Hard work, integrity and excellence

Our mission is simple:

Paddington Academy ensures every student is well-educated, has the opportunity to attend university, and is able to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

We believe that every student can achieve this, and everything we do is aimed at making it a reality. Our three core values:

• Hard work
• Integrity
• Excellence

We believe that striving for the best, while being kind and principled, is the right way to approach life. This was recognised by Ofsted, stating that “student behaviour across the school is exceptional.”

We are a school focused on progress. We are consistently placed in the top 10% of schools nationally for GCSE and A‑Level exam results. We believe all students, regardless of their starting points, can achieve exceptional results. Our goal is to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. We do not make excuses, and firmly believe there are no barriers to achievement that cannot be overcome by determination, resilience and the right guidance.

Our Year 11 students receive an additional 1.5 hours of teaching each day, and our Sixth Form students benefit from 20% more teaching time than average, alongside supervised independent study.

To bring out the best in everyone, we maintain high expectations across all aspects of school life, uniform, behaviour, communication, manners, and organisation. We are consistent and firm in upholding these standards. We focus on the small things that shape our culture and students’ attitudes to learning, because we believe those details make a big difference.

Developing Character and Leadership

We are equally committed to students' personal development. Alongside a knowledge-rich and broad curriculum, rooted in the English Baccalaureate at GCSE, we ensure that students receive a wide range of experiences and leadership opportunities. Our house system supports this, and every student completes two work‑experience placements during their time at the Academy

Additionally, as the lead teacher training school for United Learning, the largest multi-academy trust in the UK, we are responsible for training teachers across the group. This means we have exceptionally well-trained staff, small class sizes, and no use of supply teachers. Every Paddington student is taught by a subject specialist.

A Welcoming and Respectful Community

At the heart of our school is the strength of the relationships, between students and staff, and among students themselves. When you visit, you will immediately notice the warmth, positivity, and mutual respect that defines our community. With Ofsted highlighting that ‘pupils view the school as a welcoming community’, we aim to ensure that every member of our community, staff, students, and parents, feels a strong sense of belonging.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Katie Gillam and Peter Jones
Principals