Learning Pathways
Learning Pathways
Yearbook Flip
Content is replaced with yearbook flip book
Yearbook
Click below to read our first yearbook.
Calendar
Newsletter
Click on a link below to download our newsletter.
House System
The Academy has a House System which is organised into four Houses: Tomlinson, Ramsden, Kennedy and Armstrong. This system has been fostered so that students and staff feel a strong sense of identity.
Within the house structure there are plenty of opportunities for students to take part in a wide range of activities. House Managers oversee the House system and encourage and support students to take on responsibilities within their Houses to develop a sense of ownership and pride.
Year System
Each Year is overseen by a Head of Student Engagement and Standards, they are responsible for the overall welfare of the students within the Year Group and are concerned directly with the academic progress, behaviour, punctuality and standard of uniform. They have an Assistant Head of Student Engagement and Standards to help them.
Let us show you around
This film was made by Year 8 and Year 9 students, we hope you enjoy it.
Barrow Borough Sports Council Activities
FREE Sports activities for students of all ages/ adults and families .
This Newsletter is updated every half term.
Learning Innovations
iPod touch scheme
Almost 150 Year 7 students opted into the iPod touch scheme and we also have iPods available for loan via the Libraries. We would like to thank parents for all of the support they have given this project so far.
Students should now be using their iPod regularly in school, and they should bring it with them every day. A teaching ‘iPod Ambassador’ has been appointed in each department, and they are working to embed the use of iPods in lessons across the Academy.
If you are still having trouble getting logged on to iTunes, and couldn’t make it to the recent ‘iPod Information Evening’, this video provides instructions for how to get set up.
You can also find the iPod touch manual here.
iPods in school
iPods in English
Miss Thompson’s Year 7 class used their iPods and the free app ‘Splice’ to film their own unique versions of the famous witches’ spell from ‘Macbeth’. NO COMPUTERS WERE TOUCHED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PRODUCTION: ONLY IPODS WERE USED.
QR Codes and iPods
A QR (Quick Response) code is like a barcode: it carries information which can be ’read’ if you have a QR code reader. There are many QR code reader apps, and, as our students now have access to iPods, a number of the iPod Ambassadors have been trialing the use of QR codes in the classroom and around the Academy.
QR codes can carry both and graphical information and can also be used to link to files and websites. They can, therefore, be a very powerful classroom ‘tool’. There are many websites which produce QR codes. One of the best we’ve found is www.qrstuff.com.
Miss Walker’s Year 8 group recently completed a test paper and, rather than give them written feedback, Miss Walker videoed herself (using an iPod) going through the individual students’ papers and showing them exactly what they’d done right and what they needed to do to improve. She then uploaded these videos to the server and generated a QR code (at http://www.qrstuff.com) for each student which provided a link to their own video feedback. She printed out these codes and pasted them on the front of each students’ paper. When they received their marked papers, they simply ‘scanned’ the code with their iPods and watched her speaking directly to them about their work.
The PE department been making good use of them too: there is now a display on South Site for the Year 7s which uses QR codes to provide information about what students need to do to progress to the next Level, and Mr. Booth has carried out a QR orienteering activity. Miss Rothnie has used them for a ‘find the matching question and answer’ activity in French and Mr. Olphert has used them in conjunction with the graph-generator ‘Quick Graph’.
Some schools, such as Soar Valley College in Leicester, have already taken their use of QR codes even further, using them to generate 3D animated information through a package called ‘Second Sight’ (http://www.mysecondsight.com). As you scan QR codes, you might see a moving 3D solar system, a running dinosaur, or the inner workings of the human body. These ‘augmented reality’ possibilities are incredibly exciting and we’re planning a trial soon. In the interim, you can see what is on offer by visiting the Second Sight site and downloading their ‘experiences’.
iPods at Home
There are thousands of educational apps out there which students can use to support their learning at home. You can find out about, and source apps here.
Here are just a few FREE apps that we recommend. We’ll be making new recommendations regularly, so watch this space.
