FAQS
General
What difference does it make that the school is an academy?
As an academy, Albany has greater independence in some decisions. We still work very closely with other local schools and Lancashire County Council.
What does it mean that the school is part of a mult-academy trust?
MATs are groups of schools which work in partnership for the benefit of their students. We work in partnership with Chorley New Road Primary School. This gives our staff a real insight into high quality primary teaching and transition from primary to secondary.
Who is my child’s form tutor?
Each child is placed in a tutor group in Year 7. Most children will remain in the same group for the 5 years they are at Albany. A specialist year 7 tutor will work with the class in your child’s first year. These are experienced tutors who understand transition from primary to secondary schools.
Practical
What buses travel to and from Albany?
The 125 bus from Preston to Bolton stops every 10 minutes just outside the pupil entrance to school. Dedicated buses from Coppull, Blackrod and Abbey Village also run to school. More information is available here.
Where can we get uniform?
We have several suppliers of school uniform; Andrew Leach, JADA and Nu uniform. More information is available here
What equipment we need to buy?
They need a pen, pencil, ruler, calculator. They will also be provided with a planner.
What are the lunches like?
We offer a range of hot and cold meals which parents can order online.
Can children get a breakfast?
Breakfast club is usually open from 8am, serving cereals and warm drinks.
Can they stay after school?
Homework club is open every day in the library from 3.15 to 4pm.
How will I, as a parent know how my child is getting on?
Each term we send home to parents a brief report, giving details of effort and progress in each subject. We also hold a parents’ evening at least once per year. For year 7 children, there are two parents’ evenings – the first in the autumn when they have settled into school and the second in the summer.
How do parents communicate with school?
The school office and pastoral office are open every day from 8am to 4.30pm (4pm on Friday). Parents can also email [email protected]. We share most information by parentmail.
Subjects
Does everyone have to study all subjects?
In year 7 and 8 all children study all subjects. In Year 9 we introduce some choice between technology, arts and languages courses. Students can choose 3 of their GCSEs, which start in Year 10.
When do they pick their GCSEs?
Students start their GCSE courses in Year 10. They select 3 options to go along with English, literature, maths, sciences and core PE and Life Studies.
Are subjects taught in sets?
Some subjects are taught in sets, particularly at Key Stage 4. Most classes are mixed ability at Key Stage 3. We believe that all students are capable of high performance no matter what their starting points. Setting tends to be most effective with maths, where some students will study higher tier GCSE and some will study foundation tier.
Can children move classes?
Children may move classes based on teachers’ decisions.
How much homework is set each week?
Homework is set by class teachers and is recorded on Google classroom so that parents can see what homework is being set. The time taken to complete the work will vary according to the age of the student and the level of the work. Please note that home learning will include reading and research as well as written work.
Admissions
Do I live in your catchment area?
Our Catchment area is Parishes of Charnock Richard, Coppull, Euxton (part*), Astley Village, Whittle-le-Woods, District of Chorley, Withnell, Wheelton, Heapey, Anglezarke, Heath Charnock, Anderton, Adlington and Rivington, Horwich, Blackrod and Haigh.
*Euxton south of railway line.
What is your Admissions Criteria?
- Looked after and previously looked after children, then
- Children for whom the Governors accept that there are exceptional medical, social or welfare reasons which are directly relevant to the school concerned. (See note below)
- Children of serving members of staff.
- Children living within the school’s geographical priority area with older brothers or sisters attending the school when the younger child will start, (see note iii below).
- Children living within the school’s geographical priority area, then
- Children living outside the school’s geographical priority area with older brothers or sisters still attending the school when the younger child will start (See note (iii) below) then
- Children living outside the school’s geographical priority area (see note (iv) below.
Do you have a supplementary application form?
No
How many students do you admit each year?
Our Admission number is 135 but over the past few years we have been over subscribed and accepted 150.
In Criteria 5 what was the furthest distance an applicant offered a place for the 2020 intake?
1.823 miles.
Technology
How big are the class sizes in Technology subjects?
Maximum of 26 for all technology subjects. Classes are even smaller usually, for KS3 DT & FT to work effectively in cooking rooms and workshops.
Do KS3 do Photography?
Not at the moment, though this may change. The KS3 Art curriculum is very broad however and we need to develop skills in a variety of more traditional media which teachers see as being more valuable for KS3 study. Photography is an option available for KS4 study and is affiliated to the GCSE Art & Design course, marked in exactly the same way. As ‘drawing’ too is now an essential element of the GCSE Photography course, students need those traditional skills and theory knowledge too about colour, tone, composition etc. There is also enough time on the photography course to learn how to use cameras and image editing software. Photography would also be less effectively taught too with KS3 having larger class sizes of up to 26 for example.
