Tva Dec 2014

VOYAGER!

ISSUE 1, WINTER 2014

The new magazine of The Voyager, an academy of the Comberton Academy Trust

THE RIGHT WAY

Voyager Award is first in Peterborough — Page 2

BECAUSE IT’S RIGHT: Voyager Sixth Formers with the Rights Respecting School Award.

Respecting what’s right The Voyager Academy has become the first secondary school in Peterborough to win the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools award.

The award recognises the achievement of schools putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of their planning, policies, practice and ethos.

It also recognises schools that work to model rights and respect in all its relationships between pupils and adults, and between adults and pupils.

One of the assessors who visited the school, Maura Hayes, said: “It was clear during the visit that the Academy is committed to young people learning about and understanding their rights.”

The Academy carried out a number of actions to achieve the prestigious award, including taking part in a series of national campaigns such as the IF campaign, Child Slavery campaign, Trafficking petition

rights are threatened around the world.

“The work UNICEF does is inspiring, it’s been a big motivation and it’s great for the academy to be recognised with this award.”

Stephen Munday, Executive Principal, said: “Now more than ever, human rights are at the forefront of news and current affairs.

“We think it is vital that our students learn about these rights and be aware of them and how to implement them and practice them in their lives.

“We are very proud to have achieved this award, and will continue our work in the hope that we can move on to the next level of this brilliant scheme.”

The Voyager is part of the Comberton Academy Trust which has as one of its five core principles the need for all schools to have an international outlook in their teaching and learning.

‘Because every child in the world has one thing in common.

Their rights.’ and UNICEF’s campaign network.

The Voyager has also been awarded several ‘star campaigner’ awards for this work.

Heather Thomas, a Year 13 student, said: “It has been fascinating to learn about the various rights that influence our everyday life, and recognise when these

Pupils back Pudsey Voyager students dug deep to help others and collected more than £1200 for Children in Need.

A non-uniform day and a bake sale took the total amount collected for Pudsey’s charity to an impressive £1267.45.

Executive Principal Stephen Munday said: “It is really excellent that Voyager students have put so much really good work into raising all this money for a good cause.

“Many thanks and congratulations are due to all of them.

Being involved with fund-raising for a good cause is actually part of a proper, wider education and it is great to see so many of our students taking this on."

Contents q Progress but more needed — Page 3 q Voyager 6 is Place to Go — Page 3 q Top Marks — Page 3 q Video deals with Hot Topic — Page 4 q Safety Matters — Page 4 q A Bad Influence — Page 4 q Making a Difference — Page 5 2

q Taste of Spanish — Page 5 q Playing to Full Houses — Page 5 q Be Seen, Stay Safe — Page 5 q Trio Leading the Way — Page 6 q Girls win Trip — Page 6 q Insight into Work — Page 6 q All in the Name — Page 7 q Cambodia Experience— Page 7 q System offers Support — Page 7 q CAT Update — Page 8

HELPING OTHERS: Voyagers students raise money for Children in Need.

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Progress, but more needed The Voyager is making progress in its quest to move out of special measures.

An monitoring inspection took place earlier this term and Her Majesty’s Inspector is satisfied that the academy is heading in the right direction.

His report concluded that Voyager’s decision to prioritise addressing student behaviour, including daily uniform checks, has led to clear signs of improvement and that the college is a much calmer place to be.

It said students also recognise that these improvements are helping them focus on their learning.

The report also highlights the development of a stronger relationship with Peterborough City Council and how Voyager has used the partnership within the Comberton Academy Trust to bring in additional

expertise, experience and capacity.

However, Executive Principal Stephen Munday is under no illusions that much more progress is required.

“We fully understand that there is more than needs to be done, but this could not have sensibly been achieved without addressing the crucial areas first,” he

GREAT RESULTS: Head of School Stuart Anderson celebrates with students Selvi Vickramathithan (left), who went to Warwick University to study biomedical science, and Georgia Heard, who is still at Voyager 6.

Voyager 6 is the place to go More applications than ever arrived at Voyager’s Sixth Form — ahead of this month’s first deadline and under three months before the official date for applying.

This means Voyager 6 is set to continue the impressive growth which saw a 30% increase in numbers starting in the Sixth Form in September.

