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SUPPORTING LOCAL & NATIONAL CHARITIES CELEBRATING STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENTS STUDENTS CONGRATULATED BY LOCAL MP It’s all about our students and their achievements www.thomasclarksonacademy.org ISSUE 12 WINTER TERM 2016 PRINCIPAL’S LETTER Dear Parents, Carers & Students, As we come towards the end of a very busy I know that an immense amount of work term I would like to take this opportunity and creativity went into making that a to say a huge thank you to all the students, success and I would like to thank all those parents and staff of Thomas Clarkson who took part and donated money to what Academy who have worked so hard, both is a very worthwhile cause. individually and corporately, and together we have achieved a great deal. On a personal note it has been a very busy and fast moving time and I would like to One of my proudest moments has been thank all the students and staff who have when we all stood together in our Act of welcomed me to my new role as Principal Remembrance in November. The whole of this exciting and driven academy. I am school assembled to mark the occasion also grateful to parents who have given with poignant poems, readings and a me such a warm welcome, especially reflective silence. The fact that the students our parent voice team who have created took part in a mature, respectful and an honest, supportive and purposeful powerful way was incredibly moving and atmosphere at our meetings. It has taken a very fitting tribute to all those who have a while to get to know the students, staff suffered in warfare. and all the personalities, routines and This magazine details just a few of the very challenges that go to make Thomas many exciting projects, trips and activities Clarkson Academy such a unique and that have taken place at Thomas Clarkson exciting place to study and work. Academy since September and I hope Your support has been appreciated it gives just a flavour of our day to day and I, in turn, am looking forward working life and successes. to offering sustained and targeted support to make sure that Well done to our students who achieved Thomas Clarkson Academy such amazing GCSE and A Level results goes from strength to strength, offering in the summer. Our top performing GCSE the best education, aspiration, support students received letters of congratulations and outcomes for our students. from our local MP Mr Barclay for which they were very grateful. They are setting the I’d like to take this opportunity to wish benchmark for future students to aspire to you all a very happy and relaxed holiday. and I am very proud of them. I look forward to welcoming you back for yet more challenges, inspiration and Other achievements have included the cause for celebration in 2017.” whole school raising over £1,400 for Children in Need during a very exciting afternoon of activities and fundraising. Anne Hill, Principal TOP PERFORMING STUDENTS CONGRATULATED BY LOCAL MP Our high achieving Sixth with their letters, typed on Congratulations to Connor Formers have been official House of Commons Atkins, Alicia Baghdouyan, presented with congratulatory stationery, and told the Naomi Baxter, Courtney notes from local MP Stephen students how proud she Beckett, Charlotte Cameron, Barclay following their was of their endeavours. Susan Farg, Lola Lynn, exceptional GCSE exam Lauran Seekings, Harry Between them the ten results this summer. Spriggs and Livvi Williams. students achieved a Mr Barclay asked for the staggering 14 A*, 35 A and Head Girl Charlotte said: names of our top performers 35 B graded GCSEs, plus 7 ‘We are all very grateful and he wrote each of Distinction * graded BTECs, that Mr Barclay took time them a personalised letter and they are all in the Sixth out of his busy schedule to congratulating them on their Form at Thomas Clarkson get in touch with us. It was hard work and giving them Academy, many working amazing to receive these encouragement for their towards four A Levels and letters and they are very future studies. Principal Mrs all aiming for places at top much appreciated.’ Hill presented the students level universities. GREAT RESULTS 02/03 GCSE GRADES At Thomas Clarkson Academy results were up on last year with more students gaining five A* to C graded GCSE including English and Maths and levels of progress have also risen. 77% of students made the expected level of progress in English while 52% hit the target for maths with 45% of the cohort achieving the government’s newly introduced measure of two A-C grades in English and maths. This was a huge 15 percentage point increase on the previous year. This year the government introduced a new measure of 2 A-C grades in English and Maths and 45 percent of TCA students gained this level. 