CWA Academy Trust Newsletter - Issue One

Newsletter

Issue One

Message from the Chief Executive Meet the Core Team News from all academies Education update

Chief Executive’s Welcome

The primary purpose of the newsletter is to help build and support a strong staff team ethos and awareness of developments taking place across the trust.

CWA Academy Trust grew rapidly from 1 to 5 academies between July 2013 and September 2014 and is now responsible for the education of over 4000 pupils from nursery to sixth form ages. The Trust employs around 660 staff and has a turnover in the region of £22m.

I am delighted to be able to to announce that the Minister of State for Education has granted approval for Southery to become an academy school under the sponsorship of the CWA Academy Trust, with a provisional opening date of 1 April 2016. Southery will be the sixth school to convert to academy status as a member of the CWA Academy Trust and will join Nelson Academy in Downham Market and Eastgate Academy in King’s Lynn to become the third primary academy in the Trust family.

During the last year we have strengthened our core team (staff employed centrally rather than in one of the academies), building additional capacity to support and challenge our academy teams in the areas of finance; HR; curriculum development, teaching learning & assessment and achievement. In this inaugural edition of the newsletter we introduce the core team to you and over the coming months we will raise awareness about them and their work.

In this and subsequent editions of the newsletter we also plan to provide important trust-wide updates and share good news stories from each of our academies.

This summer we improved outcomes for our learners trust wide as can be seen from the summary: 2014 2015 KS1 R/W/M Average Points Score

13.8

15.7

Yr 1 Phonics 60% 77% KS2 R/W/M Average Points Score

27.8

27.7

KS4 % 5+A*-C EnMa

39%

44%

KS4 Disadvantaged % 5+A*-C EnMa

15%

27%

KS1 & 2 significant improv’s in progress

We are seeing improvement across our academies and I’d like to thank all staff for supporting our strategic ambition to raise aspirations, progress and attainment. The Trust Board have set stretching improvement targets and I would like us to build more rapid transformation, changing lives through learning for all our students.

Best wishes for a successful year.

David Pomfret Chief Executive

Meet the Core Team

Our core team consists of Duncan Ramsey Consultant Principal, Rosy Lord - HR Manager, Alan Evans - Company Secretary, Finance and Operations Director and last but not least Alan Fletcher - Director of Achievement.

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Athletics runs in the family for DMA duo Charlie (13) and Alfie (12) Williams started to run crosscountry at primary school but it was DMA that really grasped the boys’ enthusiasm for athletics. After Charlie won the ‘outstanding achievement’ award at DMA for athletics, it was recommended that he joined a club.

Charlie represented Norfolk in the U15 boys 60m run and competed in the age group championships in Sheffield, where he set a club record.

He went on to become county champion in the 300m event.

Alfie discovered that throwing events were his area of expertise, becoming county champion in the U13’s shot put. He recorded 8.49m in his shot put competition earlier

Charlie and Alfie Williams

Paul Southam, head of PE at this month, to win the South of DMA said: “Well done to both England U13’s Championships. Alfie and Charlie for all of their achievements this athletics He is now South of England season; their hard work and U13’s champion and county dedication is really paying off.” champion for his age group.

Blooming marvellous work in the community

Students at DMA have been rewarded for their hard work on the Downham in Bloom project, with a trip to Great Hornsey Performance and Training Academy.

The trip, funded by Great Northern Railway, was organised as a thank you to the 11 students who helped transform Downham Market Train Station over the summer months.

The students, made up of a mix of year groups, experienced a ride in the train simulator used to teach new drivers, learnt basic rail safety and even got a ride in the front of the train on their return journey back to the academy. Some students have since expressed an interest in becoming train drivers as a direct result of their time spent at the performance academy.

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Jack Harris, a head of house at DMA who has helped oversee the students’ progress, said: “These students volunteered their time to the Downham in Bloom project at the station with no expectation of being rewarded for their help, so it’s brilliant to see them enjoy a day out such as this as a thank you for their dedication to the project.”

