Newsletter
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Southery Academy grand opening News from all the academies
Chief Executive’s Welcome
This edition highlights the array of talent in all our academies. I’d like to offer my congratulations to the DMA team for their silver award for enhanced healthy schools in recognition of the approach to supporting young carers; KESA student Reece Emsley for gaining selection to the British Gymnastics Tumbling Team; KESA students for multiple success in a national writing competition and Eastgate Academy students who performed in the ‘schools make music 2016’ event at the Corn Exchange recently. I also had the privilege of visiting Nelson Academy on World Book Day and was very impressed by the creativity of our children and staff to develop and wear themed costumes; I felt somewhat under-dressed!
supporting them in their journey towards academy status, and anticipate further growth over the next couple of years.
This term it has been exciting for me to spend time in a number of academies both secondary and primary. During a day spent working with the science department at King Edward VII, I was struck by a comment from a Year 9 child who said, “We really respect our teacher, he works hard and he really wants us to do well.” There are many students who have really high aspirations and it’s a sobering thought to think about how much of a difference we can make to the lives of many students.
I am really looking forward to the first CWA Academy Trust Awards Night, which will be held on Tuesday 12th July at the Corn Exchange. We plan to bring together those students in Years 7 and 8 from all secondary academies who, have made the most progress and put the most effort into their studies. Similarly I know that our primaries are planning to hold awards ceremonies for their children too.
I have been impressed by the determination shown by staff teams across our academies to support and challenge our students to reach their potential. We have a wide range of after school, weekend and holiday classes taking place across our academies and I was extremely impressed by the activities taking place at KLA during half term when I visited. Meeting our learner progress and I am delighted that this month has seen us open attainment targets is a massive strategic priority our 6th academy, Southery Academy, and I’d like for the trust and I appreciate all your hard work to to thank Julian and his fantastic staff team and all strive to make this happen. the governors, parents and children for embracing the opportunity so positively. Following recent Best wishes for a healthy and happy Easter. government announcements and the publication of an education white paper, we will be in David Pomfret discussions with a number of primary schools, Chief Executive
I know that many of our academies are working hard to develop the concept of the CWA Academy Diploma, this is an award that has been designed to recognise students who work hard and make the progress that they should. We want to take time especially to reward those students in non-exam years such as Years 1, 3, 4 and 5 in primary school and Years 7 and 8 in secondary school.
I want like to finish by wishing good luck to all those students in Year 6, Year 11 and Year 13 who are working hard towards their exams. Sincere thanks go to all those staff who are working tirelessly to support these students so that they can achieve their very best. Duncan Ramsey Director of Education
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Downham Market Academy does the double! Downham Market Academy (DMA) has been awarded the Silver Award for Enhanced Healthy Schools, just weeks after receiving the Bronze Award. The Silver Award was presented to the academy for the work that has been done to help young carers get the best out of their education and feel that they are able to confide in mentors and staff. Downham Market Academy is one of the first education centres in the area to achieve both awards. DMA supports young carers in nine elements using a whole academy approach, including; partnership with parents, carers and local communities, school culture and environment and giving students a voice.
In order to be awarded the Silver Award, the academy had to provide evidence that they support young carers in all aspects. Nadine Taylor, Head of House, said: “At DMA we are working on developing more of an understanding of the lives of young carers and making our students aware that they can talk to someone and that they understand, or at least try to. Listening is the most important thing. If a student arrives in the morning and is having a really bad day, then there is someone they can talk to.” Sixth former Danielle was made a young carers champion last year for DMA, attending and chairing young carers forums.
Nadine, Danielle & Reece
This year, her brother Reece has taken over the role. This network of support is one of the main reasons that DMA has been recognised as an Enhanced Healthy School. Danielle said: “It’s just fantastic to know the support is there and it’s available if you want to access it, it’s in no way pushed on to you. There is a stigma around young carers and it’s easy to see why people may not want a fuss made of the situation.”
Bugsy Malone at DMA The cast of Downham Market Academy presented their school production of Bugsy Malone in front of packed audiences from Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th February.
“splurge guns” that covered victims in cream – a real crowd pleaser.
