Basildon Academies
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox school
| name = The Basildon Academies
| image = Basildon_Academies.jpg
| image_size =
| motto = Aspire-Believe-Achieve
| established = 2009
| closed =
| type = Academy
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label = Headteacher
| head = April Gurney
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| founder =
| specialist =
| address =
| city = Basildon
| county = Essex
| country = England
| postcode =
| local_authority = Essex
| ofsted = yes
| urn = 115316
| staff = ~300
| enrolment = ~2500
| gender = Mixed
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 19
| houses =
| colours =
| publication =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = {{URL|www.basildonacademies.org.uk}}
}}
The Basildon Academies is a secondary school in Basildon, Essex, England. It was created by a merger of the former Barstable School and Chalvedon School in 2009.{{cite book|url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-11/planning_essex_school_organisation_plan_2008_2013.pdf|title=The Essex School Organisation Plan 2008 - 2013|author=Essex County Council|access-date=28 May 2025}}
The Academies
The Academies are situated across two sites: the Lower Academy (for 11 to 14-year-olds) and the Upper Academy (for 14 to 19-year-olds). There is a Sixth Form on the Upper Academy site.
The Academies opened in 2009, under the sponsorship of The Stanton Lane Educational Trust. Both Academies are housed in modern buildings.[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/1534798.Green_light_for____super_school___/ Green light for 'super school'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928002728/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/1534798.Green_light_for____super_school___/ |date=28 September 2013 }} The Echo, 11 July 2007, retrieved 20 November 2011
Curriculum and exam results
Since 2012, The Basildon Academies curriculum has been expanded to cater for a wider range of interests and competences. This includes the introduction of Latin,[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/9858186.Struggling_school___s_Latin____lessons_to_lift_standards/ Struggling school's Latin lessons to lift standards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317170640/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/9858186.Struggling_school___s_Latin____lessons_to_lift_standards/ |date=17 March 2014 }} The Echo, 7 August 2012, retrieved October 2012/ along with a number of vocational courses at both GCSE and A Level.
In 2012, Basildon Academies received a warning letter from Lord Hill at the Department for Education because of the "unacceptably low" standards.[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255997/Basildon_WN_310511__2_.pdf Warning Notice to the Basildon Academies, 2012, p. 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022084923/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255997/Basildon_WN_310511__2_.pdf |date=22 October 2016 }} retrieved 5 November 2015 The Upper Academy's GCSE results for 2013 continued a four-year trend of improvement, with the proportion of students achieving 5 or more A*-C grades (including English and Maths) rising to 46%, demonstrating an increase of 25 percentage points since 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=135897%2F |title=Upper Academy Department for Education performance tables |access-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422081247/http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=135897%2F |archive-date=22 April 2016 |url-status = live }} This confirmed the Academies as the second best-performing school in Basildon at that point in time.[http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/education/10184047.Basildon_Academies_tops_league_table_for_GCSE_results_in_town/ Basildon Academies tops league table for GCSE results in town] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317122324/http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/education/10184047.Basildon_Academies_tops_league_table_for_GCSE_results_in_town/ |date=17 March 2014 }} Thurrock Gazette 26 January 2013, retrieved 13 March 2014
In 2012 there was an increase in demand for Sixth Form places.[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/9903041.Four_hour_queue_at_Basildon_Academies_for_sixth_form_places/ Four-hour queue at Basildon Academies for Sixth Form places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317170606/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/9903041.Four_hour_queue_at_Basildon_Academies_for_sixth_form_places/ |date=17 March 2014 }} The Echo, 31 August 2012, retrieved 27 October 2012
A Level results in 2013 also showed improvement on the previous year: the percentage of students gaining 3 or more A Levels (including equivalent BTEC qualifications), with all students securing 3 or more A Levels being offered a place at their first-choice university. In 2015 A level results showed that the 35 A level students obtained an average of a D grade.[http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=135897 Basildon Academies 16-18 Performance Tables] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128100201/http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=135897 |date=28 January 2013 }} retrieved 5 November 2015
Ofsted
In November 2015, both the Lower and Upper Academies were inspected by Ofsted. Recognising the improvements made since the previous visits, inspectors rated both Academies 'Good' for leadership and management and behaviour and safety of students, and removed both Lower and Upper from special measures.[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10907761.Troubled_academies_turning_the_corner/ Troubled academies turning the corner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317135029/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10907761.Troubled_academies_turning_the_corner/ |date=17 March 2014 }} The Echo, 2 January 2014, retrieved 13 March 2014[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10989584.Academy_taken_out_of_special_measures/ Academy taken out of special measures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317134840/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10989584.Academy_taken_out_of_special_measures/ |date=17 March 2014 }} The Echo, 6 February 2014, retrieved 13 March 2014 They noted that achievement has shown continued progression, with ambitious targets ensuring that these improvements will be sustained over the coming years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/135895/ |title=Lower Academy Ofsted report, October 2013 |access-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317140300/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/135895/ |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status = live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/135897/ |title=Upper Academy Ofsted report, December 2013 |access-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317141251/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/135897/ |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status = live }}
Sixth Form
The Sixth Form is on the Upper Academy site, and provides both academic and vocational qualifications to students.
References
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{{Secondary schools in the Basildon district}}
{{Schools in Essex}}
{{coord missing|Essex}}
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Category:Secondary schools in Essex