Outstanding Academy Award

Awarded to the specialist academy that can demonstrate outstanding progress both in its specialisms and in general education.

2009 Winner: Barnfield West Academy, Luton

Barnfield West Academy has achieved an incredible amount in a short time.
The Academy opened in September 2007 in the premises of the predecessor school, and was the first UK Academy to be sponsored by an FE College; Barnfield College. Students achieving 5 A* - C GCSE grades leapt from 48% in 2007 to 100 per cent in 2009. Maths and English went from 16 per cent to 55 per cent in the same period. In 2008, the Academy achieved the International Schools Status Award and the Bronze level Eco-Award, and has also received nine national awards by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

In particular, students from the academy performed exceptionally in the SSAT Maths Challenge, an online competition which took place over a one week period in June this year. Out of the top 100 students taking part in the challenge, Barnfield achieved first and second place, and was ranked second over all.

The number of students receiving free school meals is twice as high as the national average, yet more than 80% of Barnfield West students eat freshly-prepared meals in the cafeteria compared with the national average of 41%. It is believed that a new cashless catering system, which removes the stigma of free school meal tickets, will further increase healthy meals uptake.

The future for Barnfield West looks even brighter. Work on a £30 million state-of-the-art new build, designed by Architecture PLB and praised by CABE for its effective use of space,  began in June this year, and is due for completion in 2011. As well as the dedication of its staff, outstanding leadership skills demonstrated by Principal Rachael de Souza and Chairman of Barnfield Academies Pete Birkett have been instrumental in achieving an incredible performance turnaround, and Barnfield West stands as a shining example of the Academies programme.

Commended:

The Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough
Manchester Academy
The Harefield Academy, Middlesex
Thomas Telford Academy, Shropshire