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Darwell CampusDarwell CloseSt Leonards On SeaEast SussexTN38 9JP T: 01424 431691F: 01424 440060

Edinburgh CampusEdinburgh RoadSt Leonards On SeaEast SussexTN38 8HHT: 01424 448740F: 01424 722354

[email protected]

This publication is available in alternative formats on request.

Our aims

The Hastings and St Leonards academies are innovative new schools with twenty-first century facilities, skilled staff and an exciting new way of teaching that will help every student fulfil their potential.

The academies will: give the right education to each and every •student regardless of their abilities, personal circumstances or beliefs, with high quality care and respect for every individual create opportunities for all students to excel and •have a sense of achievement, working on the principle that every child can be successfulprovide a safe and secure environment that will •promote healthy lifestyle choices make the process of learning interesting and •enjoyable for all students so that they can see the relevance of their work to their community and to the wider world work closely with the Hastings and St Leonards •community, business partners, local schools and colleges and the academies’ sponsors to contribute to the continuing regeneration of the local area.

Contents

01 Our aims and values02 Why an academy is different04 Our partners 05 The academy in your community06 How your child will learn08 How the academy will be organised10 The specialisms 12 Care and support for your child14 Inclusion – A sense of belonging16 Education after age 16 17 School uniform18 The new buildings and transition20 Admissions22 Building on success – The journey so far25 Additional information

Welcome

I am delighted to welcome you to The St Leonards Academy. Our academy builds on the outstanding improvements of the predecessor schools, as part of the Hastings Schools Federation.

We have a solid foundation from which to take learning and achievement to the next level and I am privileged to have been appointed as Principal Designate. We will be committed to innovation, reflection and continuous improvement.

We will provide opportunities for all our students to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that enable them to move to the next phase in their education as confident, responsible, independent learners. I look forward to welcoming you and your child in joining an academy that is dynamic, aspirational and inclusive. Most importantly, a learning community where a relentless focus on unlocking the potential of every child will ensure that our students will achieve – pride through success.

Jenny JonesPrincipal Designate

Our values

We are driven by a strong set of values. We believe in:

The individual• – seeing each person as unique, valuable and important regardless of background, race, gender, belief or other personal characteristic Our community• – recognising the importance of our local communities, their contribution to present and future generations, and their role in making a fairer and safer societyOur environment • – recognising the uniqueness and fragility of the environment and the importance of sustainable development Diversity• – recognising the value of diversity and its contribution to a richer and more inclusive society Care and support • – helping each other and understanding that we all need support at certain times in our livesRespect• – treating everyone with respect, valuing their humanity and going ‘that extra mile’ to support each other.

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Pride through Success THE ST leonards Academy

Why an academy is different

Academies are government-funded independent schools set up with the help of sponsors. They raise standards through a new approach to learning where young people are given a strong academic education. Academy students develop confidence in their abilities and learn the practical and emotional skills they need to build successful lives.

Academies draw on the skills of their sponsors to help shape the way the school is run and the way students learn.

The St Leonards Academy will offer:• thebestelementsofatraditionaleducation

delivered in innovative ways• aflexibleschoolday,withstaggeredstarttimes

and lunch breaks• activitieswithintheschooltimetablewhichwill

allow your child to engage in new experiences, build on their strengths and receive extra support where needed

• arelationshipbetweenTheHastingsandTheStLeonards Academies where expertise, resources and good practice are shared

• a‘stagenotage’approachsothatstudentstakeexaminations and move between key stages when they are ready to

• apersonalisedcurriculum,whereyourchildcan choose from a wide range of subjects, qualifications and activities according to their interests and future goals

• studyandsupportthatisdesignedtomeetyourchild’s individual needs

• extensiveprofessionaldevelopmentforourhighly skilled staff, helping them to keep up with the latest developments

• opportunitiesforyoutoplayacentralroleinyour child’s education

• stronglinkswiththelocalcommunityandbusiness partners, who will contribute to teaching and learning activities in the school

• coursesandlearningopportunitiesforparents,carers and members of the local community

• astrongsupportstructureforyourchild,withpositive role models from adults and fellow students at the academy.

