At Paddington Academy, the school is guided by three key values: Hard Work, Excellence, and Integrity. These values shape everything the school does and are expected of every student, every day.

Success at Paddington Academy is built on consistently demonstrating these values and allowing them to guide decision-making. When students work hard, act with integrity, and strive to improve in pursuit of excellence, they are well placed to succeed. This commitment is central to achieving the school’s overall mission.

At Paddington Academy, we believe in the success triangle - success only happens when students, families and the school work together.

The role of the parent

Parents play a vital role by ensuring that their child attends school every day, arrives on time, is in the correct uniform, brings the right equipment, and completes their homework.

The role of the student

The role of the student is simple: to attend school every day, on time and to work hard every day and make the most of the support given to them.

The role of the school

As a school, we support students by setting high expectations, delivering excellent teaching, and providing strong pastoral care.

When each part of the triangle is strong, students succeed. If one part is missing, success becomes much harder to achieve - which is why working together is essential.

Attendance Expectations - Every Minute Matters

It is important to remember that school and parents want the same thing - for our children to be successful, to have the opportunity to attend university, and to go on to live happy and fulfilled lives.

We need parents’ support in helping children understand the importance of attending school every day. With this in mind, we are very clear about our expectations:

• We expect students to attend school even when they are not feeling 100%. We have trained first‑aid staff and a strong pastoral team who will check in with students, support them through the day, and update parents where appropriate.
• We expect all appointments, medical or otherwise, to be arranged outside of school hours wherever possible and for evidence to be provided for these appointments. If no evidence is provided for the appointment we may not permit the absence or for the student to leave for this appointment.
• If an appointment is unavoidable, students should attend school before and/or after the appointment so that they do not miss a full day of learning.
• We do not permit term‑time holidays, and students should not be taken out of school during the school term.
• Punctuality matters. Students who arrive late to school, or late to lessons during the day, will receive a same‑day detention.

Absence 

Daily Absence Contact - Our Process

If a student is absent, the school must speak directly with a parent or carer on every single day of absence. A text message or leaving a message is not sufficient. The school will make contact each day a student is absent in order to provide support and ensure a return to school as quickly as possible. If contact has not been made, parents and carers should expect a call from the student’s Head of Year or Student Support Mentor, usually before the end of Period 1.

This conversation is essential, both for safeguarding reasons and to agree a clear plan for the student’s return to school.

Supporting Strong Attendance

Where attendance is a concern, regular meetings will be arranged with families. These meetings are not optional; they form part of the school’s responsibility to ensure that every student is in school and learning.

The school is clear that attendance is the responsibility of parents and carers. The role of the school is to support, challenge, and work in partnership with families, but it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their child attends school every day and on time.

At Paddington Academy, we have very high expectations of students because we believe that all students can meet our high expectations and they are well-supported to meet them.

No Excuses

The ‘No Excuses’ behaviour policy was introduced in 2016 as part of a continued commitment to improving standards and ensuring the best possible outcomes for all students. Paddington Academy is not content with simply being an outstanding school; there is a constant drive to improve and to provide an exceptional education.

The phrase ‘No Excuses’ reflects a clear belief: there are no excuses for poor behaviour or disruption to learning. While there may be reasons behind a student’s behaviour, these must be addressed and supported -  but they do not excuse actions that impact learning.

Disruption-Free Learning

Every student has the right to disruption-free learning, every minute of every lesson. This is a central principle of the school’s approach to behaviour. Lessons must be calm, focused and purposeful so that all students can concentrate, make progress and achieve their potential.

Staff are consistent in upholding these expectations, and students are expected to take responsibility for their behaviour at all times

Silent Transitions

Students are expected to move around the building in silence, ensuring that conduct remains safe, calm and efficient at all times. This is often described as moving with pace and purpose - students should move quickly, sensibly and without disruption between lessons.

Detentions

All detentions are served on the same day they are issued. Parents and carers receive an email notification. If there are any questions about a detention, the student’s Head of Year or Student Support Mentor can be contacted.

A student may receive a maximum of two detentions in one day, meaning the latest finish time is 5:25pm, or 4:50pm on a Friday, and only when two detentions have been issued.

Detentions are calm and purposeful. Students work in complete silence on homework or self-quizzing so that learning time continues and is not wasted. Detentions are only not served in the case of a medical appointment where evidence has been provided. No other reasons are accepted. If a student fails to attend, does not complete sufficient work to a high standard, or communicates during detention, they will be placed in Reflection the following day.

Reflection

If a student receives three warnings in a lesson, they will be referred to the Reflection Room. This is a serious consequence, as it removes the student from learning with their teacher and peers - the most important place they can be.

Students must arrive at the Reflection Room within three minutes of being referred. Failure to do so is considered a serious breach of expectations and is likely to result in a fixed-term suspension.

