An Inspiration Trust Academy
We care, we share, we dare to do more
Diamond Academy is a two form entry academy in Thetford which caters for around 200 children from Year 3 to Year 6. The school is very clear in its mission to be one of the top-performing schools in the country.
We have high aspirations for our pupils, and offer a carefully sequenced academic curriculum to support high-quality learning and progress. This, alongside a package of pastoral support and SEND support, means that all of our pupils receive a high-quality of education, enjoy their time in school, and make excellent progress.
We also value the whole school experience, offering a variety of extra-curricular activities, from sports to debating and musical experiences.
We have a spacious building with specialist teaching areas and wonderful grounds complete with an excellent Forest Schools area. We have big plans to make the site even better and our pupils are actively feeding into our plans through the Smart Student Council.
Contents Supporting Pupils at Every Stage 4 Pastoral Care and Safeguarding 5 SEND Support 7 Our Curriculum 7 Our Student Council 8 Music Matters 10 Reading 13 Our House System 14 Trust-Wide Sports and Primary Olympiads 15 School Meals 16 Our Uniform 17 Inspiration Pathway 18 Admissions Process 19
Heather Denny, Principal
Welcome
Our Core Values
At Diamond Academy, our vision is to develop happy, well-rounded young people who are fully prepared to take the next steps in their school life.
Diamond Academy’s vision centres on achieving the very best results for our pupils, whilst providing them with a rich variety of extra-curricular activities, which ensure our pupils love coming to school. Our pupils enjoy their time in school, aim high, and are inspired to be the best they can be.
We work with our local community to ensure that our pupils are safe and thriving.
Our curriculum is based on three key principles:
- Subject Knowledge
- Vocabulary
- Social Equity.
Our culture focuses on three keywords:
- Inspire
- Aspire
- Achieve.
We ensure this happens through excellent teaching, an exciting and high-quality academic curriculum, and providing a vast array of activities and experiences to inspire our pupils. We want to help our pupils to build independence, character, and leadership skills, to develop into aspirational young people ready to take their next steps at the age of 11.
Diamond Academy - Where Everyone Can Shine.
Supporting Pupils at Every Stage
At Diamond Academy we recognise that moving from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 comes with its own set of changes and challenges. In order to support our pupils at each stage, our transition process is carefully thought out and pupils are well prepared for this.
Pupils transition to Diamond Academy from a variety of feeder schools across Thetford. We liaise with these schools, particularly our sister school, Queensway Infant Academy, to ensure that pupils have a smooth transition and are comfortable and ready for their next key stage before they start school in September.
We welcome pupils into the school on our transitions days in the summer term before they start with us in the September. This offers an opportunity for pupils to meet their peers and teachers, as well as get a feel for the layout of the school.
We work closely with Queensway Infant Academy over the academic year, providing a transition programme that includes cross curricular and key stage lessons, reading buddies, sports ambassadors and our staff work together to help our pupils build their understanding of the changes ahead.
When pupils are ready to transition to Key Stage 3, we work together with the local secondary schools, particularly our sister school, Thetford Academy, to ensure that our pupils are ready to make the next step on their learning journey and are feeling confident and comfortable about going to secondary school.
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Pastoral Care and Safeguarding
Safeguarding is our highest priority at Diamond Academy and it is everyone’s responsibility within our school to ensure our pupils are happy, healthy, and safe.
Our academy is an open and inclusive school, and aims to provide our pupils social, emotional and academic support. We want all of our pupils to be happy and safe in our school. We have a specialist team of mentors who are on hand at all times.
We aim to meet the needs of all pupils. We work closely with the Local Authority, health professionals and community organisations to find the most appropriate and effective support for our pupils.
To organise a meeting to discuss the ways in which we can support your child, please contact the school.
At Diamond Academy we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our young people. To achieve this, we ensure the continuous development and improvement of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding within our staff and volunteers.
