Content

Welcome 1

Academy 2

Committment 3

Enrichment Programme 4-5

Facilities 6

Opportunities 7

Contact 8

Wel

com

e

Heartlands Academy: a place to prosper

and learn. Every day since walking through

the elephantine doors last year, I have either

learnt something new, polished my knowledge of

something mundane, or been taught to understand

something that had felt as if it had been hiding

behind a black fog within my curious mind...

I wasn’t scared of joining Heartlands Academy

because of how kind and considerate the teachers

had been during our transition project. The

Academy’s reward system is fantastic and I am

showered with praise for the vocabulary I have

learnt and the good behaviour I enact. Every child’s

needs are catered for, whether they have special

needs or are budding forensic scientists. All the

new facilities are of extremely high quality from the

science laboratories to the dining area.

Speaking of science, all the lessons are very hands

on; we have been exploring chemical reactions

and much more! Every teacher aims to ensure all

students gain something from their lessons.

If I were to sum up this fine palace of education in

one phrase I would exclaim “For each the best, from

each their all!” because the teachers adjust to every

child’s needs, which in my opinion is amazing.

Haleema and Dylon tell you about their first year at Heartlands Academy.

“

“

I have really enjoyed my first year at

Heartlands Academy because it is a very vibrant

place to learn and the teachers are extremely

helpful. At first I was a bit worried about being with

the older students but it turns out they are really

friendly and I have even made friends with some of

them.

We have had numerous opportunities to do

something new – the best was the Year 7 residential

in October where we were able to get to know each

other better.

Since being here I have found the teachers to

be amazing, made some really great friends and

benefitted from the excellent facilities in a brand

new building.

I have also made good progress with my levels and

I intend to keep it that way. Heartlands Academy is

great!

“

“

1

“Heartlands Academy is one of the best schools in the country for both outperforming expectations for their students and improving their future prospects.” Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT (The Schools Network).

Aca

dem

y

Heartlands Academy provides an orderly, safe

and stimulating environment in which students

can learn effectively. It aims to provide a broadly

based and balanced education relevant to the needs

and abilities of its students, and mindful of the

requirements and aspirations of modern society.

Staff at the Academy have a positive approach to

learning; helping students to develop their skills

and abilities and enabling them to reach their full

potential, in preparation for life’s opportunities and

experiences.

In support of the Academy’s aims, students are

encouraged to:

• Enjoy learning and to continue learning

throughout life.

• Have a positive attitude and to recognise

their unique worth.

• Respect the religious and moral values of

both their own and other cultures.

• Develop a sense of responsibility, self-

discipline and good time management.

When students are ready to leave the Academy at

age 18, they should be equipped with the knowledge

and skills required to be responsible adults, good

citizens, and be prepared for university life and/or

the world of work.

Students at Heartlands Academy can...

E-ACT is ambitious in its aims - for students, for

schools, for communities, and for the country.

As the Academy’s sponsor, E-ACT’s ethos is

based on high aspirations, expectations and

achievements. The sponsor’s vision is to support

Heartlands Academy to remain an outstanding

place of education within an inclusive ethos that

promotes tolerance and respect for others. This

will be characterised by diversity, equality and

excellence. E-ACT’s expectations are that students

will develop into citizens who actively contribute

towards the building of peaceful and cohesive

communities and are able to represent themselves

confidently in all aspects of public life.

Heartlands Academy will provide innovative

and personalised learning opportunities to ensure

that all students learn effectively and achieve

their maximum potential. E-ACT will promote the

professional development of proven best practice

in teaching approaches and be at the forefront of

the Adademy’s drive for excellence, enhancing the

current focus on raising educational standards.

This will include flexible and original approaches to

curriculum delivery in response to identified needs

and initiatives.

2

Heartlands strives for the best practice in

teaching, inspiring our students with a brand new

learning environment. Using the latest software,

equipment and training, lessons are interactive,

fun and effective. There is a strong emphasis on

personalised learning.

Students are expected to take an active role in the

life and work of the Academy. In return, we focus

on the development of the individual and engage

fully with parents and carers so they may jointly

support us in enhancing their children’s learning.

We believe it is important to discover our

students’ individual strengths and to give them

appropriate support. As a result, some students are

able to accelerate their learning, while others can

focus for longer on certain curriculum areas before

progressing to the next stage. Students benefit

from mentoring, role models, individual learning

plans and careers advice.

Students are taught in subject and focus groups,

and meet daily in tutor groups. Flexible timetables

and project-based learning enables them to learn

through experience and teaching.

Progress is continually monitored by assessment,

teaching group tests and, where necessary, holding

termly and end of year examinations.

