Inspire Magazine Spring/Summer 2024

INSPIRE MAGAZINE

02

Proudly

Welcome

Welcome to the second issue of Inspire Magazine, in which we highlight some of the fantastic activities and achievements of the Trust and our family of schools over the spring and summer terms.

We recently announced we’d been successful in our bid to open a new Free School on the outskirts of Norwich. We are now delighted to be able to say that Cringleford Prep, named after consultation with the local community, will welcome pupils in the new academic year, with Carmel Greene as founding Principal. Ms Greene adds to our team of outstanding leaders. With her ‘commitment to nurturing confidence and encouraging curiosity’, the children of Cringleford are set to receive an exceptional learning experience.

Our Trust has also celebrated an award of funding from the Department of Education for the Norwich Area Writing Project. Through this important initiative, our education team aims to boost writing standards in Norwich schools. The team’s work goes beyond a focus on improving

reading within our own schools alone, but across Key Stage 2 pupils in 20 city primaries.

Going hand-in-hand with a focus on writing, our commitment to improving reading standards is one of our key priorities this year. By embedding a culture of reading throughout our academies, which includes the provision of targeted intervention to those students who need additional support, we are confident we will meet our ambitious target of ensuring 90% of our pupils achieve or exceed their chronological reading age by 2025/26.

Other initiatives that showcase our brilliant staff’s spirit of innovation and collaboration includes our Leadership Shadowing Scheme, which has seen 32 pairs benefit from sharing each other’s expertise and insights since it was launched last year. Likewise, we’re incredibly proud of the success of the first year of partnering with the Royal Institution, inspiring the next generation of computer scientists through an exciting masterclass series.

The summer months also provided the perfect opportunity to reward students for their hard work throughout the year, with prom events. Set in a range of spectacular venues, our students came together to celebrate — and in many cases, provide first-rate food and entertainment, in an impressive display of talent.

We hope you enjoy reading the magazine, which gives a taster of just some of what is being achieved for students, and the impact on the wider community, through positive collaboration with our pupils, committed staff and supportive parents, carers, partners and stakeholders.

Best,

Gareth Stevens, CEO, Inspiration Trust

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TRUST STORIES

In our second issue we are showcasing the exciting happenings from across our trust, including the success of our Leadership Shadowing Scheme, a wonderful ‘Good’ Ofsted result, and an update on our new free school in Cringleford, set to open in September 2024. We also cover our aim to raise reading standards and all the amazing initiatives and lovely stories in-between.

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SHINING A SPOTLIGHT

Here we shine a spotlight on two initiatives close to our heart — our sports provision and trust-wide sport competitions, as well as our fantastic initiatives in music, that sees us championing the importance of music education within a child’s life.

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SCHOOL STORIES

Celebrating all the wonderful things happening across our schools; from performances, theatre productions and concerts through to receiving awards, raising money for charity and competing in various sports events across the county.

Joy for Wayland Academy as it’s rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted

Wayland Academy, alongside the Watton community, is celebrating the news of the school being awarded a rating of ‘Good’ by Ofsted, its first inspection since joining the Trust.

Since joining the Trust in 2020, the Academy has gone from strength-to-strength, improving its offer and outcomes, and achieving one of the best Progress 8 scores in the country. Progress 8 is a benchmark to show the average academic performance of a secondary school against eight government-approved subjects.

The Academy prides itself on enabling its students to have the courage they need to succeed, through its focus on consistency, leading Ofsted to note:

“The culture of the school is defined by high expectations and underpinned by clear structures. From lining up at the end of lunch, to working quietly on ‘starter activities’, pupils know what to expect.”

Principal of Wayland Academy, Glen Allott said:

“We were extremely excited to welcome Ofsted to Wayland in July and share with them the high expectations we have of our pupils, our clear and consistent routines, the improvements in our curriculum, attainment, and the broad range of activities we offer.

This September is my tenth year as Principal at Wayland and personally this is a wonderful way to mark that milestone. We are always proud of our pupils and appreciative of the support families give us. Through this, and the incredible work of leaders, teachers, and support staff, significant improvements have been made since our last inspection in 2019.”

New school in Cringleford is taking shape

Carmel Greene was appointed as the founding principal of Cringleford Prep in July 2023 ahead of the new school’s opening in September 2024. Carmel started out her career as a Geography teacher before moving into leadership roles across schools in London. After a relocation to Norfolk, she has been a committed Director of Inspiration Teaching School Hub, supporting and providing crucial professional development (National Professional Qualifications) to early career teachers to further develop their skills in the classroom.

Ms Greene has said about her appointment:

“I have always been passionate about the importance of education and its role in ensuring that all children have the chance to fulfil their potential.

I am delighted to have been appointed Principal of our new school in Cringleford and hugely excited by the opportunity to develop something truly exceptional.

Carmel Greene, Principal, Cringleford Prep

I am committed to developing curious, capable and confident children who value and enjoy their time at school, and who leave us with a breadth and depth of knowledge of the world and of themselves.”

Cringleford Prep was named after a public consultation at the end of July 2023, chosen to reflect the ethos and vision of the school, and identifying it as being able to provide fantastic opportunities in arts, sports and outdoor learning with access to a highly academic curriculum for all pupils.

The logo for Cringleford Prep was inspired by the village’s rich medieval history and combines a shield design with a monogram of the school’s initials. Drawing on tradition, the logo interprets heraldry and crest design in a modern format, embellished with flower decor and swirly motifs — linking the school to nature and its surroundings.

Preparations for the new free school, Cringleford Prep, are well underway! With a new name, principal, building and branding, the school is getting ready to open in September 2024. ” “

Major renovations for house systems

This year, we remodelled the house systems in our family of schools, ensuring that each system was rooted in the school’s culture and formed a valuable part of academy life.

Each school’s house system was developed with the individual school in mind, such as drawing on the unique local personalities or location when deciding who or what the houses will represent. We are extremely proud of what we have created and the values attached – embodying all that we stand for and serving as the vehicle in which our culture is lived through each day.

The development of a strong culture is a vital part of our schools. We believe that pupils need to be provided with opportunities to develop as young people, to gain a sense of community, and to experience and share success with others.

House systems encourage pupil development through access to a wide range of experiences and motivates students to work together to share ideas, allowing them to learn from each other.

Offering our students the opportunity to participate in numerous exciting intertrust events and competitions, house systems promote and inspire teamwork, while creating a unique sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself. Each house has a House Leader and every pupil, alongside nearly all staff members, belongs to a house.

Pictured above: house system badges for Thetford Academy, consisting of Angles, Danes, Iceni and Normans Houses. Thetford Academy Houses are named after groups of people who settled in the Thetford region over the centuries, with each house having a set of values.

Leadership Shadowing Scheme success

Inspiration Trust places great importance on and invests in the professional development of its teachers and leaders — ensuring they have access to a range of internal and external training.

In the 2022/23 academic year, Inspiration Teaching School Hub launched the Leadership Shadowing Scheme, with great success.

In its first year, the opportunity to shadow a leader from the Trust was offered to participants in the Early Career Framework (ECF), as well as those doing National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).

The scheme matched leaders with participants based on their career pathway interests. Once matched, the 32 pairs engaged in shadowing activities over the course of the year, including online meetings to set goals, followed by up to three visits to the leader’s school.

A wide range of leadership positions was represented in the scheme — from curriculum leads to subject specialist leads, to Assistant and Vice Principals; and senior staff working in the central education team and Teaching School Hub.

Participants were asked to record their experiences with a reflective log to be able to track their progress against their goals.