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Claire’s made it BIG Claire Gosling, Teaching assistant at Eastgate Academy featured in the College of West Anglia’s recent advertising on billboards, posters, newspaper adverts, petrol pumps and even had her voice recorded to be included in KLFM adverts.

Claire was chosen to feature in the campaign because she has successfully completed the Foundation Degree (FdA) Early Years, Playwork and Education and plans on continuing her education by topping up to the full Bachelor’s degree.

Claire said “the experience was enjoyable and I felt honoured to be involved in the campaign. I was most impressed to hear myself on

Amazing results… again!

Once again Eastgate Academy has announced some amazing results, showing a dramatic turnaround since they joined the CWA Academy Trust.

For the second year running, children scored way above the national average with the average child in 2015 finishing almost a year ahead of other children across the country.

Almost every child reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths, whilst six per cent achieved the higher level in reading and 44 per cent achieved the higher level in maths.

the radio and it has caused rather a stir in my family - who are thrilled!”

Linda Hothersall, Principal said: “I am so pleased for the staff and students here at Eastgate Academy. Our hard work throughout the year is reflected in these fantastic results and we hope to have an equally good year for 2015/16.”

Banner displayed outside the academy once results were announced

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KES Academy gets seafood savvy Students from King Edward VII Academy got to experience a sea fish workshop with Billingsgate Seafood Training School on Thursday 15th October, at the College of West Anglia.

As a celebration of National Seafood Week, Adam Whittle, a Fish Trade Specialist from Billingsgate Seafood Training School, offered mongering demonstrations, followed by a taste-testing session where they got to try seafood that many had not tried before, including sea bass and calamari.

Claire Seymour, food technology teacher at KES Academy, said: “The workshop was very informative and

the group really enjoyed the tasting. I think we have all learnt something!”

KES students’ cake sale raises almost £2000 Students at the King Edward VII Academy are happy to share their fundraising total for Macmillan Cancer Support, raising £1922.

Students baked cakes of all shapes and sizes for senior prefects and sixth form staff to sell at break time, over lunch and after school, on Friday 2 October, 2015.

The sale took over the academy hall and was swarmed with students donating generously

throughout the day.

Molly Hemeter, head girl at KES Academy, said: “The support we have had for this

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event has been absolutely immense, both from students and staff buying and donating cake. “

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Jack goes the extra mile Jack Watts recently proved he could go the extra mile when he cycled beyond his original target of 75 miles to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and ended up completing 90!

The cycle ride took just over 5 hours to complete and Jack raised a total of £670.

The ride started and finished at Jack’s house in East Winch and they visited Downham Market, Littleport and Mildenhall on their journey.

Jack’s family is affected by the disease so when his head of house Debbie Germaney suggested the Alzheimer’s Society as a charity the house

could raise money for this year Jack jumped at the opportunity to get involved.

Debbie said: “I suggested the Alzheimer’s Society as a charity because I’ve personally seen how it has affected my family and also, through children like Jack, how it affects the families concerned.

Myself and all the children in Vancouver house are so proud of Jack, he’s raised a fantastic amount.”

Jacky Phipps, volunteer fundraising ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, came along to KLA to collect the cheque from Jack.

KLA Students benefit from careers event 30 Year 9 students participated in a “How are the subjects I’m studying going to help me in my future?” careers session, learning about the world of work from the Institute of Grocery Distributors (IGD).

The sessions, set up by Future First, were part of a national programme called ‘Feeding Britain’s Future’, which is funded by the government and IGD. The aims of the programme are to provide students with an insight into the world of work, an insight into the food and consumer goods industry and to support students in the transition into the world of work.

brilliant, with 100% of students saying that they either ‘now understand’ or ‘now understand a lot better’ how their skills and subjects can prepare them for the world of work. Students made the most of having the volunteers there and made a wonderful impression.”

