Dreaming of sandy beaches and lazy holidays

The inaugural year at Hammersmith Academy is over. We bade farewell to our Year 12 students who completed their studies and celebrated their achievement at the celebration assembly in early July. They moved onto their work experience prior to a much deserved rest and anxious wait for the AS results in August. We look forward to their return in September.


The year 7 students have completed their ninth module of this academic year. Revision and examinations continued as we prepared for our Olympic themed cross-curricular events to close out this fantastic year. Our reward system is creaking under the difficult choices being made after so many students have performed to the highest levels and achieved so widely. The end of term achievement assembly is excitingly anticipated. I am still considering the choices for Headteacher awards.

We continue to feverishly plan for the next academic year whilst we evaluate the year gone by. We look forward to the addition of 20 new staff to complement our current staff. We double in size to almost 500 students from September. A whole year 8 and year 13 curriculum to be written and added to the online Virtual Learning Environment.

Class lists to be created, tutor groups added to, equipment to be cleaned and checked for September. Handbooks and telephone directories are being updated whilst uniforms are fitted for all our new arrivals. New books are on order for the library and lessons. All hands to the pump, this ship is on course for next year!

Those thoughts of sandy beaches are held at bay while we prepare for our final push this academic year. Our Olympic celebrations continue with our inter-house competition. A myriad of activities and sporting excellence. Who will be the winner of this inaugural sports day? Which house will be the first? Berners- Lee, Gates. Lovelace or Tesla?

So with pride and heartfelt thanks, I congratulate the tremendous efforts of all our staff that toiled and turned this building into a school with a heart. An inspirational place where students strive to better themselves and others. A place where students risk failure in order to taste the sweetness of success. They have given so much of themselves. Congratulations and a well-deserved rest awaits you.

And finally to all our parents who have guided and supported their children through the high expectations and rain, sunshine and homework, on the road to maturation. Still far to go but how the young students of Hammersmith Academy have travelled. Let’s celebrate their achievements.

Be good and stay safe and I look forward to our continued learning adventure.

Sunshine, rain and rainbows

The new academy building has been tested by the immense rainfall last month. The warmth of our building has certainly banished the wet weather from our thoughts as we press on through module 7 and the exam season. Mocks are currently under way, coursework firmly squared away and practice papers being attacked with vengeance. In observing the 6th Form, the year 7s are clear about the intensity and quality that will be required of them in a few years’ time.

The arrival of our outdoor tennis tables has created enthusiasm for this Olympic sport. Fast topspin smashes and cool backhand defensive strokes are served up daily. We have seen an increase in participation of both boys and girls seeking regular combat across the net. We search out for more good weather to aid this lunch time competition.

Four classes went indoor bowling as a prize celebration for winning the competition for naming the academy houses. A splendid evening of strikes and halves and dogged competition. A small prize for enduring house names that will last many generations.

Our recycling effort in the academy is developing at pace. This focus, led by the Student Council, will develop an environmentally conscious group of students which will benefit the academy as we grow and double in numbers for next year. The Student Leadership will report on its foci, actions and impact in each academy newsletter. Congratulations to all those successful candidates voted on to the council by their peers.

The cricket season continues unabated by the rain. Not quite a traditional game as games are played indoors but better than cancellation. We hope the wickets will dry out soon for more sporting games on balmy afternoons. The same goes for athletics. We dream of the sunshine in order to move outside and run with the breeze in our faces.

It was a pleasure to show so many of our local community around the academy at our Community Open Evening on the 19th April, the hardy individuals who braved thunder and lightning and no little rain to enjoy a student led tour. We aim to hold further events in the future and will communicate through our community newsletter.

We are beginning to finalise our induction plans for the new year 7 entry for September. Uniform and bag orders are being made. We will send out details very soon.

Offers are going out to our potential 6th form students for next year. If you are in year 11 or 6th form currently and would like to make an application, do so quickly if you want an interview. Contact the academy directly.

Keep up-to-date through our newsletter.

The Lord Mayor's visit and other news, March 2012

All growing together


The formal Opening of Hammersmith Academy by Alderman David Wooton, The Lord Mayor of the City of London, took place on the 7th March. The academy was washed clean by the torrential rain but it did not dampen spirits. The students performed their mini-plays and sang wonderful songs to celebrate the fantastic work of students, parents and staff to make the academy launch such a success. Thanks were given to the many unsung heroes from builders and architects, to teachers and governors who all had significant parts in bringing the academy together over a six year period. The day finished with a balloon launch with tagged messages from the students, indicating their hopes and dreams for the future. The sun managed to break through so that the afternoon finished in a blaze of sunshine, good feeling and shared exhilaration.

Students are focused on the lead up to Easter. Our focus as always is progress and for the year 12s how best they can prepare for the final push to the exams in mid-May. The revision starts now.

