Welcome from our Principal
Welcome to Ark Burlington Danes Academy. We are an all through school serving pupils aged 3-18 from our local community in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
Having been founded as a Christian charity school in 1699, we are proud not just of our heritage and significant history, but especially of how this Christian ethos permeates all aspects of our school life.
We believe that everyone deserves to be accepted, included and empowered to live a life that is purposeful and fulfilling and that through learning to our fullest potential and living a life filled with kindness and thankfulness, we can be the ones to make the world a better place.
Paul Bhatia, Principal
Our Curriculum
We provide a full, rigorous and academic education which enables students to go on to the university or career of their choice. We know that it is qualifications which will open doors for our young people.
As an Ark School we deliver the Ark Mastery Complete Curriculum Programmes in English, Maths, Science, Geography and Music. This means that every child has access to a world-class curriculum that is delivered in every Ark School.
To ensure every child can continue to learn our curriculum at home as well as at school every student from Year 4 is issued with a Chromebook tablet. This is taken home and used to access our online learning platform.
Our teachers believe every pupil matters and every lesson counts. Every teacher works incredibly hard and believes no matter their background, circumstances or ability; every pupil can succeed. As part of Ark Schools, they access sector-leading training and expertise from across the network.
Inclusivity and empowerment are at the centre of all that we do. We aim for our curriculum to be fully diversified across all areas to reflect the realities of world history; ensuring our students are empowered to go on to make the world a better place.
Every day our students study the news and current affairs. We go beyond the national curriculum to provide our students with the wider social, cultural, political and economic knowledge our students need to thrive in the world today.
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So proud of our secondary Anti-Bullying Ambassadors who designed and led workshops for every class yesterday about… https://t.co/DN01M5HSSd
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Co-Curriculum
Our sports facilities include a state-of-the-art gym and boxing ring, a dance studio, netball and basketball courts as well as extensive fields and Astroturf for football, rugby and hockey. We have competitive teams in 8 sports across all year groups and other over 14 after school sports clubs.
Music at BDA helps develop self-expression, self-discipline, performance and team work as well as building a strong sense of community through collective participation. Our aim is for every pupil to play an instrument confidently and to take part in regular performances in our 300-seat theatre.
Our enrichment programme enables our students to deepen existing interests or stoke their passion for something new - with around fifty different enrichment clubs available, there is plenty to choose from. Students take part in international trips and make use of facilities such as our own art gallery.
Relatable role models come into school to broaden students’ experiences and to encourage development of the habits, skills and mindsets required to be successful at university and in professional life. We provide high quality guidance about their next steps at age 14, 16 and 18.
Pastoral Care
Our pastoral system ensures no child is left behind. As a member of the Ark network of schools, we have access to a range of impactful resources and comprehensive policies carefully shaped by sector leading expertise.
Behaviour
Calm, purpose and order will be established through consistency of expectations and explicit teaching of discipline. We will recognise, encourage and reward good behaviour. We do not tolerate bad behaviour and maintain clear rules, not accepting excuses.
Inclusion
Our vision for all students, including those who may have SEND, is that they will develop the necessary skills, knowledge and attributes to be able to lead happy and successful lives. We differentiate and adapt our curriculum to ensure that our SEND students succeed without narrowing what is learnt.
Safeguarding
Our staff and governors see safeguarding the welfare of our pupils as their number one priority. We have robust systems to ensure the safety of all our pupils, at all times, within the academy and on related school trips and other activities.
Mental health
Our pastoral team works closely with parents, teachers and students, to help overcome any barriers to learning that students may face on their journey towards adult life. We have an extensive range of mental health provision onsite from adolescent psychotherapy through to counselling and CBT.
Anti-bullying
We have a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. We adopt the attitude that ‘it does happen here’ and as such we have developed clear systems to enable any student or parent to report an issue or concern to us at any time. Our non-teaching Heads of Year ensure that every student is known to an adult and that we can intervene swiftly where required.
Physical health
We support our students to develop healthy habits in nutrition and exercise. We offer a breakfast club each morning and a freshly prepared meal at lunch. All students complete a minimum of 2 hours per week of PE in the curriculum. We have fully qualified coaches who run sports clubs every lunchtime and after school to enable every student to take part.
