Head of College (Vice Principal)

Wilmington Academy joined the Trust in September 2010. The Academy is very successful, where students from a wide variety of backgrounds and starting points can flourish and succeed. Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs and aspirations of all our young people and we have an extensive programme of enrichment and support that provides extra opportunities for personal development and growth.  We are housed in state of the art buildings in a semi-rural location just outside of Dartford. Rated by OfSTED as Good with Outstanding Leadership and Management, Wilmington offers a calm and purposeful learning environment where students can flourish and succeed.

In September 2017 we became an International Baccalaureate World School and offer the IB Career-related Programme in key stage 5. In July 2020 we were successfully authorised to deliver the IB Middle Years Programme in Key Stage 3, to ensure we provide our students with a truly world class education. Value added puts it in the top band for similar schools nationally in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 and examination outcomes are among the best of non-selective schools in Kent.

Academic excellence, hard work and good manners are expected of all our students. International- mindedness, cultural understanding and an appreciation of the benefits diversity can bring are at the heart of what we believe.  Our success is achieved through teamwork. Subject teams work closely together to share resources and ideas to achieve the very best outcomes for our students. We support the Trust model of small schools within a school, so that no student is left behind. Vertical tutor groups, an excellent pastoral programme underpinned by a strong moral purpose, helps students to develop into responsible, well-educated young adults who are ready to take their next steps in life. A large proportion of our students go on to University and high level apprenticeships.

We aim for excellence in everything we do and have received recognition at regional and national level for our work. We are forward thinking and outward facing, constantly striving to advance and improve. We are very supportive and offer excellent training and development opportunities for staff at the various stages of their careers. We are a friendly, caring and ambitious community placing the academic progress and welfare of our students at the heart of everything we do.  We work closely with Leigh Academies Trust, external partners and organisations to ensure we provide the educational experience our students need to make their way in an increasingly complex and ever changing world.

Principal

Mr Michael Gore

Values

The Academy aims to be an outstanding, inclusive learning community where everyone feels safe and valued. We aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, recognising that other people with their differences can also be right.

Vision

Wilmington Academy is part of Leigh Academies Trust. We believe in the power of the Trust small schools within a school and vertical tutoring models to transform lives and shape communities. We also believe that collaboration within the Trust and beyond, at national and international level, will help us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students.

Wilmington Academy comprises three colleges, Minerva, Apollo and Jupiter designed around community, relationships, respect and high aspirations. Whilst the vision and values are the same, each college has its own leadership, student services team and administration. The human scale, modular culture and personalised approach to learning mean that no student gets left behind. We are a reflective, outward-facing community constantly reviewing our successes and adapting to bring about improvements.