It was clear from the participant feedback, that the vast majority of both leaders and ‘shadows’ found the scheme highly beneficial with 90% agreeing or strongly agreeing. 73% of participants felt it clarified leadership pathways and 82% said they met their goal.

” “

The scheme helped me understand that a lot more goes on behind the scenes than I first thought, it has given me a belief in myself that I can achieve.

Alison Wilson, participant, Thetford Academy

Inspiration Teaching School Hub — programme updates

The Inspiration Teaching School Hub provides programmes to support the ‘golden thread’ of teacher development.

Initial Teacher Training (ITT)

The Trust and National Institute of Teaching have formed an exciting new partnership for Initial Teacher Training. In 2023/24, 24 trainees were recruited across the primary and secondary phase, with many being assigned placements at Inspiration Trust schools.

Early Careers Framework (ECF)

The Hub’s remit continues to grow, now offering Appropriate Body services (quality assurance during teacher training) and will be supporting more than 100 Early Career Teachers (ECTs) across Norfolk and Suffolk.

In July, we said goodbye to our first cohort of teachers, who’d been engaged with the programme over the two years since September 2021. Our programme received excellent feedback from participants, with the coaching, conferences and clinics all helping support the teachers through their induction period.

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)

We have delivered the full range of NPQs and are now working with the National Institute of Teaching and Best Practice Network to facilitate both specialist and leadership NPQs. 100% of participants in our first cohort passed their final assessments.

Tantalising taster trip to the computer science multiverse

For Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form (SIN) Outreach, the summer term marked the triumphant end to the first year of delivering an engaging and exciting programme to students across Norfolk.

Following the success of its prolific GCSE Further Maths programme, the Maths School partnered with the Royal Institution to deliver a series of masterclasses across the year. The Secondary Masterclass series brought together students from 14 Norfolk schools to take part in sessions led by speakers from Sir Isaac Newton, Royal Institution, and Norwich School. Students were able to explore topics which often wouldn’t be possible in a traditional setting, feeding a curiosity for maths beyond the classroom.

At the first STEM Challenge Day in early June, teams of Year 9 students from across the county were invited to take part in a variety of activities that exposed them to the application of STEM subjects in the real world. Participants encountered ‘Lego Mindstorm Robots’ and electric vehicles, applying their knowledge of sensors, torque and weight distribution to compete against each other. In their groups, students also encountered ‘E-fit profiling’ and ‘Medical Diagnostics’, allowing them to explore and resolve the challenges faced by police and medical professionals with the support of UEA student volunteers. The winning

team, composed of students from Great Yarmouth Charter and Wayland Academies, were invited to partake in a national final in London.

June also marked the beginning of the first SIN Social Hackathon, hosted by our resident computer science expert, Dr Trudy Coleman, at Hewett Academy. Students from local schools including Norwich Primary, Diamond, and Hewett Academies, were tasked with designing and developing prototype solutions to a variety of social issues with the support of current or alumni computing students from Sir Isaac Newton.

Volunteers from Norfolk Constabulary and UEA supported a ‘careers treasure hunt’ and offered inspiring keynote speeches on cybersecurity and cybercrime, acting as a catalyst for future careers in STEM. The day concluded with awards given by nor(Dev), UEA and the Inspiration Trust, with Diamond Academy winning in both the ‘Innovation’ and ‘Teamwork’ categories.

Dr Trudy Coleman, computer science teacher, and Outreach Lead, Sir Isaac Newton:

The summer term was a whirlwind of excitement and opportunity for the outreach and careers team and pupils at Sir Isaac Newton

Sixth Form (SIN) in Norwich. Pupils took part in a myriad of activities and experiences.

Seven Year 12 students got to dive head first into the endless possibilities the world of technology offers at Arm — one of the globe’s technology giants whose innovations touch the lives of more than 80% of the world’s population, from our smart phones to tablets, our smart TVs to our electric vehicles.

An additional ten students had their horizons expanded by an enlightening cyber security talk by the distinguished Security Consultant and Software Engineer Sam Carter, who has a decade of experience at BT and is a consultant to the UK government’s Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network.

The Computer Science departments from across Inspiration Trust united for an awe-

inspiring journey to the UEA’s School of Computing Sciences. A group of 18 students delved into a day-in-the-life of a computer scientist, complete with captivating lectures and hands-on programming workshops.

Another term highlight was the Speed Networking Computer Science Career event, where 40 Year 12 students had the privilege of networking with accomplished professionals from a wide array of industries including Hewlett-Packard, Aviva, BetterUp, Small Impact Games, Mott Macdonald, and Earlham Institute.

Finally, the Outreach team, including three SIN students, ran a hands-on workshop for 20 Year 4 pupils. Together, they created intricate circuits using ZIP LEDs and harnessed the power of coding.

Providing the training that schools can count on

With the aim of inspiring the next generation of mathematicians and scientists, our Outreach Team came together to put on a stellar space-themed event that was open to students across all of Norfolk.

Angles Maths Hub currently works with teachers in more than 400 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk to support maths teaching through the delivery of high quality continuous professional development (CPD) programmes.

The team of more than 50 local maths leaders who make up the Hub team, came together in the summer with training from Rosemary Russell — a leading expert on parental engagement with maths and the development of mathematical resilience.

This area of focus was chosen to meet the need which has arisen from the Covid pandemic. ‘Maths anxiety’ — a feeling of tension and apprehension that interferes with maths performance ability — is prevalent in children and adults worldwide.

Studies have shown that levels of maths anxiety rose during the pandemic when children were home-schooled.

• 10% of pupils aged 8 to 13 are believed to suffer from maths anxiety

• 36% of people aged between 15 and 24 express anxiety about maths

• 20% of parents report that they suffer from arithmophobia, a fear of maths

Working alongside Rosemary Russell, the maths leaders were able to consider a variety of techniques that can be used to help teachers involve parents more widely.

” “

It is so important to involve parents to support their child’s learning, this session gave me some great ideas.

Parent participant

Raising reading standards at the top of our agenda

At Inspiration Trust, we are committed to improving the standard of reading across our schools to ensure that pupils can fully access our curriculum. Our reading strategy incorporates five strands that work in tandem to realise our goal — 90% of our pupils achieving or exceeding their chronological reading age by 2025/26.

Support programmes for targeted pupils

Every pupil who needs it has access to targeted intervention programmes to support them in closing the gap to their chronological reading age. Specialist staff provide support to grow reading confidence and fluency.

Vocabulary instruction in every subject

Throughout each subject, key specialist vocabulary is explicitly taught as part of the curriculum, allowing pupils to be able to access and use academic terminology.

Form-time fiction reading

Pupils in Years 7-10 are supported with the Form-Time Fiction Programme. Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) themes are reflected in texts, which are carefully chosen for each age-group. This helps to improve comprehension and fluency by listening to teachers reading aloud.

Inspiration Canon and pupil reading challenge

Pupils are encouraged to take part in our Inspiration Trust Reading Canon, which includes a wide range of literature from across all areas of the curriculum. This forms part of our ongoing reading challenge competitions and promotes reading essential texts outside of pupils’ existing tastes.

Wider reading culture

It is important that reading is embedded in the wider culture of our academies. Pupils are encouraged to ‘go beyond the classroom’ and learn more about the subjects they are interested in. Every school benefits from an effective library, headed by an expert librarian, who give book recommendations, enrichment and opportunities to pupils.

Integrating these strands into our academies has created a culture and love of reading that is present in classrooms across Norfolk and North Suffolk. Promoting reading has lasting positive effects on pupils’ ability to access the curriculum and engage fully with teaching – enabling them to achieve their very best and reach their goals.

