Why Work at Atlantic Academy Portland

Our Academy

The Academy became Atlantic Academy in September 2017, joining Aspirations Academies Trust. We are quite unique in that we are a truly ‘all through’ Academy, with all years housed within the same school building. This allows for many opportunities and shared planning chances.

At Atlantic we are passionate about excellence in all aspects of a child’s life, giving students the very best start possible. We have high aspirations, and believe students should:

Believe in themselves
Be actively engaged in their learning
See the connection in what they want to become and what they are doing
Have disruption free learning
Have access to a challenging academic curriculum offer
Not dwell on barriers but seek solutions

We positively encourage you to come and visit, we love showing people around the Academy!

Our success so far

We have witnessed a remarkable turnaround in all aspects of the Academy, with the expectations having immediately raised outcomes. The calm and purposeful atmosphere supports all aspects of learning.The success and recognition has created growing numbers on roll, and next year we expect both reception and Year 7 to be at capacity. We have year groups of 60 in Primary and 120 in Secondary which helps promote the unique and supportive atmosphere at the Academy.

Isn’t Atlantic Academy Portland the perfect place for a work/life balance?

Work life balance – not burnout

We believe in creating a lifelong career and supporting teachers to achieve this and their own personal ambitions.

For example:

Feedback policy NOT marking policy, allowing for whole class feedback, using a visualiser. Saving hours from NOT having to write personalised comments in every exercise book
Collaborative planning, centralised shared units of work – carved out planning time
No written end of year reports – data report 3 times per year
Homework is standardised to Knowledge Organiser – Practice books, and reading. Removing any marking expectations and detentions set and run centrally by SLT
Expectation of disruption free learning, high SLT visibility ALL day, focus on students. Allowing staff to teach without low level disruption
Visualiser (mini iPad) in every classroom – allowing for booklets, feedback, student work etc to be projected – as the teacher decides
Full equipment and perfect uniform. Checked every morning, students will not attend lessons if full equipment is not present. You will never have to lend a pen, or look for a calculator again!
Highly visible and supportive SLT, supporting you to keep high expectations
Very clear and transparent sanctions – all detentions centralised and run by SLT each day. Allowing staff to focus on what really matters – the classroom
No graded lessons, no high stakes observations. We believe in a coaching approach and ‘leverage leadership’ approach
No work emails in the evening, weekends, or holidays

Teaching and Learning

We have weekly, short, CPD sessions, focussing on classroom excellence. Heavily influenced by Doug
Lemov’s – Teach like a champion, as well as Making Every Lesson Count, amongst many other blogs and research pieces. We believe the curriculum should include:

Development of knowledge: Progress in knowing more and remembering more. The future requires the acquisition and application of a wide range of knowledge.
The ability to apply knowledge: Progress in knowledge being applied in more challenging, relevant and more engaging ways.
The acquisition of 21st century skills to translate knowledge into actions for success.

Feedback from Visitors

‘There is now an air of calm, order and discipline, which was so badly needed, my congratulations for instilling it’
Richard Drax MP

'JUST BEEN ON AN ACTION TOUR OF ATLANTIC ACADEMY WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR! FEELING POSITIVE.'
Parent

‘THE HAPPINESS OF MY CHILDREN AND THE PROGRESS THEY ARE ALL MAKING IS BRILLIANT. THIS IS PURELY DOWN TO EXCELLENT TEACHERS WHO BRING OUT THE BEST IN THEM AS LITTLE INDIVIDUALS.’
Parent

‘I FELT THE STUDENTS GROWING SENSE OF AMBITION AS I TOURED THE SCHOOL. THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE DOING TO RAISE ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIOUR ARE OBVIOUSLY HAVING AFFECT’
BRADLEY SIMMONS HMI, REGIONAL DIRECTOR SOUTH WEST