The Petchey Academy

We are committed to developing young people who can take their place competitively, in all walks of life, as rounded, mature and confident members of modern British society. We place great emphasis on giving our students the ability to consider and make choices in life, rather than following the crowd. Each student is expected to strive for the highest level of individual success in their chosen path.

The Petchey Academy will consider all applications for places. Each year the academy is over subscribed but all Hackney residents and some Islington residents have an equal and fair chance of a place and a waiting list system is adopted for those that would still like to be considered for a place after initial allocation.Applications to The Petchey Academy's sixth form (University Gateway) are via our online application. All Year 11 students who attend The Petchey Academy will be interviewed by a member of the Leadership Group and made a conditional offer based upon their predicted grades. Students from other schools in Hackney and from other boroughs are encouraged to apply.

The academy’s crest includes the Latin word ‘Excelsior’ ("ever higher") which succinctly captures our ambition for academic excellence in an environment where students are encouraged to develop their interests and talents in all areas. I strongly believe that the students are proud of their academy and value its unique character. Our sponsor, Sir Jack Petchey CBE, gives us that distinctive character. Both students and staff follow his maxim, “If I think I can, I can” which proves an apt guide for anyone striving for excellence in their studies, extra-curricular activities and working relationships.

Students have a clear set of moral values and a sense of responsibility towards the academy. Expectations of commitment to study, social responsibility and respect are encapsulated in our “Petchey Way” which reflects our ethos of nurturing traditional values in a modern world. When you visit, please ask any student what The Petchey Way means to them. Answers will range from wearing smart uniform and holding doors open for people, to working hard for the highest qualifications and successfully winning a place at a top university.

The academy is here to nurture and stimulate our students whatever their interests and ambitions. Whether they are fascinated by higher maths, music or politics, we encourage and support them to pursue their ambitions. If they are inspired by medical science, The Petchey Academy is the place for them. Our links and partnerships with teaching hospitals and universities, coupled with our Clinical Skills Lab (usually only available in universities) create a stimulating environment to explore the possibilities. However, we offer a wide range of experiences and activities through our partners such as Bloomberg which open our students' eyes to the huge number of options available outside of the medical sciences and our impartial careers guidance programme runs from Year 7 through to sixth form.

There is no better way to find out about our unique academy than to come and visit us. Members of our Student Leadership Team will be happy to discuss with you what makes The Petchey Academy such a special place.

The curriculum at The Petchey Academy is innovative and provides students with a wide range of memorable learning experiences. We aim to provide students with a broad choice of subjects reflecting their interests to encourage students to enjoy and achieve while making excellent progress. Our curriculum has many outstanding features with particular areas of excellence in Science, Mathematics, ICT, Music and Art.

The governors act as the trustees for the charitable activities of The Petchey Academy and are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law.Governors are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association. Sponsor governors are appointed by the Jack Petchey Foundation. Governors positions are filled by an open recruitment process.

All adults who come into contact with our students in their work have a statutory duty of care to safeguard and promote their welfare. The academy provides guidance which applies to all adults, including volunteers working in or on behalf of the academy.Safeguarding children goes much wider than simply protecting them from neglect and abuse. It is also about keeping them safe from accidents, crime, bullying and actively promoting their welfare in a healthy and safe environment.

At Petchey we realise that the transition between your child's primary to secondary school is an exciting experience but can also sometimes be an anxious time. We try to make the move as smooth as possible by running an Information Sharing Evening, Transition Day and Summer School so that each student is fully prepared for the changes to come in September.

All students at the academy have opportunities to be involved in a wide range of extra-curricular learning activities including a selection of sports clubs. We also have a number of special curriculum days throughout the year to focus on world events and promote opportunities to celebrate our shared ECM (Every Child Matters) principles.