Banned Items

All students must be safe and help to keep other students and staff safe too. For these reasons, the following items are not permitted and should not be brought into school for any reason. These items will be confiscated and may lead to students being further sanctioned for bringing them into school.

• Weapons or any object that could be used with the intention of harming another person  
• Alcohol  
• Cigarettes, tobacco and/or smoking materials (including vapes and other liquid electronic smoking materials)  
• Illegal drugs including drug paraphernalia  
• “Legal high” drugs including those which are edible regardless of whether they are legal or illegal  
• Stolen Items  
• Fireworks  
• Pornographic images/videos  
• Lighters, matches or any item which could be used to start a fire  
• Stink bombs, stink sprays, water bombs and water pistols  
• Any item that has been or is likely to be used to commit an offence, personal injury to, or damage the property of any person 
• Mobile phones, smartwatches or headphones (that are either seen or heard). This is permitted in the 6th form only but only in the 6th form centre. 
• Aerosols sprays  
• Bandanas or gang-related clothing  
• Hooded sweatshirts  
• Jewellery (except watches but they must not be smart watches) This is permitted in the 6th form only. 
• Make-up inc. nail varnish, tinted lip balm etc. This is permitted in the 6th form only
• Chewing gum, sweets and chocolates 
• All sugary drinks (including energy drinks) 

Red Line Behaviours

A small number of behaviours are considered so serious that they cross what is known as a ‘Red Line’. These behaviours will very likely result in a fixed-term suspension. 

They represent actions that undermine respect, authority, and the safety of others, and therefore cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

• Refusal to go to the Reflection Room when sent by a member of staff
• Failing to meet expectations in the Reflection Room (followed by a day in Reflection Room on their return)
• Swearing at a member of staff
• Defying a member of staff by walking away from them when being spoken to
• Refusing to be searched by a member of staff
• Physical violence towards another person

From September 2026, smartphones are not permitted on site for students in Years 7–11. Where a phone is brought to school, it must be a non‑smart phone, kept switched off and out of sight at all times.

This approach is in place because smartphones are shown to distract from learning, reduce academic performance, and expose students to risks such as social media pressure, online bullying and harmful content.

Removing them helps students to focus, build positive relationships, and learn in a calm and purposeful environment.

If a phone is seen or heard, it will be confiscated. This is applied consistently to maintain high standards across the school. Confiscated devices are returned in line with school procedures, with strong sanctions in place for smartphones due to the seriousness of bringing them onto site.

Bullying

Bullying is defined as behaviour that is repeated over time and intentionally causes harm, either physically or emotionally. This may involve an imbalance of power between individuals or groups. Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.

Students who experience bullying, whether in or outside school, should report it to a member of staff. Parents and carers are also encouraged to raise concerns with the child’s Year Team. There is also an ability to report anonymously on our website. Every report is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, with action taken in line with the school’s behaviour policy.

To prevent bullying and support students effectively, the school ensures that:

• Students know which staff to speak to and are regularly reminded of this
• Every concern is listened to and taken seriously
• An online system allows concerns to be reported, including anonymously
• Incidents are investigated thoroughly and resolved promptly
• Restorative conversations take place to repair relationships
• Students are supported to reflect on their behaviour and make better choices
• Where bullying is identified, appropriate sanctions will be applied. Alongside this, students are supported to understand the impact of their actions and develop more positive behaviours.
• The aim is not only to address incidents quickly, but to ensure a safe, respectful and supportive environment where all students can learn and succeed.

Safeguarding

The safety and wellbeing of every student is a priority, and all members of the school community are encouraged to report any concerns, no matter how small.

This culture is built on a clear commitment: every student is listened to, every student is taken seriously, and every student is cared for and supported. Students should feel confident that if they speak up, they will be heard and that appropriate action will be taken.

The pastoral team plays a central role in maintaining this culture. Staff are approachable, responsive and committed to supporting both students and families. Concerns raised by students or parents are treated with care, sensitivity and urgency.

Students are encouraged to speak to any member of staff if they are worried about themselves or someone else. Parents and carers are also encouraged to contact the school if they have any safeguarding concerns.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Team

Please see below for the Child Protection and Pastoral Team for 2025-26. This team may change over time so please check our website for the most up-to-date contact information.

Community 5 Expectations

At Paddington Academy, our Community 5 expectations set out how students conduct themselves beyond the school gates and within our local community. We are proud to be part of the Paddington community, and we expect all students to show respect for the people, spaces, and environment around them. This includes walking sensibly, speaking appropriately, respecting the property of others, and following instructions from staff the first time they are given.

Students represent Paddington Academy at all times when travelling to and from school. This means wearing uniform correctly, behaving politely, and taking pride in both themselves and the reputation of the school.

