Our Academy opened in September 2006 and serves the area of East Leeds. We are part of the government’s Academies programme, working within a network of high-performing Specialist Schools and Academies nationally.
Our building is a state of the art 21st Century Academy with students and staff working in an ICT rich environment.
HMI visited us in January 2008 and reported that we had made good progress with students working and behaving well and exhibiting high levels of pride in their Academy. We attract a lot of attention nationally and internationally and host visitors on a very regular basis, as a key part of our role is to model innovative practice.
Learning in the Academy is highly personalised with a 2 year Key Stage Three and a 3 year Key Stage Four. We deliver a wide range of GCSEs, BTeCs (at Level 2 and 3), AS and A2 level and are introducing diplomas from September 2008. Some students begin their sixth form programmes while in Year 11 and we have growing sixth form provision.
Movement around the Academy is minimised with students receiving a 2 ¼ hour lesson in the morning and another in the afternoon. During morning lesson all students are taken to the restaurant for breakfast and during the afternoon lesson again for lunch. Chef and his dedicated team serve up healthy and nutritious food which is very popular with staff and students – student take-up is over 90%.
At the end of the formal Academy Day there is a wide range of “Session Three” activities taking place offering students the chance to experience all kinds of sporting, artistic and academic enrichment.
We recognise that the skills students need to be successful adults are the same as those they need for successful learning. We develop in them the 4 Rs: Resourcefulness, Reflectiveness, Resilience and Respect and we report regularly on their progress in these areas.
The DYCA specialism is Design and the Built Environment. We aim to produce the architects, designers, engineers, project managers, business leaders and planners who will transform and take ownership of their environment.
DYCA is not an ordinary school. It is a unique environment with exceptional staff and students undertaking transformational work. | |
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