Education Team spearheads boost to writing in Norwich

The Trust’s education team has secured a bid for funding from the Department of Education to improve standards of writing in Norwich primary schools — a true testament to its success.

The money will fund the Norwich Area Writing Project. The project, to be delivered to Key Stage 2 pupils in 20 city primary schools, uses an innovative ‘communities of practice’ model to deliver training focused around curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.

Each of the focus schools have received a review from an independent school improvement consultant. The information gathered from these reviews has then been used to design a bespoke Continuous Professional Development programme tailored precisely to the individual needs of the school.

Rooted in best practice, the project calls on nationally recognised experts — Christine Counsell, Daisy Christodoulou and Alex Quigley — to deliver workshops, and involves a partnership with the ‘No More Marking’ assessment programme.

Early feedback from the initial ‘communities of practice’ has been extremely positive, and we are excited to see the impact the project has on writing standards across the city over the next 18 months.

Gresham’s transitions trip for Trust’s Great Yarmouth students

Gresham’s School has recently given Inspiration Trust pupils living in Great Yarmouth the opportunity to spend a three-night transitional residential trip in its Woodland Activity Centre.

The aim of the trip was to bring pupils from Inspiration Trust’s Great Yarmouth primary schools together ahead of them transitioning up to Great Yarmouth Charter Academy.

Gresham’s School organised the trip for Pupil Premium students from Cobholm and Great Yarmouth Primary Academies in order to connect them with nature and enjoy wholesome outdoor challenges. Pupils from Years 6, 7 and 8 took part in an awayfrom-home experience on the idyllic NorthNorfolk coast.

Students experienced a wide-range of woodland activities, including a highropes course, climbing the second highest freestanding climbing wall in Europe, learning survival skills and participating in campfire cooking workshops with homemade pizza. The fun did not stop there though – pupils had the opportunity to visit Holkham Hall Estate, enjoy swimming sessions in the indoor heated pool and experience a heritage steam-train excursion to Sheringham beach, complete with a traditional fish and chip dinner.

We would like to thank Gresham’s School for offering up its grounds and facilities to us, our pupils had a wonderful time. It was just what they needed before setting off on their next school adventure.

Trust’s tech team scores another seamless transformation

Following on from the successful network upgrades across all schools last year, the ICT Team has recently migrated thousands of mailboxes from Google to Microsoft 365 — propelling the Trust’s communication infrastructure to new heights.

This monumental task involved understanding users’ needs, matching accounts across platforms, providing training opportunities — while offering unwavering support throughout the process.

The team left no stone unturned in the planning phase: identifying workflows, preferences, and requirements of staff and business functions. This set the stage for a seamless migration experience that minimised disruption during and after the migration.

The team worked around the clock, matching accounts between both platforms, ensuring no crucial information was lost in the process. The expertise and commitment to a smooth transition were evident as 99.75% of the 12,000+ mailboxes successfully migrated. (The primary reason for the few that were missed was the remote working circumstances of some users.)

The success lay in providing clear communications, quality training and guidance on the Microsoft platform.

Realising change can be challenging, and the team invested significant effort in empowering users with the knowledge and skills to confidently navigate the new environment through training sessions, workshops, and easy-to-access resources.

The team offered unwavering support throughout — offering around-the-clock assistance, addressing concerns, and resolving issues promptly. The dedication to providing a seamless experience created a sense of reassurance among users — ensuring a smooth transition and minimising any potential impact on daily operations.

As with any significant and ambitious project, a few challenges were encountered along the way. However, the team’s proactive approach ensured the challenges were easily tackled.

The successful migration is a testament to the Trust’s commitment to progress and innovation. By embracing change and better equipping its people, the Trust fortified its communication infrastructure and positioned itself for future growth and collaboration.

English teacher development at Inspiration Trust

It’s an exciting time to be a member of the English subject community at Inspiration Trust! Our Director of Secondary English, Dena Eden explains why.

Professional development this year offers the opportunity for teachers to work with professors from the University of East Anglia (UEA) — developing their classroom practice, while nurturing their passion for the subject and contributing to powerful conversations around literature and decolonisation.

As a Trust, our professional development model is evidence-informed, sustainable and reflective. Subject communities have six sessions allocated in the academic year, time spent with fellow subject experts. Sessions one, three and five provide input on the area being developed, and two, four and six are used as a reflective opportunity to complete tasks, or explore impact from the previous session.

This professional development assigns time and space to have powerful discussions and make significant improvements. This means the area of focus for the academic year has been carefully thought-through.

As a subject community, we identified the need for more dialogic teaching in our classrooms — learning through ongoing discussion between the teacher and students, rather than a more one-way teacher-led presentation approach. We are committed to nurturing an empowering, even joyful, atmosphere when enacting our academically-rigorous curriculum. To do this, we need to be sure our teachers are given an opportunity to share their passion for the subject and to explore their ideas in depth — as colleagues and students themselves — before sharing this passion and learning with the young people in front of them.

Our partnership with The English Association and The University of East Anglia has been invaluable in facilitating this — we have teachers excited about their professional development and students benefitting not only from a wider knowledge base but also the enthusiasm of their teachers.

We have two major projects running this year: one studying ‘decolonisation in literature’, and one looking at the power of ‘pedagogic literary narration’.

Decolonising literature

This strand of professional development is possible due to the reciprocal relationship established with the support of the English Association. A number of literature professors from UEA deliver sessions to our teachers on the texts we teach. They explore the distinction between diversification and decolonisation, allow teachers the space to ask questions, and provide reading material for our teachers to take away. Already we have seen the impact of the first session with one of our classroom teachers creating a resource for Jane Eyre.

Pedagogic literary narration

This strand of professional development is an opportunity for teachers to pay close attention to their own narration when reading texts and extracts in class.

The research from Professor John Gordon at UEA is looking to collect voice recordings of teachers reading aloud and identify where teachers pause, ask questions, emphasise certain words etc.

The power of this on colleagues’ classroom practice has already been significant with teachers being more consciously effective in their questioning and the thinking-time given to students before contributing.

The promise for this project is huge. We aim to create a bank of resources we can use for training purposes and to share our findings in a conference at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. This approach can then be rolled out to other subjects, and phases, if proven successful at improving classroom practice.

Clearly, the collaboration with the wider subject community is opening doors for our teachers. They are able to bring the wider world into their own classrooms, further their own learning by carrying out small research cycles, and most importantly, ignite their love for English again. This passion for English and the chance to work alongside experts outside of the Trust is invaluable to our professional and personal development as a subject community. We are so excited to see where the year takes us!

Estates

Across the summer months, the Estates team has worked to complete a number of projects across the Inspiration Trust portfolio of schools. Improvements ranging from window replacements to a new roof ensure that school sites are updated for student safety, energy efficiency and general condition improvements.

At Stradbroke Primary Academy, new doubleglazed UPVC windows were installed on the iconic front of the building. These windows will provide better heat retention and insulation, leading to lower energy consumption for the school. New blinds were also installed to provide protection from the sun.

Norwich Primary Academy had roof works completed to add additional insulation to a large section of the building which will help heat retention of the school. This will keep the temperature regulated better in the school and lower energy consumption.

Modernising work has taken place at East Point Academy including external cladding and decoration to raise the image of the academy. New double-glazed UPVC windows have also been installed which will provide substantial heat retention benefits, resulting in a lower energy consumption to achieve the same internal temperatures.

Thetford Academy has had a new canopy installed outside to improve capacity at break and lunchtime, giving students more space to enjoy their breaktimes.

Showcasing students’ artistic talent

The summer provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent in our schools across the Trust.

