Message from the Executive Headteacher

It gives me great pleasure and a sense of pride to welcome visitors to the website for Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy. Nelson Mandela said that:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

I am confident that the academy’s ‘Learning for Life’ motto fits well with this and I believe that every Cockburn MAT student has the potential to do just that.

In September 2021, the Phase 1 building opened its doors to our founding Year 7 year group. In a short time the hard work of the students and staff at the academy has ensured that we have made rapid progress in our ‘Transformation to Excellence’, leading to the academy being oversubscribed. In September 2022, the Phase 1 building was expanded for our second cohort of students. This September the Phase 2 building was completed and we have welcomed a third year group to the academy in our new academy building.

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy provides an excellent environment for children to develop as learners and to grow as individuals. In a world which places ever greater demands on young people, it is vitally important that the schools of the 21st Century provide a broad and rich education to prepare students for the challenges they will face in their lives. We are dedicated to blending academic excellence with a richness of opportunity beyond the classroom. High standards of teaching combine with opportunities for independent study to create an intellectual curiosity in our students that stays with them for life. A diverse and rigorous curriculum means we are constantly able to drive students to fulfil, or exceed, their academic and intellectual potential.

To support our journey of ‘Transformation to Excellence’ we emphasise the importance of promoting, celebrating, and recognising achievement in all its many forms. We believe in the concept of partnership, working together with parents/carers, governors, and the community to ensure that every student fully participates in academy life – supporting the academy in its vision of offering the very best in educational opportunities.

Cockburn Multi-academy Trust has developed its own teaching and learning model, the Learning Cycle, which is used to plan all lessons throughout the academy. We continue to develop our thinking around teaching and learning and staff work hard to develop innovative approaches to lesson delivery and learning.  Our staff embrace continual professional development.

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy’s five-year development plan has been structured to provide the outcomes of the school, based on thorough evaluation and review, which includes regular evaluation of teacher practice, and surveys of staff, students and parents. This is supported by an analysis of the performance of students in all years and the progress they make alongside comparisons against local and national performance.  It is all of this information which is used to determine our focus for the long-term future and the current academic year.

We have a committed team of leaders, teachers and support staff who go the extra mile for students and work with them to demonstrate the Values and Expectations of the school.

The enormous range of extra-curricular activities ensures that each student can grow and develop wherever their interests and talents may lie. The educational trips, visits, tours, and work in the community give further evidence of the breadth of our curriculum.

Our vision of ‘Transformation to Excellence’ focuses on a relentless drive to continue to improve and excel in all areas.

Mr D Gurney
Executive Headteacher