Discovery prospectus

Welcome

Welcome to the latest prospectus for
THE DISCOVERY ACADEMY where you will
discover a feel for the inspiring educational
opportunities available to our students.

Our guiding principle is to ‘Expect Excellence’
to ensure our students’ ASPIRE. ASPIRE represents
the values, skills and behaviours that we strive
towards, and our curriculum is designed to support
students in reaching these. It is our purpose to ensure
that all students achieve academically and together
with these wider skills and values we believe this is the
perfect mix to ensure our children leave us to have a

Our culture is formed through our core values of Ambition; Positivity and Respect,
and we expect all of our community to demonstrate behaviours that uphold
these values.

of opportunities that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Due to our popularity
and success, we are a growing Academy. We currently have a vibrant £21 million modern

September 2022 an additional £2 million which will create more superb teaching spaces

tirelessly to ensure the very best outcomes for our students, whilst pastorally ensuring
they are kept safe, feel valued and receive the best care.

I hope that you enjoy reading our prospectus, and I welcome you to visit our Academy,
either on our Open Evening or virtually through our website, for you to see what

Mr R. Kelsall
Principal

1

The Alpha Academies Trust is a partnership
of academies in North Staffordshire that
provide excellent academic tuition,
outstanding vocational experiences and
engaging enrichment programmes for young
people in our primary and secondary
academies
‘Expect Excellence’ supports a growth mind
set culture throughout the Trust with our focus
on inspiring students to achieve their goals,
equipping them with skills for life and the
workplace.
We work in partnership with employers,
schools and colleges and other organisations
to create innovative opportunities to support
learning in the classroom and the workplace.
We want every student to possess high levels
of literacy and numeracy at all ages and
be fully prepared to progress to further
and higher education, apprenticeships and
employment when they leave secondary
education.

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Our Aims

The Discovery Academy is an exciting place to be and we encourage and support
students to‘Expect Excellence’ in all aspects of academy life.

Our highly motivated teachers see learning as a skill for life, opening the door to a
world of opportunities and success.

• Success for all: Every student is treated as an individual. We will support
your child to achieve their full academic potential and develop the ASPIRE
skills, values and behaviours.

• ExtendedLearning: Our Extended Learning Team ensure students
enjoy learning. They challenge as well as nurture your child with a
range of support mechanisms.

• Extra-curricular opportunities: Outside the classroom the Discovery
Academy is alive with opportunities to ensure we create a vibrant
environment and young people who live life to the full.

“In The Discovery
Academy there are a
wide range of academic
and practical subjects,
teachers.”

YEAR 10 STUDENT

3

4

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Our Curriculum

At The Discovery Academy we strive to ensure every child achieves outstanding
academic success whilst developing skills, values and behaviours to lead fulfilling
lives.

Developing ASPIRE skills, values and behaviours are central to our curriculum vision.
Each curriculum area is proud to have developed an innovative and creative
approach to Teaching and Learning, while excellent facilities and technology
throughout the Academy, means that young people find learning exciting and
enjoyable.

To ensure students have a head start when they enter the world of work, we also
offer a wide range of vocational courses.

An important part of the curriculum is exploring beyond the classroom, with
residential and day field trips, visits to local business and industry, leisure activities
such as trips to Italy & Germany.

Expert Teaching and Feedback

Rigorous teaching programmes and robust assessment give students every
opportunity to succeed. Students are continuously tracked through their time at
the Academy to promote awareness and ownership of their own learning. Young
people across Stoke -on-Trent deserve a learning environment that instils pride and
enthusiasm to gain skills and knowledge for a bright future. We believe that The
Discovery Academy will give them exactly that.

“Pupils are expected to challenge themselves to excel.

A clear focus is placed on making sure the most-able

pupils can achieve well and have high aspirations for

their future. This includes participating in a range of

specialist challenge projects and enrichment

opportunities.” OFSTED

5

2

6

Our Environment

The Academy delivers the ultimate in modern, innovative design and state of the art
facilities which will enhance every student’s learning. The visionary design is classed
as an exemplar academy building and sets a new educational standard and boasts:

• Flexible working areas and new technologies throughout to open up
multi-media dimensions for all learning.

• First class sports facilities – a purpose-built sports hall, 3G pitch,
dance studio, gymnasium and health suite.

• Fully equipped science labs.

• Anywhere, Anytime Learning Foundations: providing increased
access to ICT outside the classroom and supporting students’ learning
outside normal Academy hours.

• The latest Audio-Visual tools to allow students to record and publish their work.

• An additional £2 million building providing additional specialist teaching areas
opening in September 2022.

Caring for Your Child

The Discovery Academy understands that when students feel settled and secure they
will achieve more. The Academy’s Pastoral system or the network of support we provide
to students and parents is a real strength and forms the basis of all that we do.

When your child joins the Academy, we will share more about how our pastoral system
F

student feels valued and supported. You will often hear about the ‘community feel’ at
the Academy and our pastoral care enables our young people to resolve any issue that
is impacting upon their education, whether this stems from inside or out of the Academy.

7

4

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Celebration of success

The ambitious culture within The Discovery Academy is mirrored by the celebration
of success. Students’ achievements are recognised daily, weekly, termly through our
new and exciting ‘Class Charts’ system so that good attendance, positive and respectful
behaviour and attitude in lessons and around the Academy are recognised and
rewarded. This culminates weekly with a Principals’ Award and points that the
students accrue go towards prizes and reward events during the term.

The Academy also places recognition for those exceptional
students through our prestigious scholar awards – celebrated

annually at the impressive Victoria Hall.

Transition

The Discovery Academy teaching team understand that transition to a new school
can be daunting. It’s a whole new exciting phase in your child’s life and we work
hard to make this a smooth and really enjoyable transition.
Academy teachers may already be familiar faces to your child as we work closely with
many local primary schools, regularly visiting and working with Year 5 and Year 6
children. The move from primary to The Discovery Academy is also made seamless
with children coming into the Academy for lessons, as well as being welcomed to
Open Days and Induction Days, which will equip them with all the information they
need to make a positive transition in September.

parents is a high priority. We want you to share in your child’s success and
feel part of our community. We hold regular Parent Information Evenings as well as
invitations to events, Form Tutor meetings and an Orientation Day before your child
begins their new academy journey.

“When I joined the Academy,
I made loads of new friends,
joined clubs and have learnt
so much.”

YEAR 7 STUDENT

9

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Discovery Drive | Stoke on Trent | ST2 0GA
Tel: 01782 882 100 | Fax: 01782 244 224

Email: [email protected]
www.thediscoveryacademy.co.uk

Principal: Mr R. Kelsall
Chair of Governing Body: Mrs P Jackson

The Discovery Academy is an 11-16
Independent educational establishment
which is part of the ‘Alpha Academies
Trust’.

The Discovery Academy - Company No: 7272906 Independent Schools No: 861/4714
All our policies can be accessed from our website. The Discovery Academy is committed to equal opportunities within all aspects of the organisation of the academy and equal
access to learning for all students in all areas of the curriculum and promotes and encourages positive attitudes in all our pupils.