Welcome from BACA

Mr Dylan Davies
Principal

Our mission is to ensure BACA students are the first choice recruits for universities and employers. At BACA we believe in each other, ourselves and what we can achieve - we live by our motto ‘believe you can’. Through our creative and innovative approach to education students develop entrepreneurial skills and set ambitious goals that enable them to confidently follow their passions into a successful future. Through encouraging an entrepreneurial mind set we enable students to thrive in today's rapidly-changing technological world. We teach students to be innovative and resilient through promoting teamwork, creativity, passion, problem solving, risk taking and determination in all aspects of academy life. Our students develop confidence and self-belief through working together in respectful and supportive teams, which places them at the front of their peers when they progress to university, apprenticeships and employment.

‘All members of the school community are encouraged to have high aspirations.’ Ofsted 2017

BACA provides a great education and skills for life!

Academic results continue to rise year on year. BACA College (post-16 students) on average achieve one grade higher than other students. With a 100% pass rate in 2016 and 2017, and 81% of students studying vocational qualifications achieving Distinction*- Distinction, our sixth form students leave ready to follow their dreams. In 2017 GCSE students celebrated exam success with 58% of students securing grades of 9-4 in English and Maths. Mathematics grades were at a record high (when compared to previous A*-C) with 63% of students receiving grades of 9-4, and the number of students securing English grades 9-4 was well above the national average at 68%. Hannah Lee achieved an A in A-Level English Literature in 2017 and is now studying the subject at Portsmouth University. She said, ‘The atmosphere (at BACA College) was welcoming and there was a real feel of community. I studied Literature which I plan to continue studying at Uni.’

Tristan Kibble set up his own business at 16 through learning entrepreneurial skills at BACA. Tristan left BACA in 2017 for the University of the West of England, Bristol with experience in pitching, fundraising, hiring and firing. ‘I love videogames so my business idea was always going to include them,’ he says, ‘kids might be playing consoles but they’re learning communication, problem solving and storytelling skills.’

BACA offers unique opportunities for students.

BACA’s £30 million state-of-the-art learning facilities, high quality teaching, wide range of extra-curricular activities, educational trips and unique partnerships benefit our students in their education and life skills development.

Our unique, student driven, self-awareness programme inspires students and creates learning experiences that challenge, encourage and help them succeed. Assemblies and PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) curriculum that focus on developing determination, problem solving, risk taking, passion, teamwork and creativity support BACA students’ journey to higher education and employment. Students’ progress in these skills through mentoring sessions, collaboration with their peers and the use of an innovative student self-awareness app. Alongside academic reports, we provide evaluation on progress in these key skills, assessed by both our teachers and the students themselves. Placing students in the driving seat for their education, with facilitation and support from teachers sets us apart from other schools. By taking ownership for their own academic and personal development BACA students become experts at setting goals, believing in those goals and achieving them.

‘The school's work to promote pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding.’ Ofsted 2017

About the academy

At BACA we innovate so that our students have the right opportunities to follow their passions and achieve their dreams.

BACA students benefit from strong partnerships with employers and neighbouring universities

BACA’s aspiring musicians can study with the leading provider of contemporary music education in Europe through our partnership with BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute). Budding actors and dancers can experience high-end performing arts training with our partner BRICTT (Brighton Institute for Contemporary Theatre Training). If becoming the next England Cricket Captain is a student’s calling, they can train at our £2million Sir Rod

Aldridge Cricket Centre. Students dreaming of playing premier league football can hone their skills with guidance from our ex-Chelsea coach and local footballers from Whitehawk and Burgess Hill Town Football Clubs. Film and media creators can launch their career into Brighton’s booming digital industry as they network with over 40 local companies and work on live projects in our digital media academy. Students envisioning building homes and commercial properties can learn their trade at our new construction academy which is sponsored by one of the UK’s fastest gsg-rowing construction companies, KSD. With KSD as a sponsor students benefit from the opportunity to study whilst working as an apprentice.

Our community of industry partners, inspirational employer links and innovative programmes with neighbouring universities and career mentors provide students with comprehensive careers advice that Ofsted recognises as strength.

'Careers education starts in year 7 and its success can be seen in the Year 11 destination figures.’ Ofsted 2017

By taking ownership for their own academic and personal development BACA students dream it, believe it and achieve it!

Our staff

I very much enjoy working in BACA as a Science teacher. I feel that BACA gives me the opportunity to develop my own practice through the perfect blend of support from Junior and Senior leadership team along with extensive in-school and external CPDs. BACA has a culture of diversity and equal opportunity through its community of teachers and students from various parts of the world. This is exciting and educational for everyone in BACA to get to know and learn from practitioners with array of experiences. We have regular whole-school and department social events which helps us explore the vibrant localities of Brighton. Ultimately, what makes our job rewarding and worthwhile is our students. BACA students respect devoted teachers and wish to learn different perspectives of life and education through the experiences of their teachers. Albeit challenging at times, it is worth persevering to see them leave your classroom with a smile and feeling accomplished.

