The Farnley Academy is an exceptional school and offers a full package of opportunities, both academic and extra-curricular, to enrich our student experience.
We feel proud and privileged to wear our uniform and that our successes are celebrated in a range of ways in school and the community. From the 100% attendance club incentives and rewards, certificates awarded by credits, House competitions and extra-curricular clubs, students feel valued. What is even more rewarding is that every opportunity is taken to celebrate successes in every part of the day! We know that our teachers care and have the highest expectations of us to thrive; we also recognise that they want each and every one of us to reach our potential both academically and on a personal level.
Our core values to be Ambitious, Resilient and Kind are threaded throughout all that we do. In lessons, we enjoy working independently during Purple Zone and given the time to fulfil our potential and equipped to overcome challenges. Throughout lessons, we are praised by every teacher with their personalised stamp and also rewarded for emanating kindness, one of our core values. The House tokens have created friendly competition amongst friends, peers and even members of staff as we all work hard in lessons and participate in pop-up events to earn more tokens! The introduction of the Kindness token has also been a visible way that celebrates how kind our students are – and that’s something that we are particularly proud of.
We have a great pastoral team in the academy; however, we understand that sometimes students can feel anxious and not know who to turn to. Therefore, we helped design posters, particularly targeting boys, to reassure students that there is always support for students no matter what it is. We are also fortunate to have, Place2Be, who provide additional support and counselling when required.
For us, The Farnley Academy is so much more than about attending lessons and receiving qualifications. Our Academy enhances our skill-set outside of the classroom as well. Every day, we are equipped with the tools to be kind, well-rounded, resilient and ambitious citizens. Through Forensic Reading, Enrichment Days, our PSHE and RSE Curriculum and extra-curricular activities, plus all of the student leadership opportunities, we are confident that we will leave The Farnley Academy as well-rounded individuals with a clear pathway, plus a fantastic set of qualifications! This is thanks to the passion, commitment and dedication of all members of staff to deliver the highest quality teaching and enrichment experience to every single student.
The Farnley Academy rivals the best schools in the UK due to the opportunities it offers, including extra-curricular clubs, programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and a variety of trips which cater for the wide range of students. The range of trips across a broad subject and cultural spectrum offer valuable and enriching experiences which truly enhance education and help shape us as students. As students, we thrive under the guidance of teachers and non-teaching staff and feel motivated to take risks and work outside of our comfort zone. The 72 weekly extra-curricular clubs available highlights that learning is equally as important outside of curriculum-based lessons. The introduction of the climbing wall, gym, chess club, table tennis club and Farnley Files means that there is something for everyone! Equally, the activities change based on Student Voice and the request for any other clubs. The BIG 3 clubs is another fantastic way that has exposed us to sports that we would not normally have easy access to: karate, volleyball and rowing has enabled us to compete against other schools in the Gorse Academies Trust and experience sports in different settings such as Roundhay Lake when rowing on the lake!
Our Heads of School are elected by the student body to represent their interests. As Heads of School, we enjoy working with a supportive and proactive team that is as passionate about The Farnley Academy as we are. Our 38 Student Leaders are proudly the only cohort in our school’s history to have additional roles tailored to kindness, community, and the environment. Student Leaders are a vital part of our school-life and it has provided a network for students to maturely and effectively communicate their ideas or concerns easily. Our student leadership team now includes our Kindness Committee. As student leaders, we feel valued and work closely with members of staff to enhance the student experience. From designing, mental health posters, to raising awareness about how students can receive support in school, litter picking in the in the school site and the local committee, to the implementation of solar powered water fountains, our voice will have a long-lasting impact for future students.
