Wilmington Academy is a mixed

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

located in

Wilmington, Kent Wilmington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Dartford in Kent, England. It is located 2.7 miles south of Dartford, 3.5 miles north of Swanley and 4.3 miles south east of Bexleyheath, adjacent to the Kent border with Greater London. ...

in the United Kingdom. It stands next to the site of Wilmington Hall. Wilmington Academy, as of 1 November 2018, had 1225 students including 121 in Sixth Form, with 365 students in the Apollo college, 374 students in Minerva, and 365 students in Jupiter college.

History

The location has been the site of several schools since shortly after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

when Dartford County Technical School for Girls used Wilmington Manor, across the street, for first-year classes. In 1950 Wilmington Hall (built in 1734, demolished in 1970) became Dartford Technical School for Boys. Wilmington Technical School, formed in the early 1960s, was renamed Wilmington High School in 1975 when new buildings were built. In the mid-1980s two schools were created on the site: Wilmington Hall School and

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (WGSB) is a grammar school with academy status in Wilmington, Kent. From 1954 to 1982, the school was called Dartford Technical High School. Today it is a specialist engineering school with a strong em ...

. In 2006 Wilmington Hall School achieved the status of a Business and Enterprise Specialist College, and following a decision by students, parents, staff and governors was officially renamed Wilmington Enterprise College in September that year.Wilmington Enterprise College https://web.archive.org/web/20080607102004/http://www.wec.kent.sch.uk/index.htm In April 2009 Jane Wheatley (Headteacher of

Dartford Grammar School for Girls Dartford Grammar School for Girls is a grammar school for girls in Dartford, Kent, England. Formerly known as Dartford County School, the school opened in 1904. It is the sister school of Dartford Grammar School for Boys. History Early his ...

) became Executive Headteacher after the school was put onto special measures.School Put into special measures http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8035547.stm

Leigh Academies Trust

On 1 September 2010, Wilmington Enterprise College became part of the

Leigh Academies Trust Leigh Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust, formed of 31 schools based in the Kent, Medway and South East London areas. Its Head Office is on the same site as Strood Academy, housing its Executive Team and central teams including Finance, Es ...

and became Wilmington Academy. As Wilmington Academy, the school has grown in population and success. Wilmington Academy initially split students into two colleges, Apollo and Minerva, to create a “small school” for supporting students academically and behaviourally. Growth in the school population led to the creation of a third college, Jupiter, in 2016. Students “value the benefits this system provides, stating that it is operated well to support the behaviour and academic performance of the pupils more effectively.” In 2017, Wilmington Academy became an IB World School, offering the IB Careers Programme to Post-16 students. It was the first non-selective school in the local region to offer the

International Baccalaureate The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Dip ...

. Principal Tracey Trusler said: "The school was not in a good place a while back, so to have repeatedly positive Ofsted inspections and now to become an IB World School is a massive success." This programme aims to develop young people into critically thinking, knowledgeable, caring citizens of the world, while ensuring strong academics and involvement in the local community.

Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

said of post 16 provision: "Sixth-form students are highly ambitious and clear about the plans for their future destinations, whether that is to go to university or apply for an apprenticeship. The school has provided effective advice and guidance to ensure that students are able to make the most appropriate choices for themselves." Results have been improving every year since 2010, culminating in GCSE results from 2017: 60% A*-C in English and maths), and in Post 16: 52% A*-A, 57% A*-B, 79% A*-C, and 100% A*-E.

Curriculum

Wilmington Academy offers “a broad and balanced curriculum that develops the skills and attributes needed for further education and employment. Academic and vocational courses, enhanced by technology, are delivered in a variety of settings to stimulate curiosity and encourage independent learning. It is

heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...

aim to develop healthy, responsible digital citizens, who are internationally-minded, respect cultural diversity and are able to take their place in an increasingly complex and ever-changing society.” In Years 7 and 8, The Academy delivers the

National Curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national government, possibly in consultation with Federated stat ...

. Students use the IB MYP programme with the help of

knowledge organiser A knowledge organiser is an educational template on a single A4 sheet consisting of grids, each with a term and a short explanation, making it clear to the student as to what is essential to learn. Each grid has an overall theme and these vary acco ...

s. They study English language and literature, mathematics, Sciences, French, Spanish or German, History, Geography, Citizenship, Morals and Ethics, Art, Music, Drama, Technology, Physical Education and Computer studies. Reading recovery and numeracy skills are enhanced as appropriate. In Years 9, 10, and 11, the curriculum continues to comprise compulsory and optional subjects including English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Further Maths, Combined Science, History, Geography, Citizenship, Health and Social Care, Sport, Art, Music, Performing Arts, French, Spanish, Engineering, Horticulture, Product Design, Catering, Digital Photography, Creative, media, IT, Travel and Tourism and Business/Financial Studies. Students are entered for GCSEs and Btec qualifications. For Post 16 provision, Wilmington Academy was awarded

World School status in 2017 and is authorised to deliver the IB Career-related Programme. This is a flexible blend of IB Diplomas (academic qualifications equivalent to A levels) and Applied General qualifications (vocational qualifications). Students can elect to follow the IBCP, an academic pathway, a blended pathway or a vocational pathway. Students also follow the IB Core programme, which is designed to develop the skills and attributes that will set students apart from their peers when applying for university, higher apprenticeships and employment. The Academy also forms part of LAT16 a collaboration between sister academies in the Dartford area.

Notable alumni

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...

, rock musician (guitarist of

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

) *

Jeffrey Jon Shaw Jeffrey Jon Shaw OBE, FLS, FASTMH (born 12 July 1938) is a British parasitologist who began working in Latin America in 1962. Although officially retired, he is presently Senior Professor at São Paulo University's Biomedical Sciences Institute ...

, parasitologist, best known for his work on

Leishmania ''Leishmania'' is a parasitic protozoan, a single-celled organism of the genus '' Leishmania'' that are responsible for the disease leishmaniasis. They are spread by sandflies of the genus ''Phlebotomus'' in the Old World, and of the genus '' ...

References

External links