Welcome to Ark St Alban's

At Ark St Alban's Academy, we achieve success by working together as a team of pupils, parents and teachers who all have a shared belief that every child can – and will – succeed.

From their very first day at Ark St Alban’s Academy, our pupils make rapid progress through our academic curriculum. Our curriculum and our Character Programme combine to provide pupils with the knowledge, qualifications and experiences that they need to thrive. 

Our sixth form is the pinnacle of our school. It offers a wide-range of rigorous qualifications, enrichment experiences and careers advice. Pupils are supported in accessing the most selective university courses and apprenticeship providers in the country. We follow the success of our alumni with great pride.

Ark St Alban’s Academy was founded in 1871 by James Pollock and his younger brother Thomas. 

The brothers were priests who dedicated their lives to bringing both the Gospel and education to pupils in central Birmingham.

Our work is founded in the words spoken by God to King Solomon when he prayed that God would give him an understanding mind:

"I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be”.

In these words from scripture, we find resonance with words of our founders, the Pollock Brothers who wrote of their desire to provide an education of both the conscience and the brain.

Our mission is to provide every pupil with a transformational education and the character needed to flourish in all that they do.

We seek to provide pupils with the knowledge, qualifications and experiences that will lead them to success in their adult lives, but we also recognise the importance of the here and now. We want our pupils to both enjoy and succeed in all aspects of school life.

Our five school values inform how we all think and act in our work to achieve our mission:

• Lead the way
• Act courageously
• Work together
• Show compassion
• Persevere

Lead the way

To lead the way means to set the right path, taking people with you. In everyday life, leading the way could mean using your initiative to make something better, it could be helping someone else develop through coaching or being a volunteer.

"Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant". 
Matthew 20:26

We lead the way by making the right choices, and not being a blind follower. To be able to lead the way for others, you need to start by leading yourself. Leading yourself well means taking accountability for your work and life, for example, how long you choose to spend on your homework.

Act courageously

To act courageously means to be bold and adventurous, without taking unnecessary risks.  

David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished". 
1 Chronicles 28:20

We act courageously by having high expectations of ourselves and others. We aim high, and have ambitious aspirations. 

We are aware of the line between acting courageously and becoming reckless and unthinking, and we are conscious of always remaining on the right side of this line.

Work together

To work together means to function as a team, helping one another.  Working together involves people working together towards a common goal.

"Two are better than one,  because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up". Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

We are collaborative and open to others’ contributions. At the same time, we recognise our own role in the team, and understand that we also need to take personal responsibility towards a collective effort.

Show compassion

To show compassion means to be mindful of others’ feelings, and to act with them in mind.  Being compassionate involves recognising the suffering of others and then taking action to help them.

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...". Romans 12:20

We care about the thoughts and feelings of other people, and we change our actions in order to be more empathetic. We also recognise that, to be able to look after others, we also need to care for ourselves.

Persevere

To persevere means to be keep working hard, even when things might seem difficult.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".  James 1:2-4

We are resilient and we do not give up. At the same time, we understand that “working hard” is not something that can be done in small bursts. We need to put in effort every day to ensure that our work is sustainable and consistent.