuperb teaching and learning

Every Clarendon student is a member of

a House Team. This ensures that their

progress is constantly monitored and

supported by the Head of House

(Directors of Student Progress), their

Academic Tutor and the House’s

Pastoral Support Leader. One of our

Education Fellowship partners is

Winchester College; a school with 700

years of history. They believe that the

House system is central to their culture,

organisation and, above all, to student

success. We share that belief at

Clarendon.

Tutor groups are kept very small and

contain students from each year group.

This ensures personal attention and a

holistic approach. The tutor group meets

for twenty minutes a day and attends

assembly together. (NB: ALL lessons are

taught in year groups – only tutor time is

mixed age). The focus is on support and

personal development.

The Pastoral Support Leader is not a

teacher – ensuring constant availability.

The motto is simple – prevention is better

than the cure and we are able to guide

and support children promptly and

sympathetically to ensure all can stay

focussed on the core purpose of

enjoying learning.

Success is celebrated through individual

House Points, House Competitions and

Achievement Evening – a highlight of

the school year.

Our House names were voted for by

students. They are all great birds of prey,

chosen for the metaphor of aiming high

and reaching for the stars:

I have the strengthI am determined

I will reach the endI won’t give up

I will winI will beat them

I will try my hardestI am determinedI have to believe

I have the courageI am fearless

I am the strongestI am determined

I have the ability to win

I am ready for the battleI am prepared

I trainedI feel the pain

I deserve to winI am determined

I will receive the medalI will receive the gold medal

I’m the bestI beat the rest

I am determinedWe will win at Clarendon!

Annabel Holland – year 8

Support for AllEvery child matters – The Clarendon House System

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The “house system” and mixed-age tutor groups has helped to foster exceptionally strong

relationships across and between the year groups.”

The Clarendon AcademyEagle House

The Clarendon AcademyFalcon House

The Clarendon AcademyKestrel House

Students will be taught many individual activities and competitive games along withdeveloping tactics, skills, techniques, rules or laws of games.

There should be no limits to success and

we want every student to experience a

rich education during their seven years

at Clarendon.

Activities include:

Year 7 camp for every child

Termly Da Vinci Evenings devoted to

the awe and wonder of learning

Bath University partnership events for

all year groups

Sports clubs and teams using our

excellent leisure centre and outdoor

facilities

Alpine ski and snowboarding

Historical and cultural visits

Long haul global experiences

European language exchanges

Duke of Edinburgh Award projects

Work experience

University visits

Youth Parliament

Charity events

A great achievement for any student is

to be elected as a prefect, house

captain or, in 6th Form, become a Senior

Student representative. The voice of the

young person is critical to the success of

the school and fully embraced at

Clarendon College.

A great future for every student

OFSTED MAY 2014:“Students have high expectations of themselves and a thirst for knowledge.

They were keen to tell inspectors how much they are encouraged and supported by theirteachers to achieve well.”

“The academy’s work to keep students safe and secure is outstanding.All students say that they feel safe. This view is endorsed by that of parents and carers.”

“The strong focus on students’ progress has created a climate where students want tosucceed and achieve their best.”

The academy is very proud of its

successful 6th Form which achieves

excellent results year on year.

We work closely with universities,

particularly The University of Bath,

to ensure that our preparation for the

futures of our 6th Formers is first class.

The welcome raising of the education

participation age means that we are

developing a 6th Form which meets

the needs of the vast majority of our

students in the spirit of excellent and

advanced Further Education.

On accepting your child into the

academy we make a seven year

commitment with a view that your son

or daughter will graduate to university

or an excellent career apprenticeship

at age 18.

Through The Education Fellowship we

are working at senior level with leading

universities and major public schools to

develop models of excellence for all of

our young people. Motivational

speakers from universities, business and

industry regularly address our students in

the new Adrian Green Lecture Theatre.

We aim high for all of our students.

An additional 6th Form prospectus is

available for students to view the

options available to them as they plan

their next steps in Year 11. They are

guided all the way by our House and 6th

Form leaders and every student, with

their parents, receives the opportunity to

meet with the Principal to help them

make the right personal choices.

The Clarendon Academy 6th Form

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The behaviour of 6th Form students is also outstanding and their attendance rates are high. They contribute well to academy life. Leadership in the 6th Form is good. Teaching in the 6th Form is also good and contributes well to raising achievement.”

School uniform develops a feeling of

self-esteem among students and does

much to eliminate feelings of inequality

as well as projecting a positive image for

the school community. We expect every

academy student to wear it with pride.

Smart uniform creates the right

atmosphere for work and learning.

All staff and students are required to

follow the academy dress code.

Our uniform is very smart, stylish and

traditional, in keeping with our values

and ethos. We are proud to be a school

with smart blazers, formal ties and

traditional school jumpers, trousers

and skirts.

Value for money is key to our uniform

supply policy, which ensures quality

durable items at affordable prices. All of

our uniform is available for order through

our website or directly from the school

reception.

The school colours are black, gold and

grey. The golden lion of the academy

has three family members in the House

system: the emerald green Eagle lion,

ruby red Falcon lion and sapphire blue

Kestrel lion. The school tie has the

appropriate lion for a student’s House.

Our sports colours are black and gold.

NB: deviations from the stated style of

shirt, jumper, trouser and skirt are not

allowed.All students (other than the Sixth

Form) wear the following items of dress:

Dress Common To AllBlazer black

Blazer Badge golden lion

Neckwear black with gold stripes

and house lion

Pullover plain V neck jumper in

grey with golden lion

Shoes plain black shoes

(no trainers)

Shirt white

Female Students Skirt or Trousers academy tartan skirt or

girl’s black school

trousers

(approved design only)

Tights or Stockings plain black or neutral

Male Students Trousers black school trousers

Sports and P.E.Sports Top black with gold panels,

reversible to black

Sports Socks black and gold

P.E. Top Academy polo shirt

Sports Shorts or Skirt black

6th Form Dress Code

We expect all students to wear clothing

appropriate for adult work in a

professional environment, in tangent

with our staff dress code. Male students

are expected to wear business style

jackets, trousers, shirts, ties, shoes and

jumpers. Likewise, female students are

expected to wear business style choices

of skirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, jackets

and shoes.

NB: piercings are restricted to one plain

stud per ear. No other piercings are

allowed.

Rewards andAchievement

The Lion D’Or

2013 sees the introduction

of the Principal’s ‘Lion D’Or’

– a golden lion metal lapel

badge exclusively presented each term,

one per house, for outstanding progress.

Only nine of these badges are

presented in any school year and all

recipients have their names recorded

on our new Honours Board.

The Clarendon Cup

House Competition is

an aspect of

academy life which

every student

contributes to

through excellent

attendance, obtaining House Points,

gaining excellent reports and

participating in competitions. Running

totals are kept by the Vice Principal and

the annual winners revealed at a

special whole school assembly in July.

Achievement Evening is our annual

celebration of student endeavour and

attainment. Every teacher is required to

name their personal ‘student of the

year’ whilst every subject elects an

annual winner of their subject prize for

each year group. Special prizes for

sporting achievement, community

contribution and unique achievements

are also presented at this wonderful

evening in our town’s Civic Hall.

School Uniform

OFSTED MAY 2014:“The atmosphere around the academy is verycalm. Students are exceptionally polite andcourteous. They have pride in their school,which is evident in the way they wear the

uniform and the absence of litter and graffiti.”

OFSTED MAY 2014:“Work in students’ books is well presented and

shows that they take pride in their work.There is a strong focus on improving standards

of students’ literacy.”