Community Bulletin May 2023
Compass School is excited to share that it is to join the renowned The Charter Schools Educational Trust this Summer. The merger, which has recently been
approved by the Department for Education, comes as the school also readies itself to move into a brand new, state-of-the art building near Bermondsey tube later this year.
approved by the Department for Education, comes as the school also readies itself to move into a brand new, state-of-the art building near Bermondsey tube later this year.Charter is a local trust that has outstanding schools and excellent sixth forms, as well as being a leading provider of professional development for teachers through the London South Teaching Schools’ Hub.
Compass School Principal Marcus Huntley said:
“We are delighted to be joining the Charter family as we continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of the holistic education we offer our pupils”.
As part of the new partnership, Compass, which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, will become “The Charter School Bermondsey”, providing a clear sense of its identity as a Charter school and its proud location at the heart of Bermondsey.
Mr Huntley said:
“We will have a new name, a fantastic new building, and be part of a wider family of schools, while our mission, values and sense of community will remain the same. The Charter Trust shares our values and is committed to the highest academic standards for pupils, enrichment and well-being.”
Cassie Buchanan, CEO of The Charter Schools Educational Trust, said:
“We are delighted that Compass School will become The Charter School Bermondsey upon joining our family of
schools. By adopting the trusted and successful The Charter School Bermondsey name, we hope the pupils and staff will have a strong sense of belonging within our large educational community. The name change reflects the ethos shared by all the schools in the trust and will honour the unique identity of Compass School Southwark. All the pupils will continue to receive a high-quality education and benefit from the wealth of resources and expertise that come with being part of The Charter Schools Educational Trust.”
The new The Charter School Bermondsey will have the same admissions arrangements as Compass School, with applications made through Southwark.
Joining such a great multi-academy trust is great news for our community and underscores our ambition for a transformative education for our students.
What is a MAT?
A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a group of schools that work together under a single legal and administrative framework. Currently, Compass School is a Single Academy Trust, and it is government policy that single academy trusts, like Compass, can really benefit from being part of a multi-academy trust.
School Uniform
We are working with our supplier, Price & Buckland, to ensure there is minimal impact on our uniform.
- New ties will be provided to all students without cost
- We will provide a free, iron on logo for existing blazers
- New blazers, PE shirts and tracksuit tops with the updated logo will be available to purchase from Price & Buckland from July. Price & Buckland are creating new unbranded tracksuit bottoms that match the tops also available to purchase from July.
- There is no change to other unbranded items of uniform
- Legacy PE kit can be worn until parents are ready to replace these
- We have asked Price & Buckland to design a summer dress for 2024 to add to the diversity of our uniform
The Charter School Bermondsey was delighted to hear that The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers were sponsoring their free fruit programme to the tune of £1,500.
Having initially been set up as part of Compass’ Children’s Mental Health Week activities, students now have free fruit on arrival each morning for at least the next 10 weeks.
The World Health Organisation’s 5 A Day Campaign encourages fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Evidence shows there are significant health benefits to getting at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, so it’s important that we all eat enough of them to stay healthy.
Principal, Marcus Huntley said:
“The school is delighted to receive this donation and pupils are certainly making the most of this offer. The cost-of-living crisis has a wide-ranging impact including cutting back on healthy food. We hope to continue to offer free fruit beyond the 10 weeks of initial funding.”
Nam, Year 9 said:
“I keep physically healthy through the Greenhouse Table Tennis club, but I don’t always eat healthily. Having the fruit just there for us helps me make the right choice.”
The Charter School Bermondsey participated in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, from 6-12 February 2023. This year’s theme, Let’s Connect, aims to make a difference to the lives of children and young people across the UK. There were student, parent and staff focused activities in school including some led by The Nest.
The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers, whose Royal Charter was granted in 1670, is a keen supporter of the school, providing support for initiatives including art workshops and careers programmes.
The Charter School Bermondsey continues to be a “good” school
We are pleased to announce that our school has received a good Ofsted report!
This is a wonderful accomplishment and we are so proud of all that we have achieved together.
This report is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our entire school community – teachers, staff, parents, and most importantly, our wonderful students.
We are confident that this report reflects the high-quality education and positive learning environment that we strive to provide for all of our students. We are committed to continuing to improve and provide the best possible education for every student, and we are confident that with the support of our school community, we will continue to thrive and grow.
“We are so proud of all that we have accomplished together, and we look forward to continuing to work together to provide the best possible education for all of our students.”
“2023 promises to be a fantastic year with our move into a new state-of-the-art building and intention to join The Charter School Bermondseys Educational Trust.”
Marcus Huntley (Principal)
Read the full report here: Ofsted 2022 report
Key findings:
- Pupils at this school learn in a calm and well-ordered environment.
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Leaders and staff have high expectations of behaviour. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They are respectful to each other and to their teachers.
- Pupils value the rewards system, and they know that good behaviour and hard work will be recognised.
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Teachers know their pupils well.
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Leaders have put together a broad and balanced curriculum. Curriculum content has been carefully considered and is taught by staff with strong subject knowledge.
- Leaders are ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
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Pupils benefit from a very clear structure to their lessons, and from teachers who are enthusiastic about their subjects.
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Pupils take part many different activities and new learning opportunities. For example, they learn to photograph the night sky, develop leatherwork skills, design computer games, and participate in a wide range of sporting clubs.
The Charter School Bermondsey
Keeton’s Road
London SE16 4EE
Telephone: 0203 542 6506
Email: info@charterbermondsey.org.uk
Twitter: @CharterSe16