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Our partners

The University of Brighton is the lead sponsor. It is an expert in education with experience of working with the community of Hastings and St Leonards.

It teaches more than 500 courses to 21,000 students on five campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. Subjects range from engineering and medicine to graphic design and business management. It was the first university to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted for its primary, secondary and post-16 teacher training.

The University of Brighton campus in Hastings is known as University Centre Hastings and was set up to allow students in Hastings and St Leonards to take university-level courses locally.

The university has also been a partner of Sussex Coast College Hastings (formerly Hastings College of Arts and Technology) for more than twenty years and has been involved in developing programmes with the academies’ predecessor schools to make sure that all students have access to further and higher education.

The two co-sponsors are BT and East Sussex County Council (ESCC). BT is one of the world’s leading communications providers and operates in 170 countries.

BT will create links between the academies and working life and make sure that the students learn the social and business skills they will need to be successful at work.

ESCC is the top performing county council in England, with a strong record of improving educational standards. It will make sure that a world-class educational structure is created in Hastings and St Leonards as part of its commitment to community regeneration across the whole of the county.

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The academy in your community

The St Leonards Academy will work alongside parents and carers, other schools and colleges and businesses to create strong bonds with the local community.

For example, we will: develop a Young Person’s Charter, with our •students, which describes the students’ commitment and contribution to the local communityset up a Parents’ Forum with parents and carers, •allowing you to advise the academy on the issues that matter to youuse technology to allow parents/carers to •track the progress of their children, including assessment, attendance and behaviour informationset up a Local Advisory Body made up of •parents, staff, students and members of the community to advise the governing body

develop an extended school programme, which •will enhance facilities and provide resources to support the whole family and local community members work with businesses to make sure that our •students develop the skills, knowledge and understanding they need for entering work in the twenty-first century and to provide work experience opportunitieswork with local primary schools to make sure •that there is a smooth transition for students to the academies.

Pride through Success THE ST leonards Academy

How your child will learn

Your child will be taught different subjects and skills in different ways.

Core subjectsThe core subjects of English, mathematics, science and ICT will be taught separately and will also be integrated within the teaching of other subjects. Your child will be given the firm foundation needed to take on other subjects with confidence.

Core skillsThese include: literacy skills, enabling your child to read, write and communicate well; numeracy skills so that your child can be confident with numbers and address complex problems; and emotional skills so that they can take responsibility for their learning and work in a team. These skills will help your child with the challenges of future study and employment.

Subject and qualification pathwaysThis refers to the traditional subject timetable, as your child attends lessons according to the qualifications they are aiming for.

They will be able to choose from a range of subjects and qualifications available (many of which will link with local employers and other schools and colleges) for example:

GCSEs or equivalent qualifications•diplomas (the subjects available will be •complementary to the academy’s overall specialisms and build on existing expertise)young apprenticeships or equivalent•foundation learning.•

Personal approach We will do all we can to personalise your child’s learning. In practice, this means that we will identify the activities, subjects and courses your child needs to bring out their full potential.

If the right course cannot be provided by the academy, we will try to find one that matches their needs with another provider (for example, with The Hastings Academy, Sussex Coast College Hastings or Bexhill College).

Project-based learningProjects allow your child to investigate problems or issues in depth on their own or as a team.

Students are encouraged to see the links between different subject areas and become confident and independent learners.

Enrichment and supported studyEnrichment describes activities in the timetable that will broaden your child’s studies and enable their individual needs and aspirations to be met.

It includes:supported study in a range of subjects to •complement the taught curriculumone-to-one support for students with additional •learning needsopportunities to do community-based projects •and activitiesguided independent study for gifted and •talented students to extend their learningopportunities to attend extra lessons in subjects •to further develop skills and knowledge.

Technology Your child will have access to the latest technology, extending when and where learning activities take place and enabling them to search for information, interact with their teachers, share learning materials and receive support from fellow students.

Religious educationReligious education will be carried out in accordance with the East Sussex County Council Agreed Syllabus.