“I have changed so much since joining Heartlands. I have become much more mature.” Mohamud, Year7.

Heartlands Academy encourages high levels of

self-discipline and learning. This is supported by a

strong pastoral structure which helps to maintian

high standards and expectations of each student.

The Academy requires students to demonstrate

appropriate courtesy, and to respect and co-

operate with others at all times. Students are

encouraged to take responsibility for their own

behaviour especially where it impacts on the

learning of others. Behaviour that is conducive to a

beneficial learning environment will be rewarded;

innappropriate behaviour will be challenged.

Students have regular meetings with their

Learning Managers and parents are invited to

monitor their children’s progress by checking their

planner on a weekly basis. Parents’ Evenings are

held annually and provide a valuable opportunity

to meet with teachers to discuss their child’s

progress and to receive a written report.

Our pastoral care system engenders a safe

evironment within the Academy; one where the

students are aware of their responsibilities towards

their own safety and that of others. This fosters

an ethos that supports and encourages learning to

take place and ensures the needs of every student

are met. Com

mit

men

t

3

En

rich

men

t

4

Fostering creativity and innovation is a key

part of teaching at Heartlands Academy and

so, at the end of each term, regular lessons are

suspended for one week in favour of delivering a

‘Creative Curriculum’. This not only consolidates

students’ learning but also provides them

with a variety of opportunities and additional

experiences. Core subjects such as maths and

science are still taught, but in utilising cross-

subject themes, topics can be explored to a

greater depth, producing creative and exciting

results not possible in any other way.

This approach to learning is supported by most

leading teaching organisations including the

UK’s National College, which has carried out

research showing that weaving creativity into

the daily process of structured learning delivers

very high standards of education.

Other activities held during Creative Curriculum

weeks are extra revision classes for students

with imminent external exams or trips to

locations of educational interest.

A few weeks after joining Heartlands Academy,

Year 7 are given the opportunity to spend three

days at a residential outdoor activity centre.

This is a key trip in their academic diary and

an invaluable way for students to become better

acquainted with both their teachers and peers,

helping them to forge new friendships.

During the day, students partake in a

combination of classroom-based lessons and

more adventurous outdoor activities. Lessons

are in line with the curriculum and a single

theme will often be explored across a number

of different subject lessons. This introduces

students to up-to-date methods of learning

which will be necessary for their progress

during their future years at the Academy.

We expect most of the outdoor pursuits to

be a new experience for many students. They

typically include: abseiling, and den and chariot

building.

Students work together in groups to develop

their co-operation and team-building skills and

consequently they are able to quickly build

freindships with each other.

Students gain enormously from this trip and it

is an important start for life at the Academy.

Crea

tive

Cur

ricu

lum

Year

7 R

esid

enti

al

“Heartlands Academy offers a wide range of opportunities to students outside of lesson time, through clubs before and after school, trips and enrichment weeks.” Ismaeel, Year 7.

Prog

ram

me

5

The Academy has strong links with other

community organisations. We seek to share

our expertise and facilities with others and our

students play an important role in that provision.

Students from Heartlands Academy play a

vital role in organising the “Zone Games”, a

sporting competition between local primary

schools held annually at the Alexander Stadium.

As representatives of the Academy, they are

involved in many areas including arranging the

races and identifiying the winners.

The music department is currently involved

in a research project run by Birmingham

University, where pupils from both Fox Hollies

Special School and the Academy work alongside

each other engaging in creative activities. This

has proved mutually beneficial to both students

and staff.

Maths Master Classes for gifted and talented

Nechells primary school are delivered by

teachers and students from Heartlands

Academy who engage with the children. The

students gain invaluable experience, passing

on their knowledge to younger children and

thereby consolodiating their own understanding

of the subject.

Bus

ines

s Li

nks

Com

mun

ity

Lin

ksWe are very fortunate to have strong business

links within the community and our partners

regularly work alongside the Academy to

deliver enrichment activities and employability

programmes.

Deloitte deliver an annual after-school

business enterprise course at the Academy,

for which they provide professional enterprise

training, and a variety of other activities

are provided by Price Waterhouse Coopers

and Enabling Enterprise. These include

employability workshops, CV writing, business

mentoring, interview techniques, personal

confidence workshops, communication skills

and business speed-dating. All of which give

students excellent core transferable skills which can

be referenced both on their CV and UCAS forms.

This is a unique opportunity for our students,

ensuring they leave the Academy equipped with

the aspiration to succeed. They will benefit from

these valuable employability skills in the future

market place.

