Welcome to
The Ongar Academy

We are delighted to welcome you to our first e-newsletter and we look forward to keeping you updated with all the latest news as we progress towards opening with our first Year 7 classes next September.

Excellent progress has been made since the Department for Education approved The Ongar Academy into the ‘pre-opening’ phase at the end of September: A first-class Headteacher has been appointed, Year 7 admissions for 2015 are now open and negotiations on our site, which we are expecting to secure in the vicinity of the Ongar Leisure Centre, are nearing conclusion.

We are on schedule to open an exceptional secondary school in Ongar nearly a quarter of a century after the town last hosted secondary education.

Affectare ad Optimum

Built on the principle of offering opportunity for all to achieve at the very highest level, The Ongar Academy will be an amazing place to learn.

Our Latin motto ‘Affectare ad Optimum’ translates as ‘Aspire to Greatness’ and that is precisely what we shall be doing alongside you and your children.

The school in brief

A local secondary school providing a world-class education
Broad and balanced curriculum with a focus on STEM subjects
Excellent opportunities for study in the arts, humanities and languages
Superb sporting facilities with strong links to amateur and professional clubs
Well-disciplined, supportive, yet challenging environment
Inspiring excellence for all students and staff
Smaller class sizes than other comprehensive schools planned for subjects taught in sets
Comprehensive enrichment and extra-curricular programme with leadership opportunities
Supervised before and after school opportunities from 8.00am to 5.00pm
Sixth form scheduled from 2017
Community-centred approach
No fees

Visit our website

Introducing the Headteacher

David Grant will officially take up the post of Headteacher of The Ongar Academy on 1st January 2015.

David joins the team from his current position as Deputy Head at The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College in Bishop’s Stortford. The hugely popular ‘Herts & Essex’ (as it is more commonly known) is rated by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ and is the 4th highest performing comprehensive secondary school in the country.

David has been at his current school since 2007, where he has been a key part of the team driving the school to achieve such outstanding results. David acted as Headteacher while his own Head was supporting another school and also trains senior school leaders as part of the Government’s ‘National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership’ scheme. Earlier in his career, David was an ‘Advanced Skills Teacher’ specialising in Mathematics, and was twice nominated for the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award.

"My top priorities at The Ongar Academy will be building on the exciting and challenging curriculum proposals; recruiting a highly talented team of teachers; and ensuring that plans are in place to secure outstanding teaching and learning at all times.
“I have already enjoyed meeting many local parents, children and members of the local community and I look forward to meeting many more of you at our upcoming events and working with the whole community to build the first-class secondary school that local children deserve”.

Don’t miss our upcoming Open Days

Due to popular demand, David will be hosting Open Days for those of you with children starting secondary school in September 2015 or later.

Saturday 17th January
9.00am to 12.00pm

Sunday 25th January
9.00am to 12.00pm

Adult Community Learning Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar
CM5 0GA.

We hope to see you there!

If you are unable to attend, please get in touch and we will arrange for the Headteacher or one of the Trustees to talk to you individually. Please call the Academy office on 01277 286 255 or email info@theongaracademy.org.

“Just returned home from an information meeting with The Ongar Academy and their newly appointed Headteacher
David Grant....WOW!
So impressed and excited to be part of their journey.”

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The power of choice

An application to The Ongar Academy is a risk-free choice for 2015 as applications are made in addition to the usual Local Authority process. This gives parents and carers a chance they may be offered two places, one from The Ongar Academy and one through the Local Authority. You can then choose which to accept.

Apply for a Year 7 2015 place via our website by 31st January 2015.

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Draft Admissions Policy

Staff Recruitment Fair

We will shortly be recruiting a dynamic and talented team of teaching and support staff.

We are planning to hold our Staff Recruitment Fair on Saturday 24th January. Further details will be published on our website, so please check regularly for updates.

Please register your details if you would like to be informed of staff vacancies at The Ongar Academy.

Have your say

We are currently gathering views, comments and suggestions on our plans from everyone with an interest in our school as part of our statutory consultation, which runs until 5pm on Monday 19th January 2015.

Complete the questionnaire

You are invited to come and meet members of the Trust, ask questions and share your views at our drop-in events:

Wednesday 14th January
7.30pm to 9.00pm

Saturday 17th January
2.30pm to 4.30pm

Ongar Town Council, Bansons Way, Ongar CM5 9AS.