Get in Touch
- Academy Type: Alternative Provision (AP) Academy
- Principal & Main Contact: Associate Principal Chris Denley
- Senior Administrator: Sheila Richards
- Careers Leader: Anna Brown - abrown@waveedu.org
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Laura Ghiblawi - lghiblawi@waveedu.org
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Naomi Watts – nwatts@waveedu.org
- Address: Penwith Academy. Penbrea Road, Treneere. Penzance. Cornwall. TR18 3NX. United Kingdom
- Phone: 01736 332341
- Email: Penwith@waveedu.org
- Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 08:45 - 14:30, 27.25 hours per week
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
Associate Principal
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.
Naomi Watts
Vice Principal & SENCO
After graduating from the University of Plymouth with a Bachelor of Education with a specialism in Physical education Naomi got a job working a small rural school in Cornwall teaching Key Stage 2. Whilst working there she became interested in working with pupils with challenging behaviour. The year after her NQT year she completed the SENCO qualification. After having her son she got a job in a large town based Primary school where she worked as a senco for 3 days a week. It was here that Naomi became aware of the APA's and began working at Restormel APA as the Primary lead teacher 3 years ago. She then became the Primary raising standards Lead and last year relocated to Penwith APA. Naomi's interested in providing outreach support to primary schools to try and help pupils with challenging behaviour stay within their mainstream setting. She is looking to continue to develop the outreach that could be offered to try and reduce exclusions in the Penwith area and provide timely and targeted support to schools.
Laura Ghiblawi
Pastoral Support Manager
Laura has worked with young people and their families in schools and Local Authorities since graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1999 with a BA Hons in Applied Community Studies.
She began her career working in Hertfordshire Youth service and then moved into the London Borough of Camden working in a mainstream school with Children at risk of exclusion. She continued her career in Camden, first working with homeless young people and then managing a front line Community Legal Advice Service for 16- 25 year olds within Children, Schools and Families . She then went on to work in mainstream schools in London and Cornwall before moving into her role at Penwith Academy.
Laura has worked and travelled in Australia and South East Asia and is passionate about travelling and experiencing the culture in different countries and communities across the world.
Laura loves living in Cornwall and enjoys walks on the beach with the dog, exercising, cooking and spending time with her family.
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. See
https://www.wavemat.org/pupils-parents/the-curriculum-blog.
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
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/schools-and-education/education-welfare-service/
Latest News
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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.