“Staff and students from Heartlands Academy made sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time and worked hard organising the races and spotting the winners.”POD-Post

Faci

litie

s

6

A new building for the Academy was completed and

opened in September 2012 providing state-of-the art

facilities for our students and staff.

Throughout the building, light and space are

maximised to produce a calm learning environment

for our students. All floors have a combination of

specialist learning and traditional classrooms, but

also benefit from innovative open plan learning

spaces.

The sports facilities are outstanding. They

comprise a very large indoor sports hall with a full

size basketball court, three self-contained smaller

courts which can also be used for separate teaching

groups, floor to ceiling cricket batting nets, a

trampolining harness, and space for other indoor

sports including 5 a-side football, tennis, netball and

badminton. Outside, there is a large 3rd Generation

all weather sports field with full size football and

hockey pitches. Students are encouraged to keep fit

by making use of the fully-equipped multi-gym.

On the ground floor, there is a dedicated drama

studio adjacent to the main hall with tiered seating,

a delightful dining area which overlooks an outdoor

teaching and recreation area, and the Learning

Resource Centre.

The LRC is the hub of the Academy, open to

students before and after school as well as during

lunch breaks and has late evenings for Sixth Form

students. Private study is very much encouraged,

as is reading for pleasure to complement our focus

on literacy and the Accelerated Reading scheme. It

also has the advantage of a Promethean table which

has a multi-touch, interactive smart display and a

surface designed for collaborative learning.

All of our specialist teaching rooms are equipped

to a very high standard. Design Technology has

ultra-modern equipment in all areas and an

exceptional quality of work is produced as a result.

The hardware and software provision in the ICT

department is excellent as the Academy recognises

the importance and relevance it has in a 21st

Century learning environment. There are suites

of iMac computers for music technology, art and

design technology. Art has a prominent position

at the top of the builiding where roof-windows can

impart proper lighting for the subject.

Overall, the facilities at the Academy are

exceptional. If you would like to find out more, the

best way to see and experience our facilities is to

come to one of our Open Events. Please contact the

Academy if you would like to visit at another time.

We would be very pleased to show you around.

“We have a great place for learning. The facilities are absolutely phenomenal for example: the Apple iMac computers, the food room, the sewing machines in textiles and the all-in-one computers for ICT. So many I lost count.” Mohamud, Year 7.

7

Opp

ortu

nit

iesSince opening in 2010, our Sixth Form has

increased in popularity and grown year on year.

There is a dedicated Sixth Form Centre adjacent

to the main academy building and lessons are

taught at both locations. Sixth Form students

have the benefit of their own learning and social

environment combined with the excellent facilities

of the new building. All students who remain to

complete their education in the Sixth Form will

receive unparalleled support and monitoring,

meeting with their tutor on a daily basis.

There are a wide range of courses on offer with the

main focus on A level but we also offer some BTEC

level 3 courses. We recognise that qualifications

are only part of a balanced education and so

offer courses involving study skills, independent

learning, team building and employability skills.

We have several students enrolled on the Higher

Education Access Programme for Schools (HEAPS).

This is a two year programme in which each

student is assigned a graduate mentor and will have

the opportunity to attend residential trips to some

of the best universities in the UK.

If you would like more information, please ask for

a copy of our Sixth Form prospectus or visit our

website.

My story at Heartlands started in the autumn

of 2002, about two months after I arrived in the UK

from China.

It was quite a daunting process as anyone, who has

had a similar experience of emigrating and living

in a very new and different environment, would

testify. However, I am thankful for the support

and encouragement I received from my tutors and

teachers. Their actions spoke no boundaries and

I was able to grow from strength to strength, not

only academically but also in terms of learning the

English language.

I could always rely on the teachers to push me

to the best of my abilities which has helped me to

achieve my ultimate dream: I am now in my fourth

year at Imperial College London studying medicine

in order to become a doctor.

“

“Jiaqi Shi, former student, tells you about her time here.

Info

rmat

ion

8

Principal Mrs G Jones

No. 10, Great Francis StreetBirmingham B7 4QR

T 0121 464 3931F 0121 464 6562E enquiry@heartlands-academy.org.ukW www.heartlands-academy.org.uk

Transport linksBy bus: Number 14 stops outside; Numbers 55, 72, 94 and 95, are within a 5 minute walk; Numbers 66, 66a and 8 are within a 10 minute walk. By train: Duddeston Station is a 5 minute walk away. Trains stop here on the cross-city line (Four Oaks - Redditch), and on the Walsall line (Walsall - New Street).

Heartlands Academy, No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QRProduced and Designed by Heartlands Academy © 2013All content correct at time of going to print.