The Performing Arts at the Academy has long been central to the surrounding communities. There are several bands, choirs and drama and dance groups which endeavour to share a love of the arts with pupils and audiences alike, performing regularly and to a high standard. The Academy delivers a programme of dance and drama in years 7 and 8, which is then expanded in year 9-13 with Performing Arts qualifications in disciplines including set design and construction, costume, lighting, sound, make up and acting. The school's array of performing arts has a large influence in the local area, all of which can be seen during any of the numerous performances throughout the year. Concerts features every band associated with the school, from steel to orchestra, and has been a running tradition for many years. The Academy has two academic specialisms, and Performing Arts forms one of those. The Performing Arts department produces at least three theatrical productions each year, a "Dance Extravaganza" and many shows that are part of the sixth form provision. As part of the sixth form course, students also participate in the National Theatre Connections programme which sees performers across the country produce plays by new and upcoming writers.
STEM
The Academy and the Sixth form have links with engineering firm Ricardo for its STEM programme. Students participate in the which sets students a real-world engineering challenge which they must solve with Ricardo's engineers. The Academy and Sixth Form also host an annual STEM Careers and Further Education Evening at the Ricardo's Centenary Innovation Centre in Shoreham. The Academy has also been invited to be part of a genome decoding project with the Institute for Research in Schools and the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus and has been designated a STEM Ambassador School by STEM Learning.
Sixth Form
The Academy has a sixth form, which has been branded as W6. It offers a range of subjects with a focus on performing arts, mathematics, sciences and sports including a basketball academy. The sixth form was graded "good" in the latest Ofsted inspection, with the increasing number of students moving on to university cited as a strength.
The academy was placed in Special Measures on Friday 6 January 2012, after OFSTED deemed it was making insufficient progress in addressing bad pupil behaviour and low attainment. After intensive changes including a new headmaster, the school came out of Special Measures on 18 October 2013. Since then, the Academy has seen an improvement in student outcomes. The Ofsted report, however, identified many strengths including the careers provision, the leadership and management of the academy and the personal development, behaviour and welfare of students. It judged the Leadership and Management of the school to be good, with the Personal Development and Welfare, and 16-19 provision also rated as good.
The Academy hosts a termly business breakfast, which sees local businesses visit the academy. Businesses engage in presentations, businesses networking and the events promote links between the Academy and the local business community. The event has a range of local partners, which include local charities, Ricardo, Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, Parafix, . In the latest inspection, Ofsted described the business links and other community links as following: "the academy's work in the community is outstanding and imaginative" The Academy is a regular contributor to the Worthing Children's parade with students and the art department preparing creative works for the parade.
