Ark Bolingbroke Academy

Bolingbroke Academy has high aspirations for all its pupils. We aim for the highest standards of educational achievement: we respect and value every pupil and support each to reach their full potential.

We want Bolingbroke Academy to be an outstanding local school and a strong part of the local community. It was founded after a campaign for a non-selective local school by Battersea parents and residents and our home is a building that’s been at the heart of its community for 132 years. Our heritage is that of a community committed to the achievement and opportunity of all its citizens – a commitment our school will share.

We offer a broad academic curriculum centred on traditional academic subjects of Maths, English, Sciences, Humanities and Languages, alongside our specialism in Music. This is complimented by Art, Design, Drama and Sports.

The Bolingbroke Academy curriculum has excellent English and Mathematics teaching at its core, to provide the strongest possible educational platform for all subjects. We set very high achievement targets for all pupils and organise the curriculum and teaching to make it possible for all pupils to reach their targets. Pupils entering the school with attainment below the level expected for their age follow a curriculum designed to accelerate their progress so that they can participate fully.

Bolingbroke Academy offers a full curriculum at GCSE and A level and a selection of other courses to ensure a programme which challenges and meets the needs of all pupils. We expect almost all pupils to continue to study at least one humanities subject and a language up to the age of 16. Courses such as the International Baccalaureate and Pre-U will be considered once the likely demand for such programmes is known.

Bolingbroke Academy is a non-selective, non-denominational, parent-promoted school for local children. The admissions process is managed by Wandsworth Council.

When we admit pupils, we prioritise children with statements of special educational needs. Then, if our academy is oversubscribed, we offer places to children in the following order of priority:

• Looked After Children and all previously Looked After Children.
• Children of founding parents.
• Children of a staff member who fills a post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage as approved by Ark Schools. (This priority is limited to no more than one place in each form of entry in any year).
• Children who have a sibling who already attends the school and who will continue to do so on the date of admission (for this purpose "sibling" is a whole, half or step-brother or step-sister or an adopted child resident at the same address).
• Children attending a named feeder school.
• Children of staff in the school may also receive priority where the parent has been employed in the academy for two or more years at the time of the application for admission (that is the year before admission). Priority is limited to no more than one place for each form of entry in any year.
• Children who live closest to the school using a straight line distance from the main entrance of the academy to the main entrance to the child's home.

Like all ARK academies, Bolingbroke Academy specialises in Mathematics.

We also have a strong focus on Music, which helps develop self-expression, self-discipline, performance and team work as well as building a strong sense of community through collective participation. Our aim is for every pupil to play an instrument confidently and to take part in regular performances.

Good assessment, properly used, is a powerful educational tool to help ensure that every pupil achieves their full potential.

Effective assessment is fully integrated into our curriculum and teaching and we assess progress regularly. Formal assessments take place at least termly and parents are fully informed of their child’s progress.

Our aim is for 100% of pupils to achieve at least five GCSEs at A*–C including English and mathematics and for 90% of pupils to successfully complete the English Baccalaureate (six good GCSEs including English, Mathematics, two Science qualifications, one Humanity and one Modern Foreign Language). All ARK schools expect at least 80% of pupils to achieve at least five GCSEs including English and Mathematics.

The Bolingbroke curriculum has excellent English and Mathematics teaching at its core, to provide the strongest possible educational platform for all subjects. We set very high achievement targets for all pupils and organise the curriculum and teaching to make it possible for all pupils to reach their targets. Pupils entering the school with attainment below the level expected for their age follow a curriculum designed to accelerate their progress so that they can participate fully.

Bolingbroke Academy offers a full curriculum at GCSE and A level and a selection of other courses to ensure a programme which challenges and meets the needs of all pupils. We expect almost all pupils to continue to study at least one humanities subject and a language up to the age of 16. Courses such as the International Baccalaureate and Pre-U will be considered once the likely demand for such programmes is known.