Collective worshipAssemblies will be held for all students. Each of the mini-schools or families will have a weekly assembly. When there is no assembly for a particular group of students, collective worship is provided on a form basis and there will usually be a Thought for the Day.

Any parents/carers considering exercising their right to withdraw their children from religious education lessons or collective worship should contact the academy Principal.

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Pride through Success

HOW THE ACADEMY WILL BE ORGANISED

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The academy yearThe academy year is based on a standard school year of 195 days.

Five days will be used for staff professional development, which means that the academy will be open for 190 days. The days when the academy will be closed to students will be available at the beginning of the school year on the academy website and parents will be notified in good time.

The academy term dates 2011–12The St Leonards Academy will follow the local authority pattern of terms within the normal school year. For the 2011–12 school year, they are:

Term Start date End date

One Monday 5 September Friday 21 October

Two Monday 31 October Friday 16 December

Three Tuesday 3 January Friday 10 February

Four Monday 20 February Friday 30 March

Five Monday 16 April Friday 1 June

Six Monday 11 June Friday 20 July

The academy dayThe academy day will be flexible in the way it is organised, allowing students to access facilities outside their timetabled lessons to support their learning. This will include opportunities for extended learning, homework, and extra curricular activities in sport, music, dance, drama and other creative activities. Details of the school day eg opening and closing times will be available in the early part of 2011, in good time for parents to plan their arrangements for the day.

Opportunities beyond the classroomThe academy will offer a rich and diverse programme of opportunities for students to engage in beyond their timetabled lessons. We believe students develop their skills, confidence and creativity through involvement in activities such as performing arts, music and sport. In addition Young Enterprise, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and numerous day and residential trips both at home and abroad enhance our provision and broaden horizons for our students. All of our students are encouraged to get involved in activities beyond the classroom.

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The specialisms

The specialisms of The St Leonards Academy are Mathematics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and these will underpin all aspects of the academy’s work.

Your child will benefit from learning in an environment that emphasises the importance of thinking in new ways and finding innovative solutions to complex problems – skills that are highly valued in today’s global economy.

These core skills build on existing strengths in business and computing science and tap into opportunities in the emerging economies of Hastings and St Leonards and beyond, including recent local investments in engineering, construction and the financial sector.

ICT will be a core subject in its own right as well as featuring in the teaching of other subjects. It will be used by teachers to make lessons more stimulating, engaging and innovative for students.

The St Leonards Academy will become a centre for excellence in these subjects, with the highest standards of teaching and learning, and will share expertise with its sister academy, which has the complementary specialisms of English and ICT.

At The Hastings Academy the specialisms will be English and ICT. The two academies are committed to working together to ensure that both benefit from each other’s specialism. As a result, your child will benefit from our expertise across all these specialist areas of study.

Pride through Success THE ST leonards Academy

Care and support for your child

Care and support are at the heart of the learning process at the academies because when teachers care about students it has direct impact on the pupils’ ability to learn.

Care and support for your child is given in a number of ways.

Smaller schools within the academy Your child will belong to one of five small schools within the academy, similar to the traditional house system. To minimise movement between classes and disruption between lessons, each small school will have a dedicated space within the academy, where your child will spend the majority of their time (only leaving it to access specialist teaching facilities such as science labs or the sports hall).

The smaller schools mean that students build closer relationships with their teachers and fellow students, benefit from a nurturing environment on a daily basis and make better academic progress as they do not get lost in the system.

Transition from primary school to the academy The small schools play a key role in supporting students when they move from their primary schools into the academy. One of the schools is dedicated to year 7 students and will build on their primary school experiences. The other schools are for students from year 8 to year 11.

During year 7 your child will be supported by their buddy, a student from year 8 in the small school they will join; they will take part in year 8–11 activities and begin to form relationships with students and teachers in the school.

Tutor groupsThe tutor group will have a maximum of 15 students of different ages and will focus on individual support for learning in areas such as personal, social and health education.

Involving parents and carersThe academies will work closely with you to help you be an active partner in your child’s learning.

You will be able to access information and communicate with teachers and other adults at the academy who can guide and support you to help your child make suitable choices.

