Newsletter
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Inaugral CWA Academy Trust Diploma Awards Ceremony
Chief Executive’s Welcome
As we rapidly approach the year end, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for your contribution to a very successful year for CWA Academy Trust. This newsletter provides examples of many student, academy and Trust achievements. For example, recent student achievement awards events demonstrate how much talent we have within our academies and that hard work and determination inspires confidence and success. The foundation stage, KS1 and KS2 primary outcomes demonstrate how far we have come in a short space of time; and KS4 & 5 results this summer should benefit from the monumental team effort to support our students to achieve their full potential. Our Trust-wide financial management and financial health have also improved strongly this year and I would like to thank all staff for contributing to our very many successes. CWA Academy Trust has a number of staff and students who come from other EU states. Following the recent EU referendum results I would like to take the opportunity to reinforce that our Trust values all of its staff and students and we continue to commend the passion and dedication that is always
What a fantastic year we have had so far. We have recently received the Key Stage 2 S.A.Ts results and I am really pleased to announce that both Nelson at 56% and Eastgate at 59% have outperformed the national average of 53% for the proportion reaching the expected level in reading, writing and maths. This is a tremendous achievement given that the tests were so much harder this year. Next year we are hoping that Southery will join “the above national club.” I want to say a sincere well done to all the staff at both academies who have worked tremendously hard to turn their schools around during the last two years. All of us have our fingers crossed for the three secondary academies who are awaiting results in the summer holidays. Let’s hope the GCSE and A-level results are just as good as the Key Stage 2 results. Next year sees the introduction of a secondary improvement strategy across the trust. Our ethos is based on “collaboration – support – excellence” and we hope to develop all three aspects across the trust as we focus on providing students with excellent literacy and numeracy skills during Key Stage 3 so that they can do really well in the build up to their GCSE’s.
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demonstrated throughout the work that you undertake. From an organisational viewpoint, please be assured that we do not anticipate any direct impact or changes in the foreseeable future. The latest government guidance can be found here. The Trust board recently approved a new Strategic Plan 2016-2019, which builds on the existing vision and strategic ambitions by defining the critical success factors for the year ahead. A copy will be shared with you in the near future and I would like you to review this and identify how you and your teams can further contribute to our success. Once again, many thanks for all your hard work and professionalism this year and I wish you a very happy and relaxing holiday. David Pomfret Chief Executive
I have been privileged to be invited to several end of year ceremonies. It was great to spend time seeing the children from Nelson Academy receive their diplomas. Many of the parents commented on how proud they were of their children and how much they appreciated the excellent teaching their children received. It was really kind of the College of West Anglia to let us use their theatre free of charge. We will also be bringing all three secondary academies together at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange to recognise the achievement of many students. I would like to thank all of the staff at academies in our trust for their commitment and dedication this year. I hope you have a well-earned enjoyable holiday. Duncan Ramsey Director of Education
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Diploma Awards Ceremony 2016
The newsletter is designed to provide an overall team update as well as providing an insight as to what’s going on at our other academies. If you have any ideas or suggestions for future editions of the CWA Academy Trust Newsletter, please contact lois.hyland@cwaacademytrust.co.uk
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Sixth Form holds ‘Post-18’ event and awards ceremony Downham Market Academy (DMA) sixth form students were given a chance to hear first-hand how to get in to their chosen careers, from local professionals already working in the industry. The ‘Post 18’ event held at the sixth form site at Ryston End was aimed to broaden the horizons of those thinking of, or heading off, to university within the next few years. Many local companies allowed their staff to give up their day to talk to the students in workshops, giving the young people the chance to meet informally with guest speakers and ask the questions not answered on career advice websites whilst at the same time forming valuable connections with potential future employers. It also gave them a chance to speak to young professionals who have not long left university themselves, about the university experience from both an academic and personal view.
Head of DMA sixth form Alison Hornby said: “It was a fantastic day for the students as they had a real choice of workshops to attend. We wanted to ensure they had a valuable experience and this event provided a great opportunity to network with potential employers. We really appreciate local businesses and ex-students giving their time to our students and their enthusiasm to want to inspire them to achieve their career dreams.” The afternoon concluded with an awards ceremony for last year’s sixth formers, who were invited to return to celebrate their achievements in front of current students and guests. Mrs Hornby added: “I’m very excited by our new approach to our sixth form awards; not only do we get to celebrate the achievements of last year’s Year 13, but also show the Year 12s where they could be in two years’ time.”
Winning students and their awards
Highest achieving sixth former was Elliott Ford, 19, from Wimbotsham. Elliott is now at university studying history and said: “I’m really quite proud of myself because I didn’t think I would be able to do this and somehow I came out of sixth form without dropping a subject and getting three A’s and a B, which feels great. I’m loving university and looking forward to getting stuck into my course again next year for a bit of a challenge.”