BrainPOP
A New Movie EVERY Day! Learn something different each day with the free BrainPOP Featured Movie App for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch! Watch BrainPOP’s daily animated movie, then test your new knowledge with an interactive quiz. Topics covered include cover Science, Math, Social Studies, English, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Music, and Health . All movies are captioned, making it easy to read along.
Mathster lite
Mathster is a fun, exciting and challenging Maths brain training game. With challenges for all ages and skills levels, become the master of equations in no time!
WordWeb Dictionary
The WordWeb British English dictionary and thesaurus: fast searching, spelling suggestions, definitions, usage examples, synonyms and related words.
FREE German Tutor – 24/7 Language Learning
Learn or refresh your German, anytime and anywhere with your own personal language lab.
FREE French Essentials by AccelaStudy
This app helps you understand and pronounce words in the shortest possible time.
Rewards and Recognition
Furness Academy is pleased to launch a ‘Rewards and Recognition’ scheme, which will be fully operational in September 2011. We aim to build upon and expand our current systems of support for all students, combining both praise and rewards.
At Furness Academy, we firmly believe in recognising and supporting individual progress and achievement in all areas of school life.
The scheme will focus on recognising and rewarding:
- Excellent attendance and punctuality
- Exemplary behaviour
- Striving for Personal Best through 100% effort
- Outstanding individual achievement
- Supportive attitudes to other students
- Developing the excellent image of Furness Academy in the Community
- Extra-curricular success
- Constructive contributions to the way the school is run
- Enterprising activities
The scheme will focus on all students, and will not solely focus on academic achievement, although this is of course important.
The ‘Rewards and Recognition’ scheme so far includes:
- Praise postcards (designed by students of Furness Academy) to be sent to parents/carers
- Attendance Rewards – to recognise the commitment and determination of students who achieve 100% attendance throughout each school term
- Student of the Month – to be nominated by subject teachers.
- Recognition of Achievement – via display throughout school, TV screens situated around the school sites, the school website and where appropriate, in the North West Evening Mail
- Yearbook – to celebrate achievement throughout the school year via a glossy publication, free to all
- Vivo Miles – the school rewards system, allowing students to collect miles and spend them via the online shop, at their leisure
- Furness Academy Awards Evening – a prestigious event to celebrate outstanding achievement
Furness Academy aim to recognise and reward all types of progress in all areas for all students.
Online Prospectus
Replaced by Flip Book
News & Events
Sports News
Fixtures Calendar
Click on agenda to see a full list of upcoming events…
Parent & Student Login
Login info
Student Achievement
Student Acheivment
Governing Body
The Governing Body, which works across both campuses, is responsible for all decisions made within the Academy and will have a clear role in the on-going strategic development of the organisation. Any decisions they make come into effect on both sites.
The Governing Body is made up of:
- The Principal and Chief Executive (Mr Douglas Blackledge)
- The Sponsors (6 Representatives – 2 per sponsor organisation)
- A person appointed by the County Council (Mrs Anne Burns)
- Parent Governors (Mr Gary James, & Mr Scott Wilson)
- Elected staff members (Mrs. Sayle)
Additional members can become a part of the Governing Body as agreed by the sponsors, and we are always open to suggestions.
Governors Calendar
The Redevelopment of Furness Academy
The new Academy building will be a turning point for the provision of education within Barrow. It will provide high quality, state-of-the-art facilities for students, staff and the wider community.
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Education
How will the new Academy building improve education and help Barrow’s young people reach their potential?
The capital investment will provide Barrow with a new state-of-the-art education facility that will:
- Provide new technologies throughout
- Create inspirational learning environments
- Provide an inclusive environment for all abilities
- Offer learning opportunities for the whole community
- Link internal and external teaching areas
- Change lives through learning
Building Position
What considerations were made in deciding the position of the proposed Academy Building?
The proposed building position ensures that there will be minimal disruption to students’ learning during construction.
- The building is positioned on the site to have minimal visual impact for residents of all the surrounding roads.
- The split level building (2 and 3 storey) minimises the impact on the existing environment.
