Students and staff at a Coventry academy are celebrating after receiving a ‘good’ rating in their first ever Ofsted report.

WMG Academy for Young Engineers was praised for its business ethos, teaching standards and student behaviour, as well as its safeguarding and leadership.

The report, released this week, revealed: “Pupils are well prepared for their next stages in education and for life in modern Britain.

“Pupils are confident and articulate; they work well independently and in groups. Many are excited by their studies because they understand the relationship between their lessons and their future careers.”

WMG Academy for Young Engineers, in Mitchell Avenue in Canley, opened its doors to its first student intake in September 2014. The academy works with the University of Warwick and businesses to provide students with a career-based education, studying GCSEs and A Levels with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and maths.

The report added: “The business-like culture aims to create confident pupils. The Curriculum and teaching deliberately support the development of confidence.

“The school expects pupils to behave like young professional engineers. Pupils told inspectors that they feel they are treated respectfully and that this encourages them to behave in line with the school’s expectations.”

All pupils leaving the academy in Year 13 in 2016 went on to higher education, advanced apprenticeships or employment. School leadership was also rated as ‘good’.

The report read: “Leaders have created a culture where the school’s motto ‘business like and business led’ is evident in all areas of the school.”

“Teachers have good subject knowledge and are passionate about the real-world application of their subjects. Work-based learning is at the heart of the curriculum and consistently enlivens lessons.

“Leaders have created a school culture where pupils and staff treat each other respectfully.”

Executive Principal Kate Tague said: “We are delighted with the Ofsted report, especially as we have been open for less than three years and this was our first ever inspection.

“It is testament to the staff and the students here who work very hard to put the academy on the map as the place to go for a career-based education.

“We have managed to create an ethos of professionalism and aspiration and that is evident from the successes of former students who have gone on to careers, universities and training in science, technology, engineering and maths.

“We will continue to work hard to make WMG Academy for Young Engineers outstanding.”

www.wmgacademy.org.uk

ENDS

For more information email c.lewis@wmgacademy.org.uk or call Calista Lewis on 024 7646 4661 ext 314.

Notes to editors

Photo: (L-R) Alexis Griffin, James Coveney, Ollie Newman, Joel Abrose-Brown and Saloni Arya celebrate WMG Academy’s ‘good’ Ofsted report.

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers, in Coventry, has experienced such success that a second academy opened its doors in Solihull in 2016 to 640 students. The WMG Academies offer world class education for students aged 14-19 who want to pursue a career in engineering. Students learn in a new way, with real, business-focussed, practical problems and challenges at the centre of their curriculum. With the support of sponsoring companies, this new approach prepares them for the challenges of the 21st century, whether they be in companies, in further education or at university.

Employer Partners for the WMG Academy for Young Engineers include:

Aston Martin, Automotive Insulations, Bosch, Cummins, Dassault Systemes, DCS Group, Jaguar Land Rover, National Grid, Oleo, Prodrive, Ricardo, Sarginsons, Savery Hydraulics, SCC, Squires Gears, Sure Track, Tata Motors, University of Warwick , Vinci Energies, WMG

The WMG Academies for Young Engineers are currently taking applications for students to start in September 2017.

Contact:

Calista Lewis, Marketing Manager WMG Academy for Young Engineers

Tel: 024 7646 4661 ext 314.

c.lewis@wmgacademy.org.uk

Or

Alex Buxton
Media Relations Manager

University of Warwick
Tel: 02476 150423
Mob: 07876 218166
a.buxton.1@warwick.ac.uk