Q: How many applications did the Bridge Academy have for 2009?
A: 957 applications were received for the 180 places.
Q: How were students chosen from the 957 applications for the 180 places?
A: Please see our Admissions Policy
Q:How Many Appeals were there for September 2009?
A: There were 74 appeals, 8 of which were successful.
Q: Where are the first intake of students coming from this September?
A: The majority of students live within a mile of the Academy; on average, students live 600 metres away from the school.
The majority of students come from local primary schools in Hackney.
A very small number of students come from schools in neighbouring Tower Hamlets and Islington.
Q: What is UBS’s role as sponsor of the Academy?
A: UBS, the Academy’s sponsor, has worked to support education in Hackney for over fifteen years through its global Community Affairs programme. UBS is proud to sponsor The Bridge Academy as part of its continuing commitment of the firm and its staff to the drive for improved educational standards in Hackney.
UBS envisages, as long as everyone is happy to do so, maintaining a long and mutually beneficial relationship with The Bridge Academy. This will be manifested through representation on the Governing Body, as well as a continuous programme of opportunities for students, staff and UBS employees, including mentoring schemes, work experience programmes and many other community affairs activities.
Q: Does the school cater for children with special needs?
A: Special Educational Needs (SEN) is a “whole Academy issue” and the governors have nominated a member of the team to implement the SEN policy across all Academy activities.
The school recognises its duty in a number of areas including ensuring that all students with disabilities get equal access to all areas of society and that reasonable adjustments may be required to ensure that this happens at school so that students with SEN have full access to the curriculum.
The Academy building, which opened in September 2008, allows full physical access to those with disabilities.
Q: Why did you choose mathematics and music as the specialisms for the school?
A: Fundamentally, music and mathematics complement each other. The following specific reasons also led to this decision:
- They are both non verbal subjects
- Maths is a key skill for life
- Music is a major part of Hackney’s cultural & business life; the cultural industries are a significant employer with Hackney
- Through partners such as the LSO we hope to bring music as an enriching & participatory experience to life at the school
- UBS itself has tremendous maths expertise again which we hope to be able to bring as a contribution to the school
- Educationalists will tell you the subjects are related
- There is a national shortage in maths
Q: How will the school be funded in the long term?
A: The school will be funded in same way as other Hackney schools.
Here is an extract from the Department for Schools, Children and Families’ website regarding how Academies are funded:
“The Government is committed to funding Academies on a comparable basis to other schools in their areas with similar characteristics. Each Academy receives a General Annual Grant from the Secretary of State to meet its normal running costs. Funding Academies on a comparable basis to other schools ensures that the successes which they achieve are directly applicable to other schools in the same areas and circumstances.”
Q: Can you tell me more about the governing body?
A: The Bridge Academy, Hackney’s Board of Governors is currently made up of as follows:
Francesca Barnes:Chair (Sponsor Govenor)
Nick Wright: Vice Chair (Sponsor Governor)
Sir Keith Ajegbo (Former Secondary Head Teacher)
Jim Armstrong (Community Governor)
Anne Barton (Interim Principal)
Richard Casselle (Sponsor Governor)
Des Graham (Parent Governor)
Richard Hardie (Sponsor Governor)
Paul Hatter (Sponsor Governor)
Sally James (Sponsor Governor)
Mike Kerrison (Sponsor Governor)
Keith Panes (Former Secondary Head Teacher)
Owen Ramsay (Parent Governor)
Emma Upton-Swift (Staff Governor)
As it currently stands, the Academy's Governing body has agreed a maximum of 16 Governors. Further candidates, including additional staff and community Governors will be considered in due course.
Q: How often do the Governors meet?
A: The full Governing Body will meet at least once a term and sub committees will meet more frequently.
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How many applications did the Bridge Academy have for 2009?