The development of students’ originality and independent thinking is key to our success. It is fostered through the many creative and engaging learning experiences we offer inside and outside the classroom.
Library Services at The City Academy, Hackney
The Library is a central part of daily life at the academy.
We have the Lee library on the ground floor for KS3 and the Turing Library on the first floor for KS4/KS5.
The Library is run by our Learning Resources Manager, Ms Towers.
Our opening hours are:
Lee Library | Term-Time | Monday – Friday | 7:30am – 8:20am | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Turing Library | Term-Time | Monday – Friday | 3:30pm – 5:30pm
What Resources Do We Have?
Our learning resources include:
- Fiction books: we offer an extensive and growing collection of fiction books, suitable for all ages, abilities and tastes. We also have an extensive collection of easy reads.
- Non-fiction books: we stock a wide range of information books to support research, homework tasks and allow students to pursue their interests.
- Magazines: we subscribe to several magazines.
- Computers: in the Turing library we have computers, and in the Lee library we have Chromebooks. Students can use these during lessons or to complete homework at break times and after school.
Students are expected to have a reading book with them at all times while they are in school, as part of their equipment. They may borrow most library books for a month at a time, and we encourage students to read at home as well as in school hours. Our librarians are always willing to help students to find books they will enjoy or find useful, and to help them to improve in their literacy.
Accelerated Reader
All students in years 7, 8 and 9 are enrolled on a program called Accelerated Reader (AR), to improve their literacy and encourage them to read for pleasure.
At the start of term each student is given a target (for example; 20.0 points). Students earn points by reading throughout the term. Most books in the library have a points value based on their length and difficulty (for example; 5.0 points). When a student finishes a book they must complete a short quiz on it, to prove they have read it carefully. If they pass this quiz they receive the points for that book.
Reading books for AR is as important as any other kind of homework. Students may be issued with detentions for not reading. However, they are also rewarded with merits for excellent reading and for exceeding their target. There is an Accelerated Reader of the Week award, as well as a House Cup and a prize for the tutor group with the most AR points.
Additional Studies and the extended day
The academy operates an extended day for all students; the libraries are open both before and after school and our staff offer a range of extracurricular activities including our Additional Studies programme of enrichment classes. The PE department also run sports clubs all year round alongside training sessions for the academy’s competitive squads both before and after school.
ADDITIONAL STUDIES TIMETABLE
| Year | Day | Participation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs | Invitation only |
| 10 | Tues | All students |
| 9 | Tues | All students |
| 8 | Weds | All students |
| 7 | Thurs | All students |
ADDITIONAL STUDIES ACTIVITIES ON OFFER
| Year | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offer | Basketball (Bb) | Basketball (Bb) | STEM Girls (Te) | In The News (Nw) |
| Netball (Ne) | Football (Fb) | Robotics (Girls) (Ro) | Netball (Ne) | |
| Musical Theatre (Pa) | Chess (Cs) | Debate Club (Db) | Table Tennis (Tt) | |
| Duolingo (Dl) | Lego Club (Le) | Netball (Ne) | Football (Fb) | |
| Young Entrepreneurs (Et) | Heroes & Villains of History (Hi) | Table Tennis (Tt) | Maths Challenge (Ma) | |
| Science Club (Sc) | Poetry Club (Po) | Football (Fb) | Expect Respect (Ex) | |
| Eco Art (Ea) | Young Entrepreneurs (Et) | Maths Challenge (Ma) | Environmental Activism (Ea) | |
| Korean (Ko) | Art Club (Ar) | Environmental Activism (Ea) | Art Club (Ar) | |
| Tech & Current Affairs (Tc) | Lexia (Lx) | Film Club (Fc) | Knitting (Kn) | |
| Lexia (Lx) | Homework Support (Hw) | Student Newspaper (Sd) | Creative Writing (Cw) | |
| Homework Support (Hw) | Turkish (Tk) | Homework Support (Hw) | Student Newspaper (Sd) | |
| Latin (Lt) | Homework Support (Hw) | |||
| Drama Ambassadors (Dr) |
Mixed Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
- Choir
- Orchestra
- Big Band
Year 10 & 11 Summer School Program
As part of the DfE Summer school program over 70 students attended our stepping into year 11 Summer school programme between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th August. Each day students participated in morning sessions in core subjects including English, maths, science, humanities and MfL. In the afternoons students took part in Sports, Food tech and Art activities. Students also completed work on Preparing for year 11 success using the PiXL endurance programme All students also had the opportunity to be a tourist in their own city, visiting sites of historical importance in central London such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.
Breakdown of costs
| Total Funding available | 29,850.00 |
| Staffing costs | 9255.00 |
| Art and food supplies | 412.83 |
| Transport for trip | 587.50 |
| Catering | 3098.40 |
| Overall cost | 13353.73 |
Extra-Curricular Sports
Our PE department has a busy schedule of after school clubs, with teams regularly taking part in competitions and playing other schools.
You can download the current timetable for after school clubs below.