Behaviour policiesThe academies will set high standards of behaviour, and will stress the importance of positive behaviour and of students taking responsibility for their actions.

The behaviour policy will build on the successful policies of the schools they replace.

Student support network Your child will have access to a variety of positive role models and a network of support, including:

adult mentors from other local colleges, •businesses or the academy sponsorsother students, such as buddies•teachers and tutors•specialist workers for more vulnerable learners •including those with special educational needs and the gifted and talented.

Safety and security The safety and security of your child is of paramount importance. The academy will have a clear policy on health and safety, on security, and on safeguarding of students, which all staff will be expected to observe. As now, all our staff will also required to have passed their Criminal Record Bureau check.

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Inclusion – a sense of belonging

We will make very effort to ensure that the academy is totally accessible to all learners. The academy will work closely with parents/carers, support services and the local authority to tailor teaching and learning to the individual needs of all students.

Support for special educational needsIf your child has learning difficulties or disabilities, excellent support will be provided for them at school and through family learning, a learning mentor scheme and extended day and holiday activities.

Students with special educational needs (SEN) will receive support from all staff and a specialist leader. Your child’s learning will be broad, balanced, relevant and appropriate. Computer technologies designed specifically for students with SEN will be used to help with learning and to coordinate support.

There will be a dedicated special needs unit to support students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The academy will work in close partnership with the nearby Saxon Mount Community Special School (which caters for 11–16 year olds with moderate learning difficulties, autism and speech, language and communication needs) to develop joint activities in and out of the classroom.

The unit will provide inclusive education for students with severe physical and sensory difficulties and those with severe high functioning autism who are able to benefit from a high quality mainstream education.

There will be 15 places for young people with physical difficulties, six places for those with sensory impairments and 15 for those with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It will have space for therapy sessions, some small group teaching and areas for young people who require a more individualised approach.

Building on gifts and talentsThe academy will ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all students. Particular attention will be paid to students who show that they are gifted or talented in a particular area of curriculum, whether this is in academic, sporting, artistic or other creative fields. We will do all that we can to identify the particular strengths of students and to build these up, developing the student’s confidence, aptitudes and abilities.

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School UNIFORM

We know that it’s important to get a school uniform right. It can help create a sense of belonging, and the right uniform can also help students feel pride in their school and in their achievements.

We also know that we want to make sure that we get the best uniforms that we can for the academies. We think that the best way to make this happen is to run a project to help shape the new uniforms.

This will involve students, their families and the staff in our academies and ensure that we can hear a range of views about what people would like and what’s important to them.

The project will start in the autumn and will finish in good time for uniforms to be bought for the start of the school year in 2011.

It will be run by lecturers from the University of Brighton who have an international reputation for fashion and design.

Students who were involved with the design days with the Sorrell Foundation have already given us their thoughts on some of the things that they think are important for us to consider. The images above show some of these ideas presented in their own words and images.

THE ST leonards AcademyPride through Success

Education after age 16

The academies will cater for students in the 11–16 age range with excellent routes to post-16 study in either of the two local colleges (Sussex Coast College Hastings and Bexhill Sixth Form College), local sixth forms (at William Parker and Helenswood Schools) and programmes organised by private training providers.

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The academy will be part of the Local Area Partnership Board which is responsible for ensuring that provision is planned across the 14–19 age range.

This will ensure that students can move smoothly from one course to another. You can be confident that your child will be well prepared for their post-16 education or training when they come to leave.

By law, all students will have to continue their education after the age of 16, either in a college course, training programme or job with training. It is vital that students go on to provision that is right for them and you can be confident that the academy will provide your child with independent and impartial advice about the opportunities available.

Pride through Success

The New Buildings and Transition

Our aim is to ensure the best possible learning environment for your child. This means buildings that have state of the art information technology, fit for the digital age, and facilities that enable every student to follow their chosen pathway. We want our academies to inspire and motivate students, to be flexible enough to change with the times, and to make learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone, especially those with special educational needs.

