About Barking Abbey School

Barking Abbey was founded in 1922 as the first co-eductional grammar school in England. At the time, it was situated in a largely rural area, with fields and farmland close by. Gradually, as Barking began to expand as a residential centre, the school became the focal point for the community with an educational provision of national standing.

In 1997, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary. Ex-pupils from all over the world, as far afield as Canada, the USA and New Zealand, met to review seventy-five years of progress and achievement.

The schoo lis very different today. In 1970, Barking Abbey Grammar School was merged with Park Modern School to form what has now become 'Barking Abbey School: A Specialist Sports and Humanities College'.

Many traditions of the old schools remain, but with important developments to enable the school and its pupils to be fully prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of life in the twenty-first century. One thing remains central, however: we are an outstanding success.

Barking Abbey is a mixed school of approximately 1800 pupils. It is traditionally heavily oversubscribed and each year takes 270 new pupils.

The school draws its pupils from a large number of primary and junior schools particularly from the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Newham, although the majority are drawn from our three 'link' partner primaries, Manor Junior, Northbury Junior and St. Margaret's Church of England.

Barking Abbey has a very large Sixth Form (over 400 students). A large range of AS, A2, AVCE and GNVQ courses are available to our 16-19 year olds.

The school operates on two sites which are just under a mile apart. Years 7 and 8 are housed at Longbridge Road and Years 9 to 13 at Sandringham Road.

In recent years, the school has enjoyed great success across many areas. In 1997 it was among the first six schools to be awarded Specialist Sports College status. At the same time a grant of £2.1 million from the Sport England Lottery Unit and the Borough of Barking and Dagenham enabled the building of a large Leisure Centre, with full time nursery provision. In 1999, the school was nominated by the Government's Chief Inspector as one of the most improved schools in the country.

In 2000, the school was given a series of awards: the Schools' Curriculum Award, the Investors In People Award, the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark and the Sportsmark Award.

In 2001, the accolades continued, with the Government's Achievement Award for Excellence; Sportsmark Gold and the Technology Colleges Trust "Most Improved Schools" Award. At the same time, we began the Government's Excellence in Cities programme and were selected to be part of a small Education Action Zone.

2002 followed in the same vein: With a second Government Achievement Award; the Technology Colleges Trust "Most Value-added Schools" Award; and an invitation from the Government to become a Beacon School in order to share our expertise and success. In September, a magnificient Drama, Media and Music Centre was opened, with state-of-the-art technologies to support students' learning.

2003 has seen even more exciting developments. Barking Abbey has been selected by the DfES as one of only five secondary schools in the county to be an ICT Testbed School. This has meant that over £2 million was spent over three years on computer technology equipment. Students and staff have access to state-of-the-art technologies to enhance their teaching and learning, both of which have been transformed as a result of this programme. This is a wonderful opportunity for the school and its community. Development plans are currently being drawn up for the next phases of this major building programme.

We are proud of the fact that we are a multi-cultural community and we seek to celebrate our diversity in as many ways as possible. Tolerance of, respect for, and understanding of others are vital aspects of preparing young people for adult life.

Mark Lloyd
Head Teacher

In line with the requirements of the National Curriculum, Barking Abbey provides a broad and balanced programme of study. Our aim is to enable students to achieve of their best and to allow the widest range of career and further education opportunities to remain open to students up to and beyond the school leaving age.

The school has established both academic and pastoral links with its main primary partner schools. This is greatly enhanced as part of our Education Action Zone and our Specialist Sports College programme. We are also developing extensive links with our partner secondary schools in both Sporting and Performing Arts areas.

In the first three years students’ studies include Art, Drama, English, French or German, Geography, History, Information Technology, Mathematics, Music, Personal and Social Education, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science and Technology.

The school was recently awarded the Basic Skills Agency Charter Mark in recognition of the excellence of our work in basic literacy and numeracy.