- Set back from the road with landscaped frontage, the new build will establish a sympathetic relationship with Barrow Park.
- Keeping the existing hedgerows and boundary trees will enhance the visual setting of the Academy.
- The open landscape has been retained with external play areas and green space surrounding the new building.
- Less than 4% of the open space will be occupied by the new building.
Community Use
Will there be opportunities for the wider community to benefit from the new facilities?
A community entrance has been included in the design and opportunities will be provided for the wider community to use the new facilities:
- Community entrance for after hours use of the Sports facilities.
- 5 new multi-use-games-areas and new all weather 3G artificial pitch.
- Vocational learning opportunities.
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Facilities
What facilities will be provided in the new Academy building?
Building the new Academy on a single site means extensive specialist facilities can be provided including:
- Fitness suite and Activity studio
- Drama and Dance studios
- Vocational learning classrooms
- Music and TV/Radio studios
- Newly equipped science rooms and technology workshops
- All-weather 3G sports pitch and multi-usegames-area.
- Facilities dedicated to Specialist Educational Needs
Access
What considerations have been made for vehicle and pedestrian access?
- New primary public access will be provided from Park Drive with vehicle, cycle and pedestrian routes onto the site.
- An alternative pedestrian and cycle route is also provided from Lesh Lane into the safe courtyard area.
- The entrance has been positioned at a safe distance of over 150m from the Park Drive / Bridgegate Avenue junction.
- There is provision to allow safe bus and coach drop off at the community entrance on the Academy Site.
- 120 new parking bays will be created with disabled spaces provided adjacent to the new community entrance.
Environment
What environmental considerations have been made during the development of the design?
The new building and associated external areas will include the following:
- New external learning spaces to support the ecological and habitat studies.
- A trim trail has been designed within the landscape to support fitness activities and active external learning.
- Sustainable drainage has been designed to minimise surface water impact.
- Renewable technology including facilities to provide energy from bio-mass fuels.
- Modern methods of construction will be used to limit carbon emissions.
- High levels of thermal and acoustic insulation will be achieved to enhance the internal learning environment
Work on construction of the new Academy is proposed to commence early summer 2011 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
Please forward any comments on the proposed new Academy to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Senior Leadership Team
Our Senior Leadership Team has a wealth of experience in a variety of schools. Their job, under the direction of the Principal, is to lead the Academy working with staff, parents and students to make sure that everyone can achieve their personal best.
Student Voice
We involve and listen to the ideas and opinions of all our students in everyday life at Furness Academy and they have already helped us to choose the name of the Academy and its Houses, as well as designing the logo and selecting the uniform. We want students to feel confident that their ideas are valued, respected and acted on where appropriate.
The Academy has an elected student council, which helps us to make decisions that are right for the Academy and the students, and a Head Boy, Head Girl and prefects, who are chosen from an elected short list, are in close contact with the Senior Leadership Team to represent the students.
Inspiring Communities Newsletters
Please download or view the Inspiring Communities Newsletters
Inclusion
Inclusion
News & Events
News and Events
About the Learning Zones
Each Zone is led by a Director with the responsibility for the development of the curriculum, learning and achievement within the Zones and together across the Academy. Traditional subjects are ‘clustered’ within the Learning Zones to develop students’ understanding of how subjects and study topics relate to each other and also how they contribute towards the development of key skills including research, problem solving and communication.
In Year 7, students spend five hours a week within each Zone. During this time they undertake cross curricular, topic based work focusing on developing their skills as learners and also providing each student with a wide range of opportunities to begin to explore and identify areas of particular interest, areas they may be particularly interested in and areas where they may require additional support.
This approach builds on the learning in Primary School whilst developing and strengthening the skills required to transfer and apply this learning in the secondary context leading towards individually designed learning pathways.
The Learning Zones are responsible for developing these pathways throughout a students time at the Academy and beyond. This is achieved through individual learning plans for each student which are reviewed as they progress through the Academy and begin to specialise in particular areas of study. In Years 9,10 and 11 students will begin to specialise and to follow personalised curriculum pathways as part of their 14-19 progression.
