Case Study: The Samworth Enterprise Academy, Leicester

The Samworth Enterprise Academy is one of CASL’s member academies.

It opened in September 2007 and was Leicester’s first academy.  It specialises in Business and Enterprise and will eventually have places for 1,046 students.

It is an all-age academy and in its first year, it provided education for students up to Year 7. From September 2008 it included Year 8 students, and by 2011 it will have students from age three to sixteen.  The academy has a ‘stage not age’ approach, which means that gifted and talented children are able to progress at a rate which is right for them, while children who need extra help will receive it.

51% of students are eligible for free school meals.  49% have special educational needs. There have been no permanent exclusions from the school.

The Samworth Enterprise Academy has two sponsors: the Bishop of Leicester and local businessman, David Samworth. The academy’s ethos is firmly based on the core Christian values of caring for and considering other people.  It serves its local community and does not select, either on the basis of faith or ability.

The academy buildings include the local parish church, Saint Christopher’s, which has contributed to the church becoming a focal point for the community, a place where they feel welcome and at ease. The church staff provide support for the academy’s collective worship and celebration events; because they are often in the academy the students know them well and are comfortable asking them for support and sharing concerns.

Since opening the Academy has been focused on a continual programme of school improvement, to make sure that students are provided with the best possible provision.  Standards within the Academy are rising.  Pat Dubas, the Principal, sums up the purpose of the academy in this way: “Our children are at the heart of everything we do”.

Part of the academy’s role is to be a hub for the community and to be a place where everyone can learn.  Its facilities are available for its students and local people to use outside the standard school day.  Pat Dubas says: ““It’s very important that parents feel they can come in and see what we’re doing, that they feel a part of the school”.

If you want to learn more about the Samworth Enterprise Academy, its students and staff and their achievement, follow the link to the DCSF Case Study (Please note this is a PDF file).