Learning at the North Liverpool Academy: Support for everyone

Exceptional Students
The word ‘exceptional’ refers to students who are exceptionally gifted whether in one area or several, as well as students who have specific learning difficulties again in one or several areas (i.e. students with special education needs).

The academy’s special needs policy allows full access to the curriculum for all students so that they can fulfil their right to a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum.

Teaching and the curriculum extends more able students through a fast track system while at the same time providing additional support where required. The curriculum is structured to boost basic skills on entry through a more personalised curriculum, which has a strong emphasis on Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and Enterprise.

Equal opportunities

Everyone will be treated equally in the academy and encouraged to be positive in their attitude to everybody outside the academy. We will treat others in the way we would like to be treated ourselves and we will take very seriously any incidents in which people have been treated unequally. We will not allow each other to be racist or sexist and we do not allow each other to use language, either spoken or on paper, which is racist or sexist, or in any way offensive.

The Academic Mentoring Structure

For social and mentoring purposes, students are divided into four ‘Houses’, named after famous Liverpool authors. They are Mc Gough, Russell, Paton and Redmond. Each House will be led by a senior member of staff and supported by a House Manager.

Students will stay in the same House throughout their whole time in the academy.

Tutor groups will contain students from all year groups. Students will have the same form tutor for the length of their Key Stage:

• Key Stage 3 – Years 7 & 8
• Key Stage 4 – Years 9 and 10
• Key Stage 4 – Year 11
• Key Stage 5 – Years 12 & 13

The form tutor is responsible for students’ academic progress across the whole curriculum and will be the key figure in communicating with parents.

Student Responsibility
The House system offers many opportunities for students to take responsibility, and develop leadership and team-building skills. Each House has formal positions of responsibility, such as House Sports and Art Captains. There is a huge variety of Inter-House competitions and challenges.
There is also a Student Parliament with representatives from all the Houses which has set up a student anti bullying team which is fully trained in supporting students and resolving conflict.
The academy’s Business and Enterprise focus, provides students with responsibilities across the academy in areas such as multi-media, communications, arts and sports leadership.