Such growth comes on the back of record A-level results in the summer, which saw a 99% pass rate with 65% of grades at A*-C. Students who graduated from Voyager 6 are now settling into their first-year studies in subjects such as law, biomedical science, economics, zoology, nursing and computer science after 40% accepted university places, 30% went on to another form of further study, 20% went on to employment, 8% an apprenticeship and 2% a gap year.

Back at Voyager 6, where Ofsted judged the Sixth Form provision as good earlier this year, the increasing numbers means greater opportunities.

New courses this year include Level 3 qualifications in criminology and combined English language and literature as well as an increased range of vocational Level 2 courses including art, photography, textiles ifs finance, beauty therapy and sports leadership.

Daniel Taylor, Director of Sixth Form at The Voyager, which is part of the

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Comberton Academy Trust, said: “The increasing numbers are enabling us to offer a curriculum that better meets students’ needs. We also tell prospective students that if there is something they want to do but we do not offer, we will always endeavour to run it.”

He added: “We are delighted students have achieved well across a range of subjects and have been able to obtain places at a broadening range of universities, reading an increasing variety of degree courses.

“The results reaffirm the findings from the most recent Ofsted report that the Sixth Form at The Voyager Academy is good with students making good progress.”

The early deadline for applications is December 19 and meeting this will almost guarantee a place on students’ first-choice courses, subject to meeting the entry requirements. The official deadline is February 27.

Voyager 6’s prospectus is available on-line at www.thevoyager.co.uk or in paper form from the Sixth Form.

HANDSON: Students on the new Beauty Therapy course in action.

said. “Phase One was about seeking to improve behaviour on a day-to-day basis, including wearing proper school uniform, re-organising and strengthening leadership at the WORK TO school and recruiting new staff DO: For ready for the new school year.

Executive “Phase 2 maintains the emphasis on Principal behaviour, but now looks to push Stephen ahead significantly on improvements Munday as in teaching and learning and student well as for achievement.

Voyager “This includes ensuring consistently staff and high standards of teaching and students. rigorous monitoring in every classroom.

“Experienced and proven leaders have been brought in to support that where appropriate and needed.

“We will also continue to work closely with parents and carers to significantly reduce unauthorised absences.”

More students gain top marks Pupils who took GCSE exams at The Voyager in the summer achieved more A* and A grades than ever before.

Overall, the academy recorded an increase of 64 per cent in the total number of A* and A grades, and a 75 per cent increase in the number of A*-B grades awarded.

Across the academy there were a number of achievements. The English results were the highest recorded, with 62 per cent of pupils gaining A*-C grades. This is a seven per cent increase on last year.

The academy was also above the national average for the level of progress a pupil makes during their time in secondary education in the core subjects, and demonstrated that more students were making above expected levels of progress.

The academy recorded the same overall provisional pass rate as the previous year with 40 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths.

Executive Principal Stephen Munday set staff and students the challenge to record the best results in all measured areas when he took over the leadership following an unannounced Ofsted inspection in February.

He was encouraged by the results, but reiterated there was still more that the Comberton Academy Trust, of which Voyager is a part, will do to improve standards.

“These results are encouraging and demonstrate just how hard our pupils and staff have worked to turn things around in such a short space of time,” he said.

“Against a backdrop of changes in the education system, and expected turbulence it is good to see more pupils than achieving the highest A* and A grades.

“Ensuring that more pupils gained the highest grades and made better levels of progress was the absolute priority of my 10-point plan, and what Ofsted asked of us. The results demonstrate this and provide the academy with a strong foundation from which to build.

“Positive developments have been achieved across the academy and I am pleased to see pupils respond maturely and enthusiastically to the new expectations.

“It is important that the academy continues to set high expectations of its pupils, staff and leadership to ensure further required improvement.”

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Video deals with hot topic Students from The Voyager Academy have developed a new video detailing the consequences of arson in a joint project with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS).

The media students at The Voyager took the Service’s outof-date visual teaching tool and used their scriptwriting, filming and editing skills to produce a modern video.

The purppose of the video is as an aid to both CFRS and Cambridgeshire Constabulary to educate young people about fire prevention and the consequences of arson across the county.

The premiere screening was attended by students and representatives from the emergency services.