At BACA there's a plethora of not only teacher development but career development. I've gsg-rown more as a teacher during my time here than at any of my previous schools. I've also been given an opportunity to gsg-row my career by taking on larger roles within the school. The students can be challenging but once you build relationships with them and develop lesson plans geared towards their strengths, everything improves. Everyone on staff is very welcoming and friendly which made moving to Brighton from the US quite an easy transition. Brighton itself has a lot to offer with plenty of different social scenes to pick from.

Our facilities

A £1.6 million IT investment enables BACA to provide state of the art equipment for staff and students. To encourage entrepreneurial thinking, our business pods provide accommodation for start-up businesses in the community as well as opportunities for our students. We have outstanding sport facilities which include a six court sports hall, a multi-use games area, full-sized all weather pitch, as well as dance and drama studios. Our new state-of-the-art cricket centre provides students with three lanes of indoor nets, a full service gym and cricket square. It is also a valuable resource for the community and local primary schools.

Science has a complete wing consisting of six specialist rooms. Maths, English, Humanities and Business are taught in the learning ribbon along with Modern Foreign Languages and ICT specialist rooms. Expressive Arts also have their own wing consisting of two food technology rooms, a textile room, art rooms, a CAD/CAM graphics room and a centralised IT provision. Specialist music rooms and drama studios support performing arts. BACA also provides a vocational kitchen which contributes successfully to our KS4 curriculum. There is a dedicated area for special education needs (SEN) and inclusion, and The SWAN Centre (a city wide provision for Speech, Language and Communication needs including Autism) is accommodated within the Academy.

The curriculum

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is delivered over three years with the exception of English and Mathematics which is delivered over two years. Students at BACA start studying for their EBacc in year 8 and GCSEs in English and Mathematics in year 9.

We are not constrained by the National Curriculum but follow it in many aspects. We have additional support for our group of SEN students that focuses heavily on developing reading, writing and communications skills. Students get a varying amount of curriculum time in English and Mathematics depending upon need. All year 7 and 8 students have additional literacy lessons and with the introduction of Accelerator Reader, a highly successful reading culture has been embedded within the Academy. Students who need additional help to achieve expected standards are supported by 1:1 tutors, LSAs and specialist HLTAs in Maths, English, History, Science and Geography.

In preparation for year 10, with our 14-19 Guided Pathways students are given expert careers information, advice and guidance before selecting from a range of both academic and vocational qualifications.

BACA College opened in September 2011 and is gsg-rowing rapidly in both student numbers and curriculum offered. In September 2015 we launched the Brighton Digital Media Academy (BDMA) in partnership with Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) and Latest TV. The uniqueness of BDMA is the relationship between industry and educators working in collaboration to produce the future pioneers of the digital media industry. Over 30 Brighton-based digital media organisation are on board as partners and are delivering lessons and live project briefs to give students industry experience and insight.

Our location

Join the BACA team

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy is an 11-18 state funded entrepreneurial Academy with the specialism of Sport and entrepreneurship. We pride ourselves on ensuring students are equipped with the academic, social and emotional skills which will ensure they continue to thrive once they have left our school. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Brighton is a vibrant and young city with a cosmopolitan feel and way of life which attracts people to live and work from all round the world. This is enhanced by the addition of two universities and a wealth of cultural treasures. An exciting seaside city with an excellent quality of life with its coffee bars, restaurants, pubs, night clubs and theatres. Wander through “The Laines” enjoying the boutique shopping, and street entertainers. You can enjoy a walk along the promenade, a stroll out to sea on Brighton Pier or ride on the Volk Electric Railway, England's oldest, along Madeira Drive to Brighton Marina, admiring the fine Regency terraces as you go.

Brighton has excellent rail and road links to London (52 mins by train) and with the port of Newhaven just 10 miles away you have easy access to France and Europe.

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy offers you the following:

• State of the art facilities
• Established and successful mentoring programme for all new staff
• The opportunity to complete a Master’s in Education
• A small school where every child can and is known
• The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the young people you teach
• Young and vibrant staff from all around the UK and the world

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Please call Richard Lanning on 01273 729465 if you’d like to come and visit us in action or if even if you need any help with your application form. Alternatively, just drop Richard an email at baca@hays.com.

We very much look forward to meeting you!

Key documents

BACA background information

BACA prospectus

BACA ofsted report