In Years 10 and 11 all students study a compulsory core curriculum which consists of English, Mathematics, Science, ICT and Physical Education. In addition, there is a wide range of optional subjects from which students may choose including a Modern Foreign Language, (French and German), History, Geography, Music, Art, Business Studies, Social Science, RE, Drama, Media Studies and Technology. We have pioneered the introduction of vocational GCSEs and will be exploring this further over the next two years.

The Sixth Form provides a wide range of subjects at GCE Advanced Level (up to 25 subjects are offered), and opportunities to study further GCSE courses as well as vocational and pre-vocational courses, including GNVQ at both Intermediate and Advanced Level (Business, ICT, Health and Social Care and Sport Science).

THE SIXTH FORM PROSPECTUS 2008-2009
The prospectus for 2008 - 2009 is still being completed. We anticipate that this will soon be available. Below are links to last years prospectus. Please feel free to look at this. However please be advised that this is subject to change.

If you would like to see the 2007/2008 Sixth Form Prospectus it is available as MS Word or Adobe Acrobat pdf.

THE SIXTH FORM APPLICATION PROCESS
The Post 16 Open Evening will be held in the new year on a date yet to be determined.

All Parents and Students who are interested in Barking Abbey Sixth Form are invited to attend. Students should be accompanied by parents if possible.

The School will be open between 6.15 – 8.00pm for Parents and Students to meet subject staff and discuss the options available and for external students to see the facilities.

There are 2 different application forms. The green form for all current Barking Abbey Students is due in to Mrs Boom by Friday 2 March. The yellow application form is for Students applying from other schools (external students). These will be issued on request with the prospectus.

Once applications from external Students have been received, a reference will be requested from your current school. You will be offered an interview providing we receive a good reference or a letter of rejection if we are not happy with the reference received. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of submitting your application you should phone the 6th form office to make enquiries. The most likely reason is that we have not received your reference.

Barking Abbey Students who apply to the Sixth Form will have a letter either offering a place, a letter of rejection or an interview with the current Pastoral Co-ordinators to discuss possible issues regarding your application.

INDUCTION DAY
The next important stage is the Sixth Form Induction Day n June/July. This day is open for all Students who have been offered places.

SIXTH FORM REGISTRATION DAY
This takes place at the end of August.

Barking Abbey School was awarded £2 million by the English Sports Council Lottery Unit for a Sports Hall, Gymnasium, Fitness Room complex. It has now been open for 2 years.

As a result of the school being granted Specialist Sports College status by the Government, £320,000 has been spent on the construction of twelve floodlit tennis/netball courts (six on each site). The school also has extensive playing fields on both sites.

Barking Abbey Centre for Football Excellence        

There are many activities that take place at the school. In particular there is the Barking Abbey Centre for Football Excellence. There are 20 scholarships available to male candidates on 1, 2 or 3 year programmes. It is supported by Adidas and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). Here is an outline of what they do.

• A programme of football and education for students aged 16-19.
• The scheme is part of the F.A. development plan and fully endorsed by the F.A.
• Structured training sessions every day from a UEFA Advanced Licence Coach on site.
• Follow academic courses such as the BTEC National Diploma in Science (Sports Studies), AVCEs, GNVQs, AS or A-Level.
• Scholars will also progress through their Level 1 and 2 UEFA coaching awards, treatment of sports injuries and first aid.
• Each player receives regular 1-1 and squad mentoring on professionalism, mental strength, football fitness, diet and nutrition, career development and match analysis.
• There is also a match programme with our partner club Waltham Forest F.C.
• The squad will attend football tours in Europe and the USA.
• We have close links with professional football clubs, universities, both here and in the USA, which provide playing, coaching and studying opportunities for the scholars to further develop after the programme.
• BACFE: login here.
  

Outdoor Adventure Activities
Barking Abbey Physical Education Department, offers their pupils the opportunity to experience a wide variety of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities at Stubbers Adventure Centre, Trewern Residential Centre for Outdoor Education, and the Ardeche Adventure Programme, Lou Valagran France.

Rock Climbing at Trewern	Pot holing at Brewer	Kayaking at Stubbers	Assault Course at Stubbers