DMA leads Norfolk Dementia Campaign Awareness Downham Market Academy (DMA) has started an initiative with Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance to get every school in Norfolk to become a dementia friendly community through the scheme, ‘Dementia Friends’. Nadine Taylor, a Head of House at DMA, is working with Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance and with Joan Alfred from the Dementia Friends Downham Market Group to get students involved with making individual pledges to be ‘dementia friendly’ in Downham Market.
Every three seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. The pledge has been designed by dementia sufferers with a purpose of highlighting the ways in which young people can help raise awareness of dementia in the community and help individuals and their families in their local area. DMA student leaders have already been helping out at coffee mornings in the town and also with collecting data through means of questionnaires for Age UK.
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Students and staff with Dementia Friends staff
Students will be attending dementia cafes once a month and as of September this will double, with cafes being held in the second and third week of each calendar month.
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Walkathon in ‘the Walks’ Eastgate Academy put their best foot forward on Friday 1 July and set off for a sponsored walkathon around the Walks in King’s Lynn, organised by the Friends of Eastgate Academy.
The weather was on their side as the whole academy took part in Friday’s event, including two children who were in wheelchairs - everyone wanted to get involved. There Eastgate Academy students walking in the Walks was even a fantastic turn out of parents and family members The academy are hoping to Karen Mason, Chairman of the who showed their support and have just as much success this Friends of Eastgate Academy joined the children on the route. year as last year, with money and I would like to thank all who Sponsor money has been going to their latest fundraising took part and supported us on coming in every day since the project of a new sound system the day. Our parents always do walkathon, with the deadline for for the assembly hall. Last year a fantastic job when it comes the walkathon event alone to supporting the children and donations being 20th July. raised £1,700. our academy with fundraising The Friends of Eastgate events and we are always very Academy gave a really big Carole Walker, secretary to the grateful.” fundraising push last year and Friends of Eastgate Academy raised £5,000 in nine months. and the organiser of this From this, they purchased year’s sponsored walkathon, a fantastic new staging unit said: “There was a real buzz about the whole event. Both during the autumn term.
Queen’s 90th celebration at Eastgate
Eastgate kitchen staff with a mini Queen Victoria
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Eastgate Academy held a garden party fit for a queen on Friday 10 June 2016, in honour of her majesty’s 90th birthday celebrations. In total, 600 lunches were prepared for everyone in attendance, games and activities were held on the school playing field, and there was an overwhelming sense of community spirit.
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KES Academy have the X factor Modern Foreign Language (MFL) students at King Edward VII Academy have been putting their lyrical and linguistic skills to the test in an in-school languages version of the X Factor.
Popular chart songs were performed in Spanish and special guest Simon Rowe, French, by each languages presenter at KLFM. class, and then put to the judges The team with the most points who scored them out of ten. from the judges was announced Performances included a as KES Academy MFL X-Factor Spanish rendition of Lean On champions. It was a very close by Major Lazer and Shakira’s call between the top three. First Whenever, Wherever, and a place went to 8R French who French version of Little Mix hit sang Champs-Elysees, scoring Black Magic to name but a few. 42.5 points. Second place went The judging panel, pictured, to 8N’s French version of Little was made up of five members Mix Black Magic with a close of staff from KES Academy and 41.5 points and third place
went to 8A Spanish’s version of Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, with 40.4 points. The students in year 8 have all learnt a song in either French or Spanish, which was recorded in class. Leah Hawkins, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, said: “This is the ninth time we have run this competition and it’s probably the best quality we’ve ever had! A great show by all.”
KES students donate to local foodbank 106 Foodbank meals have been donated for local people in crisis, by the students at King Edward VII Academy.
Belinda Wright, head of Gloucester Windsor house, said the message really hit home with the students. She said: “We wanted students to understand that many organisations rely on charity and this charity relies solely on donations.
After an inspiring assembly by Kat Taylor from the King’s Lynn Foodbank in May, students from KES Academy decided they wanted to help the charity “The Foodbank is local to King’s in their quest to help feed those Lynn and it feels good that in crisis in the King’s Lynn area. our students are taking part in Kat spoke to the students about giving back to our local society. I the role of the Foodbank in the wanted students to realise that, King’s Lynn area and the needs yes of course there are starving of those in our local community. people all around the world and in war-torn countries as they see on the news, but those in CWA Academy Trust | Newsletter
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KES Academy staff and students with their Foodbank donations
crisis are also people closer to home than they realise and I wanted to see if as a collective, we could collect enough food for this charity and make a donation.”
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King’s Lynn Academy become NCS champions King’s Lynn Academy has been named as a National Citizen Service Champion School, recognising the academy’s efforts in encouraging students to get involved with the National Citizen Service (NCS).
An NCS Champion School is a school, college or academy that embraces the NCS ethos and encourages all year 11 and 12 students to participate in the NCS. It is also a way for the NCS to thank and encourage future engagement with the schools and colleges. Barney Rimmer, head of school at KLA, said: “The programme is such a worthwhile thing for our students to get involved with as it enriches their learning experience outside of the classroom.
