SCHOOL REPORT

Paddington Academy Website for this image

On 2 February 2012, Bagehot of The Economist wrote about "Fixing education: an inspiring school" t

From this we learn:

1. London's Paddington Academy, surrounded by tough housing estates, used to be bad.

Fewer than 20% of pupils achieved decent exam results (at aged 16).

The school had problems with knife fights and drugs.

More than half the kids come from homes poor enough to earn free school meals.

More than three-quarters do not speak English as a first language

Paddington Academy

2. The school was removed from local government control.

It was allowed to choose its staff and teaching methods.

Early on, it expelled some pupils.

3. Last summer 69% of pupils got good exam results, at age 16, well above the national average.

The school recently earned an “Outstanding” grade from school inspectors.

The school "feels calm... and hums with optimism."

Paddington Academy West London ULT

After the exams

4. Paddington now has good staff.

5. There is a strict uniform code.

Pupils are ranked on progress against individual targets.

Staff insist on good behaviour.

Good behaviour is rewarded; bad behaviour has consequences.

Pupils get badges for choir, language-learning, mentoring younger pupils and so on.

6. Early on, Paddington did expel some pupils.

But it now takes on difficult cases, including a kid just out of prison.

7. Paddington is part of a chain of academies sponsored by a charity, the United Learning Trust.

The Trust was formed in 2002 as a subsidiary of the United Church Schools Trust (UCST) which has been running independent schools in the UK since 1883.

In 2009, it was reported that two schools in Sheffield, run by the United Learning Trust, were 'failed' by inspectors.

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