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SEND Support
Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator leads on the support for pupils who have additional learning needs. We have an extensive team of teaching assistants who support our pupils in class to ensure they achieve their very best.
We have lots of routine and structure, and we also give praise and rewards.
We support our pupils to develop confidence and focus on what is important such as being a good friend, being polite and taking pride in their work.
For more detailed information, please read our SEND Information Report on our website.
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum opens doors for our pupils, encouraging them to be curious about the world around them and broadening their horizons.
We teach powerful knowledge so that our pupils can understand, access and influence our society, but we also teach critiques of this knowledge – to give our pupils an edge and show them that a canon is always up for debate.
We guide learning carefully to ensure that all of our pupils can access the curriculum and know it. We also challenge pupils to apply their thinking to complex problems to strengthen their intellectual resilience.
Reading, Writing and Mathematics are at the heart of our curriculum, but we also value subject disciplines, teaching Science, History, Geography, Religious Education, Computing, Art and Music as distinct subjects, particularly as our pupils progress through the school.
Whilst we have an ambitious curriculum, driven by our mission for social equity, we also aim for our curriculum to be very inclusive and our teachers plan carefully to ensure all of our pupils can access the curriculum, removing barriers to learning and achievement such as special educational needs.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust and share their knowledge-rich curriculum. We make sure our curriculum is inclusive and accessible for all of our pupils.
To find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school office or visit our website.
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Rights Respecting School Award
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights collaborating with schools in the UK.
UNICEF creates safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives
As a school, we have joined this initiative, delivering weekly lessons to our pupils on the conventions of rights of a child. These sessions help pupils develop oracy and vocabulary skills, and also help to embed values in daily school life and sets them up to lead happy, healthy lives. We hope to achieve the Bronze and then Silver status, recognising a school’s commitment and action in relation to championing the rights.
At Diamond Academy, we work very hard to support our pupils to understand, appreciate and uphold their own rights and that of other children, through discussions, assemblies, use of class charters, campaigns for change and a wide range of activities.
There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting School; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem. The difference that a Rights Respecting School makes goes beyond the school gates, making a positive impact on the whole community. Children;
- Are healthier and happier
- Feel safe
- Have better relationships
- Become active and involved in school life and the wider world.
Our Student Council
Our school has a Pupil Leadership Team led by our Head Pupils and consists of members from across each year group.
We have launched the Smart Schools Council which involves our pupils in weekly debates about various topics including school improvements and current affairs. We believe that pupil voice is extremely important and putting plans in place to encourage these forms of dialogue helps lead to change.
We also have a number of groups that our pupils can get involved in, including an Eco Action Team, Attendance Action Team and Charity Action Team. These work towards bringing about change within their school, in the local community and wider afield with support from our teachers.
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Music Matters at Diamond Academy
The Inspiration Trust strongly believes in the power of music to enhance lives, both through the sheer pleasure of listening to and enjoying music, and through the discipline of individual and group playing and singing. As part of our extended Arts and Culture Programme, pupils have the opportunity to take part in a variety of plays, concerts and music competitions.
As part of our commitment to music education, we also offer our students a range of peripatetic lessons with our highlyskilled and experienced team of visiting
Music Teachers - these include piano, singing and recorder lessons. Learning to play an instrument helps students to develop cognitive and social skills, expand language and motor skills, as well as help build determination and patience. Plus, it is fun!
Our pupils are encouraged to participate in numerous Trust-wide music competitions and Inspiration Trust has made a pledge to have a full orchestra or musical ensemble in every one of its schools by 2027.
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Every year our students get to take part in our Trust-wide Carol Service.
An annual tradition, the Carol Service sees pupils from all across our sister schools - primaries, secondaries and sixth forms - join forces to perform a series of traditional carols and hymns in the Winter Term.
Always a big calendar event, the Carol Service is a fantastic opportunity for our students and staff to showcase their brilliant musical capabilities, whether through playing instruments or singing, while getting to perform in an iconic location.