We have ambitious plans to transform the learning environment for your child. We believe that this will bring out the best in our students, staff and local communities. Our vision is for 21st century facilities for 21st century education.

The government has confirmed that it will let us know the amount of funding available for The St Leonards Academy later this year. In the meantime we are continuing with plans to locate the academy on the Edinburgh Road campus in new and remodelled buildings. Our aim is to ensure that the academy will be able to transform the educational opportunities for your child. The target date for completion is September 2013.

In the interim period, the academy will operate on two sites. Year 7 will be admitted to the Darwell Campus (the former Grove school site) where they will stay for two years until the building work is complete. The accommodation there will be significantly remodelled to ensure that the students’ needs can be met, especially those with special educational needs. More information can be found in the section on Admissions (page 20).

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Admissions

How to apply for a place at the academyThe St Leonards Academy will consider all applications for places. Most students join at the start of year 7. Applications for all year groups at the academy will be made in accordance with East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) coordinated admissions arrangements and will be made on the Common Application Form (CAF) provided and administered by East Sussex County Council’s Admissions Team.

A brochure describing the secondary admissions process, and application form, are available from East Sussex County Council or online at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/admissions.

You can make your application online or by returning the completed form to the Schools Admissions Team at the county council.

Please do not send your application form to the academy.

More information will be available at the Open Evening at 6.30pm on Tuesday 28 September and at the Open Mornings at 9.30am on Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October to be held at the Darwell Campus.

CriteriaWhere the number of applications for admission is greater than the published admission number, applications will be considered against the criteria set out below. After the admission of pupils with Statements of Special Educational Needs where the academy is named on the statement, the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below:

Looked after Children (children in public care 1. who are due to transfer to year 7).Children with an exceptional medical or social 2. need where there is evidence which leads the Governing Body to conclude that attendance at any other school would be inappropriate. The evidence submitted, such as a letter from a doctor or social worker, must clearly demonstrate that the needs of the child can only be met by attending the academy.Children who are due to transfer and have a 3. sibling (the term sibling means a full, step, half, adopted or foster brother or sister) at the school at the time of admission. Children who are due to transfer and are living 4. within the Hastings and St Leonard’s boundary at the opening date of the admissions round (as per the community area described in the admission booklet).Children living outside the pre-defined area.5.

Year 7When The St Leonards Academy opens in September 2011, it will replace Filsham Valley and The Grove. Until the planned building work is complete, and we move onto one site in 2013, the academy will operate on two sites: Darwell campus (formerly The Grove) and Edinburgh campus (formerly Filsham Valley). All year 7 students will be admitted to the Darwell campus, providing two real benefits to your child.

First, it will ensure all the year 7 students are educated together – giving them far better learning opportunities; and second, it will limit the disturbance of the building works and affect far fewer students. The accommodation on the Darwell campus will be significantly remodelled to ensure that the academy is able to meet the needs of students with special educational needs.

Year 7 students will remain on the Darwell campus until the building work is completed in September 2013. Year 7 students in September 2012 will also be admitted to the Darwell Campus for their first year. The two groups will then move together to their new academy building.

Tie breaker – oversubscriptionIf there are more children who qualify for a place than places available, places will be allocated to pupils living closest to the academy (using the shortest distance from home to school using a surfaced, passable route).

If, after all of the relevant criteria have been applied, two applicants cannot be separated for a final place, the Academies Trust will use random allocation to determine the priority for the remaining place.

Other year groupsStudents and families wishing to apply for places in other year groups (years 8 to 11) can contact either Jenny Jones, the Principal Designate of the new academy, or the School Admissions Team. Applications should be made online or on the form provided and returned to the School Admissions Team.

AppealsIf the academy has more applications than places, parents whose child has not been allocated a place may appeal. Appeals will be considered by an independent appeals panel.

Details of how to appeal can be found at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/admissions or by emailing [email protected].

Pride through Success

BUILDING ON SUCCESS – THE JOURNEY SO FAR

We will build on the success of the three current secondary schools, which has been remarkable since they began working together as a federation two years ago.

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Since the federation began, Filsham Valley has improved from 49% of students with 5 or more A*–C passes to 85% and from 34% with 5 or more including English and Maths to 44%.