Work in the Learning Zones will provide the foundations for all 14-19 pathway, including GCSE and Diploma work.
Curriculum and Departments
Curriculum and Departments
Gallery
Gallery of Images
Admissions and Prospectus
Admissions and Prospectus
Key Dates & Academic Calendar
Click on Agenda for a list of upcoming events.
Vivo
The new way to incentivise young people
Vivo Miles is an exciting Web based School Rewards system, that is easy to use and administer. Each pupil gets their own personalised Vivo card to collect reward currency - the Vivo (V). Vivos go beyond conventional stickers or stars to offer a real-life vehicle for financial learning.
Vivo Miles offer teachers an effective classroom tool for recognising effort and conduct as well as an incentive scheme for creating projects and activities whose reach extends to communities, businesses and charities.
The Vivo Miles model is designed to help schools deliver the government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ objectives - be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic wellbeing.
Furness Academy uses Vivo Miles as a reward for:
- Attendance and outstanding progress
- Healthy eating and exercise
- Display work or performances
- Taking responsibility in school
- Being a good ambassador out of school
Travel
Here is the latest information on the Furness Academy School Bus Service.
Uniform
All students are required to wear the Academy uniform, and there is a strict uniform policy. This is because we want to maintain a professional image that is evident both inside the school and outside and that reflects our values and ethos.
The uniform has been designed with the help of pupils at the three predecessor schools and reflects the high standards and aspirations of the Academy. We hope all our students will be able to wear their Academy uniform with pride.
Full details on the uniform requirements and standards of appearance can be found in the documents available to download at the bottom of this page.
Illustrated Guide to the Academy Uniform
Uniform List and Standards of Appearance
Community
We hope to build state-of-the-art facilities that local people can use in the evening and at the weekend. We also aim to put together a curriculum that will meet the needs of local businesses and the wider business community to continue the regeneration of Barrow.
We will use the sports specialism to help unite the three school communities, and to help bring the local community and its Academy together through a shared set of values.
Facilities for Hire
Facilities at both campuses are available to hire to members of the local community.
Please contact: Mrs Renton at North Site on 01229 814980 x101
SIMS Learning Gateway
This is a central web-based portal allowing staff and other stakeholders’ access to school information anytime, from anywhere, facilitating sharing of data and a secure and efficient way of publishing reports.
Please click on the logo to sign in to the SIMS Learning Gateway
Trips
Furness Academy intends that all students will undertake a residential experience at some point during their time here and we hope to build upon this Year’s very successful Year 8 Outdoor Residential at Glaramara Outdoor Centre.
The Annual Ski Course to Austria for Years 9 and 10 students will take place in January 2012.
Various other excursions take place throughout the school year and full details will be available on this website shortly.
Departments
Furness Academy’s curriculum takes students from the secure and close-knit feel that characterises good primary schooling to high levels of independent learning over the five years of their secondary education.
All students have an individual learning plan. along with the support of staff, this will allow students to plan their individual curriculum pathways within the Academy as well as progression routes beyond.
Throughout their five years at Furness Academy, students study and achieve qualifications within the Learning Zones in the following areas:
- English and Literacy
- Maths and Numeracy
- Physical Education and Sport Science
- Technology
- PSD (Personal and Social Development)
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Humanities
- RE (Religious and Moral Education)
Exam Results
Download our exam results below.
Latest News
Please find below the some of the latest news and events happening at Furness Academy this term.
About the Academy
About the academy
Catering
Furness Academy offers the following service on both sites:
Breakfast club
8.00-8.30am
Serves toast, bacon buns, yoghurt, fruit juices and hot chocolate.
Healthy Tuck shop
11.00-11.20am
Serves toast, sandwiches, muffins, fruit bread, crumpets and fruit juice.
Lunch is served in two sittings
12.20 -1.05 and 1.20-2.05
There are 2 bars in each site, one serving hot the other cold meals, and there is a Kiosk in Tower [North site].
