Attleborough Academy Norfolk: 50th Anniversary Souvenir Programme

50

ATTLEBOROUGH ACADEMY NORFOLK

CELEBRATES 50 YEARS 1967 - 2017 July 8th 2017 Souvenir Programme

ATTLEBOROUGH ACADEMY NORFOLK

Welcome are all transient – we all have our ‘moment in time’ – and that moment in time is heavily influenced by what has gone before.

I do feel very privileged to be the fourth Headteacher of the school and in some senses it has been made easy for me because I took over a school that already had a genuinely child centred ethos and a staff that were united, dedicated and most of all, personable. The vision and leadership shown by my predecessors, Jeffrey, Ted and Stuart had a common thread of always doing what is right for the children, and whilst we have all put our personal slant on the vision, the school remains a caring educational Welcome to our 50th Anniversary event

institution with a truly child centred focus

and for many of you, welcome back!

where excellent relationships between staff

Today we celebrate 50 years of secondary

and students continue to be the norm – where

education in Attleborough and the many

traditional expectations for behaviour are still

successes that we have achieved.

promoted and where we continue to grow and develop decent human beings who

Whatever your connection to the school,

understand the importance of endeavour,

whether you are an ex or current member

respect, kindness and fairness.

of staff, Governor, Trustee or member of our community, you will have contributed to the

Over the span of leadership of the four

admirable ethos and great spirit within the

Headteachers, the school has moved

school that we all enjoy today and we thank

from being a secondary modern, to a

you for that.

comprehensive, to ‘Attleborough High School’ and now to ‘Attleborough Academy

At the very start of my presentation at every

Norfolk’. Along the way, we also created a

Open Evening, I always introduce myself as

Sixth Form. Each of these moves were brave

being ‘proud and privileged’ to be the current

and somewhat of a risk at the time and

Principal of this school. Those of you who have

there is a common thread of them all being

worked with me will know that this is not just

carried out early in the national educational

a marketing spin but is a genuine statement

strategies of the time. I believe they were all

from the heart. I use the word ‘privileged’ not

correct to allow the growth of the school and

to mean that I am fortunate in a lucky sense

I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors

but in an honoured sense and I use the word

and their Governing Bodies for their vision,

‘current’ because I am very aware that we

skill and bravery in being prepared to take

these calculated risks which have allowed us

that let you reflect on the growth of the site

to blossom into the institution we are today.

and the buildings. As such, I would invite you

Whatever the legal status of the school,

as you look through and reflect on the many

however, it has made no change to the

successes these buildings have achieved.

culture that we have all developed over the

To remember the many, many students and

years. The notion that we genuinely CARE in

staff who have walked the corridors, the

this community was the core value when I

halls, classrooms and offices, the hustle and

arrived at Attleborough High School in 2002

bustle, the discussions, conversations, the

as one of the new Assistant Principals and it still

concerns, the anxieties, the frustrations, the

holds true today. We overtly expect students

frowns, the tears, the achievements, the

and staff to care for each other, for the

presentations, the speeches, the learning,

community, for the school and for themselves.

the teamwork, the support, the commitment, the determination, the enthusiasm , the

After the recent passing of Jeffrey Blagg, the

resilience, the participation, the engagement,

first Headteacher of the school, his son Julian,

the encouragement, the confidence,

donated his father’s log book to the Academy

the admiration, the handshakes, the

and it has been fascinating to be able to have

acknowledgments, the camaraderie, the

an insight into Jeffrey’s approach to leadership

banter, the thanks, the hugs, the smiles, the

and his determination to work to enhance

nods, the laughter and the joy, but mostly,

the lives and prospects of all Attleborough

the genuine care shown between us all.

students. Jeffrey clearly had a passion for books and a clear resolve to ensure that the

Here’s to the next 50 years !

school Library would provide the opportunity to open the minds of students to the awe and

Mr Neil McShane

wonder of our world. Jeffrey was adamant

Principal

that a Library would be created in school from the start and continued to ensure it was sustainable and well stocked. It is therefore fitting that we dedicate the Library in his memory today.

And so today, we have an opportunity to celebrate, admire and give our respects and thanks to all that has gone before. We have much to be grateful for and admire.

In putting this souvenir booklet together, we have pointedly only included the images

The Official Opening of the School was on Thursday 25th May 1967

But the School had been open to students since september 1965.

See below the first page of the log compiled by Mr Jeffrey Blagg, the first Headteacher.

The Main School Hall 1967

Mr Jeffrey Blagg and VIPs before the Opening Ceremony

Mr Jeffrey Blagg

Mr Ted Hickling

Headteacher 1965 – 1984

Headteacher 1984 – 2000

Mr Stuart Bailey

Mr Neil McShane

Headteacher 2000 – 2009

Headteacher 2009 – Present

Circa 1970’s

Circa 1980’s

Circa 2000’s

Mr Neil McShane (Principal) with the current School Council 2016-2017

Artist: Richard Bean 1990’s