Welcome from the principal

My name is James Jackson and I am the Principal of West Lakes Academy. I have been fortunate and proud to lead the academy since 2018, prior to which I was Vice Principal. A mathematician by nature (I still teach Year 13 Further Maths) I have been a teacher for 28 years, having graduated from Nottingham University in 1993, working my way from being a classroom teacher, Head of Year, Head of Department, Assistant Headteacher before finally arriving at West Lakes Academy in 2014. I’m passionate about reading, sport and ensuring every child reaches their full potential so they can go on to do whatever they choose as their next pathway choice – that to me is changing lives through learning.

As I mentioned at the start, I am incredibly proud to lead the academy; we have the most dynamic, creative and hard-working group of staff and we are looking forward to finding more visionary, creative experts to join us in that journey. Visitors to the academy comment on how quiet and purposeful the atmosphere is. Students go about their learning with independence and confidence. Daily routines are clear and student behaviour is exemplary. Staff and students often comment on how friendly and welcoming the school is and how they feel cared for and valued. This doesn’t happen by chance and is down to the hard work and diligence of the entire staff body.

The academy has been heavily oversubscribed for the past seven years. In September 2021 our number on roll was 1221 including 199 students in Sixth Form. We are firmly established as the school of choice in the local area. One of the reasons we are oversubscribed is our excellent examination results - our performance against headline measures rates us consistently as above or well above average when compared to national results and one of the-best performing school in the county. Results at post-16 are also strong, consistently placing us in the top 10% in the country for post-16 provision, underlining the high standards we are increasingly known for. In March 2017 the academy was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and this serves further reinforce the reputation we have locally for delivering outstanding teaching and supporting students to make outstanding progress.

This is not an academy that stands still however and we are always seeking the next initiative that will help our students with their learning. The introduction of iPads as learning tools for all students in years 7- 11 is providing excellent opportunities to reshape what high-impact learning

We are not an inward-looking academy; everything we do is informed by evidence and we feel this is vital to our continued progress and success. Our students represent the Academy at interschool competitions, often showcasing our specialisms in science and the arts. Staff are equally enthusiastic to showcase their skills and share good practice; we regularly compete for national and local awards. There is a big ‘Team West Lakes’ ethos here.

One of the academy’s strengths is its staff; teachers are highly professional and experts in their subject and support staff are well qualified. Staff commitment, performance, attendance and morale are high and turnover is low. We attract, motivate and retain a strong team of individuals and there is plenty of scope for new ideas, innovation and employee development.

Being a part of West Lakes Trust also brings with it the opportunity for outstanding continual professional development via our Teaching School Hub, which we were awarded in 2021. This gives us access to the latest CPD and NPQs as well as all aspects of the ECF and other initiatives. There is also the opportunity of collaboration with other schools in the Trust – all who share the same ambition of changing lives through learning.

About us

West Lakes Academy in Egremont, Cumbria, provides education to children from 11 to 18 years old. We opened in September 2008 and moved into our brand new building in March 2012. As an academy, we are independently governed but state funded and free to all children. Like other schools, we are subject to normal OFSTED inspections and work with the Local Education Authority in relation to issues such as admissions.

Our vision is to succeed in ‘Changing Lives through Learning’ by providing the very best possible educational opportunities for young people in West Cumbria. We have extremely high hopes for all of our students and our highly skilled and enthusiastic members of staff encourage children to have high ambitions and to work hard to achieve these.

Students and staff benefit from fantastic facilities, outstanding IT resources, a £300k engineering facility, performing and expressive arts suite and an eco science lab in our brilliant £26m building. All this makes West Lakes Academy one of the best possible places in which to study. Our excellent environment helps keep motivation and morale high and allows us to deliver modern approaches to learning using the latest technologies.

Three sponsors were involved in the setting up of West Lakes Academy in 2008 – Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). All three share an ambition and motivation to support the education and development of young people in West Cumbria and to ensure that West Cumbria is an attractive, vibrant and aspirational place in which to live and work. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd. are two of the most important energy organisations in the UK and two of Cumbria’s largest employers; they provide invaluable resources and industry support to our specialism in science. We receive excellent higher education expertise from our education sponsor, the University of Central Lancashire.

The academy was last inspected by Ofsted in March 2017 and was judged to be Grade 1 – Outstanding in all areas of the inspection. Previously it was judged Good in February 2013. The hard work of our pupils and the dedication of our skilled members of staff enable us to provide students with the education they need for a successful and happy future.

Testimonials