What if education transformed into a dynamic experience? Here we are at Leigh Academy Blackheath. It is a place where traditional classrooms meet innovative learning.
Leigh Academy Blackheath is a free secondary school and sixth form. It is located in Blackheath, Greater London. The academy opened in September 2018. It started with a Year 7 cohort. Leigh Academy Blackheath is part of the Leigh Academies Trust.
Learning at Leigh Academy Blackheath goes beyond classrooms. The academy fosters a learning climate. Students create, communicate, and collaborate effectively. They use critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Digital technology supports them anytime, anywhere. The academy values learning skills and positive attitudes. It also focuses on subject-specific knowledge. The aim is to help learners reach their full potential.
The curriculum promotes collaboration and cross-curricular learning. It offers rich co-curricular opportunities. Students employ their skills and build character. They also develop resilience. Learning reflects professional business approaches. Real-life projects are delivered through project-based learning. This gives students insight into working for a client or in a team. They also learn to meet deadlines.
Access for all is a key element of the academy’s philosophy. It focuses on developing basic skills. The academy also wants to teach specialist digital skills. Creative thinking and problem-solving are important in learning.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency approved the school in January 2015. They considered 18 potential sites. Plans were submitted for the former Blackheath Bluecoat school site in July 2018. The school opened in a temporary site. It was Victoria House on Shooters Hill Road. This was in September 2018. It had 180 students and 45 staff. In September 2019, it moved to custom-built temporary buildings. This was on its new site, the former Blackheath Bluecoat School.
Bouygues UK was the construction contractor for the project. The cost was £26 million. Stride Treglown designed a sustainable building. It was completed in 2020. Leigh divides pupils into colleges, like houses. Each college has its own classrooms and spaces. Pupils share a library and specialist teaching areas.
The main block has a figure-eight structure. It is built around two internal courtyards. One houses the school hall. The other is used as the dining area. Specialist teaching areas are near the hall. General classrooms and staff rooms are around the dining atrium.
The Leigh Academies Trust runs many academies. The small schools model prevents students from dropping out. Vertical tutor groups allow students to be supported by older peers. The trust promotes the International Baccalaureate. It adopts the Learner Profile. The academy offers an IB Middle Years Programme-compliant curriculum.
Leigh Academy Blackheath has academy status. It uses the IB Middle Years Programme. The academy believes all students should have equal access to education. They should develop basic and digital skills. Also they should develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills. The academy challenges students to work with industry. It enables them to become powerful digital citizens.
Situated in Blackheath, the academy accommodates secondary and sixth form students. The “school within a school” model splits the cohort into three “colleges”. Each has its own teaching and social spaces. The building provides a high-quality learning environment.
The building is arranged around an external courtyard. This secure space allows light to enter. The open plan dining area flows into the courtyard. This allows visitors to see the activity inside. Staff offices are placed on circulation routes. Community spaces are located near the entrance. This makes the building a hub for the local community.
Leigh Academy Blackheath is more than a school. It is a community hub. It’s a place where students prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the future. It’s a testament to innovative education.