I joined Barclay Academy in 2018, and thoroughly enjoy working here. The school has been very welcoming and the staff are very supportive of each other. Here at Barclay, we are encouraged to pursue further professional development, with opportunities regularly given for staff to take on areas of responsibility. My career has benefited from the opportunities I have been presented with this last year.

The students here are friendly, approachable and are appreciative of the levels of support we offer them, which lends an overall positive feeling to the environment of the school.

Barclay Academy is a school like no other. It is a school where a sense of community and of the 'Barclay family' spirit is entrenched within both staff and pupils. Staff and pupils work collaboratively to ensure that there is a sense of belonging within the school and that every pupil has the opportunity to maximise their potential in all aspects of school life, not just academically. 

Teamwork is fundamental to what we do here and the school strives to ensure there are lots of opportunities for staff and students to develop these skills, not just within lessons but within their wider school experience.  This year alone, we organised a joint staff and pupil bike ride to raise funds for a local hospice, we experienced our first ever Arts and Cultures week, and we ventured out to the Gordon Craig to support the local pantomime.

As both a teacher and a middle leader, Barclay has a wealth of opportunities for professional development. Since joining the school last year, I have had the opportunity to attend both internal and external courses to further all aspects of my practice, from subject knowledge enhancement to development of my leadership skills. These courses have been hugely beneficial, helping me to reach a position at which I am able to take on further responsibilities in the forthcoming academic year.