When it opened in September, residents of Bushey were unsure about their new Academy, one of only two in the county.

Now with their first holiday just around the corner, students and staff of the Bushey Academy have talked to the Watford Observer about their first half term.

The biggest changes come from nearly £30million investment and a new, student first approach to teaching.

Andrew Hemmings, Principal, said: “There is a focus on the individual. Each house has around 160 students in it and with our four, non-teaching, heads of house focusing all day, every day on the students in their care, everyone’s needs are catered for.”

He added that the uncertainty surrounding the new academy had quickly turned into interest, with significantly more people applying that when it was Bushey Hall.

Miss Pather teaches English. She said: “There has been a complete change in attitude and feeling, it's much more positive and staff moral is definitely on the rise.

“There's a sense of success and moving forward, and it's a much better place to work.”

Several students in the new internet cafe commented on differences in attitude from their friends, from the teachers, and more interaction between year groups due to the mixed forms.

One student said: “Before the years were segregated and now it's much better. It's easier to focus in the new lessons too, sometimes they would just be an hour wasted but not any more.”

Matt Wallington is in sixth form. His runs a school choir called “The Unsung Academy” which was inspired by the BBC's choir in South Oxhey.

He said “I wanted to bring the whole school together through song, like it did for the community in South Oxhey.

“I was bullied in year nine, when the school was Bushey Hall, it got to the point where I didn't want to come in.

“The attitude at the academy is completely different now, but through my first hand experience I can help the younger students if they are experiencing problems.”

With a new name and a new uniform, the Bushey Academy has shed its old reputation, and can look forward to a brighter future.