Ely College Newsletter July 2017 From the Principal The academic year seems to have passed very quickly. I’d like to wish everyone a happy and restful summer break. I hope that those parents taking time off work or going away have a pleasant summer too. We will be busy here at the College, with an ambitious schedule of renovations planned. We will also be looking forward to students receiving their exam results in August. As Ely College marks the end of its first year as part of CMAT, we wanted to identify some of the highlights of the past twelve months which you can see below. End of Year House I am grateful to have such a supportive community of students, parents and members of Results staff that have allowed these changes to happen smoothly and quickly and cannot thank them enough for all their help. We are delighted to announce the very first winners of the Ely Top 10 improvements delivered in 2016/ 2017 College Martin Bacon House Raised standards - A new framework of teaching values and expectations called ‘Ely trophy. Expects’ has been designed and implemented by staff to raise the levels of challenge and standards in the classroom. Etheldreda House emerged triumphant with a total of 2,112 Raised expectations - We introduced a smart new uniform and have enforced high points and were awarded the standards of behaviour. Students have developed and implemented a rigorous ‘anti- trophy in their end of term bullying’ pledge, and are working closely together in supportive, mixed-aged tutor assembly this afternoon. The groups. final totals are calculated using a range of points accrued for A complete house system - Ely College is now organised into four, student-named, houses. Etheldreda, Franklin, Scott and Turing houses operate as small communities PLEDGES, attendance, sporting within the larger school, providing close support to families and monitoring students’ triumphs, above and beyond welfare and progress. points and other examples of wider participation. Refurbished buildings - Significant investment has been made to improve many areas of the school. The oldest building, the Bedford block, will undergo a complete Congratulations to Etheldreda refurbishment over the summer. New classrooms, toilets and outdoor areas have House. been added, and movement around the site has been improved. A new sixth form for the Ely area - In partnership with Soham Village College, ‘Bishop Laney Sixth Form’ will officially open in September 2017. Based at Ely College, Bishop Laney will start by offering professional courses, broadening out to run a suite of A Levels from 2018. Page 1 Ely College, Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SH T: 01353 667763 E: [email protected] ILAFS Following the attendance of some of our Communicating clearly - Parents and friends of Ely College are now able to follow KS4 students on the University of and celebrate the work of the students through our regularly updated social media Cambridge Independent Learning feeds, re-designed website and regular informative newsletters. Every half-term the Archaeology Field School (ILAFS) back in Principal hosts ‘Parents In The Loop’ open forum-meetings to update parents and March, we had the great pleasure of hear their views. presenting students with their certificates and detailed feedback. Mrs Extending learning through PLEDGES - Our PLEDGES rewards scheme encourages Vella arranged for these to handed to students during end of term House students to develop character, take responsibility and gain new experiences as a assemblies, as recognition of their preparation for life. All students accrue PLEDGE points by engaging in activities considerable achievements on the field outside of the classroom that support participation, leadership, the environment, school. Marked by the University in diversity, giving, excellent and service. partnership with Cambridge Assessment, the grades they have been awarded are Opening our doors - Ely College is working with an enterprise advisor and based on an estimate of the new GCSE 1- business mentors to build ever-closer links with local businesses. We host regular 9 grading system, with most of our enterprise events to promote and connect students to the world of work. Our students being awarded an 8 or 7 (A*/A). adult and community education offer continues to grow, and we have expanded We are so proud of the hard work that went into writing their independent the range of groups and societies using our facilities. archaeological reports following the dig days. Academic tutoring for success - Smaller tutor groups have allowed for regular academic mentoring meetings for all students. A wide range of revision and The detailed feedback offered by the catch-up sessions, along with a significant ‘Year 11 Matters’ programme of University of Cambridge will enable support and guidance has helped prepare the students for exam success this students to have a clearer idea of exactly year. what they have achieved, and we hope Gaining recognition, gathering momentum - We are that this will enable them to develop thrilled to be welcoming a higher number of students