Heidi Latronico, Project Co-ordinator at The Voyager, said: “It has been a great experience for our Post-16 students.

“Not only have they used their talents to produce this video, it is something that will benefit communities across Cambridgeshire, which is a great result for the

school.”

The concept for the new DVD evolved after Dogsthorpe firefighters attended an education session at the school about arson last year and, after speaking with pupils, learned their existing video did not engage the young people.

The school approached CFRS offering to create a new DVD, developed and produced solely by pupils.

The students took responsibility for all aspects of the video and worked closely with police and firefighters to

stage an emergency situation and fire which they then filmed.

Kevin Robbs, Watch Commander at Dogsthorpe Fire Station who has been WORKING leading the project for TOGETHER: CFRS, said: “This has Voyager been a great joint Media initiative with the students school and the police and to create an members of educational tool that the Cambs young people will Fire and actively engage with Rescue and find effective.

Service.

“Society has moved so quickly in the past few years with social media and the like and our tools had become ineffective with some audiences. So when The Voyager approached us with this opportunity, we were keen to be involved.

“The idea was to let the young people develop it from their angle and they’ve been excellent.

“We’ve given them some steer and guidance along the way, but they’ve just taken it on and been really creative. Our aim will now be to use this in schools and youth groups around Cambridgeshire.”

A bad influence . . .

CRASH SIMULATOR: Students discover what a car crash is really like.

Students learn safety matters The drivers of the future were given the chance to experience a real crash as part of national road safety week.

The teenagers at The Voyager had the opportunity to sit in a special crash simulator, the first of a series of events designed to educate students about getting around more safely.

The simulator uses the car’s hydraulics, as well as lights and smoke to create the moments before, during, and after a crash.

Screens inside the car gave a close-up insight into the aftermath of a crash and how emergency services respond at the scene of a collision.

There was a visit from the Safer Peterborough Partnership who marked students’ bikes and spoke to them about cycle safety and requirements, particularly during the dark winter months.

The Academy’s Post-16 students were visited

by Walking Forward Theatre company, arranged by the Road Safety Team, who performed a short play called ‘Wasted’ which looked at drug-driving and its consequences.

Year 12 student Harriet-Rose Woodhams said of the crash simluator: “It really was an

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awakening experience; to get an idea of what a crash is like first-hand is a rare opportunity.

I know that coming out of it me and my friends understood the need to be more aware and cautious than ever when on the road.”

Ryan Whiting, another student in Year 12, added: “The lessons you take from an experience like that can’t be taught in a classroom. I think we learnt a lot about what the consequences of even the smallest lapse of concentration.”

Clair George, Senior Road Safety Officer for the Safer Peterborough Partnership, said: “There is a wealth of research and casualty data showing that young drivers, particularly young male drivers, are at much higher risk of crashing. The car and theatre in education are excellent ways of educating young people on the importance of road safety in an engaging way.

Teacher Heidi Latronico said: “This is a great way for agencies to come together and work with the academy in educating our students on a variety of different subjects, and something that I know they get a great deal out of.”

Wasted is a 50-minute powerful and ground-breaking educational drama which explores driving under the influence of drugs.

The Huntingdon-based Walking Forward company use a mix of film and theatre to address some of the moral issues linked to drug-driving.

Wasted tells the story of friend Frankie, Jay and Andy. Clubbing, football and hanging out with the girls are among their favourite hobbies. So when Frankie’s girlfriend, Stacey, and best friend Lucy agree to join the boys for one of their ‘big nights out’, arrangements are made to guarantee a good night is had by all.

Time to call on Ezee, a friend with contacts who can ‘sort things out’ in order for this to happen.

However, their evening soon takes a tragic turn when Andy crashes his car en route to a club. In the aftermath, friendships are tested and questions asked, as the group struggle to deal with the consequences of an accident that should never have happened.

It has been performed to schools and colleges across the country by a team of three professional actors and a full set, including plasma screen.

The Walking Forward website says that “Wasted seeks to educate and inform its audience that driving under the influence of drugs is highly dangerous and costs lives. Wasted portrays how drugs can have a dramatic effect on driving ability, with aftereffects lasting for many hours, sometimes even days.”