Amy Chapman, drama teacher at DMA, was extremely proud of the students and said: “The The story tells of the rise of students worked incredibly Bugsy Malone and the battle hard, especially Jasmine - who for power between Fat Sam played Bugsy - as she had to and Dandy Dan. This gangster step in very last minute. We musical had a twist in its tale, hope everyone who attended where instead of firing real enjoyed the show!” bullets, the gangsters used CWA Academy Trust | Newsletter
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The main characters of Bugsy Malone
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Eastgate Academy performs in cultural concert at the Corn Exchange On Tuesday 8th March, 30 pupils from Eastgate Academy performed an African drum performance on stage at the Corn Exchange, as part of the ‘School’s Make Music 2016’ concert. The evening concert, organised by Trinity Rotary Club and supported by The Rotary Clubs of King’s Lynn and Priory, is now in its 19th year. Eastgate Academy played a short drum warm up and sang an African Folk Song ‘Tuli’ which lead into another drumming piece that included two African drum rhythms known as ‘Macru’ and Yankedi’. Other performances on the night included a sign language performance by Cherry Tree Academy, a musical performance from Clenchwarton Primary and
Eastgate Academy students perform at the Corn Exchange
songs from Reffley Community School choir among others. Eastgate Academy Principal Linda Hothersall said: “We really enjoy getting involved with events such as this. The children loved learning the drums and I am so proud of the group who performed.” Derek Oldfield, music coordinator for the concert, said: “The principle behind the concert is that it gives
World Book Day at Eastgate Academy
Reception Class dressed up for World Book Day
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youngsters a chance to perform in a professional environment. Over the years quite a few people who performed here as school children are now professional musicians. There is some fantastic talent out there and events like this help us discover that flair. You never know what you’ll discover from year to year.”
Eastgate students took part in World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March with costumes ranging from princesses to superheroes. Assistant Principal, Wendy Darrell, said: “Dressing up has been a fun way to learn about the childrens favourite story characters and to help talk about the books they read.” 4
KES Academy head over heels for Reece
Reece Emsley
Reece started gymnastics training at the age of eight and has competed in many regional and national acrobatics competitions, but says he made the decision in 2014 after competing at the National Acrobatics competition - to concentrate on tumbling.
Reece Emsley, a year 10 student at King Edward VII Academy, has been selected to Jody Walters, Head of Physical the British Gymnastic Tumbling Education at KES Academy, said: “We are extremely proud Performance Pathway. of Reece and his selection to Reece received his training the performance pathway. We letter last week and will know he will progress even begin training at the British further and hope to see him Gymnastics headquarters at on the podium one day! Reece Lilleshall National Centre, from is a superb role model and I hope this inspires others that April. if you work hard you will be recognised and rewarded.”
Reece said: “I don’t really know anyone else who attends Lilleshall but I am looking forward to getting started; it’s a great opportunity. I have three upcoming training weekends where I will stay in Lilleshall for the Saturday so I can continue training on the Sunday.” KES Academy will be sponsoring Reece’s training; however the academy is looking for sponsors for Reece’s kit and competition fees. If you believe you can help, please contact the academy on 01553 773606 or jody.walters@kesacademy. co.uk
Students’ spine chilling stories to be published Students at the King Edward VII Academy have shown their creative flare, dominating a country-wide writing competition.
encourage young people to engage in creative writing.
They have been working with schools, parents and young writers for over 20 years, KES Academy had 19 running poetry competitions competition winners across and holding creative writing a range of year groups in the workshops and supplying ‘Spine Chillers’ Young Writers’ resources to teachers. competition. These students will now have their work published Wendy Holland, Head of English in the Spine Chillers Norfolk said: “We are very proud of Edition, available to purchase our competition winners who from Saturday 30th April. have written some fantastically chilling stories and who now Young Writers aims to have the opportunity to see
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Competition winners from KES Academy
their work in print.”
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King’s Lynn Academy marks National Careers Week 2016 King’s Lynn Academy celebrated National Careers Week (NCW) with an array of thought-provoking assemblies and aspirational guest speakers. The aim of National Careers Week is to provide a focus on careers guidance and activities to support young people in their future career choices. By bringing together students, local employers and advisers via career-focused assemblies and ‘day in the life of’ talks, students learnt more about apprenticeships and engineering careers.
On Tuesday 8th March, more than 200 year 8 and 9 students heard from Luke Byron from the College of West Anglia (CWA) about the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities available in the area. On Thursday 10th March, 30 year 9 and 10 students heard from two representatives from BAE Systems, based at RAF Marham, who spoke about engineering apprenticeships and provided them with a valuable insight into the aerospace engineering industry.
Students receiving talk about apprenticeships
Ellen Mills, a year 10 student said: “The workshops were very interesting, and I have learnt new things. They presented the workshop effectively and covered most of the questions I had. I feel more confident and knowledgeable after attending the workshop.”
KLA student running for Youth Parliament Harvey Luker, a student at King’s Lynn Academy, is going head to head with Georgie Bunting, from Springwood High School, to be elected Youth Parliament representative for North West Norfolk.
It is anticipated thousands of young people will take to their mobiles to vote in this year’s Youth Parliament elections. In Norfolk, elections run throughout the week commencing 14th March, across 13 constituencies. Harvey Luker, said: “I would make a good member of youth parliament because I feel I can make a difference to the youth
community and really represent their views in a non-biased manner.
