The UCL Academy vision is of a strong school community in which individuals develop a shared identity and sense of social and moral responsibility while respecting each others’ beliefs and ideals.
Each household will be responsible for working together to ‘host’ the facilities it contains, and for building community spirit and a sense of shared endeavour.
Students will be supported to make positive choices about their learning by their staff mentor, who will be assigned to them when they enter the school. If possible, the mentor will remain with them throughout their time at the Academy. They will also be able to seek help and advice from older students in their mentor groups; from the Academy’s pastoral Head of House, who will have responsibility for the wellbeing of every student in the Household, and from students from UCL itself, who will act as mentors and buddies.
Students will develop learning skills right from the start which will enable them to make choices about how they learn and the programme of study that they follow. The curriculum and its delivery will be stimulating and frequently innovative. This, combined with an emphasis on high standards of behaviour, will result in strong academic progress and attainment.
Students will have a great deal of choice and freedom in how they learn and in the programme of study that they follow. In return, they will be expected to maintain high standards of achievement and behaviour.
UCL was the first university in England to admit students of any race, class or religion, and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. It continues to apply these principles of equality across all of its activity today and is committed to ensuring that the UCL Academy does the same.
The UCL Academy will have clear sanctions and rewards with a strong emphasis on rewarding positive behaviour and attitudes. Through this approach, we will encourage self-discipline and high standards of personal conduct. Students will be expected to adopt a professional attitude to learning and to be respectful to all members of the school community.
Staff at the UCL Academy will work closely with parents to ensure high standards of behaviour, including excellent levels of attendance and punctuality, and to ensure that homework and uniform policies are followed. A home-school agreement is under development. It is essential that parents / carers and students interested in the UCL Academy subscribe to and sign the agreement (which also outlines what the UCL Academy will offer).
Academy students must develop as independent learners, able to manage their time effectively. Every student will be expected to work on compulsory homework tasks out of school time. These will be carefully planned as preparatory work for sessions in school.