Case Studies: Academies

The challenge 

Chobham Academy is a brand new 3-18 academy sponsored by Lend Lease, a global property company.  The Harris Federation partners the main sponsor and is the educational lead in the operation of the Academy.  Chobham is to be the world-class educational legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The building is to be used during the 2012 Games as office accommodation and a gymnasium and after the Games, the Academy is scheduled to open for the school term in September 2013 simultaneously admitting students of nursery, primary and secondary ages.Situated in Stratford at the north-eastern end of the Olympic Village site, Chobham will serve a community to be established of 2,800 new homes, along with existing communities in Newham, Waltham Forest and nearby London boroughs.  The Academy will be based on an ethos of aspiration, ambition and high achievement for all.  It will specialise in Performing Arts and English with a focus on sports excellence and, with world-class facilities for learning, leisure and sport, it will become a dynamic centre of learning and the hub of the community.  As an all-through Academy it will provide unique opportunities for nurturing and developing excellence for the local community. 

How we helped

We worked with the sponsors at every stage of the process.  Initially starting with a brief; we drew up the job description, person specification and the advert; and managed the calls from interested candidates while making calls to potentially strong candidates in the sector.  We sifted the applications; made recommendations; conducted first stage interviews; attended the visit to the academy site for candidates (as it was being built); and supported the client with the final interview.

The result 

Given the complexities of the role the successful candidate had to satisfy the sponsors that they had a broad set of skills for both the start-up phase and then the expansion and running of the new academy.  The sponsor appointed an existing headteacher with the experience of working in an academy and for an academy sponsor was successful.