MYPs find out the issues that affect young people through a variety of ways such as using social media, talking to peers and going into schools within their community. Those elected as Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) will spend two years in office and will have the chance to debate in the House of Commons and work with local MPs and councillors.
Youth Parliament poster
County Council’s Managing Director Wendy Thomson on Tuesday 22nd March at County Hall. Information about all of the candidates is available on The winners will be announced the County Council’s website at a results event by Norfolk norfolk.gov.uk/youthparliament
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Nelson Academy helps Downham to bloom! Children from reception class at Nelson Academy joined with members of the Downham in Bloom team, on Wednesday 27 January, to plant daffodil and crocus bulbs on Clackclose Road.
Around 40 pupils helped plant the flowers on the green outside The Grange care home. The borough council supplied the bulbs and dug out the allocated areas. The team brought the packaging along to show children the picture of the flowers to explain the process.
Marion Ross, chairman of Downham in Bloom coordinated the event with Nelson Academy.
She said: “This is the second year that Nelson Academy has joined us to plant bulbs outside The Grange. It’s great to see the children so happy planting the bulbs and it’s lovely to think that when the flowers finally come up, the children will be able to say they made the area look like that.”
Marion Ross with pupils from Nelson Academy
World Book Day at Nelson Academy Pupils from Nelson Academy stepped into storyland to celebrate World Book Day. Mr Glenn Rossiter, Year 2 teacher and Key Stage 1 Assistant Head, said: “Days like today are a great opportunity to promote a love of reading. Children love coming to school in fancy dress and they can talk about their favourite stories in great detail. It’s lovely to see the look on the children’s faces, ready to share their books with each other.”
Year 2, Bristol Class, celebrate World Book Day
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Grand opening of Southery Academy Monday 1st March saw the grand opening of Southery Academy, the third primary to become part of the CWA Academy Trust. CWA principal and chief executive of the CWA Academy Trust, David Pomfret said: ‘I am delighted to officially welcome Southery Academy to the trust. This is an exciting time, especially for this small
community who show such passion for their local school. We look forward to raising the aspirations of the Southery pupils, as we have with our other two primary academies. Southery is the first academy to join the CWA Academy Trust that hadn’t previously been in ‘special measures’ and our aim to raise all of our academies to either ‘good’or ‘outstanding’.
Southery Principal Julian Goodrum said: “We are all really excited about moving into the next stage of the school development. The trust has already been offering valuable support and we look forward to working with the other academies in the trust. Our ambition is to provide the village of Southery with the outstanding academy it deserves.”
Southery Academy celebrates World Book Day Southery Academy also celebrated World Book Day and was bursting with fictional fun, with sightings of Where’s Wally, the Queen of Hearts and the Cat in the Hat to name
just a few characters in the express their love of reading in playground. a creative way. It is fantastic to see the children so enthusiastic Teacher, Miss Rose Ashby, for their favourite characters or said: “World Book Day is a books.” great chance for everyone to
Meerkats Class
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Wolves Class
Lions Class
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Our People
Coming soon to a PC, tablet or mobile phone near you… What is ‘Our People’? ‘Our People’ is a new Self Service tool that allows you to manage your personal information online. CIPHR is the company providing this software. It enables you to check the information the Trust holds on you, as required under the Data Protection Act, and ensure it is accurate. So no more forms to check and sign! You will be able to use the system to advise HR of any changes such as your address, phone numbers, emergency contacts etc. In addition, you can use Self Service to request holiday if you work full year. Your requests will automatically be sent to your line manager who can then deal with it online. The information in ‘Our People’ is linked directly to the central HR system. Changes made in ‘Our People’ will update the central HR system following any approvals that may need to take place. This can then be used to update payroll on required information such as address changes. There are some changes which you may make in ‘Our People’ which will require you to provide additional information. These include name changes or qualification gained where we will need a copy of the document for the file eg marriage certificate, qualification certificate.
What happens next? ‘Our People’ will be launched towards the end of April. As the system goes live, you will receive an email detailing the website address and how to log in to the system for the first time and the initial password you should use. You will be required to change this on first accessing the system. If you do not have an email address you will receive notification in writing – via your business manager. The HR team will provide a guidance document on how to navigate around the system and will have sessions at each academy which you can attend to familiarise yourself with the system. ‘Our People’ will be accessible from a PC either at work or at home and other mobile devices such as tablets and phones. Regards The HR Department (Rosy, Gemma, Jennie and Lois) If you have a query, it does not matter how big or small it is, contact us on 01553 611807. We are working with the leadership in each academy to provide the best support we can to you to help promote the achievement of our students.
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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