How often are classes taught technology subjects? Are technology subject lessons taught on a carousel? How long are the lessons?
KS3: Year 7 Art, DT & FT has a 1 hour lesson per week. Year 8 Art, has a 1 hour lesson per week. DT & FT, has a 1 hour per week lesson for half of the school year. Year 9 Art, DT & FT (along with Drama) have 2 chosen subjects out of 4 for 2 hour lessons per week study or 3 lessons across a two-week period. KS4 lessons are 3 per week for opted for subjects at GCSE level.
Do students in Food cook every week?
The curriculum is broad and educates about dietary needs, nutrition, health and safety, along with food preparation and the development of more practical cooking skills. At Albany students cook more than they would at many other schools.
What Food course do they take at GCSE?
The course is currently WJEC EDUQAS GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition.
Do we provide ingredients for Food lessons?
Students are expected to provide ingredients as and when required. Students who are eligible for pupil premium do receive some contribution to the provision of ingredients however.
Do we have to provide anything for Technology lessons?
Students are expected to purchase a Technology apron for Technology lessons. They are available from school at the start of Year 7 for about £8 each and students will use these throughout KS3 and also KS4 in Art & DT if a student opt for these subjects. In KS3 students are also expected to be equipped with a drawing pencil and rubber. KS4 study in Technology subjects also dictates that some additional items will need to be purchased such as chef whites, food ingredients, or perhaps contributions towards sketchbooks/display books, materials and revision guides.
Is Design and Technology available as an option subject?
Yes. The course is available for KS4 study and we currently deliver AQA GCSE Design & Technology.
Science Faculty
PE
What sports do you do?
Most except swimming and trampolining.
Why do you not do GCSE PE?
BTEC Sport has more practical and leads on really well to the Level 3 BTEC course and A Level at college. It includes leadership which is a big part of our school to help develop confidence and resilience across the curriculum
What clubs do you do?
As many as possible. We join in every Chorley school competition and run open clubs at both lunch time and afterschool for all abilities to participate in.
What teams are there?
We usually have more than 1 team for each sport for both boys and girls in every year group. Our recent successes have been basketball for both boys and girls; girls’ rugby; football for both boys and girls; dance; Handball and dodgeball.
How inclusive are you in PE?
Extremely. Every child is able to participate in our PE lessons. Each lesson is adapted to the needs of both individuals and the group.
Science
Do you offer separate science?
Not as an option. Separate sciences have been available for Year 11 students as part of the science course. This is dependent on progress in Year 10.
Combined science does give access to all A level science courses. A level sciences require two grade 6s at GCSE.
How many lessons per week do they have?
In the usual curriculum, we have 3 lessons of science per week for years 7-9 and we have 5 lessons per week for years 10 and 11
How you do experiments in science?
At KS3 and KS4 we ensure that the lessons have as much practical work as appropriate. We value the skills that can be obtained through practical work and this is assessed in their GCSE exams. These skills are also carried through to A level science and beyond.
How does GCSE work in terms of specialist teachers?
We have specialist teachers for each science; biology, chemistry, physics.
What exam board and how are they assessed?
AQA combined science trilogy and it is 100% exam. They sit 2 x 1hr and 15 minute papers for each science
Humanities
How many languages are taught at Albany?
2
Which languages do they study in Y7 and which do they pick up later and when?
French in year 7 then Spanish as well in years 8 and 9
Can you take two languages at GCSE?
No. You choose a language to study at the end of year 9
Are there any language trips (obviously this year the answer is no!)
In the past we have gone to France and Spain and would hope to again in the future.
How many hours a week are you taught history, geography, RE, MFL?
History, geography have 2 hours per week in KS3. French has 2 hours a week in year 7 and then three hours a week between French and Spanish. RE has 1 hour a week at Key Stage 3. Pupils have 3 hours a week in their options subjects at KS4
Are Humanities subjects taught separately?
Yes they are.
How many pass, why are the results different year on year
Exam results are excellent. As we are options subjects, results can fluctuate depending on the cohort of pupils.
What trips do they go on?
Geography goes to Formby and Brockholes. these are suspended at the moment.
What fieldwork do they do?
Geography do an urban and river field study. these are suspended at the moment.