About us
The very essence of leadership is that you have a vision. It’s got to be a vision that you can articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.’
Theodore Hesburgh
Our vision is based around three core principals Strive, Achieve and Believe!
This is very much in the heart of everything we do. As a result, our students are articulate, hard-working and well-rounded individuals who achieve highly and enjoy their educational journey.
Part of a family of schools
We joined The Shared Learning Trust in 2015; a stand-alone multi-academy trust which runs a family of schools based in Bedfordshire. The trust ethos permeates all that we do at The Stockwood Park Academy as we contribute to a collective vision – ‘Strive, Believe, Achieve’.
The ‘Personal Best’ Curriculum
We are passionate about developing student character at The Chalk Hills Academy. Our ‘Personal Best’ curriculum develops key attributes under the following headings: Achievement, Attendance, Oracy, Literacy, Numeracy, Character & Resilience, Future and Community and Charity. The ‘Personal Best’ curriculum is followed by Year 7, 8 and 9 students. In Year 9 students also follow the Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze programme. At Key Stage 4 our students follow a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum with opportunities to develop character through the Junior Leadership Team and Prefect system.
How Chalk Hills Works
The Executive Principal and Head of School create a culture of high expectations and applies this to students (supported by parents and carers) and staff. Students are expected to attend on time every day in exemplary uniform. SLT and duty staff are highly visible and support a culture of high-expectations. If students are a few seconds late they will attend the ‘late desk’ and serve a detention.
Once in class, students are expected to be polite, studious and engage fully in learning activities within their PL group. Planners are checked regularly by form tutors and equipment checks take place every week.
Teachers are expected to plan challenging and engaging lessons; to manage their classes with professionalism and pride, to cultivate a passion for their subject with their students; to ensure lessons are differentiated with an up to date ‘Active Folder’; to set meaningful homework and to mark students’ work regularly, providing feedback which helps the students to improve.
Data is employed throughout the academy to shine a light on performance. Students who fail to meet their target grades are monitored and given extra support. With students and teachers the monitoring and support is based on the premise that we BELIEVE everyone can and will succeed.
We equip students to thrive and gain confidence in the exam hall. We do this by holding regular formal assessments in every subject, at every year in the academy. The results of these assessments enable us to group students according to attainment. With such a diverse intake, we believe this is the best way of meeting the needs of our students. For our key examination groups (Years 11, 12 and 13) we provide LASER intervention opportunities; these include, 'Summit Seminars' which featured as part of the Schools and Academies Trust published programmes. We provide all of our Laser enhancement though a process of diagnose, therapy, test which ensures all sessions are relevant and specifically tailored to student needs.
Students are developed through a culture of love and support, including a detailed and comprehensive programme of trips, clubs, sporting opportunities and events. PL tutors ensure our students are provided with daily contact with the same teacher and an opportunity to discuss current affairs and develop an awareness of Citizenship. Our assemblies (weekly for all year groups) provide a comprehensive programme covering topics such as health including nutrition and body awareness, citizenship, careers and virtues such as tolerance and respect for others. Special events such as ‘Holocaust Memorial Week’, The Sleigh Bell Appeal and charity events provide students with the skills and confidence to understand and contribute to the world beyond the academy gates. During 2018/19 our students have raised the following amounts of money for charity through a variety of activities including cake-sales, non-uniform days and charitable events: ‘Children in Need’ £666.67, 'Anti-bullying Alliance' £666.67, ‘Save The Children’ £139.31 and £250.84 for Comic Relief.
We seek teachers who are keen to make a difference in the lives of our students. We foster a strong sense of team amongst our staff, as demonstrated through our three staff briefings a week. Wednesday briefing has a focus on ‘Teaching Takeaways’ and is led by a member of staff with a Teaching & Learning theme. We have a comprehensive staff benefits booklet and clear lines of accountability through performance management.
A proactive leadership team works tirelessly to ensure that the various cogs in the organisation are aligned. We strive to improve and believe in working tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence.
