Business Academy Bexley
Motto | "No goal is beyond our reach" |
---|---|
Established | 2002 |
Closed | 2017 |
Type | Academy, primary and secondary |
Location |
Erith London DA18 4DW England |
DfE URN | 133769 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Gender | Both |
Ages | 3-19+ |
Website | thebusinessacademy.org |
The Business Academy Bexley was a school for ages 3–19 in South Thamesmead, the London Borough of Bexley, England, operating under the Academy programme for schools
The secondary school was established as a City Academy 2002, under the sponsorship of 3E's Enterprises (later acquired by GEMS Education),[1] [2] and property developer David Garrard, chairman of the Minerva group, who donated £2.5 million.[3][4]
The school relocated to dedicated premises in September 2003 and the primary school section opened in 2004. As of 2007 the total enrollment was 1,477.[5]
The school was constructed on a 33-acre (130,000 m2) site at a cost of £31m. Architect Norman Foster designed the building, which was nominated for the 2004 Stirling Prize, and some parts have been compared to "a smart City office".[6]
However the Academy didn't make the progress expected[7] and by 2007 was languishing at the bottom of the School League tables for Bexley. In 2008 GCSE results and value added placed it ahead of a number of other non-selective schools in Bexley.
In 2010 the school had a deficit of £500,000, largely for repairs to the "incredibly expensive to run" seven year old building, but also to attract staff. The school had had a high turnover of headteachers and pupil enrolment had fallen to about 1,100 exacerbating the deficit.[8]
On September 25, 2011, The Business Academy Bexley was featured on Channel 4's programme 'Derren Brown: How to be a Psychic Spy'.
The school was placed into special measures during an Ofsted inspection on 11th and 12th May 2016.[9]
Due to the schools poor Ofsted inspection, the Harris Federation took over the school and renamed it the Harris Garrard Academy from January 2017.[10]
References
- ↑ "Academy opens doors to the future". BBC Website. BBC. 10 Sep 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ "Print article Save to favourites Bookmark and Share article icon Private giant buys into state sector". Times Educational Supplement. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ Nicholas Pyke (May 5, 2002). "School seeks to attract staff with low-rent homes". London: The Observer.
- ↑ "Academy opens doors to the future". BBC News. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ↑ "2007 Ofsted report". Ofsted.
- ↑ Morris, Steven (July 9, 2004). "Schools fear fallout from local academy". London: The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ↑ Lightfoot, Liz (15 September 2004). "'Beacon' school takes on Ofsted". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ↑ "Business Academy Bexley may be forced to cut staff over £500,000 deficit". Evening Standard. London. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Business Academy Bexley placed in Special Measures after a challenging time - News Articles - The Business Academy Bexley". www.thebusinessacademy.org. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
- ↑ May, Luke (7 September 2017). "Principal vows to up expectation levels as he takes over at the Harris Garrard Academy". Bexley Times. Retrieved 1 April 2018.