“The College of West Anglia have worked closely with us to ensure as many students as possible take the opportunity to get involved with the scheme and we hope many more learners will join up to NCS in the future.” CWA’s NCS officer Thomas Barnes-Hooker, said: “NCS provides young people in West Norfolk with the self-confidence and life skills that will enhance their CVs and help prepare them for meeting new people when they start at college. “We have had over 1000 students go through the programme now at CWA and we hope this number will continue to rise. CWA is so glad to have KLA on board as a champion school.”
Barney Rimmer with Thomas
The programmes take place regularly in school holidays, with students taking part in activities such as canoeing, climbing and other team building activities. Students also complete a social action project that gives them a chance to give back to their community through fundraising or volunteering. For more information please visit cwa.ac.uk/ncs
KLA host local schools’ ‘maths mastermind’ King’s Lynn Academy have played host to the Junior Maths Mastermind Challenge 2016 for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
The competition for primary school students in years 4 and 5, saw competition between Reffley Community School, Howard Junior, Middleton VC Primary, West Winch Primary, and St German’s Primary. Each of the schools came along with their own supporters.
the third year running, went to West Winch Primary School. The individual Year 4 winner was Hallie from West Winch scoring 12 points, and Year 5 winner was Frederic - also from West Winch - with 20 points.
Mr Richard Essex, head of maths at King’s Lynn Academy, presented the certificates and trophies at the end of the competition. He said: “Each team was represented by some With a total of 32 points, excellent mathematicians, who the overall Junior Maths all did their schools proud. Well Mastermind Trophy for 2016 for done to them all.” CWA Academy Trust | Newsletter
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Junior Mastermind winners
Carolyn Fysh, numeracy coordinator at King’s Lynn Academy, added that the event was “superbly received, with masses of positive and wonderful comments”. 7
Nelson Academy students graduate with diplomas Nelson Academy have been celebrating the outstanding work of their Year 2 and 6 cohort over the past academic year, with two special diploma certificate ceremonies attended by staff, family and friends.
The event was held across two days (Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 July), in the theatre at the College of West Anglia. CWA Academy Trust aims to inspire the younger generation to start looking ahead and start dreaming big for their futures, by encouraging their academic development through praise.
Duncan Ramsey, director of education for the CWA Academy Trust, addressed the audience of proud parents and guardians, saying: “It’s fantastic to see so many mums and dads here supporting everybody. We hope that you [the children] will work just as hard next year and the year after and that you are really proud of your achievements.” Students received diploma certificates for achieving the expected or better than expected progress in reading, writing and maths. The ceremony was a double celebration as it was
Year 2 students (top) and Year 6 students (below) at the awards
also a chance to celebrate the Year 6 children and say farewell before they head off to high school.
Nelson celebrate Healthy Living Week Nelson Academy pupils are ahead of the curve when it comes to health and safety, after the academy held a week of fun-filled educational activities. ‘Healthy Living Week’ activities, held at the primary stage academy in Downham Market, included a visit from the local fire brigade to bring the children up to speed on road safety, an assembly by Frances Rayner about the Downham Games and a Bollywood dance class which saw the children learn a dance routine whilst dressed top to toe in Bollywood attire.
Nelson Academy students take part in science activities
Nelson Academy teaching assistant Mrs Bullen said: “We had different people in every day to talk to the children. The children have tried their hand at mindfulness sessions learning about meditation, fitness football and inter-house competitions. They even completed a mini marathon mid-week too.”
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Megan Abbott, science subject leader, said: “The children have had a fantastic opportunity to use new resources and develop their scientific enquiry skills. They have benefitted from being around the older DMA students who have been brilliant role models and inspired the children immensely.” 8
Southery deliver birthday cards to Sandringham Southery Academy took a whole school trip to Sandringham on Friday 10 June 2016, to deliver their homemade birthday cards to The Queen. 75 students enjoyed a tour of the museums and gardens before enjoying a walk through the woodland trail and a picnic. Each child in the younger classes made their own individual cards, whilst the older students made two giant cards; one for The Queen and one to celebrate Prince Phillip’s 95th birthday.
Southery Academy Principal Julian Goodrum said: “The children enjoyed themselves. It is important to give them experiences like this and memories for the future. Attending Sandringham during the week of The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations will hopefully be a memory for these young people to cherish. It seemed a natural choice to visit Sandringham and was a great day out for all.” The children enjoyed tucking in to a themed picnic of jam
Pupils with their cards
tarts and corgi-shaped biscuits before delivering their cards to the visitor centre, to be passed on hopefully to The Queen herself.
A day to play at CWA On Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 June, students from Southery Academy experienced a taste of college life, thanks to the help of staff and students at CWA’s Cambridge and King’s Lynn campuses.
They joined students from Nelson Academy to try their hands at plumbing, hair and beauty, animal care, veterinary nursing and motor vehicle courses. They integrated with students at the college and showed enthusiasm in every subject matter. It is hoped that the curriculum enhancing days have helped kick-start the ambitions of the younger students in our academy trust. CWA Academy Trust | Newsletter
Staff and students at CWA taking part in hairdressing and plumbing
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