We are also in the midst of interviewing prospective sixth formers for September. We make offers but all depends on results this summer. Those in Year 11 must concentrate on those GCSEs and ensure they get the grades to join our current students next year.

Book Week was a tremendous affair. A big thank you to Ms Hartnett, our dynamic librarian. She organised inspiring events, including the visit by children’s authors, Andy Briggs and Dan Freedman, both real inspirational characters and role models for our year 7 students.

Well done also to our girls and boys year 7 indoor athletes for winning the Hammersmith and Fulham Indoor Athletics Championship. A real credit to the academy. You have set the bar very high for the following year groups.

Congratulations to those current year 6 students that have been offered a place at the academy starting this September. We look forward to inducting you in the summer term and getting you organised for uniform and information. Get those acceptance letters in ASAP.

Our Student Council is now up and running and providing a voice for our students. Nominations for House prefects continue as we add layers to our student body representation.

The summer beckons and with the good weather our outside table tennis tables take on a whole new dimension. Silky skills and whipped forehands really have the competition ‘hotting up.’

We have also employed 18 new staff for teaching in September 2012. A marathon of interviews and short-listing has proved to be rewarding as we have some outstanding staff joining the ever expanding academy team. This will lead to even more Session 3 opportunities next year.
I sign off with the imminent launch of HA Radio. Our web-based radio station will give students to really get a sense of developing different industry type skills or simply develop additional skills and interests.

Happy New Year! Welcome Back for the Spring Term

Going for gold every day!

It is with much anticipation that I welcome you back for this Spring term.  I hope that you have had a restful festive break.   We are looking forward to adding to our collective achievements in this Olympic year.

The first term was quite remarkable for making history and launching this much needed school in west London. The end of term Winter Fayre was a wonderful celebration of the talents and creative endeavours of our year 7 students.  This showcase really highlighted the wonderful collegial attitude of our students and staff.  It was a really fun way to end the year with art showcases, singing, dancing and drama sketches written and performed by the students.

The crowning event for the term was the naming of the academy houses.  Sixteen different presentations were made by the tutor groups with four major names selected by the sponsors.  The chair of governors, Tom Ilube, on behalf of the sponsors pitched each idea to the whole student body who then voted for their preferred choice.  I can now reveal that the new house names are:

Green House                     Gates House

Yellow house                     Lovelace House

Red House                          Berners-Lee House

Blue House                         Tesla House

Our focus for this term is very much on maintaining and expanding the excellent ethos created last year and pushing up the standards even more over the coming months.  We will be entering a busy period of staff recruitment and thus continue to build and develop our teams to provide an inspirational educational experience.

Students will be launching immediately into module 4 and the 6^th formers will be sitting their first formal modular exams throughout January.  We wish them good luck and look forward to receiving their results.

As we approach the coming months we will see more daylight as the days lengthen but please can parents ensure that their children have appropriate winter coats and footwear for the conditions (please see dress code on our website).

Our first Talent Month competition will be held throughout January.  It will culminate with a formal contest, where the top acts identified and selected from dancing to art, comedy to juggling and many others, go head-to-head to become the winner of  HA’s Got Talent 2012.  All talents are given the chance to shine. I am sure we will also see some staff entries!

I look forward to sharing more throughout 2012.

Warming Up Nicely & Keeping Winter at Bay!

The half-term seems but a distant memory and we race towards the Christmas holiday period.  Sixth form are feverishly completing their modules and preparing for their first mock exams at Hammersmith Academy.  These are in preparation for the real module exams in January.  Focus is the order of the day but the extra time put in now will pay off come the summer results. The year 7 students continue to impress with their enthusiasm for the challenges given to them.  They have embraced our culture of 100% as a reflection of their ambitions.

The Lords Mayor’s Show parade was a tremendous success.  I’d like to give special thanks to our sponsors for the marvellous breakfast at the Mercers’ Great Hall prior to the show.  It was great to sense the history of the hall and the size of the pageant.  Students paraded brilliantly and exhibited great pride in their academy.  They marched with zeal and energy and were one of the loudest groups of participants, engaging with the crowds throughout the route. One special mention for Frank, who was completely unfazed by his interview with Clare Balding during the BBC coverage.  One of a number of potential future broadcasters

Tutor groups have been leading the assemblies for this half term with lots of high quality assemblies produced by the tutor teams during Anti-bullying week (wb: 14^th Nov.) and Charity Focus week (wb: 21^st Nov.).  There has been a tangible collaboration of talents between our 6^th form and year 7 students in each tutor group.  Each group has raised the bar for the next group in their house.

The launch of the Moodle for online curriculum access has increased the number of activities and the overall amount of independent study completed by students.  The laptops have certainly increased the range and types of activities that are stretching all to achieve more. 