Parents, friends and guardians were invited to exhibitions of GCSE and A-level artworks and, it’s safe to say, astounded by the quality and range of creativity on show. Many of the young artists have ambitions to study art at the top universities in the country, which we have no doubt they will achieve.

Inspiration Trust pupils celebrate in style

Classes of 2023 across Norfolk and north Suffolk celebrated their achievements, in their own special ways, with summer proms at a variety of spectacular venues. Arriving in some dazzling vehicles, pupils took the opportunity to enjoy evenings full of food, dancing and laughter.

Hethersett and Wayland Academies both held their prom celebrations at the historic Dunston Hall, where students enjoyed a sit-down buffet dinner, dancing, as well as a photo-booth and games. Emma Kirby, Head of Year 11 at Hethersett, said “It was wonderful to see so many students enjoying prom night. A great way to celebrate the end of their time at the Academy.”

Cromer, East Point and Great Yarmouth Charter Academies and Jane Austen College also celebrated in some unique

and beautiful venues, holding their proms at Back to the Garden in Letheringsett, Rookery Park Golf Club, Great Yarmouth Racecourse and Octagon Barn — a Grade II listed building nestled in the heart of the Norfolk countryside.

Cromer Academy had a very special evening, not only having an apt ‘enchanted garden’ theme to match the stunning garden setting, but also live entertainment in the form of Sticks & Picks — the rock band that won the Inspiration Trust Battle of the Bands competition back in February. East Point Academy students arrived in an impressive set of vehicles on the night, including classy sports cars, an oldfashioned bus, a golf buggy, a horse and cart and two full size tractors!

Staff and pupils at East Point didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits, while students at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy had a wonderful evening at the racecourse, enjoying the vast outdoor space and celebrating their achievements.

Head of Year 11, Victoria Savage, said: “We are so proud of our Year 11s. They have worked very hard towards their GCSEs and deserved their prom celebrations. It has been a privilege to watch them develop into such fine young adults. Only sunshine fell on the evening, which lit the racecourse well to give pupils a stunning backdrop to celebrate their achievements and dance the night away.”

King Edward VII Academy also held its prom in an amazing venue; its own beautiful main hall, which is a yearly tradition. Pupils arrived in everything from classic cars to fire engines, and one pupil attended as a fancydress panda. Hewett Academy hosted a mini festival-style event in its wonderful grounds, culminating in a fantastic fireworks display that gave the Year 11s the perfect send-off.

After a year of hard work, students of Thetford Academy celebrated their prom in style. Over the course of the year, the school’s Prefects ran a range of activities to fundraise for the event, with cake sales being a regular feature of school lunchtime. As always, the students were fantastic during the evening and showed all the excellent qualities that we have now come to expect of Year 11 students at the school.

Our sixth forms didn’t miss out on the fun either — Thomas Paine had a wonderful end-of-year celebration held at the school. Pupils produced the food for the cabaret dining, as well as the evening’s entertainment with a fantastic set performed by the music students. After two years of hard work, Thomas Paine students are all now heading off to their bright futures, taking many precious memories with them.

A whopping 212 students enjoyed the Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form masqueradethemed prom, the biggest attendance yet! Students enjoyed freshly-made pizza and an endless supply of delicious ice-cream, in a fabulous night organised by the Social Club and Year 13s.

Pride in our schools

Making sure pupils feel comfortable and welcome is one of Inspiration Trust’s key aims. The summer months of June and July provide superb opportunities to celebrate diversity, with Pride month and Norwich Pride, supported across the region.

Schools across the Trust created an exciting host of fun events and activities — decking out classrooms and halls with flags, rainbow and glitter hair and face-painting, colourful clothing days and story-sharing assemblies.

Staff and sixth formers of Jane Austen College treated colleagues and friends to beautiful bakes — cakes and biscuits, which were sold to raise money for global nonprofit organisation Rainbow Railroad, which works to support LGBTQI+ people facing persecution.

Key Stage 1 pupils of Charles Darwin Primary Academy got to feed their love of reading with a trip to Norwich bookshop Book Bugs and Dragon Tales where author

Robert Tregoning, alongside illustrator Stef Murphy, read from their book Out of the Blue, a celebration of being yourself.

Diamond Academy students immersed themselves in drama and dance culture with a series of workshops lead by Protein Dance.

It’s important for our school to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all young people.

Joe Edwards-Gill, Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts

In the true spirit of inclusion, even furry friends got a chance to participate at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form’s Pride Day. Pets in Pride, one of the day’s themes, saw staff dressing pooches in feathers and rainbows. One proud pup got to sport rainbow legwarmers — making him the envy of the school.

East Point and Great Yarmouth Charter Academies have provided all-round supportive spaces for LGBTQI+ students and allies by establishing Pride clubs, which meet weekly.

L GBTQ - P RIDE @

EASTPOIN T ACADEMY

” “

Having a safe and welcoming space like the reading cafe and Pride club has made a huge difference in my life. I feel like I can be myself and not have to hide who I am.

Pupil at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy

The final sports events have played out across the Trust, culminating in Champion’s Day

Inspiration Trust sporting events are not just fantastic fun for participating pupils, but are also a source of pride, providing a positive and supportive environment for students from different academies and backgrounds to interact.

Promoting the value of determination, pupils are encouraged to try their best, not give up when things get tough and work as a team — important for their personal development.

Trust serves up its first tennis tournament the competition was a fantastic display of sportsmanship, teamwork Secondary students got a taste of their first tennis tournament at a top venue, Cromer Tennis Club.

The grass courts, ranked third in the whole of the UK in 2022, with only Wimbledon and Queens ahead, were a truly special location for the 130 Year 7 to 10 players who all rose to the occasion with superb enthusiasm and skill.

Secondary academies slam-dunk at Sportspark

The UEA Sportspark played host to a basketball tournament, priming a new passion for the sport among our secondary students.

It was an action-packed event, with a total of 288 games played, with every team playing eight matches and each academy having the chance to match up against one another.

Inspiring the next generation of Olympians

More than 240 young athletes (Years 3 to 6) from each of the Trust’s six Primary Academies came together at The Wellesley Recreation Ground in Great Yarmouth to take part and cheer on peers in javelin, long-jump, sprints and relays.

Paul Wayman, Whole Trust Sports Coordinator described the atmosphere at the events as “fantastic” with all pupils being a “credit to their schools.”

‘Net-working’ proves the key to success

Sports leaders at Hethersett Academy and the student ambassadors from Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form did a sterling job to ensure the smoothrunning of the netball tournament for secondaries. They were joined by Norfolk Netball Association, with six qualified umpires helping create a more elite, competitive atmosphere to the matches. This was no small feat, as 360 keen pupils took part across the two-day event.

It was a closely fought competition, with the Year 7 leaderboard in particular being extremely close. The overall score came down to the number of goals for each team — and ended in a single goal difference.

‘Back of the net’ for intratrust football competition

The Trust’s football tournament for primaries was an exhilarating event, which pupils said made them feel like professional footballers as they had the exciting experience of playing in the top-notch facility GOALS, in Norwich.

Inspiration Trust secondary academies became champions in athletics tournament

On Friday 30 June, students from all nine Inspiration Trust secondaries came together to compete in the Champions’ Day Athletics Meet held at the UEA Sportspark. The event brought together students from across Years 7-10, totalling more than 650 — the highest number of participants in a Trust sports event yet.