The importance of passenger responsibility is also addressed and audiences are invited to question whether they would feel safe getting into a car with a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

GLUM: A scene from the Wasted drama.

Voyager

CANDIDATES: For the Voyager election to find a prospective Youth MP, which was won by Jodie Lambert.

Making a real difference Voyager Sixth Form students have not only been focusing on their academic studies but many of them have been actively engaged in making a difference in their school and the local community.

In November three sixth form students, Rumaysa Hussain, Samama Tahir and Jodie Lambert, stood in an election to select a Voyager candidate as prospective Youth MP. Jodie was elected as our school’s candidate by a considerable majority and in February she will stand against candidates from other schools in Peterborough for the position of Peterborough Youth MP. The Youth Parliament brings together young people from all over the country to represent the views of young people and debate issues of concern to them. Two students, Amina Ahmed and Tayyeba Ahmed, also represent the school on Peterborough Youth Council.

A group of students also took part in European Local Democracy Week and presented their ideas to a group of City Council cabinet members concerning helping young people in the transition from school to work. Our students came fourth and

were awarded a small prize for their presentation.

Four of our sixth formers have been selected for the National Citizenship Scheme and will go on a residential in their holidays to undertake voluntary work and teambuilding activities.

A group of our students are also undertaking work experience at Discovery Primary School where they are acting as reading buddies with the children there. A number of sixth form students also assist with activities in Year 7 and 8 tutor groups.

Sixth formers are also planning some social activities for their colleagues with one group organising an end-of-term party at Christmas and another group planning an end of year prom.

In November sixth form students watched a powerful theatre production, ‘Wasted’, which combined humour with a hard-hitting message about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs. This was followed up with the opportunity to use a driving simulator so students could experience some of the hazards faced by young drivers at first-hand.

Paul Taylor Sixth Form Student Engagement Co-Ordinator

Be seen and stay safe Students at The Voyager have been given help to keep themselves safe during the dark winter months.

At a special event organised by Vicki, Working for the Safer Peterborough Partnership, myself and Su, a Road safety Officer, conducted an event after school in November called ‘Be safe, be seen’.

The event was to highlight to students that the evenings are becoming dark very quickly and that they need to be seen in order to stay safe.

We were issuing fluorescent bag strap covers, fluorescent key rings and leaflets offering advice on how to keep safe. The event was successful in raising awareness with students.

They were really keen to get their gifts and began using them straight away.

I was really pleased with how the event went and will follow this up with a different event in the new year, again focussing on road safety and bike security.

PC 1644 Baker Extract from the Safer Peterborough Partnership website: Pedestrians and cyclists are more likely to be involved in an accident during the winter months, and these accidents are most likely to happen during the morning and late afternoon.

As a pedestrian or cyclist you might be able to see the driver of a vehicle but they might not be able to see you, even during daylight drivers can have difficulty seeing as the sun is lower in the sky.

Make sure you are visible to other road users and pedestrians l Keep away from the kerb l Wear bright or florescent clothing in daylight or poor light l Wear reflective clothing at night as it shows up in car headlights making you visible to the driver l Always use your lights when cycling after dark, in the rain, or if the weather is dull or overcast. l Always make sure you lights are working, it is illegal to cycle on the road with no lights after dark. White lights should be used at the front and red lights at the back.

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Playing to full houses After a hugely-successful interpretation of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ in 2013 we thought it suitable to follow it up with another of Shakespeare’s comedies!

For this year’s Shakespeare School Festival, students from The Voyager Academy performed ‘Twelfth Night’ at ACTION the Key Theatre in October..

SPANISH: Taking part in the festival is a Discovery fantastic experience for pupils learn students and staff, with cast actions to help workshops led by working with different actors and the opportunity to sounds and work with professional lighting words. and sound technicians.

Our students have now had with the new language. It’s just the exbrilliant!” perience of The pupils themselves were clear about performing in the benefits, too: two working “It makes you want to learn!” theatres to “It’s fun, interesting, encouraging!” packed-out “It proves how much you know!” audiences.

“Can we do it for the whole year?”

A massive Education at The Voyager, as part of well done to Comberton Academy Trust, is guided by all students the same five overarching principles of involved! education, one of which is the Bring on international principle, which states: 2015!

