About us

Aspire Academy is a special school catering for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs aged 5-11 years. All pupils at aspire have an Educational Health Care Plan.

The Aspire Team is made up of Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Higher Level Teaching Assistants, Behaviour Learning Mentors, a Creative Arts Therapist, a Pastoral Support Co-ordinator, office staff and Site Manager. All staff work together to ensure the school is a safe and happy learning environment where pupils feel supported, valued and receive the best possible education. The team is also supported by an external Speech Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, and not forgetting the school therapy dog ‘Loki’.

At Aspire, we strive to ensure that every pupil has access to outstanding teaching and learning. Our curriculum ensures that pupils receive a broad and balanced education as well as many extra curricular opportunities such as school sports teams, after school clubs and the school choir. We expand pupils' cultural capital by providing relevant trips, workshops and visitors where possible.

In order to support pupils to take responsibility for their actions and make positive choices, the culture of ‘The ASPIRE way’ has been adopted across the school.

The Aspire Way:

  • Achievement - To do your best and work hard to achieve success in all areas of school life
  • Synergy - To work as a team and care for all members of our school community
  • Perseverance - To be assertive, positive and have the determination to face challenges
  • Independence - To have the confidence in your own ability to learn and grow
  • Responsibility - To take ownership of our learning and our behaviours
  • Equality - To ensure everyone is treated the same regardless of our differences

Intent

Mission Statement

A school community that has wellbeing and achievement at its core, encouraging students to fearlessly embrace opportunities, form meaningful relationships and become productive members of our local community and beyond.

Aim

At Aspire Academy our vision is that all pupils become engaged in learning, see learning as fun, relevant and have high aspirations for their future. We believe that young people should be given the opportunities to experience a range of subjects and interests both inside the classroom and through a wide range of extra-curricular activities and experiences. We want all pupils to see themselves as learners, to enjoy attending school and to move forward into future education with positive attitudes and high aspirations.

  • Implementation

    Approaches to Curriculum

    Individual learning programmes – EHCP Outcomes – individual targets (reading, writing, maths) Access to full curriculum – Thematic learning – pupil engagement - High expectations High quality of teaching and learning – range of learning styles-active learning Extra curricular opportunities – sports clubs-choir-child centred curriculum clubs

    Core

    • English - Reading/writing
    • Mathematics
    • Science

    Foundation

    • History
    • Geography
    • Art
    • DT
    • PE
    • Religious Studies
    • Careers
    • Computing
    • PSHE
    • Music

    Enrichment

    • Regular curriculum trips and workshops
    • Science week
    • World Book Day
    • School Choir
    • School sports teams and matches
    • After school sports clubs
    • Weekly curriculum enrichment club for all pupils
    • Mental Health Awareness week
    • Forest schools
    • Children’s university
    • Lunchtime socialisation and indoor club
    • School Council
    • The Dog Mentor
    • Bike ability course

    Pastoral Support

    • Daily award letter to parents
    • Weekly certificates
    • Class credit points
    • Personalised reward charts
    • Reward trip
    • Restorative justice meetings
    • Daily golden time
    • Individual behaviour targets
    • Mental Health and well-being co-ordinator

    Support

    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Cricket
    • Badminton
    • tag rugby
    • netball
    • gymnastics
    • rounder’s
    • Inter school tournaments
    • School football team

  • Curriculum Breakdown Aspire Academy 2020-2021

    Subject/activity Hours per week Compulsory/ voluntary Comments
    English 6 C Daily; includes daily reading time, phonics/spag lessons, spellings
    Maths 5 C Daily includes lessons and early morning work
    Science 1 C Practical and real-life focus to engage learners. Science week additional in spring term. May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly
    Computing 1 C Discrete teaching of computing skills, opportunities also for computing in all other subjects, online safety. May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly
    Geography/History 1 C Subjects rotated on a half termly basis.
    Includes school visits, interactive workshops and experience days. 
    May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly
    RE 45 minutes C Taught through half termly topic days focusing on key religions, Christian festivals also taught throughout the year
    PSHE 1 hour 15 minutes C Personal, Social & Health Education. Includes discrete lessons and regular opportunities for discussion when needs arise. 
    May include assemblies/workshops from outside organisations eg NSPCC.
    May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly.
    This included daily discussions relating to individual behaviour targets and credit systems
    Art and Design Technology 1 C Subjects rotated on a half termly basis.
    May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly
    Physical Education 45 minutes C Weekly PE lesson taught by a specialist PE coach. Each class has one terms swimming lessons per year. 
    After school opportunities for sports clubs and football training. Inter school sports competitions
    Music 45 minutes C Music lessons taught following Charanga scheme of work. May be taught as a block of work rather than weekly.
    Weekly school choir optional
    Curriculum Enrichment Clubs 1 C Pupils to be a curriculum club to attend in a area that interest them or they have a skill in
    Golden time 2 hours 30 minutes C Daily golden time/reward. Pupils choose own activity from those provided and have the opportunity to socially interact with different staff and pupils across the school
    Total - 28 Lessons

  • Curriculum Subject Breakdown

    Download details of the curriculum scheme of works below:

All of our performance data is published on the Government website.

To view them, please click here.

Under the Academies Act 2010, schools may apply to the Secretary of State to convert to academy status. Such schools are known as academy converters.

Upon conversion to academy status the existing school closes and a new school opens in its place. Although little may have changed, the academy converter is a new legal entity.

Most academy converters have yet to have a section 5 inspection. However, to assist parents and other interested parties, information about, and the inspection history of the school which preceded the new academy are also available below for three years.

Aspire Academy is part of London South East Academies Trust.

A full list of relevant policies can be found on the London South East Academies Trust website.