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Welcome from the Headteacher

Dear prospective parent, carer and student,

Thank you for expressing an interest in attending The Priory Ruskin Academy.  I do hope that our website will provide an insight into our vibrant academy and that, in the absence of an open evening due to current circumstances, we can in at least some way begin to capture the unique energy, ethos, passion and pride that shapes and motivates us.

We are committed to our duty to ensure that our students have the best possible life chances and strive to ensure they have the tools to become true citizens of the world.  We are very much a values driven academy; of course we aim to secure outstanding outcomes for our pupils, but as an Ofsted outstanding academy that constantly considers how to develop the holistic child, we also want our students to become:

  • Deeply cultured individuals
  • Intellectually curious and innovative
  • Show generosity of spirit in our local and global community
  • Develop courage, resilience and leadership skills
  • Have a sense of awe and wonder and passion for what life has to offer

These values and goals permeate everyday life at Ruskin; they are rewarded through our Ruskin Respects scheme and form a thread throughout our curriculum.  Our values are manifest in the absolute commitment of our staff who are deeply ambitious for our students; a “Ruskin Teacher” knows their subject, knows their students and knows how to inspire.

We have an extensive pastoral system in the academy. We have unapologetically high expectations of behaviour, uniform and engagement, but this goes hand in hand with kindness, compassion, mutual respect and a fostered sense of our Ruskin family.  As a large academy, we understand that our new year 7s can be apprehensive about transition, however, each student will be nurtured by their Head of House and Pastoral Manager.  To ease year 7 transition further, we have four dedicated Assistant Heads of House who work solely with our new cohort throughout their first year with us.

We are incredibly proud of our curriculum; in the early years of the academy students will study the foundation subjects of the national curriculum and have access to a superlative extra-curricular provision, including a plethora of sports, cultural visits and later, Duke of Edinburgh and CCF opportunities.  This extensive co-curriculum of academic and enrichment opportunities has been developed into our baccalaureate, which recognises and promotes academic achievement and effort in conjunction with our wider values at each stage of our students’ journey with us.

As students progress into studying in the upper school, we have developed a rich, modern and broad offer of options that sits alongside our traditional core of subjects.  We are passionate about our specialisms of sport and the visual arts; provide vocational options such as engineering, performing arts and childcare and offer further GCSEs in subjects such as music, psychology, French, German, Spanish and of course the triple sciences.  Although it may seem a long way away, I do think it is important to know that a similarly rich offer continues into our sixth form.  Each student, from whatever their start point, has every opportunity to find, develop and be inspired by their educational journey.

In short, a Ruskin student has fantastic opportunities both within and beyond the classroom.  They are supported by dedicated and talented staff.  They are given the opportunity to flourish in a well-resourced and creative environment.  A Ruskin student is proud of their academy and the contribution they make to it.

Yours faithfully

Ms R Wyles

Headteacher