As one of the biggest sports events in the Trust calendar, this was a chance for pupils to show off their athletics skills, use a high-quality outdoor venue, and cheer their peers on to the finish line with gusto. The students competed in several different track and field events during the day. Track events ranged from 100m to 800m sprints, culminating in the 4 x 100m relay races. Long and high jump, javelin, shot-put and discus made up the field events. Every pupil competed admirably, showing great sporting spirit and determination.

There were more than 100 races completed and 11 Trust track records and 16 field records broken. This was not only an opportunity for those already interested in athletics to demonstrate their talents, but also gave pupils the opportunity to experience what a competition might entail and practise their track and field skills in a professional environment. The aim was also to encourage more students to take part in sports activities and athletics, both in and outside of a school environment.

A big ‘thank you’ goes to the Norfolk Athletics and Sports Leaders, who facilitated the smooth running of the track events, and the PE teachers and staff from our schools involved in the day.

Inspiration Trust prides itself on its sports provision which not only includes a nationally-recognised curriculum, but includes half-termly Trust-wide competitions. Through taking part in sporting competitions, students are given the chance to shine outside of the classroom and learn key skills, such as the importance of teamwork, determination, patience and perseverance. It is also proven that taking part in physical activity encourages higher standards of achievement, improves cognitive function and overall wellbeing through having fun and making friendships.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were given to the winning pupils. Students from Great Yarmouth Charter Academy were crowned overall champions, winning an impressive three out of four of the year group competitions. The day concluded with an awards ceremony to show recognition to the participants, not just for their athletic achievements, but also their demonstration of positive sporting values throughout.

” “

Champions’ Day is such an apt name for this event. Pupils acted with respect and dignity throughout the day.

Paul Wayman, Inspiration Trust Sports Coordinator

Inspiration Trust named as ‘champion centre’ for Trinity College London

In May, we celebrated some extremely exciting news as we were selected as a Trinity Champion Centre for 2023-2024 by Trinity College London, one of only 22 chosen music and drama centres in the UK!

With a passion for making music accessible to everyone, Inspiration Trust continually champions the importance of music education within a child’s life and wholeheartedly believes that all pupils, no matter their circumstances, should have the opportunity to learn, play and perform music.

Alongside an already brilliant music curriculum, we are proud to provide dedicated music tuition for pupils through the hiring of an in-house team of visiting music teachers, while also heavilysubsidising the cost to students taking up instruments. In the last year alone, the number of pupils taking up extra-curricular music lessons doubled to more than 600, of which 200 receive free tuition — enabling even more students the opportunity to choose from a variety of orchestral instruments to learn.

John Stephens, Director of Music, Inspiration Trust says:

“I am delighted to be part of a trust that ensures the importance of music is recognised, and continues to open doors for pupils to get involved.

DID YOU KNOW?

We have entered 46 pupils for Trinity College London music exams so far this year — more than twice as many last year.

It is wonderful to be selected as a Champion Centre for Trinity College London. I’m sure this is not only for our successful delivery of Trinity’s excellent musical qualifications, but also for our commitment to continued professional development, inclusive opportunities, investment in musical equipment and training, competitions and performances. It’s a great next step in our collaboration with Trinity.”

Already working as a partner with Trinity College, we support schools within and beyond the Inspiration Trust to provide a high-quality music education, both in curricular and extra-curricular settings and we continue to champion music education in the region.

Musical training, with Trinity’s theory embedded into it, is offered to all teachers, as well as those on the Trust’s teaching training courses. We also have a growing number of pupils preparing for graded examinations in classical and jazz, and rock and pop subjects.

Businesses and organisations that are chosen as Trinity Champion Centres inspire existing and potential centres by sharing their practice and advocating for the qualifications in their communities and further afield.

DID YOU KNOW?

During Live Music Week, over 3,000 students enjoyed performances from our Visiting Music Teachers.

Pupils hit the high notes in inaugural piano competition

Back in March, nearly 40 pupils from our primaries, secondaries and sixth forms took to the stage to showcase their talents in playing piano, in our first competition to focus on the instrument. The second musical event of the year, the piano competition was an opportunity for avid players across the Trust to impress the adjudicators and gain more experience performing in front of an audience.

All performances were extremely impressive, with pupils at a variety of different grades competing throughout the day. As one of the most popular instruments to learn in our schools, there was an excellent range of songs and techniques. Pupil performances were split into those currently working on their graded exams (Graded Exam Repertoire), and an ‘Open Classes’ category for those pupils who wished to gain more experience in a competitive environment. The music performed in both categories were split into music grades, with a winner from each grade.

Winning entries were decided by a panel of music professionals, consisting of our very own Director of Music, John Stephens, and Jen Flatman, Business Development Manager, from Trinity College London.

Thetford Academy sets the tone in annual music competition

Earlier in the year, pupils and staff from across our primary, secondary and sixth forms had the opportunity to submit their performances for our annual music competition. An online event, entries were submitted digitally with over 60 pupils and staff sharing their solo, duet, and ensemble pieces for consideration. From classical to pop, it was wonderful to see such a variety of different genres and instruments performed, including electric and acoustic guitar, viola, singing, piano, violin, saxophone, drums, trumpet, flute and clarinet!

All entries were fantastic and played with confidence. We would like to congratulate all entrants in the competition, for the skills displayed, and the impressive amount of practice and hard work. Thetford Academy and its adjoining Thomas Paine Sixth Form nearly had a clean sweep, winning six of eight categories across their entries.

Everyone should be immensely proud of their achievements, and we hope to see more next year!

Stephen Christmas from Trinity College London said:

“Thank you so much to all the participants... it has been a real honour to adjudicate for you today. It has been absolutely brilliant seeing so many different types of performances. Congratulations to all of the winners!”

DID YOU KNOW?

In this year’s Carol Service, there were nearly 900 attendees, more than double that of last year.

Exciting educational excursions

Cromer Academy students took part in a wealth of activities in early July as part of the personal development programme offered at the end of the academic year. Students were able to select either two activity days or a four-day activity of their choice.

Wild Wales

Students and staff enjoyed four days in Wales, based in a YHA hostel at the base of Mount Snowdon in Snowdonia National Park. The 27 students and five staff were given the opportunity to overcome fears and show true determination as they completed the fastest zip-wire in the world and scaled Snowdon, with the aid of four experienced mountain guides.

Outdoor adrenaline experience

On day one, students visited Hautbois Activity centre to try their hands at abseiling, paddleboarding and archery — fantastic pursuits for developing resilience and confidence. The second day was a trip to Go Ape at Thetford Forest for a treetop obstacle course, ending with ziplining back down to the forest floor. In the afternoon, students played team-building games and enjoyed icecreams out in the sun.

Paris

Enjoying a spectacular view of the city from alongside the Sacré-Cœur, posing for caricature portraits in Montmartre and dining at a restaurant on the Place du Tertre were first on the itinerary for a group of students on their trip to Paris. Next, was a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral to learn about the renovations to restore this key landmark to its former glory after the fire several years ago. No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower, as well marvelling at the works of Monet at the Orangerie Museum and heading towards the Louvre. The exciting excursion finished with a sightseeing coach tour via the Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe.

Paving the pathway to future careers

Following SATs, there were further opportunities and experiences on offer aimed to prepare children in Year 6 for life beyond school.

Pupils worked with Into University as part of its ‘raising aspirations’ programme, attending workshops focussed on the pathway to higher education, with the team engaging the pupils to think about their future careers and aspirations.

Linking with aims to raise aspiration at Great Yarmouth Primary Academy, it is important to promote the concept of higher education at an early age. Throughout the school this has been introduced with Year 3 and 4 pupils also working with Into University to explore various career options.

A number of children have enjoyed these sessions so much that they now attend the Into University after-school support club, as well as the school holiday workshop programme.

