SIRIUS ACADEMY LOOKS AHEAD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE
Sirius Academy – the city’s newest Academy, offering innovative secondary education in Hull – opens its doors to students on 8th September. The first young people to step over the threshold will be the new Year 7s, who will be the first year group to experience an Academy education throughout their secondary schooling.
“Sirius Academy will be a really exciting place to learn,” promises new Principal, Dr Cathy Taylor. “It will be a fantastic learning environment, with opportunities for everyone to try new and interesting educational experiences and where every student will be helped to achieve the best they can.”
Over the summer holidays, Dr Taylor and Sirius Academy staff have been working tirelessly to put the curriculum and pastoral care in place, ready for the arrival of students in September.
Building on the best
Sirius Academy was formerly Pickering High School Sports College. All PHS students, along with many of the staff, have transferred to the Academy. Students will wear a smart new uniform with a tie in their house colours. New Academy branding and a vibrant logo will be visible everywhere.
There has also been a huge investment in upgrading the learning environment which will have a real impact on students' perception of their new school.
Significant changes students will notice include the reception area which has been completely upgraded and refreshed. Most of the old part of the school has been redecorated and re-carpeted. Two classrooms have been equipped with new furniture that students will be trying out
“Our thanks go to Hull City Council staff who have worked so hard over the summer to prepare the building,” says Dr Taylor.
A number of new staff have joined the Academy. GwenMountain joins as VP Student Support and Progress. Lynne Richardson, VP Quality, has been seconded from the Academy’s sponsor, Hull College, strengthening links with the college. Allyson Donaghue joins as AVP Environmental Science.
“As soon as we open our doors, our students will be part of a new and stimulating way of learning. We have built on all the very good, positive aspects of Pickering, especially the passion and energy of the teaching staff. On top of this, we have introduced innovations in the curriculum and approach to learning which will enrich our students’ experience of secondary education,” says Dr Taylor.
Students will continue to be based in PHS’s existing building until 2011 when all students will move into brand new state-of-the-art premises.
The newly built school will be co-located with Ganton special school in the first wave of new ‘learning centres’ to be built under the £465m city-wide ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) investment to transform learning across the city. It will also house the Education Service for Hearing and Vision (ESHV).
Sport and Environment specialisms
Sirius Academy will have a dual specialism in Environmental Science and Sport, which will help raise standards and improve examination results. In the new building, students will be taught in a very modern and well equipped learning environment that will boast contemporary science and innovative ICT facilities, and its own recording studio, performing arts suite and hair salon.
As part of the BSF Programme, architects have created an inspirational design which should provide students with outstanding opportunities.
The community will be able to use Sirius Academy’s outstanding sports and leisure facilities, including a six-court sports hall. This forms the first part of what is hoped will become a new learning village in the heart of the West Area of Hull, driving forward transformational changes for the future.
For press information:
Sarah Mouger, tel: 01256 701357 / 07765 284437