The cold bar complies with Government legislation and serves a selection of healthy sandwiches, hoagies, wraps, baguettes, pizza, soup of the day, tray-bakes and fruit. A selection of healthy beverages is also on sale and catering staff will advise and encourage students to make healthy choices.
The hot bar covers the new nutritional government legislation and guidelines which sells home-made dishes ranging from curry and rice to roast dinners with a variety of wholesome desserts, which are taken from approved menus
The kiosk serves sandwiches, pizza and soft drinks. (Which comply with government legislation)
From 31St October 2011, Furness Academy will move to a new and exciting ‘Cashless Catering’ System.
Please refer to the PDF attachments below for more information on this.
If you have any questions please contact the Catering Manager, Jayne Beach, at South Site on 825 163 ext 222, or at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sports
Pupils have a full range of extra-curricular activities including recreational and school representational opportunities. Activities include football, rugby, and netball, cross country, athletics, rounders, tennis and cricket.
Recent successes whilst representing Furness Academy include the Under 16 Girls Netball achieving County Champion Status and qualifying for the North West Regional Round of the English School Cup.
The year 7 Boys have been crowned County 5 a side Football Champions and represented the county at the Northern Finals.
Extra Curricular
Extension and Enrichment Opportunities
Each student builds his or her own programme to support academic and personal development, based on individual talents and interests. The majority of our activities have been chosen by our students based on what they want and need from their Academy.
We have a wide range of activities to suit every student and help them grow and prepare for the future. These include music and drama, sport, student voice and supplementary academic tuition for those who need additional help or for those who are particularly able.
Prospectus
Thank you for your interest in Furness Academy, if you would like to download our prospectus; please use the icons below to download the format you require.
Student Absence
If your child is unwell, please telephone the school absence line on 01229 840 099 with a reason or text keepkidssafe by 10:00am.
Admissions
Furness Academy’s new admissions policy will apply from September 2010. If you would like a copy of the full document, please get in touch or download the current policy.
In the case of oversubscription, parental choice, the school that siblings attend, site oversubscription and the distance from home to another school where a place is available will be taken into consideration.
Applications will be considered in the following order of priority:
- Children in public care;
- Children in the catchment area who will have brothers or sisters at the Academy when they will be attending;
- Children outside the catchment area who have brothers or sisters at the Academy because they have been directed to the Academy by the Local Authority;
- Other children in the catchment area, with priority given to children who live furthest away from their nearest alternative;
- Children outside the catchment area who will have brothers or sisters at the Academy when they will be attending;
- Other children in the catchment area, with priority given to children who live closest to the school (measured by the shortest walking route by road).The admission limit for Furness Academy is 240 students. It is highly recommended therefore, that should you be interested in your child attending Furness Academy you will need to make the academy your first choice.
Useful Information
Useful Information Intro
Clubs & Societies
Furness Academy runs a number of after school clubs and societies for all ages across the Year Groups.
Vacancies
Please find below details of current vacancies at Furness Academy.
Policies & Procedures
Furness Academy employs the following policies and procedures;
You can request any of the following by contacting us.