Pupils that took part in the workshops said: “From taking part in the workshop I learnt to work as a team with people I don’t normally work with.”

“The best thing about the programme was building a bridge because it improved my leadership and communication skills.”

Following the workshops a pupil survey was completed:

• 72% of children reported that they could work better in a team

• 63% of pupils said they had increased their confidence.

Poetry leads pupils to discover personal connection to the past

From 16- 19 June, the Jane Austen College English department took a group of Year 9 students to visit Ypres and the Somme Battlefields.

Students were extremely lucky to be accompanied by a Norfolk-based battlefields tour-guide who planned their itinerary to ensure the students could visit a range of World War I (WWI) sites with important historic and local relevance.

At Jane Austen College, students study power and conflict poetry towards the end of Year 9, which coincided with the trip. The AQA literature poetry anthology includes a number of poems written during, or inspired by, WWI and the aim of the trip was to enrich the students contextual understanding of the poems they would be writing about in their GCSEs.

The tour guide worked to match the poems to the sites visited and staff and students read different poems aloud at each of the sites. The experience was particularly moving, as the words seemed to take on

even more meaning as the group stood together in the shadow of battles from our relatively recent history.

During the course of the trip, a number of the students and staff were able to explore their own family connections, visiting the battlefields their great-grandfathers fought on and the graveyards in which they were commemorated. In an extremely moving moment, students laid a wreath in the Menin Gate ceremony, which has been a daily act of remembrance since the end of the war.

Numerous visitors to the site commented on what a credit the Jane Austen College students were to the school and nation in terms of their respectful attitude. The students were solemn and felt a deep sense of connection to those commemorated at the site, many of whom had not been much older than them.

Students get the classic Italy experience

In March, A-Level students from Years 12 and 13 set off with the Classics department on a week-long trip to Italy.

The trip began with three jam-packed days in Rome, during which the students soaked up Roman culture (with plenty of ice-cream) and stood in awe at countless ancient sites, churches and works of art.

Highlights included exploring the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum, wandering in the footsteps of Julius Ceasar on Palatine Hill, imagining themselves as spectators in the mighty Colosseum, and examining Augustus’ Ara Pacis in minute detail.

Students then spent a day exploring the ancient city of Pompeii, which was buried in volcanic ash in 79AD. Staff and students

alike had heard of Pompeii as small children, harbouring a fascination for the ancient ruins ever since. Archaeological excavations have uncovered two-thirds of the city so far. The students commented on how amazing it was to walk the ancient roads and explore streets that suggest an ancient society, with elegant homes, shops, food stores, temples, markets, chemists, amphitheatres, and gymnasiums.

The trip was full of fantastic experiences and memories that are sure to leave a lasting impression on the students for many years to come.

Charles ‘Darw-in’ Wonderland

In July, Year 6 pupils performed a musical version of Alice in Wonderland.

This was the first ever Year 6 stage production at Charles Darwin Primary and it was a huge success; showcasing one of the academy’s three pillars – creative arts. The pupils had studied Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll in the autumn term and brought it to life with energy, exceptional acting and singing.

The production was first performed to other pupils in school, before two nights where parents, carers and family members came along to support their children. The feedback from parents was fantastic. They were so proud of their children, the effort they had put in, and how it ensured they ended the year on a successful note. One grandparent even commented, “This was the best school production we have ever seen.”

Every member of Year 6 was involved. The acting was exceptional and there were stand out musical solo performances that drew huge rounds of applause from the audience. Not only was the acting and singing fantastic, but pupils also ensured backstage, that the scene transitions, sound and lighting were well-managed for a smooth performance. Pupils were involved at every step of the way, trained in how to use sound and lighting equipment, adding to the professionalism of the performance.

On top of this, pupils worked hard alongside staff for months to create incredible visual art for the stage to transform the school hall into a theatre space. Some pupils even volunteered their time after school as part of the school’s elective programme to work on stage scenery. In addition, pupils created costumes such as the playing cards for other pupils – it was a real team effort. A special thank you also goes to Town Close school for lending additional outfits.

Musical maestros in the making

In June, Hethersett Academy’s first cohort of Music Scholars took to the stage to showcase their talents and present their progress since their first concert in January.

Among the Year 7 cohort were singers and piano, trumpet, flute, drums, violin, cello and clarinet musicians. The audience was given a taste of what each of the students had learnt individually, through short solo presentations; as well getting the chance to see them perform as groups, with choir and recorder performances and a song by the school’s rock band.

One audience member said:

“They are all so talented, but it’s their camaraderie that is the most enjoyable to watch.”

Principal of Hethersett Academy, Jane Diver said it was:

“An evening of musical prowess with every performer demonstrating both exceptional progress and aptitude. We are delighted that the hard work of students and staff is paying off and as such we are able to present what can only be described as a showcase of the highest level. Well done to all!”

Assistant Principal of Ethos and Enrichment and Head of Music, Tom Hilton said:

“We were delighted to be able to present this opportunity for our first ever cohort of Year 7 Music Scholars to display, to parents and the wider Trust community, their progress, and the benefits our generouslyfunded provision offers.”

Going that extra mile for Mind

Two East Point Academy students – Faith Adams and Rhianna Fox, participated in a 10K fun-run in Norwich in aid of Mind.

Mind, a charity which works to connect individuals and communities to support those experiencing mental health problems, is important to both students. To raise money and awareness for the charity, Faith and Rhianna made posters for local shops and leaflets to put in letter-boxes. After a month of fundraising, the day of the run arrived, seeing the pair full of excitement and adrenaline, mixed with some pre-run nerves.

Faith and Rhianna showed amazing resilience throughout the course, which included climbing over inflatable obstacles and army-crawling along the muddy floor – it was safe to say they had some ups and downs, but friends and family were there to cheer them along the way. They managed to raise more than £550 for the charity.

The school and Trust are very proud of Faith and Rhianna’s achievements, with both demonstrating East Point Academy values of aspiration, independence, respect, and resilience.

Setting the standard in science

The school received the highly-coveted Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) in May through its commitment to improving and creating impactful science teaching over the last year, with fantastic results achieved across the school.

PSQM is a school improvement programme for primary science, which provides professional development for new and experienced subject leaders each year. It enables confident, knowledgeable, reflective leadership, which results in an improvement in the way in which science is planned and taught across the whole school.

Led by the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust, achieving this accreditation is an incredible accomplishment which sets about changing the way the subject is taught and encouraging participation and interest in the subject. Committing to this award has been valuable in identifying how to improve teaching, and harnessing specialist knowledge to ensure the best possible quality of learning.

Ms Armstrong, Science Lead at Norwich Primary Academy said:

“The children at Norwich Primary Academy love science. They are very curious and

always have lots of questions. The Primary Science Quality Mark means that the pupils have an opportunity to explore science in a way that is meaningful to them. They not only acquire knowledge and learn scientific vocabulary but they also learn about science in a hands-on exploratory way.”

Associate Professor Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said:

“There was never a more important time for primary children to have a high-quality science education.

The profile and quality of science in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”

Linnets taken under the wing at King’s Lynn FC

Year 7 to 10 students from King

Edward VII Academy (KES) took part in a girls-only football event with Jodie Hopkins, player and Team Captain at King’s Lynn Town Ladies Football Club.

The students were given one-on-one coaching by Jodie, and took part in fun team games, focused paired games and received guidance on shooting. The day ended with a football tournament in which the girls could put their newly learned skills to the test.