“Education at the school must have a Nicola clear and strong international Daintith dimension. This applies within the Drama Dept formal curriculum and beyond the formal curriculum into international links and opportunities for all pupils.”

Pupils have taste of Spanish Fourteen pupils from Discovery Primary School have started learning their second foreign language.

In a pilot project which aims to offer pupils the opportunity to learn Spanish, a group of pupils who already learn French, has been offered weekly lessons in Spanish at The Voyager.

The pupils, selected on the basis of their progress in and enthusiasm for French, are already making rapid progress.

Teacher of the class, Associate Deputy Principal Rachel Hawkes, said: “The pupils are absolutely fantastic. They are showing everything that you look for in a language learner; curiosity about how language works, the ability to notice patterns, the desire to communicate and the confidence to adapt and innovate

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Trio are leading the way Students from The Voyager are being encouaraged to follow in the footsteps of last summer’s pioneers.

A trio of adventurous, responsible pupils from the school were named among the first ambassadors for a citizen service project.

Six pupils from The Voyager Academy were part of the 90-strong group from Peterborough who completed the National Citizen Service (NCS) course in the summer holidays.

The course, delivered by Peterborough City Council, aims to help 16 and 17-yearolds learn new skills, push themselves to the limit and make a real difference to lives in Peterborough.

From the six Voyager students, Patrik Walton, Luke Twaite-Freeman and Davey Hardy — two of whom have now moved on to Peterborough Regional College — were asked to become Peterborough ambassadors for the project.

The other three, Aaron Winner, Eamon Smith and Cameron Smith, were also praised for their positive involvement.

Heidi Latronico, project co-ordinator at The Voyager, said: “This was such a rewarding way for the students to spend part of the summer holiday, and we are very proud of their achievements. They learned some vital skills to help them go on and really succeed in life.

“We are delighted that the students have become ambassadors for the course and will be urging other pupils from The Voyager Academy, and across Peterborough, to take part in the future.”

The four-week course involved two residential trips, where participants planned and delivered a social action project. They had the power to choose who they wanted to help, which local businesses to involve, and how they funded and promoted the project.

Muhammed Chagani, NCS co-ordinator at Peterborough City Council, said: “The programme equips young people with many of the skills and experiences they need to go on and really succeed in life.

“We had a really strong group this year and received some fantastic feedback. We look forward to seeing the ambassadors raise the profile of the National Citizen Service course across Peterborough.”

Attendees graduated from the programme at a gala event at Peterborough Town Hall. AMBASSADORS: Three Voyager students were selected to They each received a signed certificate from the Prime Minister, David Cameron. promoted the National Citizen Course in Peterborough.

Girls win trip to tour the WW1 battlefields Two Voyager students are set to join a Cambridgeshire schools’ visit to the World War One battlefields next year after winning an competition.

Charlotte Knight and Lauren Sparkes have been given a conditional offer of a place on the free trip to France and Belgium in March after penning the winning statements in a competition held by the history deprartment for Year 10 GCSE history students.

The competition was part of a Government initiative to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of war in 1914 and entrants had to explain ‘Why it is important that we remember the Great War’ and why they should be given the oppourtnity to go on the four-day visit.

They are due to leave on March 1 and will spend the first day at Kingswood Grosvenor Hall participating in group and social activities, including a tour briefing, local soldier research and the chance to handle WW1 artefacts.

On day two they will head for France and visit the Memoial Museum at Passchendaele, as well as the Tyne Cot and Langemark cemeteries.

The third day will include a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission French Headquarters, Thiepval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater, Ulster Memorial Tower, Thiepval Wood and Mill Road Cemetery. Before returning home on Day Four the group will go to the In Flanders Field Museum, the Death Cells at Poperinge and the Lijssenthoek Cemetery.

BATTLEFIELDS-BOUND: Voyager’s competition winners are off to France and Belgium.

Students gain an insight into the world of work On Tuesday December 2 at The Voyager Academy, we organised a Careers Fair for our Year 10, 11 and Post-16 Students.

We are delighted that the event was a BIG success and we had very positive feedback from the 70+ exhibitors who thoroughly enjoyed their day at the Voyager.

Our students also seemed to be interacting happily and obtaining information, advice and guidance from the various stalls and collecting lots of freebies!

