Our Vision:

To ensure that all the children and young people in our  care have the opportunity to fulfil their potential  through achieving highly, regardless of their ability or  background.  

Our Values:  

Work hard, be kind, choose wisely. 

All members of staff are expected to live these values and encourage the  children in our care to do likewise. We are determined that our Vision and  Values become a reality and not just words on a page.

Our ethos is based on:

● Placing positive relationships at the heart of what we do

● Having high expectations at all times

● Ensuring that excellent learning and teaching is our core activity

● Promoting independence, equality, resilience and consideration to others

● Valuing the support and contribution to all members of our community

For our students we will:

● Create excellent learning and enrichment experiences 

● Support every student to be the best they can be

● Provide a broad and appropriate curriculum, offering multiple pathways to achieve the qualifications, attitudes and skills required for successful and fulfilling futures

● Expect the highest standards of behaviour within a culture of mutual respect and good manners

● Ensure that we celebrate student achievements in the widest sense

● Create an environment to allow students to thrive and flourish

For our staff we will:

● Create the best working conditions and environment for staff to be motivated, inspired and happy

● Provide excellent training and bespoke career development opportunities

● Challenge and support every member of staff to contribute to DFA being a successful high performing team - ensuring professional trust at all levels

● Develop all leaders to be empowered and empower their teams to support the raising of standards 

For parents & carers we will:

● Provide a welcoming atmosphere

● Encourage their active involvement, including seeking views to support improvements

● Provide high quality information about the progress and achievement of each child in the widest sense

● Ensure timely home-school communication to support positive relationships

For our wider community we will:

● Celebrate and develop our profile within our local area and for us to make a positive contribution

● Actively promote our achievements 

● Engage in local, national and international initiatives

● Develop further beneficial links with our community and other institutions

At The de Ferrers Academy we strive to inspire through the delivery of a 'World Class' education ensuring that every student achieves their potential. We aspire to be a beacon of excellence within the community we serve where everyone feels valued, included and proud.

Following on from 10 years as a specialist Technology College, de Ferrers became an Academy in January 2011. It has grown into a large, split-site, co-educational institution catering for the full range of students from ages 11-18. In 2015 de Ferrers became the first school of The de Ferrers Trust (a Multi Academy Trust).

There are over 2350 students on roll, including an expanding Sixth Form of over 400 , and each Year 7 entry since 1985 has been oversubscribed.

The three campuses are less than three kilometres apart and the Academy day is punctuated by breaks, which allow time for travel between sites.

Years 7-8 are taught on the Dove Campus, situated in Harehedge Lane, Years 9-11 on the Trent Campus, in St Mary's Drive and Years 12-13 at the new state of the art Sixth Form Centre in the town centre. This allows students to gain all the advantages and opportunities available in a large Academy and also helps them to familiarise themselves with amenities on one campus, in the first instance. There are specialist rooms and equipment on each campus.

Excellent funding has allowed the Academy to enhance resources and equipment and widely promote the use of new technologies. There are digital projectors and flat screen TVs in all curriculum teaching areas with over 500 computers and laptops across all sites. All 3 campuses are covered by a new managed wireless WiFi system, with a fast 1GB broadband link between them.

In October 2012, the Academy became the first school in Staffordshire to provide all sixth form students with access to a personal 1:1 iPad for use in lessons and at home. Currently, all students in Years 7  to 13 (Dove, Trent and Sixth Form Campuses) have their own iPad, as well as all teaching staff and most support staff. The Academy became an Apple Regional Training Centre in 2013 and in 2015,  2017 and 2020 we were awarded status as an Apple Distinguished School (for outstanding leadership and use of learning technology).

The Academy has also been a member of the East Midlands Chamber Schools, SSAT Leading Edge Group and works closely with The University of Nottingham on Initial Teacher Training.