Our Session 3 programme of after academy activities (4-5.30pm) has really taken off with lots of sporting and vocational activities starting this term.  Table tennis before the academy day, trampolining, football and basketball, Art Club and Glee club for our performers, library support and reading clubs.  Please see the website for more details of the programme.   

The 6^th Form Open Evening was well attended.  I know it seems early for year 11 students to be thinking of next year but applications should be handed in as soon as possible.  Through being able to show the academy in its full glory and with our current 6^th form students demonstrating the range of qualifications on offer, there will be much wider interest in the places available for September 2012.  Early applications will ensure an earlier interview and an offer being made.  So do not delay.  Use the website to download an application form and email or send it in!

We aim to have some community use of our MUGA weekdays from 5.30-7pm.  See our website for details. Thanks to QPR for providing the coaches for these sessions.  Look out for the posters.  Further, we aim to launch our Parent and Community Advisory Council after Christmas.  We are still finalising details but the voice of our community is important to us and can help to make us more successful.  From all at the academy, thank you for your support.

Heads Newsletter - October 2011

I would like to start with a very big thank you to our parents and carers for the support that you have provided your child and the academy in the transition from primary to secondary school.  Students have been punctual and very well presented and ready to learn daily.  They have responded brilliantly to the high expectations we set for their appearance and performance inside and outside the academy. The next two weeks provides the opportunity for a well-deserved rest.  We have set some independent learning work for students on the Moodle for the second week to ensure they are ready to return bright and focused for the next half term. 

The last six weeks have flown by but it has been a hive of activity here at the academy. Students have used the entire academy from DT on the ground floor through to Science at the top.  We have held various show events for prospective parents and students, as well as a large opening event with our sponsor, The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.  On each occasion our students and staff have performed as if we have been at the academy for 6 years rather than the six weeks.

Many trips have been taken in year 12 and year 7.  Trips to the Royal College of Music, who have also kindly donated 3 pianos, a Bafta gaming conference, the British Technology Show, the World Skills Careers Conference, a history trip to the docklands and many more.  It is a great way to enliven the learning and make real connections for our students.  Also, girls’ and boys’ teams have played and won football and basketball matches against local schools.  An auspicious start to our sporting future.

We have celebrated Black History Month throughout October.  Students have researched and learnt about the history and impact of black culture in class, tutor time and through assemblies.  Further, I have been amazed by the science projects brought into the academy by year 7 over the last couple of weeks, dinosaurs with different textures in Art, a celebration of poetry in English and many other projects across the subjects.  Year 12 continue to push to reach their targets as the mock exams loom in December.  Our learning culture continues to strengthen. 

It has been a wonderful start for the academy and I would like to thank my staff whose dedication and hard work in the summer and throughout this term is driving our ambition to be outstanding.  Further, I would like to thank the wider community for your continued support and kind messages. 

Enjoy the break and we look forward to seeing staff and students on Monday 7^th November.

Up and running at last!

We have now completed our second full week since opening.  The students’ arrival has transformed the building in to a live functioning academy and it feels brilliant.  To see our incredibly smart and professional student body arriving on day one, with anticipation and excitement, made my heart leap.  All the hard work of the whole academy team came together with the smooth transition into a place of learning.

Parents’ anxieties were soothed by the confidence of their sons and daughters.  Last kisses and hugs at the gate and a wave goodbye after our ceremonial cutting of the ribbon at the entrance.  It is always a tough transition from primary to secondary for parents, as well as students.

Our students have come from many different primary schools and secondary schools for our first cohort of year 7 and sixth form.  The preparations have paid off as I visit classroom upon classroom where students are engaged in their learning.  Books being read and journals written in, questions being answered and sports facilities ringing to the sounds of excited action.  It is music to our ears.

The tie ceremony on the first day really made our opening day special.  Students recited our mission statement to their Head of House and committed to be an HA learner.  They have already taken ownership of what it means to be a Hammersmith Academy student and are setting the very high standards required of others in years to come.  Also, the competition for naming the houses has begun.  It will culminate with presentations by students to the governors to select the four best. The theme, of course, is technology around our specialisms in IT and creative and digital media.

And so we begin again.  The Open Evening on the 10^th October is fast approaching.  We are two weeks into opening and we are thinking about the transition of the current year 6s.  It will be so much easier this year.  We have an academy and our own students to show off and I think parents and their children will be impressed.

We are also able to take on a few more sixth form students.  We have had to split courses because of large numbers and so have a few additional places available.  If you are a sixth former and have the grades, then make an application now.  

Contact us at the academy and send in a completed application form available through the website at http://www.hammersmithacdademy.org/

Well, I sign off now with pride in the way our students have risen to the challenge of being the founding members of Hammersmith Academy.