The Carol Service is a fun Christmas event that always makes for a lovely family evening.
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Learning Through Play
At Diamond Academy, we are proud to offer a sensory room to provide our pupils, particularly those with social integration disorder, autism and other special educational needs, a space to explore and develop their sensory skills.
Reading
At Diamond Academy we champion the importance of reading. As a school we encourage members of the community to volunteer at Diamond Academy (subject to DBS checks) to read with our pupils, helping them to develop a natural love of reading and support their academic progress.
We are proud to be one of 63 ‘Forest Schools’ in the UK. Forest School is a childcentred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk-taking.
Our pupils get to learn about and enjoy literature and poetry, with our curriculum being focused on high-quality literary texts. We have carefully planned our sequence of core texts to ensure our pupils encounter a range of themes and narrative perspectives as well as cultural and historical contexts.
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Our House System
Our House names reflect the name of our school and how each child is seen as a unique gem - Emerald, Amethyst, Sapphire and Topaz. Our House values were developed with staff, pupils and parents to show the values that are central to our community. In our assemblies, we learn about trust, respect, nurture and self-belief which are our four House Mottos.
Our House and reward systems are standardised so that all staff and pupils know what can be rewarded and what level of reward should be issued. This ensures that the reward system is fair and consistent for all.
Pupils earn House points when they are seen to be making the right choices, showing efforts, making achievements and being a good citizen of the school. A few examples of these are:
Sporting Activities
Academic challenges
Performing arts/creative opportunities
Debating or public speaking events
Reading challenges
Being a buddy for other pupils.
The House points are celebrated weekly in reward assemblies and House cups for House points, sporting achievements and star achievers are awarded annually in our endof-year celebrations.
Our House System is highly visible and evident to all our school community. Displays across the school celebrate our ethos and achievements.
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Taking Part in Trust-Wide Sports Competitions
At Inspiration Trust we pride ourselves on our sports provision which not only includes a nationally-recognised sports curriculum, but includes half-termly Trust-wide sports competitions.
These competitions include football, athletics and dodgeball, and sees us working in partnership with brilliant local organisations such as the UEA Sportspark and The Nest in order to offer our students the very best facilities in which to compete. The atmosphere at these events is always described as electric!
Through taking part in sporting competitions our students are given the chance to shine outside of the classroom and learn vital skills such as the importance of team work, determination, patience and perseverance.
It is also proven that taking part in sport encourages higher standards of achievement, improves cognitive function and improves overall wellbeing through having fun and making friendships.
Whilst outstanding sports provision is often overlooked within the state sector, all of us at Diamond Academy believe it is a core part of what every pupil should expect from their time in education and we are proud to deliver that.
Primary Olympiads
All pupils have the opportunity to be involved in our Trust-wide Olympiads. These see pupils compete in competitions within their favourite subjects, allowing them to shine in areas where they are gifted.
One of our strategic aims is to ensure each and every child fulfils their potential. We believe this potential is not only reached through academic success, but through wider opportunities such as competitive programmes.
Our Olympiads cover everything from Maths and Modern Foreign Languages through to Geography and Computer Science. They help children learn about teamwork and morals, and offer a fun, alternative way to explore the subjects they love.
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School Meals
Our school canteen provides a healthy, balanced menu, or you can send your child with a balanced, healthy packed lunch.
We ask that parents complete the free school meals application form if in receipt of benefits as this adds several thousand pounds funding per child to the money we have to spend on your child’s education.
Pupils may also bring fruit or vegetables to school for a breaktime snack.
Please do not send your child with crisps or chocolate bars for breaktime.
Our school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm.
Whole school assemblies are held throughout the week and focus on a range of topics. Certificates are also given out to celebrate pupil achievements and reward positive behaviour, and class prizes are given out in the summer.
Our Uniform
We believe that school uniform promotes the ethos of our school, and helps set an appropriate tone for education.