Mrs Akbar and Ms McKimmie, Careers Team

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New review system gives mutual support The Comberton Academy Trust is one of only seven groups of schools nationally that have been working with educational experts at the Centre for British Teaching (CfBT) in co-creating and piloting a school-based peer review system.

CfBT have used their extensive experience of the educational sector and international research to develop a framework for reviews which schools will be able to purchase in the future.

The criteria used align with OFSTED where relevant, but extend beyond this in terms of the aspects which contribute to successful education.

As one of the original pilot organisations, CAT senior staff have contributed to that framework and received training as peer reviewers.

Over the past year teams of senior managers, each led by a Head of School, have visited each CAT school and conducted a review of various aspects of their practice.

Evidence has been gathered from a range of sources including exam data, lesson observations and meetings with staff and students. OFSTED-standard criteria have been used to feed back findings to staff and Governors and the whole process has been extremely valuable in moving all the schools forward, with schools offering support to each other in their own areas of expertise.

In addition to the benefits for the school being reviewed, the experience of finding out about how a school works has led to each team taking back ideas to their own school.

Melbourn Principal Simon Holmes said: “The major difference for me between this review and an OFSTED visit is the feeling of co-operation and support.

“Difficult and challenging questions were, quite rightly, asked, but at the end of the process there is a willingness to work together to help move the college forward.

“This sense of mutual support is one of the main benefits of joining the Trust.”

It’s all in the name . . .

Students from The Voyager Academy were visited by students from an American High School that shares the same name.

The Voyager Academy High School in Durham, North Carolina, USA, and the Peterborough school have built a cross-Atlantic partnership to provide their students with opportunities to explore different educational experiences.

The students were welcomed to Peterborough with a breakfast party, before spending two days shadowing the UK students in their lessons; learning about the way in which children are taught in Britain. They then spent the next few days experiencing British culture, with visits to London and Cambridge as well as Burghley House in Stamford.

Mel Wright, a student at The Voyager Academy, said: “It was great to welcome the students from The Voyager Academy High School. This partnership has been very valuable to us as students, and I think we have learnt a lot from each other, as well as making friendships along the way.”

American Jake Hoffman said: “Ever since the Voyager Academy students came to visit us earlier in the year we have been really excited to come and see them and see how they learn. The whole

ALL TOGETHER NOW: Students and staff from both Voyager Academies. experience has been fulfilling as well as fun, and we can’t wait for the next visit.”

The partnership with the North Carolina school was established in 2013, with teachers visiting both schools to identify areas for collaborative projects.

This has since led to various schemes and competitions; with students from The Voyager crossing the Atlantic in May earlier this year to visit

North Carolina.

To participate, pupils had to complete an application form, gather references as to why they would make an excellent ‘International Ambassador’ and attend an interview.

The two schools look set to continue their successful relationship, with a second group of students from The Voyager planning a visit the USA in 2015.

VARIETY OF TASKS: The students’ jobs included gardening and teaching English.

Cambodians’ warm welcome after troubled past Five intrepid Voyager students spend four weeks on an incredible expedition to Cambodia.

They joined 10 other teenagers from around the country as well as three adults for the four-week trip to Asia.

After acclimitising to the extreme heat, the group undertook an number of community projects. These included gardening, building work, painting, trench-digging and teaching English.

In the middle of the work, they also went on a four-day jungle trek in a protected nature reserve.

Voyager teacher in charge, Kate Blundell, said: “The students learnt a lot about the country, the Cambodian people and the terrible history which left the country devastated by landmines and poverty and decimated by five million

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people.

“Today the Cambodians are friendly, welcoming and happy to be free of their past traumas. The young people learnt about themselves and their strengths and weaknesses and developed life-long friendships.

“We coped with extreme weather, poisonous spiders and snakes, rats and managed to live on a diet of rice twice a day.

“The experience was amazing and the life lessons they learnt will serve them in whatever career choice they make for the future. Well done to Amber, Harry, Kimberley, Sandra and Hannah who represented the Voyager Academy in Cambodia this year. It was a pleasure working with you and watching you grow as individuals and develop as a team.”

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A symbol of identity The Comberton Academy Trust has a new logo to start the new year.