Similarly, the Grove has gone from 41% of students with 5 or more A*–C passes to 95%, and from 12% with 5 or more including English and Maths to 43%.

The Grove was also recognised in 2010 as the fifteenth most improved school in the country over three years.

Our vision is to build on this success, by continuing to work as a federation, and to surpass it in the long term. To do this, we will need the support of our key stakeholders, particularly parents, to ensure we achieve the very best results we can.

It’s important therefore that we involve everyone with a stake in education to help us complete this process.

We have begun to work with students, staff, parents and governors – a way of working that we want to continue for the future.

Already we have involved students, staff, governors and other key stakeholders in their development and we aim to continue this until the academy opens in September 2011, and beyond. We want you to feel that this is your academy – for your child, your family, and your community.

Students have already been involved in the design of the new buildings through a project run by the Sorrell Foundation. This included a day in London at the Young Design Centre on the South Bank and a follow up session with expert guidance.

The result was a student brief for each academy that has formed part of the design brief for the building contract.

When it came to choosing the names of the academies we wanted to involve as many members of the community as possible. We asked people living, working and studying in Hastings and St Leonards to send in their suggestion for the names. We received over 200 nominations. The sponsors shortlisted six names which were then voted on by the school communities.

We were really pleased with the names that were chosen The St Leonards Academy and The Hastings Academy as we think that they represent a really strong link between these schools and the local communities that they serve.

Earlier this year the sponsors and Designate Principals invited all of the staff and governors from The Grove, Hillcrest and Filsham Valley to attend a day-long conference on the future of the academies.

This was an interactive day with over 400 colleagues working on issues such as the design of the new buildings, involvement with the community, and discussions around the curriculum. The outputs from this day are already helping to inform our detailed planning.

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Additional information

ComplaintsParents/carers should contact the academy if they wish to make a complaint or to make arrangements to see any of the documents or regulations held at the academy, including those relating to the curriculum and other curricular policies.

Academy policiesIf you require a copy of any of the academy policies including those covering behaviour, exclusions, equal opportunities, anti-bullying, child protection, health and safety, first aid and disability access please visit the website or contact the academy.

DisclaimerThis brochure was printed in September 2010. The academy has taken every effort to ensure the accuracy of this prospectus and will take all reasonable steps to provide the educational vision as outlined. It cannot, however, guarantee their provision in the event of circumstances beyond its control such as change in government policy, personnel changes or other eventualities.

CreditsA special thank you to all our students and staff who contributed to our prospectus. We would also like to thank the Sorrell Foundation and East Sussex County Council for allowing us to use their photos and images.

We also meet regularly with governors of the three schools that will become academies in their Joint Committee and with community representatives and stakeholders through the Local Strategic Partnership.

One of the most important future projects will be the design and build of the new academies.

Together with the building contractor, we will provide opportunities for your feedback on the design proposals. Students, staff, governors and parents will all be able to participate in this process.

The design of the uniform for the academies will also be based on a project involving students and parents – you can find more on this in the section on school uniform (page 17).

The logo was created for the academy by the design team at the University of Brighton. The team used the pupils’ brief as their starting point. Because colour is important to the pupils, the team wanted to design something that would work well with strong colours, and the pupils made it clear that they wanted an identity that set them apart from other schools in the area, so the team wanted to create something unique.

Most importantly, the pupils said that they wanted their school to have an excellent reputation and be somewhere that they felt proud of. The design team created the lion symbol, a strong, contemporary image with associations with pride.

The history of the area also provided inspiration, especially for the typography which is a modern take on Old English lettering. The logos for the Hastings and St Leonards Academies share the lion symbol as a way of showing the special relationship between the two academies.

Darwell CampusDarwell CloseSt Leonards On SeaEast SussexTN38 9JP T: 01424 431691F: 01424 440060

Edinburgh CampusEdinburgh RoadSt Leonards On SeaEast SussexTN38 8HHT: 01424 448740F: 01424 722354

[email protected]

This publication is available in alternative formats on request.


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