Having played football since she was four years old and having previously played for Norwich Ladies and Peterborough Northern Star, Jodie has extensive football experience. She is also an active committee member and recently started working as Community Manager for Linnets on a programme, which aims to develop the community feeling within the local and surrounding areas.

King Edward VII Academy provides a broad range of opportunities for its students to excel and the school’s partnership with King’s Lynn Town Football Club aspires to provide many more opportunities for girls to take up the sport.

Jodie felt that the session was incredibly valuable for the students, saying: “I don’t think I can put it into words as it really was overwhelming to see so many girls taking part in this experience: first-time

players, to girls that have lots of experience in playing. It was amazing to see everyone from Year 7 to 10 all working together throughout the day, smiling and having fun while playing football. It really is only the beginning for girl’s football at KES! It was an honour to be asked to be involved in such a special programme and I look forward to continuing this next year.”

Plans to provide more opportunities to encourage girls to take up and continue to play football are currently in the works. Jodie said:

“We have many more plans in the pipeline! We already run a girls-only football programme on a Tuesday evening but over the next few years, we are looking to mirror what we have for the boys and generate a girls-only football academy pathway from under fives to under 23 and into the ladies’ team. There are lots of exciting plans up and coming. We will definitely be back to work with all the girls from KES again.”

Under 18’s football team crowned county champions

The under 18’s football team won the county championships 3-2 in a brilliant final game against Wymondham College.

This win, which took place at The Walks in front of a crowd of 126 spectators, was the third victory for a KES sports team this year.

After a positive start, KES began to take a foothold in the Cowes Cup final, resulting in KES taking a lead after 24 minutes of gameplay. A strong run from Charlie Royle led to the ball falling to Callum Howe who struck an unstoppable 30 yard thunderbolt into the top left hand corner of the goal. However, this did not dishearten Wymondham who forced KES into a defensive mistake giving them an equaliser after 31 minutes.

In the second half, KES increased the intensity and had chances of adding a fourth goal through Charlie Royle, Cain Gell

and Tyler Reeve but a resolute Wymondham continued to keep KES at bay, preventing KES from increasing their lead. The final whistle at a score of 3-2, with KES Academy winning the Cowes Cup for the second year running.

Team Manager, Danny Gay said:

“I think everyone here today could see how lucky we are at KES to work in partnership with Kings Lynn FC to help develop the next generation of players. We played some lovely football at times and two of those goals were worthy of any cup final. I’m proud of these boys who, for some, have been with KES for seven years.”

A gem of a performance

Recently, Year 3 pupils at Diamond Academy have been immersing themselves in drama and dance culture, working alongside Drake Primary School.

On 28 March, pupils went to watch a production of The Little Prince – the world famous story of a young prince who visits various planets, including earth, addressing themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss – by Protein Dance at The Carnegie and Guildhall complex. They were joined by other Year 3 pupils from Drake Primary School, travelling to the school to take part in a series of dance, drama and art workshops together lead by Protein Dance.

Drake Primary School is an Artsmark Platinum school and Diamond Academy hopes to work with them on many more creative opportunities in the future – so watch this space!

” “

We have made lots of new friends and have enjoyed learning all about dance and acting, it has been so much fun.

Student, Diamond Academy

Coastal concerts and local connections

As part of its Create Yarmouth Strategy, the BBC Concert Orchestra took up a three-year residency in Great Yarmouth, starting in 2022, to ‘raise aspirations’ and encourage primaryaged pupils to get creative with music.

Year 5 pupils had the opportunity to take part in a workshop organised by the BBC Concert Orchestra with a number of other local schools earlier this year, which ended with an outstanding performance at the local performing arts and circus venue, the Drill House. Pupils not only had the chance to listen to the full BBC Concert Orchestra perform but take an active role in the concert behind the scenes.

To provide more enriching opportunities for our pupils outside the classroom, the Cobholm Passport was born in September 2022. In its 2nd year running, pupils from all years across the school had the chance to experience different activities and learn more about the curriculum in hands-on, exciting environments across Norfolk.

As part of this effort, all pupils got to take part in an end-of-year trip tailored to their year group in a fun-filled learning experience. Pupils in Year 1 went to visit Wroxham Barns to learn about sheep, including how the farm takes care of newborn lambs so they are safe and happy. Year 4 and Reception pupils visited the Time and Tide Museum to learn more about two exciting subjects – Roman Britain and the ever-changing coastal landscape. Year 4 experienced a Roman-themed day, developing their understanding of the Iceni tribe of East Anglia, led by Queen Boudicca. Reception pupils learnt more about the seaside, and how the coast has changed over the years.

“Under the sea”

Over three nights in June, students from Years 7 to 10 took part in an outstanding musical performance of the well-known Disney story, The Little Mermaid.

The performances took place in Thetford Academy’s auditorium, with the students wowing audiences of 260 people, and receiving a standing ovation each night.

Students were given a taste of what it’s like to perform in a professional production, from the initial audition, through to rehearsals and the final performances. The production was accompanied by professional lighting and sound with staff and student technicians on hand.

Those that weren’t in the cast were able to be involved in all the behind-the-scenes aspects including set and scenerybuilding, stage management and assisting with costumes, hair and make-up. The production was an exceptional group effort, including the time and skills donated by the art teachers and students who created the underwater set, superb props and elaborate costumes, including octopus headdresses, sparkling mermaid tails and ornate crab claws.

The production was also an excellent opportunity for Thetford Academy to continue to build on its valuable partnerships, working closely with Echo Youth Theatre, a Norwich-based Youth Theatre committed to supporting young people in performing arts.

The group, who put on a production of The Little Mermaid last year, were delighted to be able to lend a hand with Thetford Academy’s production, offering support with costumes and the set. In turn, Thetford Academy music department and Thetford

Music Project leant them a plethora of musical instruments for their recent production of School of Rock.

Principal of Thetford Academy, Michael Fordham said:

“I am delighted that we have had such a fantastic performance of The Little Mermaid here this week. Our production is the result of countless hours of rehearsals since the autumn term. Not only is it a result of the wonderful performances by our students, but also of those who worked on set design, managed the backstage and support frontof-house.”

No Paine no gain in gold expeditions

At Thetford Academy’s Award Evening, Sophie W was awarded her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) from Jenny Simpson, the Operations Officer for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Sophie also received an invitation to a celebration event at the palace, which will be attended by a member of the Royal Family.

On this outstanding achievement, which involves volunteering for a period of 18 months, developing a high-level of skill in orienteering, and planning and executing a four-day expedition in the Lake District, Sophie said:

“Our expedition was amazing! We spent three nights and four days in assessment — although we camped for 5 nights — hiking up mountains and wild camping at Styhead Tarn.

We had a difficult expedition due to extreme weather, with rain and wind causing us to leave our camp very early in the morning and hike down into the valley in pouring rain. Despite this (maybe because of this) our expedition was an amazing experience. We camped, filtered water, walked — surrounded by sheep — hiked by ourselves and cooked outside under the stars.”

As well as completing the Gold DofE Award, Sophie has recently finished A-Levels in maths, biology and chemistry at Thomas

Paine. Sophie will continue her studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, however her plans for the near future also include using her skills to go on more expeditions. She said:

“I hope to study physiotherapy at university in September and join the hiking societies. I plan to travel more in the future. I’m really excited to go camping and hiking again, and I already have a trip to the Lake District planned. From all the preparation, experience and skills from our expeditions, I feel fully equipped to explore new places by myself, as well as travel and hike safely.”

