Get in Touch
- Academy Type: Alternative Provision (AP) Academy
- Principal & Main Contact: Principal Chris Denley
- Senior Administrator: Sheila Richards
- Careers Leader: interim - Janine Nelson - jnelson@waveedu.org
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Sean Wiltshire -swiltshire@waveedu.org
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Chris Denley - cdenley@waveedu.org
- Address: Penwith Academy. Penbrea Road, Treneere. Penzance. Cornwall. TR18 3NX. United Kingdom
- Phone: 01736 332341
- Email: Penwith@waveedu.org
- Opening Times: Mon-Thur 0845-1430, Fri 0845-1300 for KS3 & 4
About
Penwith Academy is a 40 place mixed sex academy for KS1 – KS4 pupils.
We serve the Penwith area that includes some of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Europe.
Cornwall's Local Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Offer
Careers Information:
Staff
Chris Denley
Principal and SENCo
Chris started teaching at Greendown Community School in Swindon in 1997 as a History teacher. He became Director of Vocational Provision, organising work-related learning before being appointed to the Leadership Team as Assistant Head with responsibility for Curriculum, Assessment and ICT. In 2008 he moved to West Penwith to become Deputy Head, and then Head of School, at Cape Cornwall School. He was a Specialist Leader in Education for Truro and Penwith Teaching School and supported schools across Cornwall in developing teaching and learning. He moved into alternative provision and set up an education provider with colleagues, before joining Wave and teaching with CHES. He has continued to support Teaching and Learning, working with Stansfield Academy, and was appointed Associate Principal with Wave, based at Penwith Academy, in January 2023.
Outside of work Chris has a family with three children. He enjoys playing guitar, cycling, running and surfing. He loves watching football with his sons who share his love for the mighty Swindon Town and Liverpool. He also enjoys watching rugby with his Dad, and supports Dings Crusaders from afar. He has recently completed his MA in History and is an Outreach Team member of the British Association for Local History. In his spare time, he is researching a book about working-class religious affiliation and leisure in Bristol the end of the Victorian period.
Sean Wiltshire
Vice Principal
more information to follow
Sarah Oliver
SENDCo
More info coming soon.
Our Curriculum at Penwith
Our curriculum is designed to reengage learners with their education, to identify gaps in knowledge and address these gaps through thoughtful and high-quality teaching. The approach is unashamedly academic. We are ambitious and aspirational for and with our pupils, being aware of the link between sound knowledge and successful next steps. The positive relationships that are built between staff and pupils are used to make behavioural change, drive engagement and to improve progress.
The Read Write Inc. and Freshstart SSP programmes are used to support pupils to learn to read successfully. Literacy and communication are high priorities with time given to reading for pleasure across the Academy. Oracy and emotional literacy are developed across phases and subject areas, supported by TIS and Oracy training programmes.
Pupils are provided with a rich and varied vocational learning and enrichment programme that enables them to understand themselves, their communities across Penwith and the wider world in which they live. All secondary pupils are expected to engage in Active Enrichment to get all pupils moving and enjoying physical activity. Being active and engaging with the outdoors is something out pupils do – it connects them with the natural beauty and resource that makes Penwith special. Please visit our Facebook Group - Penwith Academy Online - to see how this learning comes to life, both inside and outside the classroom.
Key Stages 1 & 2
Primary pupils broadly follow the KS1 and 2 National Curriculum. Read Write Inc. is used to enable pupils to begin their first steps in reading with a well informed and structured reading spine used to support those moving on to reading with fluency, confidence and independence. We deliver and assess maths using the White Rose scheme and resources. English, science, art, humanities, PSHE and RE are taught through an all-encompassing topic style of teaching based on half-termly units. Linked outdoor activities and offsite visits bring the topic to life and relate it practically to the real world. Computing and PE are taught discretely.
We run a 'rolling programme' where pupils are taught in mixed age classes and remain with us for longer than a Year. Ongoing Assessment helps us to find and support gaps in learning. Careful assessment in Maths and Reading, for example, ensures planning supports the curriculum and pupils receive appropriate teaching according to stage; that pupils in mixed year classes are moved forwards in learning, in Science and History, for example-without repeating content or missing out on conceptual knowledge.
Key Stage 3
We run a 'rolling programme' where pupils are taught in mixed year group classes at Key Stage 3 due to small class numbers, and who may remain with Alternative Provision for longer than a Year. (Though we remain short stay). Our spiral design ensures each pupils receives teaching of the knowledge, understanding and skills within this planning they need from their various starting points. It is flexible and dynamic enough to be able to respond to need in this way- in Maths and Science, for example,-but draws from the National Curriculum. For example, see our Curriculum blog about Science at KS3.
An overview of how the Key Stage 3 curriculum is taught is being developed for 22-23.
Key Stage 4
Here are the qualifications we teach at Penwith, alongside our enriched and PSHE/RSE programme of study and Careers guidance. For more details, please contact us.
- AQA GCSE English Language
- AQA GCSE English Literature
- AQA GCSE Art & Design
- AQA GCSE Mathematics
- AQA GCSE Biology
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Construction
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Land Based Studies
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Sport
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Art and Design
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Personal Growth and Wellbeing
- BTEC Introductory Level 1 Hospitality and Tourism
We also offer Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths, as well as Step Up/Entry Level. Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze) is now offered. Other L1/2 qualifications can also be offered in response to pupil need and prior learning.
Documents
Referrals
Wave Multi Academy Trust work with the Local Authority regarding Referrals and placements at our Alternative Provision Academies. Please follow this link to Cornwall Education Welfare Services. Phone number 01872 323400
Latest News
-
Wave Summer Newsletter
Here is our Wave Summer Newsletter. Find out what we have been getting up to across the Trust this Summer Term. Wave Summer 23 Newsletter...Read More -
Wave Spring Newsletter
Here is our Wave Spring Term Newsletter. Find out what we have been getting up to across the Trust this Spring. Wave Newsletter Spring 23 ...Read More -
Peculiar Pet Poems
‘Peculiar Pets’ poems by Wave pupils published in new national poetry book Poems written by four primary aged pupils from Wave’s Penwith Academy have been published in a new book after impress...Read More -
WAVE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST SECURES LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP
Long term partnership secures the future for vulnerable children in Cornwall. 9 September 2020 A new long-term partnership between Together for Families, part of Cornwall Council, and the Wave Trust...Read More -
Guide for leaders in alternative provision (AP)
22nd May 2020 Attached is a guide for leaders in alternative provision (AP) which has been written by a number of us who lead trusts, provisions and networks across the country. We hoped it might be ...Read More
Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
Penwith Academy recognises that the safety and welfare of children is paramount and that we have a responsibility to protect children in all of our academy activities. We take all reasonable steps to ensure, through appropriate procedures and training, that all children, irrespective of sex, age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual identity or social status, are protected from abuse.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow procedures to ensure that children and young people receive effective support, protection and justice.
We listen to our pupils and take seriously whet they tell us, children are aware of the adults they can talk to if they have a concern. When there are concerns for a child's welfare, we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies. We will ensure concerns are discussed with parents/.carers first unless we have reason to believe that by doing so would be contrary to the child's welfare.
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy underpins and guides our safeguarding procedures and protocols.