77% of students made the expected progress in English and 52% in Maths. Student Alicia Baghdouyan gained all A* and A grades with A*s in maths, French, history, Spanish and business studies. She said: ‘I have worked really hard but could not have done it without my teachers.’ Charlotte Cameron gained 2 A*s and 5 A grades and 3 C grades and is now Head Girl. A LEVEL GRADES There were massive leaps in both the A2 and AS figures at Thomas Clarkson Academy this year with those scoring A* - B grades at A2 increasing to 81% from last year’s 57% and the AS results jumping to 87% (from 66%) for those achieving A* - E grades. Our former Sixth Form cohort is now studying subjects as diverse as marine biology and criminology at providers including the University of East Anglia, Lincoln University, The University of Essex and Bedfordshire University. Head of Sixth Form Jess Smith said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted with this year’s results. I am particularly pleased with the huge 22% increase in AS pass rate and the fact that 100% of our Year 13 students met the required grades of their UCAS offers. I am extremely proud of all students and staff involved for their fantastic efforts resulting in this great achievement.’ OFSTED REPORTS ‘SIGNIFICANT CHANGES’ AND ‘POSITIVE IMPACT’ AT TCA Ofsted has reported that ‘significant changes’ implemented at Thomas Clarkson Academy over the past six months ‘are having a positive impact on standards across the academy.’ Their report Principal Anne Hill is pictured with Head Girl Charlotte Cameron focused on staffing, quality of teaching, off-site provision and the and Head Boy Euan McConnachie. support given to the academy by the Brooke Weston Trust. In addition to new Principal, Anne Hill, recent appointments include a Ofsted said that the school has ‘developed a plan which you are using Vice Principal, senior teacher for maths plus eight additional subject to ensure that the necessary improvements are made to the academy’ teachers and the academy is now fully staffed. which includes ‘ambitious timescales.’ Ofsted said ‘academy leaders have ensured that there has been a strong and The report, written after Ofsted’s monitoring inspection in September, effective focus on improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment’ stated: ‘Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the and ‘the actions that have been taken are having a positive impact.’ removal of the serious weaknesses designation’ and that both the school’s improvement plan and the trust’s statement of action are ‘fit for purpose.’ ‘Regular visits to classrooms, scrutiny of pupils’ work and observation of teaching’ mean that ‘academy leaders have a clearer understanding Principal Anne Hill said: ‘While we are very pleased with the report, we of the academy’s strengths and the weaknesses that remain.’ recognise that there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that the children of Wisbech receive a great education. There has been The focus has been on ensuring that all teaching is at a good level. progress but the most important thing is that we continue to improve. Strategies have been put in to identify and support those whose practice The Brooke Weston Trust has played a huge part by supporting Thomas is less than good and ‘good use is being made of expertise from other Clarkson Academy, both at a strategic level and also by allowing staff from schools within the trust.’ This includes subject leader meetings and a other Trust schools to come along and work alongside us to strengthen recent training day with local primary schools. our classroom practices and boost performance.’ NEWS RAISING ASPIRATIONS IN WISBECH Our new Principal, Anne Hill has massive in Northamptonshire, but that became a conduct and behaviour around the school is very aspirations for her students and is encouraging consistently good school with strong outcomes. good indeed. A huge part of what we need to do them to aim high in their studies and ambitions. in this school is raise their aspirations. We have ‘That experience has enabled me to see those got a fantastic Sixth Form and we expect all our Mrs Hill said: ‘Since being in post it has been factors that will accelerate progress more students to aspire to join the Sixth Form here and a busy and interesting time. We have had an quickly than others. To put a timeline on this ensure that they progress to good universities. Ofsted visit, a DfE visit and both have gone school is very difficult, it is a bit too early to say well. We know that we have work to do here but but absolutely focusing on raising aspirations ‘Wanting to do well and believing success is actually we are beginning to see some of the of students, raising their self belief and showing possible are critical ingredients in making sure systems, structures and processes that we are them the opportunities that are available outside that the whole school improves.