Petrina De Gouttes from Future First said: “Feedback from the event has been CWA Academy Trust | Newsletter

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Over £700 raised for Macmillan Nelson Academy recently raised more than £700 for Macmillan Cancer Support when they joined in with the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Nelson Academy annually supports Macmillan Cancer Care and their coffee morning is always well supported by staff, parents and children.

This morning was no exception as staff presented their homebaked cakes for parents to buy and manned the raffle, which was bursting with prizes waiting to be won.

Rebecca Westall, Vice Principal at Nelson Academy, said: “Our coffee morning always proves to be an enjoyable event with a jovial atmosphere. We would like to

thank all who supported the event, lots of fun was had by all and we raised way over £700 for Macmillan Cancer Care.”

Harvest Festival celebrations Pupils from Nelson Academy in Downham Market held their annual Harvest Festival service this week, showing their support to the local community with charitable donations, collected by pupils with the help of parents and guardians.

The whole academy attended Downham Market Methodist Chapel on Thursday 15 October, armed with dry-food cupboard donations for the local food bank collection point.

their children sing a variety of harvest songs and learn about where their food comes from.

Parents, friends and locals joined the youngsters for the services and enjoyed watching

Rachel Taylor, who organised the event, said: “Our Harvest Festival services happen every

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year for all children within the academy. It offers an opportunity for children to join together at the local Methodist church, make meaningful links with the local community and provides a valuable donation to the local food bank.”

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Duncan Ramsey

During 17 years as a primary headteacher Duncan led two very different schools to outstanding Ofsted judgements. Leading an average-sized village primary and a larger school in London have helped him develop the skills and experience needed to provide high quality support to academies within the Trust.

He is a qualified lead inspector and received his Doctorate in 2003 for developing training programmes to support excellent performance in experienced teachers.

Education Update

During this term many of us have been coming to terms with the new Ofsted Framework. I led my first inspection since it changed in October and found it refreshing to look at the progress of students from their different starting points. This was combined with a strong emphasis on the progress and achievement of disadvantaged students. Inspectors have been asked to look in detail at progress throughout the academy and this means a much greater interest in K.S 3 in secondary and Years 1, 3, 4 and 5 in Primary.

This is a great opportunity for us in CWA Academy Trust because it means we can get credit for good or better teaching and learning throughout the academy and not just during exam years.

The focus on progress from different starting points means that Academies should be given credit for supporting those students who have lower starting points to make good progress.

The introduction of progress 8 in secondary emphasises the value of every student doing well, which fits in well with our Trust-wide vision.

On the CWA Academy Trust website it says ‘We aim to inspire students and motivate them to fulfil their innate potential, producing excellence in academic and personal performance through raising aspiration, improving engagement, the take-up of learning opportunities and providing appropriate accessible pathways into further learning and work.’ This links closely to the introduction of the CWA Academy Trust Diploma

Duncan is currently working with all the academies in the Trust on their respective Challenge and Support Cycles.

He is also supporting academies to develop the CWA Diploma as well as delivering National College training for middle and senior leaders in West Norfolk for the first time.

in every Trust academy. This diploma values and celebrates the work of every student in every year group and is a way of supporting our aim for good progress in every year from age 4 to 18.

We have been working hard in each of the 5 Academies to develop the concept of a CWA Academy Trust Academic Diploma further. This would apply to all students up to the beginning of their GCSE courses. We want to value every student for their work and achievement in every year of their school life. Students will receive a diploma if they make the progress they should from their different starting points within any one year. They will receive a diploma with merit if they make progress and achieve age related expectations and they will receive a diploma with distinction if they make progress and show that they can apply their age related knowledge in depth.

We have also developed a Wider Engagement Diploma which is distinctive to each academy.

This celebrates the independent culture and ethos of each academy and sets out aspects of the extended curriculum that is valued.

Duncan Ramsey Consultant Principal

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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