Staff Presence in the Community

To support students, members of staff are present in the local area at the start and end of the school day, wearing Paddington Academy high‑visibility jackets. They are there to ensure students are safe, moving sensibly, and maintaining the high standards expected of them.

At Paddington Academy, clear routines are in place to ensure that students are calm, settled and ready to learn at key points in the school day. One important routine is lining up in tutor groups before lessons.

At the end of the bell, the pastoral team will count down from three to one, after which all students are expected to be in complete silence. This helps to create a focused and purposeful start to every lesson.

Because large numbers of students line up at the same time, high standards are essential. Students are expected to:

• Line up in single file and in silence
• Stand in alphabetical order within their tutor group

We award Golden Tickets at the end of every lesson to recognise exceptional hard work, effort, and attitude to learning.

Only one Golden Ticket is awarded per lesson, which means it is given to the top‑performing student in the class on that day.

Because of this, when your child comes home with a Golden Ticket, you can be confident it is a genuine achievement - they were the best in the class for that lesson.

Students collect Golden Tickets and can use them to attend exclusive reward trips throughout the year.

Each year, we run three Golden Ticket trips, all fully paid for by the school:

• Winter Wonderland
• London Zoo
• Thorpe Park

These trips are a reward for consistent hard work, excellent behaviour, and effort in lessons. Golden Tickets give students something meaningful to work towards and celebrate their success at Paddington Academy.

Our extra‑curricular offer blends both chosen and taught experiences to ensure students have a range of experience and the ability to shape their own sense of self.

After School Clubs

All students in Years 7–9 attend a compulsory weekly club, rotating twice a year so they take part in two different clubs annually. Students submit preferences once a year, and for the remaining terms we place them in clubs that broaden their experience - everything from baking and pottery to Minecraft, cricket, origami, football, and music tech.

View after School Clubs timetable.

Our House System

Houses create a framework for care and competition at Paddington: students belong to a team, support one another, demonstrate loyalty and leadership, and uphold integrity. Through inter-house competitions in sports, arts, and fundraising, students develop resilience, teamwork, and a sense of pride in their community. ​

Our house figures were entirely chosen by our school community for the significant impact they have had towards British society, shaping Britain intellectually, morally, and socially for the better. 

• Equiano - Chosen for his courage and advocacy for equality, reflecting resilience, leadership and social justice.
• Hawking - Chosen for his extraordinary contributions to science and determination in overcoming challenges.
• Seacole - Chosen for her compassion, bravery and commitment to caring for others.
• Lovelace - Chosen for her pioneering work in computing, representing innovation, creativity and academic ambition.

All students from 7-10 and 12 take place in a house competition. The winners of this round then progress to the finals and at each stage points are awarded which ultimately conclude in Victory for one house at the end of the year.

Trips

To support our students’ learning and development, we regularly offer educational trips that complement what they have been studying in the classroom. These experiences provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings, broaden their understanding and explore beyond the classroom.

Will students receive homework?
Yes. Homework is set regularly and forms an important part of learning. This includes both written tasks and online learning using platforms such as Sparx Maths and Sparx Reader. Developing strong homework routines is essential for academic success.

Do students need a laptop or device?
Access to a laptop or Chromebook is helpful for completing online homework, but it is not essential if another suitable device is available at home. While work can be completed on a phone, a larger device is recommended to support focus and productivity.

How can parents check homework?
All students use a planner to record homework and self-quizzing tasks. This should be checked regularly by parents to help students stay organised and on track.

What equipment is required?
Students are expected to bring a full set of equipment to every lesson, including basic stationery, a scientific calculator, and a refillable water bottle. The school offers low-cost equipment packs to support families.

Are lockers available?
No. Students are expected to organise their bags carefully each day, bringing only the materials they need. This helps reduce unnecessary weight and encourages independence.

How do students pay for food?
The Academy operates a cashless system using ParentPay. Parents top up an online account which students use to buy food at break and lunch.

Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. All food served is halal, and a wide range of options is available to meet different dietary needs and allergies. Students may also bring a packed lunch.

How do students pay for food?
The Academy operates a cashless system using ParentPay. Parents top up an online account which students use to buy food at break and lunch.

Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. All food served is halal, and a wide range of options is available to meet different dietary needs and allergies. Students may also bring a packed lunch.

How do students pay for food?
The Academy operates a cashless system using ParentPay. Parents top up an online account which students use to buy food at break and lunch.

Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. All food served is halal, and a wide range of options is available to meet different dietary needs and allergies. Students may also bring a packed lunch.

How do students pay for food?
The Academy operates a cashless system using ParentPay. Parents top up an online account which students use to buy food at break and lunch.

Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. All food served is halal, and a wide range of options are available to meet different dietary needs and allergies. Students may also bring a packed lunch.