It has been designed by Comberton’s Head of Art and Design Greg Dean, who also designed the logo for Cambourne Village College, Comberton Sixth Form and Voyager Sixth Form as well as revamping Comberton’s logo.

He explained: “When the Comberton Academy Trust began I received an email that asked me to stick the school logo next to the name. By lunchtime!

“This rather hasty logo stood for a while and was appropriate given that the first schools to become part of the Trust were very much 'Comberton'.

“As the Trust grew, however, it became clear that simply having the CVC logo next to the name was less appropriate due to the evolving relationship of the Trust and its schools.

“The new logo aims to provide a flavour of the Comberton brand while also projecting some different values. The three heads are now overlapped and reshaped into crescents, hopefully reminiscent of both the Comberton Sixth Form and Cambourne logos.

“The position of this new shape is placed to suggest sails along the top of the logo.

This provides the idea of the movement and direction that the Trust provides. The position also suggests the over-arching nature of the Trust.

“The logo has been through many designs over the last few weeks but we have finally ended up with something that everyone appears to be happy with. Luckily I hadn’t agreed to finish this one by lunch!”

Working together

Moving on

Students from all four schools have been part of a new way of working together.

It is designed to create the conditions for meaningful discussion and deep conversations, both by creating games to structure deep engagement in a marketplace of ideas and in the Space for Dialogue alternative to conference.

At a series of cross-Trust events facilitated by URock Arts practitioners (dance theatre and creativity) young people experienced partnership working, co-creating a sustainable model to allow them to work out what the meaningful questions are, as well as finding answers to the questions that are meaningful in their lives in school.

Implicit in that is improving their confidence and risk-taking as they are being challenged beyond their comfort zones in new settings.

This is being supported by Norfolk and Norwich Festival Bridge and the model is being used in schools across Norfolk. Students from the Trust are designing and running a student-led consultation event with health service, local authority and business leaders in Peterborough.

There will be a chance for students from Trust schools to also roll this out, inviting students from their primary schools to participate in their own event.

One participant said: “Head Teachers should know that students can take control of their learning and do it effectively. Seminars and conferences like this are useful for building teamwork, life skills that can be transferable in the rest of your life.”

Another commented: “When we work together we can create ‘life as a subject’ – students writing the curriculum,” while a third said: “Lessons with an octopus would be swimming, but how would you understand the teacher?”

Partnership Leader Rosalind Scott is leaving to pursue her political ambitions after four years in the Trust promoting inclusion and partnership working.

She will continue to work with all four schools, coordinating schools-led partnership for school improvement and leadership development with the CfBT Education Trust.

Rosalind would like to thank all staff, students and their families and say how much she has enjoyed all the opportunities and the joy of working together. She said: “I firmly believe a school is at the heart of its community and now I am ready to take on a different role in my local community, as a politician.”

TEAMWORK IS KEY: Games with meaning for students from all the academies of the Trust.

Trust ideas go global Rainbow Home and School is an anti-bullying initiative funded by the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship programme of the European Union.

The best practice of Trust students in preventing bullying has been celebrated and acknowledged at a conference in Brussels.

Two films made by students were premiered to an audience of educators, activists and MEPs and the ideas are to be taken up across organisations from countries as varied as Bulgaria, Basque Country, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. Voyager Academy students have designed and started a programme

where students, families and school can really work together.

They are taking their film and programme into the primary schools before transition. As one student remembered: “The first day it was like you were an ant, something small, and walking around with giants!”

Comberton Village College shared their experience of Pupils’ Equal Opportunities Means Learning for Everyone, PEOPLE People, in peer support and restorative practice.

Students explained their passion for equality and respect for diversity and difference.

NEW WHEELS: Cambourne’s minibus

Driving a hard bargain Two new top-of-the-range minibuses have just been delivered to the Comberton Academy Trust.

The 64-plate 16-seat Ford Transits have been given the livery of Cambourne and Melbourn Village Colleges after Finance Manager Mark Norman secured a very attractive two-year lease deal for the new model.

He even managed to get £1,500 for each of the old buses — Melbourn’s 1997 vehicle and a Comberton hand-me-down which has served Cambourne since it opened in September 2013.

CENTRAL ROLE: Using a pipe cleaner ‘person’ to help voice feelings.