We want pupils at Diamond Academy to take immense pride in their dress, behaviour and learning.
Our uniform includes:
Academy green school jumper or cardigan with the Diamond Academy logo
White shirt
Academy tie
Black tailored trousers, shorts or skirts
School shoes should be black and leather.
Optional Uniform Items:
Pupils can wear green checked summer dresses with white socks in the summer term.
Non-branded items can be purchased from local supermarkets and shops examples include Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Marks & Spencers, and Morrisons as well as online platforms such as Amazon or eBay.
Ties can only be purchased from the school office at a cost of £5.50.
Jumpers and cardigans can be ordered online from Price and Buckland. To find out more, visit our website.
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Inspiration Pathway
Diamond Academy is the sister school of Thetford Academy, which is also part of Inspiration Trust’s family of schools.
We will be working closely with its Principal on the transition of our pupils to Thetford Academy to facilitate taster days. Similarly to Thetford Academy, Diamond Academy teaches its pupils a follow-on curriculum that prepares them for their bright futures.
Thetford Academy is a school at the academic and cultural heart of our community. Teaching students a curriculum that provides them with a thorough understanding of the world in which we live, an appreciation of what is amazing and beautiful, and preparation for the challenges we face.
Students are encouraged to try a range of cultural pursuits in sports, crafts and the creative arts, enabling them to develop a set of values and habits that allow them to contribute to the community in Thetford, and beyond.
Students are taught to be polite, considerate, hardworking and disciplined, alongside excellent academic and pastoral support. Thetford Academy is a large school with a ‘small-school’ ethos where each child is supported and valued as an individual.
Students at Thetford Academy study a rich curriculum covering a range of academic disciplines, creative and performing arts, and technical and vocational subjects.
All of these subjects are taught by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers who work hard to bring their subject to life.
Extra-curricular activities are a key part of life at Thetford Academy and, through our Enrichment Programme, all students participate in clubs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays enabling our students to pursue their passions and interests.
In addition to their PE lessons, all students can choose to participate in sports clubs, including football, rugby, netball, basketball, table tennis and more.
Performing arts provision is very strong at Thetford Academy. In addition to curriculum lessons, all students have the opportunity to join performing arts clubs including choirs, bands, instrumental groups, cheerleading, dance and school productions.
In addition to sports and performing arts, the school facilitates a wide array of hobbies including archaeology, chess, gardening, mindfulness and sign language to name a few. There is a club that will be of interest to everyone.
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The Admissions Process
When does a child start junior school?
The transfer to junior school is for children in their last year at an infant school (aged 7+ on 1 September). To find out the deadline to apply, visit our website.
Applying for a place at junior school
To apply for a place at our junior school, please fill in an application form online via our website.
Alternatively, you can email the Admissions Team via admissions@norfolk.gov.uk with the following essential information:
- Your name
- Child’s name
- Child’s date of birth
- Child’s address
- Your telephone number and your preference(s).
You may choose up to three school preferences and include reasons for your preference, although these reasons can only be considered if they support one of the over-subscription criteria for a school.
If you do not live in Norfolk you must apply to your home local authority, even if you want to apply for a Norfolk school. Your application will be treated as late and therefore have a lower priority than applications received on time.
Decisions
If you applied online, decisions will be available in spring on the school admissions website. If you completed a paper application form, we will send you a letter in spring, by second-class post, telling you the decision. To find out the timetable of decision dates for this year, visit our website.
We are part of Inspiration Trust, twice ranked the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress
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A134 A1066 London Road Norwich Road To A11 To A11 To Bury St Edmunds DIamond Academy Thetford Train Station CRO DIA Tel: 01842 752387 Email: office@diamondacademy.org.uk @DiamondAcademy @Diamond1Academy Stay Connected Follow Diamond Academy to keep up to date with our latest news and events. www.diamondacademy.org.uk Diamond Academy Hillary Road Thetford IP24 3DP
