Archive for category: News

Students and staff at Mulberry Academy St Leonards are celebrating a significant rise in GCSE outcomes, with provisional results showing strong improvements across a range of subjects.

The proportion of students achieving passes in both English and mathematics has increased by 12 percentage points compared with last year, while the academy’s Attainment 8 score has risen by around four points, reflecting stronger performance across the wider GCSE curriculum.

The academy has also reported its strongest English and mathematics results to date, alongside record pass rates for students with special educational needs.

School leaders say the scale of improvement compares favourably with previous performance data for schools across East Sussex and represents an important step forward for the St Leonards academy.

A number of students achieved the highest GCSE grades, including grades 9, 8 and 7, while the academy has also highlighted the progress made by students who joined the school during their secondary education.

Jon Francies, Principal at Mulberry Academy St Leonards, said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students. These results represent an important step forward for our academy, but more importantly, they represent the hard work, resilience and determination of our young people.

“We also welcomed a number of students who joined us during the school year from other local schools, and we are particularly proud of the work undertaken to help them secure positive outcomes.”

Drew Greenall, Head of Academy, said:

“There is much more that we want to achieve, but today is about celebrating our students, thanking our staff and families for everything they have done to support them, and recognising just how far this year group has come.

“So many of our students have achieved fantastic individual results, including a large number of grades 9, 8 and 7. Every result represents an individual story of hard work, determination and progress.”

The academy will now support Year 11 students as they move on to sixth form, college, apprenticeships and employment.

School leaders say the improved results form part of a continued drive to raise aspirations, strengthen academic outcomes and create further opportunities for young people across St Leonards and the wider Hastings community.

In 2024, an initiative was set up between The St Leonard’s Academy and Hastings Contemporary – The Cove: Calm waters. This incentive offers the opportunity for completion of the Arts Award Bronze Programme for young people at the academy with a diagnosis of ADHA, Autism and/or other SEND needs in years 7-10. Now entering its second year of the project, 19 students are soon to be awarded the Bronze award and ready to move onto their Silver, with another cohort of 20 on signed up to begin the course.

The project was co-founded by Academy SEND teacher Mr. Richard MacAree and Learning Coordinator for Hastings Contemporary, Louisa O’Shaughnessy. The aim was to engage young students from the Academy in the arts, using the visual nature to nurture emotional literacy and confidence; cultural capital and creativity; socialisation and teamwork; and curatorial and visual art skills. The Arts Award qualification and principle is managed by Trinity College London and Arts Council England, designed to encourage anyone under the age of 25 to engage and participate in the arts. At the end, participants obtain a nationally recognised qualification that can support them in future ventures.

At the start of the 2023/24 cohort, 94% of the intake had never visited an art gallery before, however through accessible gallery workshops provided by Hastings Contemporary, students ‘walked out proud of their own work’. The project culminated in a student-created summer pop-up exhibition. Feedback from the programme was highly positive, with parents stating that ‘It helped him make friends he’d never normally talk to’, and students commenting that they ‘didn’t know they could talk about art like this’.

Academy project lead Richard MacAree said, “This kind of collaboration with arts institutions, like Hastings Contemporary, provides invaluable experience and opportunity for all of our young people, especially those who experience barriers to learning. The programme that has been developed is visually rich, challenging and supports students to engage in art whilst also fostering the development of mental models in diverse settings, something vital to prepare them for the world. Seeing them succeed puts a big smile on my face!”

Continuing on the growth of 2023/24, the pioneer cohort are soon to be working towards their Arts Award Silver Award, whilst there is a new group of students embarking on their Bronze. With enhanced focus on curatorial practice and public-facing engagement, alongside a work experience programme at the Hastings Contemporary, this provides the students with a wealth of learning and insight they can apply as they consider their futures.

This is a great initiative taken by the academy and gallery to provide alternative learning opportunities for students diagnosed with SEND. We can’t wait to see how the project continues to grow and develop, opening up the opportunity to more students as the programme continues.

The St Leonards Academy is excited to announce the launch of its new Careers Corner, a dedicated space designed to empower students in exploring their future educational and career options. This initiative builds upon the academy’s long-standing commitment to supporting students in preparing for life beyond formal education.

In collaboration with external agencies, the Careers Corner provides a private, resource-rich environment where students can engage with experts and explore pathways tailored to their interests and goals. The space is designed to help students actively shape their futures, offering guidance on career planning and higher education choices.

For students unsure of their career direction, Careers Corner offers support in identifying potential paths based on personal hobbies and interests. The aim is to provide every student with the tools and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their future.

Previously, career guidance was integrated into tutor sessions and assemblies, but this new space allows for a more focused approach. The Careers Corner offers dedicated career interviews for students in Year 9 and Year 11, as well as individual sessions tailored to specific needs. These services are available during both break and lunchtime, providing flexible access for all students.

Billy Thompson, Leader for Enrichment and Extra-Curricular Activities, stated: “We are thrilled to take the next step in enhancing our careers provision. St Leonards Academy has always been proud of its strong career guidance, and with the introduction of Careers Corner, we’re elevating that support even further.”

Principal Jon Francies added: “I am very proud of our careers provision, which has been rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED for personal development. This new resource will further enhance the support we offer to our students.”

The St Leonards Academy and the Mulberry Schools Trust that oversees the academy looks forward to seeing how Careers Corner evolves as an essential part of the school’s student development initiatives in the coming terms.

In an inspiring move towards sustainable agriculture and environmental management, The St Leonards Academy has embarked on an innovative project that is setting a model for schools across the country. An elite group of students are organising the creation of a regenerative food forest, a thriving ecosystem that mimics natural woodland but with a crucial twist: it produces organic fruits and vegetables all year round.

The concept of a regenerative food forest involves the integration of various plant species, including trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers, to create a self-sustaining environment. This green initiative not only absorbs CO2, promoting carbon repossession, but also enhances biodiversity, mitigates flood risks, and contributes to cooling the local climate. Unlike conventional gardens, this food forest requires minimal maintenance once established, as it naturally retains water and nutrients.

Fuelled by waste cardboard and grass clippings, the project exemplifies the transformation of everyday waste into valuable resources.

The benefits of the food forest extend far beyond environmental impact. By providing organic produce throughout the year, the project ensures a steady supply of healthy, fresh food for future generations. The initiative also serves as a practical educational tool, teaching students about ecology, sustainability, and the importance of innovative agricultural practices.

The St Leonards Academy’s Future Growth Project is a testament to the power of youth and education in driving meaningful change. As these young environmentalists cultivate their food forest, they are also nurturing a culture of sustainability and responsibility that will inspire others to follow suit.

Well done, St Leonards!