- Able, Gifted and Talented Policy
- Admissions Policy
- Alcohol Policy
- Anti-bullying Policy
- ARRA Policy
- Assessment, Recording and Reporting Policy
- AUP Letter to Parents
- Behaviour for Learning Policy
- Bullying and Harassment Procedure
- Calendar Template
- Capability Procedure
- Charging and Remissions Policy
- Childcare Vouchers Policy
- Citizenship Policy
- Citizenship Programme of Study
- Code of Conduct
- Collective Disputes Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Crisis Management Plan
- Data Protection Policy
- Disability Equality Duty Policy
- Disciplinary Procedure
- Drugs Education Policy
- Educational Visits Policy
- Equal Opportunities (Staff) Policy
- Equal Opportunities (Students) Policy
- Equal Opportunities (Inclusion) Policy
- E-Safety Policy
- Gifts and Hospitality Policy
- Grievance Policy and Procedure
- Guidance regarding Conducting Investigations
- Health, Safety and Environment Policy
- Health and Sex Education Policy
- Home Academy Procedures
- Homework Policy
- Human Influenza Policy
- Inclusion Policy
- Learning and Teaching Policy
- Looked after Children Policy
- Marking Policy
- Medical Needs Policy
- Medical Treatment of Students Policy
- Mentoring and Guidance of Students Policy
- NQT Mentoring Programme
- NQT Policy
- Pay Protection Policy
- Personal Development (PSHE and IAG) Policy
- Promoting Positive Behaviour: Rewards and Sanctions
- Race Equality Policy
- Recruitment and Appointment Procedure
- Redundancy Procedure
- Risk Management Policy
- Retirement Procedure at or over 65 years of age
- Safeguarding Policy
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Sex and Relationship Education Policy
- Sickness Absence Procedure
- Staff AUP
- Site Allocation Policy
- Smoking Policy
- Special Needs Policy
- Student Attendance Policy
- Vision for Inclusion
- Whistleblowing Procedure and Guidance
Pastoral
At Furness Academy we have a strong Pastoral Care system overseen by the Director of Student Engagement and Standards, Heads of Student Engagement and Standards and a team of Learning Group Leaders. When students arrive at the Academy they are placed into a Learning Group.
The Learning Group Leaders are the first point of contact for students, parents and carers.
The Learning Group meets daily in the morning for registration and it is the Learning Group Leader who monitors the students’ academic performance, attendance and behaviour.
Contact, Location & Key Contacts
For more information, please contact:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Or write to:
Mr D Blackledge – Principal
Furness Academy
Thorncliffe Road
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 5QP
View on Google Maps
In the event that you wish to contact the Board of Governors, please write to:
Mr G Catterson,
Acting Clerk to the Governors
c/o Furness Academy
North Site
Thorncliffe Road
Barrow in Furness
Cumbria
LA14 5QP
View on Google Maps
Main School Contacts
North Site (Main reception) 01229 814980
South Site (Main reception) 01229 825163
HR Manager (Miss Caine) 01229-814980 x133
Finance Director (Mrs Hodkinson) 01229-825163 x237
Attendance & Admissions 01229 825163 x205
Facilities Hire (Mrs H Postlethwaite) 01229-814980 x124
Students Services (South Site) 01229-825163 x 228/x206
Student Services (North Site) 01229 -814980 x151/x152
From the Principal
Thank you for your interest in the education provision, care, guidance and support on offer at Furness Academy.
Academies are different from other schools in that we are directly funded by and accountable to the Department for Education rather than the Local Authority. We subsequently enjoy some ‘freedoms’ which allow us to operate differently, in some regards, but like all schools we have the best interests of our students at heart in everything we do.
Furness Academy provides a welcoming and safe environment, where the promotion of our core values of RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and COOPERATION underpin all our efforts to ensure that students have the opportunity to achieve their PERSONAL BEST.
Part of our vision for our Academy is to help our students reach their potential, raise their aspirations and improve standards. We work in partnership with parents/carers, students, teachers and the wider community in our pursuit of this goal.
We have set clear and ambitious targets for Furness Academy and for its students. Our talented and enthusiastic teaching staff are committed to delivering first-class education now and into the future. This will be enhanced by new, state-of-the-art facilities which are planned to be completed on South Site by September 2013, and so it is a very exciting time to be considering joining us.
I hope this gives you an idea of what Furness Academy is like. If you need any more information, please do get in touch with me and I will do my best to help.
Douglas Blackledge
Principal
Resources
Resources
Resources
Resources
Resources
- Inspiring Communities Newsletter 63
- Inspiring Communities Newsletter Issue 64
- Inspiring Communitites Newsletter Issue 65
- Inspiring Communities Newsletter Issue 66
Resources
- Cashless Catering Information
- FAQs regarding Cashless Catering
- Furness Academy Menu Week 1
- Furness Academy Menu Week 2
- Furness Academy Menu Week 3