Welcome from the Principal – Helen McEvoy

Thank you for your interest in the Nuneaton Academy.

The Nuneaton Academy opened in September 2010, formed out of two predecessor schools, Manor Park Community School and Alderman Smith School. Both schools were National Challenge schools, Alderman Smith having being judged as requiring special measures in summer 2009. The opening of the Academy represented a new beginning for the students, staff and community the Academy serves. I joined the Academy in January 2011 determined to look to and create a better future for the students, staff and community that the Academy serves!

Many changes have happened over the year, we were delighted with the improved performance in the GCSE examination: an increase of 34% in students achieving 5+A*-C grades and an increase of 12% in students achieving 5+A*- C grades including Maths and English. This is only the beginning, there is much still to do.

"CHILDREN ARE THE LIVING MESSAGES WE SEND TO A TIME WE WILL NOT SEE." – NEIL POSTMAN
We have the opportunity as The Nuneaton Academy to have a profound impact on the young people of this community, and on the community as a whole. We can do things as they have always been done or we can boldly stride out to provide young people and their families with an environment that says that we value them, we believe in them that we will not stop short of doing anything and everything that will ensure their success, whether that is academically, socially or personally.

It is incumbent on us to ensure that the messages we sent to the future are positive, authentic and strong. It is our young people who have the power to shape the future, but it is us, our generation who give them the tools in which to shape that future.

Within the Academy we are seeking to blur the lines that, in the past have caused division and differences. For example, vertical tutor groups which encourage students to integrate and interact across age groups and ranges; cross-curricular learning, removing the boundaries and ‘boxes’ of subject specific learning to open a vista of holistic and broad learning which reflect a real world experience with all its richness, variety and engagement; teaching that is focused on the facilitation of learning rather than a platform for the performance of teaching, and the opportunity to create autonomous, independent and self-directed learners.

This Academy is on a journey to outstanding. In order to reach that destination the right people need to be in place to help our passage. I hope you find the information provided here helpful in supporting your decision whether to apply or not. However, there is nothing that can replace seeing the ‘real thing’ and we invite you to visit the Academy to get a flavour of what we are doing and whether this is the place for you.

Helen McEvoy
Principal