Education with Character

At The Albion Academy we understand that there is more to a good education than just academic success. Our school aims to develop character, compassion, and service. Young people are expected to contribute to their school and to society; to try things which they think they cannot do; to persist in the face of difficulty; to become resilient in overcoming obstacles; to manage themselves; to work independently on things which challenge them; to work with others and in teams; to be courageous and caring; to lead. 

We want young people to look back on a joyful schooling which has inspired and challenged them, given them wide opportunity and prepared them for the challenges of life. We are therefore committed to providing all our students with a broad and balanced curriculum as well as cultural and social experiences that broaden horizons and support the development of character. A huge part of our Education with Character journey is to create and develop great learners but also great people.  

At our school, we pride ourselves on our vibrant extra-curricular programme, offering over 30 clubs across a two-week timetable. Each activity is carefully crafted, considering the input and needs of our students through student voice initiatives.  

Our extra-curricular Handbook provides an overview of the clubs that we have on offer and can be found here. Some of the examples that feature in our current club offering include: 

• British Sign Language Club 
• RAF Cadets 
• Creative Writing Club 
• History Debate Club 
• Football/Netball/Dodgeball/Basketball/Fitness Clubs 
• Chess Club 

The goal of our extra-curricular programme is to enrich students’ school experience, developing their cultural capital and key transferable skills, ultimately enhancing their employability.  

Our extra-curricular offerings are closely aligned with our whole-school rewards system, ensuring that students are recognised and celebrated for their participation and achievements on a weekly and half-termly basis. Additionally, we foster strong links with the local community, with our RAF Cadet Force serving as a focal point for providing students with unique opportunities they wouldn't typically encounter.  

At the Albion Academy, we believe that the learning journey of every student should include experiences beyond the classroom. Our summer adventure residential to Wales is an exciting opportunity for students to explore the great outdoors, and it's currently FREE for all qualifying students. This residential trip is not only a chance for adventure but also serves as a reward linked to co-curricular attendance, motivating students to engage in extracurricular activities.  

In addition to our residential trip, we offer various visits tailored to enrich our taught curriculum. For example, our Geography field trip to Fleetwood and Blackpool provides hands-on learning experiences that reinforce classroom teachings. Furthermore, our performance team provide trips to see live theatre productions, offering students a chance to immerse themselves in the arts and culture. 

Character development is also a priority at our school, which is why we organize a wide range of character days. During these events, external visitors and speakers educate students on important topics such as online safety, community awareness, consent, respect, and cultural understanding. Each session is integrated into our pastoral curriculum to support students' holistic development. 

We also understand the importance of nurturing students' ambitions. To promote the school value of ambition, we arrange visits to local universities and educational providers, providing insight and inspiration to fuel our students’ aspirations.

At the Albion Academy were believe leadership should take form in all parts of our Academy. A shining example of this is Student Leadership, which runs from Year 7 through to Year 11. In Year 11, leadership is represented in the form of our Student Leadership Team which mirrors the Senior Leadership Team structure. The Student Leadership Team takes accountability for whole school initiatives, leavers events, duties, and leading charity projects. The current leadership team meet with Mr Wild on a weekly basis where they meet to deliberate a variety of different topics to improve the school for themselves and future generations at the Albion Academy. Within lower years, two representatives of each form group form the Student Council. These students meet on a fortnightly basis with Wild, to discuss more modest projects, as well as helping to inform staff of rising issues for pupils.  

Examples of the work that has been done by Student Leadership include Gypsy, Roma and Traveler awareness week, Valentines Charity sale for Centre Point, Black History Month, Year 11 Prom, Christmas Food Bank drive and Parents Evenings with the work done continuing throughout the whole school year.