St Mark's Church of England Academy offers a commitment to high achievement within a community of care underpinned by Christian values. The Academy encourages the development of the moral and spiritual well-being of students, alongside their academic success. The Academy works closely with and is supported by, its sponsor, CfBT Schools Trust, and its key partner the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education.
Our vision at St Mark’s is to raise the achievement and life chances of our students and to serve our community by providing access to a range of activities, first-class resources, and opportunities. As a Church of England Academy, we encourage the development of our students’ moral and spiritual well-being as much as their academic success.
St Mark’s Church of England Academy has a distinctive Christian ethos which is at the heart of this Academy. We provide an inclusive, caring, and supportive environment where children learn and flourish in a setting shaped by Christian values. We welcome applications from all members of the wider local community and we ask all parents to respect the Christian ethos of our Academy and its importance to our community. The Governors of the Academy are committed to developing an inclusive Academy that reflects the diversity of the local community. An application form is required to be completed. Candidates would be expected to meet minimum course requirements. If applying from an external school a report and reference will be necessary. Entry to the Sixth Form will be dependent on places being available on the course applied for.
We are inclusive of all faiths, as well as none, and support unity between different religions, cultures, and beliefs. All our students are individuals and every student is valued for their uniqueness and the skills and aptitudes they bring to the Academy. A key strength of St Mark's is the very aptitudes they bring to the Academy. A key strength of St Mark's is the very high-quality relationships that exist between members of a highly diverse school community- the Academy has a strong set of values shared by all.
The Academy is situated on extensive grounds in a pleasant green field location with first-class resources for success. Our specialisms in Science and Performing Arts support our students to develop confidence, understanding, and skills in these areas and beyond into the broader curriculum.
At St Mark’s, our mission is to provide an outstanding education for every young adult that learns with us. As a school-based Sixth Form College, students who attend can enjoy the extra freedoms and responsibilities, yet remain part of a nurturing and challenging community founded on love, hope, and trust.
Our varied curriculum offer ensures students can prepare for the next stage of their education. Whether their ambition is to attend a Russell Group University or gain credible qualifications respected and recognized by universities leading directly into employment and training, we have the path that will facilitate this. Each day students will experience high-quality, creative teaching and learning, delivered by staff who have a unique understanding of pupils’ strengths and areas for development. This will inspire a thirst for learning. Our students have excellent leadership and enrichment opportunities that provide the skill set required for higher education. We pride ourselves on high-quality career guidance and exceptional links with apprenticeship schemes and businesses that prepare our students for the world of work.
Strong relationships between home and school are vital to the success of young people. Parents/carers of students at St. Mark’s receive six reports each year – one per half term. These show students’ progress in their subjects and the efforts that they are making to succeed. One of these is a lengthier report which forms the student’s annual report.
There is a full program of parents’ evenings, giving a chance for parents and carers to meet all the teachers of their son or daughter. There are also many other ways that parents and carers can be involved, including parent forms, surgeries, information evenings… and more. Parents and carers have joined us in our planning time as we see them as key partners in taking the Academy forward.
All parents and carers are welcome to join us at the Parent Forum meeting at the Academy. This forum provides an opportunity for parents/carers to develop new ways to engage more families, as well as developing events and activities with parents in mind. We look forward to developing this group and everyone is welcome.
Learning is our core purpose. At St Mark’s we structure learning to excite our students’ curiosity and to inspire them to become successful, lifelong independent learners.
Our teachers are extremely enthusiastic and passionate about their subjects, spending considerable time planning interesting and interactive lessons and communicating their passion for their subjects to the students. We are fortunate to have a high-quality learning environment with the latest technologies to enhance the curriculum.
Our vibrant learning and resource center, outstanding assembly hall and extensive sports facilities support and enhance learning too along with our varied enrichment program. Opportunities to nurture independent learning skills are provided through our many different learning platforms. Our modern facilities help to provide greater variety in teaching methods and therefore make learning more engaging and interactive. We aim to foster a genuine love and excitement about learning in every child at St Mark’s.
