Students at Weston Favell Academy are set to benefit from major investment, enhanced academic support and a new partnership, as the Academy announces its new vision for its sixth form provision. This has been designed to help more young people thrive in their next steps, be that with universities, apprenticeship providers or employers.
The plans, which launched at the start of the new academic year, also mark the arrival of Weston Favell Academy’s new Head of Sixth Form, Naomi Francis. Mrs Francis, is an experienced post-16 leader who has previously led sixth form and SEND provision across Northampton and brings strong insights and leadership to the Academy.
Welcoming students back to school, the Academy has introduced various improvements, including dedicated sixth form study and breakout spaces, adding four new IT suites and more than 160 student laptops, as well as new screens and equipment in every classroom.
Alongside this investment in facilities, the sixth form has strengthened the support available to students through a dedicated team of academic tutors and additional pastoral and administrative support. This includes new partnerships with education charity, The Elephant Group, which works to increase access to leading universities for academically talented young people, and global employer, Amazon.
Working in partnership with The Elephant Group, the Academy’s students will benefit from additional tutoring, seminars and mentoring, as well as opportunities to attend summer schools at Russell Group universities free of charge.
The Academy is also strengthening the pathways available to students who want to pursue apprenticeships or move directly into employment. This includes a £10,000 investment from Amazon to further bolster educational opportunities for students so they can achieve the best possible outcomes.
Naomi Francis, Head of Sixth Form at Weston Favell Academy, said: “There is a huge amount of potential among the young people at Weston Favell Academy and my ambition is to make sure every student continues to have the support and opportunities they need to realise it.
“That means being ambitious about where our students can go next. For some that could be one of the country’s leading universities, while for others it might be a degree apprenticeship, vocational route or employment. What matters is that every young person is challenged to aim high and has a clear pathway towards their future.
“The investment we have made in our facilities is important, but equally exciting is what we are building around our students – from academic tutoring and pastoral support to university experiences, employer partnerships and mentoring. This will all help our brilliant students recognise and realise their potential and I look forward to supporting them on this journey.”