Parkwood E-ACT Academy continues to make strong progress in Sheffield

“We have the upmost confidence in our students to achieve, we instil the highest of aspirations in them and do everything we can to support them to achieve their goals"

Parkwood E-ACT Academy’s most recent Ofsted report made special note that the school’s “work to increase the expectations of teachers and pupils is evident in the strong progress that most pupils are making across subject areas.” Furthermore, the report noted that there were “no differences between the learning of disadvantaged pupils and pupils who are not disadvantaged”, and that the school’s increased expectations for attendance and behaviour had resulted in an environment where children felt safe to learn and play.

At the head of the growth in the school’s reputation is headteacher Gemma Cottingham, who has made it her goal that “we have the upmost confidence in our students to achieve, we instil the highest of aspirations in them and do everything we can to support them to achieve their goals. We ensure that our students succeed and leave us as confident, articulate and aspirational young people, fully equipped for life and work in the 21st century”.

“We believe that every child can achieve and succeed, no matter what barriers may stand in their way, we support our students to overcome these” adds Gemma. “Our high aspirations, belief and high expectations create an environment which supports and challenges everyone to achieve their full potential, both inside and outside the classroom.

“Our high aspirations, belief and high expectations create an environment which supports and challenges everyone to achieve their full potential"

“We also invest a huge amount of time into our student’s mental health and wellbeing, ensuring that they are supported in every way possible. We believe this is incredibly important and as important as a child’s academic success.

“Our dedicated wellbeing hub is always open to students and over 50 per cent of our staff at Parkwood are trained Mental Health First Aiders. It is our aim that all staff in all 28 of our academies are Mental Health First Aid-trained in order to provide the very best support for our students.”

Parkwood is an E-ACT Academy, one of 28 across England, with a total of 2,500 employees moulding the future of 18,000 children. Formed in 2008, the E-Act Trust puts several objectives at its core, one of which is to understand, celebrate, and work with local communities, rather than lock its doors behind it.

“As an E-ACT academy we can collaborate and share ideas with other academies within the trust in ways that other schools may not be able to,” explains Parkwood E-Act Academy’s detailed website. “By being part of a larger trust, our pupils and staff also feel part of something much bigger.”

Parkwood E-ACT Academy is opening its doors on September 15 and 29 for physical open evenings between 4.30 and 6.30pm. As well as getting to see the school’s fantastic state-of-the-art facilities for yourself, these will be fun-packed evenings for parents and pupils where you can learn more about each subject taught at the school and meet the teachers who will be educating your child. It is also a great opportunity to have all your questions answered in person and find out as much information about our academy as possible.

For more information about Parkwood E-ACT Academy, you can view a range of resources here.

At the same website, you can also register your interest in the open evenings, and ask any related questions.