new learning aims and to prepare CVs and personal statements. The feedback into Year 7 in September, despite a reduced catchment is encouragement to review their work area. Significant numbers of Ely parents are once again and push forward into higher education; putting their trust in the school. In April we hosted a very as they clearly have the potential to do positive monitoring inspection by the Department for well, which we hope they will capitalize Education, who concluded that the College was ‘moving on in the future. The archaeologist strongly in the right direction’. leading the programme complimented Ely College students in particular on their We are all excited to welcome our new Year 7 in September. There will no doubt be mixed effort and was impressed by their feelings for those joining us as it can be a sad moment when you come to say goodbye to attitude to the course, despite weather your primary school. Rest assured, we’ll be providing you with a warm welcome when you conditions. Student feedback suggests join us on 5th September. that they have benefitted considerably from their involvement with ILAFS. Ely College hopes to continue as a Beacon I’d like to remind all of our students to stay safe over the summer break. Take care around School for the ILAFS programme in 2018 water and on the roads, and we look forward to seeing you in September for the next stage so if you have a student coming up into of the adventure! Years 9 or 10 that is keen to aim higher, please get in contact with Mrs Vella as Richard Spencer - Principal trip coordinator: [email protected] Page 2 Please join us in congratulating the following students: Sam Barfield, Oscar Barter, Rose Beckmann, Katherine Causton, Sam Cavill, Harriet Cree, Eleanor Elsey, Max Johns, Louis Place William Smith, Adam Stevens. Ely College, Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SH T: 01353 667763 E: [email protected] Presentation Evening Cambridge and St Our annual presentation evening took place in Ely Cathedral on 3rd July 2017. John’s College Visit It was wonderful to see so many families and members of the community attending to support our students. Earlier this week a group of our During the evening we were able students visited Cambridge and celebrate students’ achievements, St John’s College. The trip was talents and abilities we nurture here at part of the CAP (Cambridge Area Ely College. Partnership) and preparation for working life course. We couldn’t host the evening without the generous support from community The day involved a tour of St organisations, local businesses and the John’s, lunch at the College, dignitaries who attended and followed by an open bus tour of participated. This support is very much appreciated. the City and the amazing sights Cambridge has to offer. We look forward to next year’s event. ____________________________________________________________ “Feedback from the students was fantastic, we were made very welcome by the team at St Bushcraft Residential John’s. The unique experience to Last week between 12-14 July 45 students from across the four Houses went go ‘behind the scenes’ at St on The Bushcraft Residential to Hatfield Woods in Hertfordshire. John’s College will stay in our memories for years to This was the ideal ‘PLEDGES’ trip offering a host of events. To describe the come. Meeting Porters, Chefs, event in terms of the benefits to our students, this trip had numerous Gardeners and the Hospitality opportunities to engage in an element of PLEDGE. Students took part and did Manager gave the students a so enthusiastically, students led whereas before they might have followed, fascinating insight into the students showed excellence in areas not seen within the bounds of the school running of St John’s” day, students were placed in tribes of diverse make-ups that they might not usually interact with, students gave their time and effort to make sure that Mr D Mackintosh others could take part in events and finally in the spirit of Bushcraft students learnt how to interact with the environment in a respectful manner. Events included: Fire lighting – students were better at this than staff, ours kept going out! Camp craft and survival bracelets Shelter building - which some students chose to sleep under each night Page 3 Ely College, Downham Road, Ely, CB6 2SH T: 01353 667763 E: [email protected] An SOS scenario, where Ms Watkins and Ms Pritchett were victims of a plane accident and were covered in fake blood and students had to save them and deal with their injuries Camouflage and concealment - students especially liked this! They had Diary Dates camouflage paint on their faces and found great pleasure in making sure that st Mr Waters, Mr Burke, Ms Watkins and Ms Pritchett were also covered! They 21 July – last day of term (3.00pm) then went on to play a stealth game late at night Tribes got Talent – students came up with a variety of songs and jokes ________________________ between them Panassed Salmon – students were shown by Mr Waters and Mr Burke 7th Sept – School Photographer in how to prepare a salmon ready to cook over the fire.