Sophie developed numerous skills through the DofE award, including orienteering, effective planning and problem solving, as well as the ability to adapt to new situations. Sophie also gained skills in leadership, though the expeditions and volunteering, achieving the ASDAN and the Girlguiding Young Leadership qualifications.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Manager at Thetford Academy, Clair Barry said:

“Sophie has been the dream DofE participant. She is the epitome of the reason that we accept direct entrants onto the award as despite not having completed Bronze or Silver, she is the first one of your Gold participants to complete her award and we couldn’t be more proud of her.”

A right royal endorsement for Hewett Academy artist

In July, Hewett Academy was thrilled that student, Ben Varghese’s artwork ‘Red House’, chosen for this year’s Young Artists’ Summer Show also won the ‘Most Inspiring’ prize!

This is an outstanding achievement for Ben as not only was his work chosen for the onsite exhibition from over 21,000 submissions, but he has also received a ‘Most Inspiring’ prize from 478 artworks taking part in the exhibition.

In May, Hewett Academy was delighted to announce that four of their students’ artworks were selected for the Young Artists’ Summer Show 2023, an annual exhibition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts in London and showcasing young artists aged 4 — 19 from across the UK. The winning pieces were selected by artists and arts professionals with the chosen artworks displayed online and on-site at the Royal Academy of Arts from Tuesday 18th July to Sunday 13th August. The students involved were Olivia Kenyon Year 11, Lacy Mills Year 11, Ben Varghese Year 11, and Nicola Radosz Year 7.

Ben’s ‘Red House’ is a wooden sculpture of a building inspired by scaffolding, nests and Japanese architecture. Ben enjoyed taking his work from 2D drawings into 3D forms and produced this wall art using dowel rods. As part of the prize, Ben has won a £100 art materials voucher, as well as £500 so that Hewett Academy can purchase art materials for his peers to use in the new school year.

Antony Little, Principal of Hewett Academy said:

“We are absolutely delighted for Benwhat an incredible achievement and an

outstanding end to the school year, and Ben’s secondary education! We wish him all the best for his very bright future - I have no doubt that he will go on to accomplish amazing things.”

Head of Creative Arts at the Academy, Amy Lee said:

“To have been selected from 21,000 entries is an exceptional achievement. To be selected by the President as a work of inspiration is fantastically surreal and well deserved. We are proud of Ben’s attitude to learning regardless of accolades and awards however this affirmation endorses his effort and ability and will provide him with further art materials to continue his creative journey either independently or within higher education.”

‘Watton’ achievement!

A wonderful group of 25 students achieved their Silver DofE and in doing so showed true resilience, commitment, and determination to succeed.

Over the past two years, the students have collectively completed more than 350 hours developing their skills in art, cooking, acting, photography, music, coaching and much more. They have spent in excess of 1,100 hours in total volunteering to support others in the school and within Wayland Academy community. More than 500 hours were spent building on their own physical fitness that was certainly put to the test during their practice and assessment expeditions.

In June, the students spent four days developing their navigation and teamwork skills around beautiful Rutland Water for their Silver Practice Expedition. Fortunately, the conditions were kind, providing them with perfect walking weather. In September, their assessment took place in the stunning Malvern Hills. The students

were in high spirits and embraced the extreme challenge of a 60 km walk and just under 800 metres of climbing, all with heavy rucksacks on their backs.

The completion of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a truly challenging task, however the students completed theirs with a huge amount of positivity and the most amazing teamwork. By supporting one another through the pain, blisters, tears, and a combination of 763 metre uphill climbs, all the students shone brightly in their success.

We hope that the many laughs shared, and the fantastic memories made last a lifetime and that the skills they have developed through the DofE Award will support them along their chosen journey.

Sixth-formers leading the way in nurturing a love for literature

A reading club has been established at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy with the aim to build Year 7 students’ literacy skills, important for success in later life.

The club, organised by Sir Isaac Newton East Sixth Form students who have a passion for reading and wish to inspire younger pupils to follow in their footsteps, meets weekly to discuss a chosen book and share thoughts and ideas about the story.

The club has been a huge success, with pupils of all ages coming together to share their love of reading. Many of the younger pupils have been inspired by the older students and have started reading more books outside of school. One of the key benefits of the club is the boost in confidence pupils have gained from participating.

Many of the younger pupils have found they are not only more sure of their reading abilities but are also more willing to share their ideas and thoughts with others.

The reading club has also helped to build a sense of community within the school, with pupils from different year groups coming together to share their love of literature – especially the gothic genre, inspired by English lessons following texts by Dickens and Shelley.

Overall, the reading club has been a great success and it is hoped that the club will continue to grow and inspire more pupils to discover the joy of reading.

Fast-tracking to a career in STEM

In June, students from Sir Isaac Newton East had the opportunity to visit the Silverstone Interactive Museum Exhibition at Silverstone Circuit to learn more about the sport, as well as possible future career options.

The day’s activities spanned the curriculum, consisting of various exciting racing exhibits ranging from information about medical support on the track, to the mechanics behind the sport, the safety, as well as the technology and engineering integral to the sport.

Students also had the opportunity to get close to genuine racing vehicles, as well as the clothing of the racers, and other related items, and learn more about how they would be used. Recreated by Scalextric for Silverstone Museum, students also took to the wheel themselves and raced on the brand-new miniature ‘On Track’ exhibit – a copy of the Silverstone Formula 1 Circuit. The students also had access to the Heritage Track Trail where they learnt about Bridge Corner, the Wellington Straight and the RAF Memorial, experienced the current circuit and even walked on part of the original Grand Prix circuit.

Overlooking the circuit, the Silverstone Museum provides engaging curriculumfocused workshops run by its learning team in a dedicated studio. Students explored the technology, design and science of race cars, and looked further into possible future career options within STEM and motor racing that they may not have otherwise been aware existed.

Guests, including Trust founder, welcome at birthday bash

In July, Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form hosted its tenth anniversary party. This event was one of the biggest alumni events yet! It was thrilling to see so many familiar faces and hear what our previous students’ lives are like now.

Students and staff reminisced through a timeline of events from the past ten years.

Starting in 2013 with the construction of the sixth form, going on to show events such as the CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) trip in 2016 and social events such as the very first prom in 2017.

There were games such as table tennis, giant Jenga and Connect Four and a photobooth where each alumni member could pose with a chalk board featuring their name, the years they were at the sixth form, along with their current achievements or plans for the future.

The event was a great success with current and former students and staff of the Trust attending the party, along with the honour of welcoming Lord Agnew who founded the Inspiration Trust in 2012.

Getting creative on the coast

All staff from Stradbroke Primary Academy participated in ‘Beach School’ training to prepare for interactive lessons on the seaside.

This consisted of subject-relevant lessons being taught on the beach — making use of the different environment and materials found on the sand.

In their beach school session, Years 1 and 2 painted flat stones they found, collating all the stones together to make a fantastic piece of group artwork. This artwork was left on the beach for other visitors to enjoy.

This continued with Years 3 and 4, who thoroughly enjoyed an interactive, land art beach school session, where they created their own ephemeral artwork inspired by artists Andy Goldsworthy and Alberto Giacometti, using natural resources.

Pupils were able to explore their creativity, self-expression and imagination through creating wonderful collaborative pieces. A fun and exciting beach school session, leaving the children looking forward to more.

Year 5 and 6 also had beach lessons, where they learnt more about the tides, used the opportunity to complete some observational drawings inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, and developed their sportsmanship. As part of the schools push to be more environmentally friendly, Year 5 also got involved in a litter pick to support its work on oceans and keeping them free from plastics and other harmful substances.

Inspiration Trust

28 Bethel Street

Norwich, NR2 1NR

Email: hello@inspirationtrust.org

Tel: 01603 280923

www.inspirationtrust.org