16th May 2013

“Last week Niel McLean, Head of NFER’s Futurelab research centre, visited City Academy Norwich – one of the schools taking part in the Futurelab Enquiring Schools programme. Here he reports on finding an inspiring example of evidence-led improvement there.”
- Click here to read the full story.

 

 

December 2012

Hi David (CAN Principal)

I am based in the Startup Lounge at City College Norwich and I had the pleasure of working with some of your year 9 students and Mr J Thompson.

The students were developing their ideas for computer games they have ‘made’, they particularly wanted to know how to make the computer games into a real product .

They used our lounge to its full potential and learned a lot about market research and the importance team work.

Our next steps is to work together on a presentation/pitch to promote the product. Again, the presentation will require them to use the Startup Lounge.

It was brilliant to see young students really pushing themselves and thinking independently and entrepreneurially. They are really inspiring people and fantastic ambassadors for CAN. Well done them!

I look forward to updating you on our next session together.

Kind regards,

Jim Goreham
Enterprise Team Member
Innovation and Business Development
City College Norwich

 

November 2012

Good morning Billy – hope you are well and can relax now after your excellent efforts arranging last weeks event.

Both my colleague Zack and myself thought the whole event was very well organised with good information prior to the day and when at the event. To be greeted on arrival at the car park and escorted to the hall was a welcome move.

It was pleasant to see groups of students arriving on time, and for Harry and yourself keeping things moving in relation to the amount of time they had to visit the various stands.

It was pleasing to see that some students had very clear ideas as to their future careers and we were able to provide them with some precise information; students who were more unsure we felt we helped with more general information about Apprenticeships Norfolk, which was the aim of our attending.

A lunch and breaks enabling some networking with other exhibitors was well enjoyed!

All in all a good event – well worth coming along to and hopefully the Academy thought so too and will be holding similar events in the future. Please keep me informed and we will try to attend, pending no clashes with other events!

Wishing you both all the very best in your futures.

Kind Regards,

An Employment & Skills Officer

November 2012

Dear Billy

Thank you for inviting me to be a part of the Careers Fair.  I was very pleased to be a part and enjoyed talking to those students who either chose to talk with me or whom I waylaid.

I thought it was an exceptionally well organised and ‘feel good’ event.  You had a good range of career providers in attendance who clearly offered something for many.  The refreshments were brilliant and kept on coming.  (Please compliment the catering department from me.)  The staff and students from the school had clearly been well prepared and were very positive participants.

A thought for a future similar event in case it is of use: you might like to get some providers of ‘quirky’ careers information along such as the heritage industries (thatching, reed cutting, boat building, farriering and blacksmithing amongst others.  The National Trust, English Heritage and Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (part of Norfolk Museum Service) might be able to offer help with that.  It could add an interesting unusual element to a Careers Fair.

As it was, it was extremely good and, I hope, useful to your younger students.  You and Harry’s support and organisation for all of us who attended was difficult to fault, and a thank you also to those students who assisted as parking stewards – and also to those who no doubt contributed more invisible services.

If the school intends to repeat the event in future years, subject to my commitments I should be very happy to attend again.

Kind regards,

An Adviser - Leadership, Improvement & Development (PSHE, SEAL and Behaviour)
Norwich PDC

November 2012

Dear Billy & Harry

I would like to compliment you on the organisation on one of the most professionally arranged careers events I have attended. As a visitor to the school and to Norfolk I felt that my time and input was valued by the school and that every effort was made by you to ensure I had all the support, resources and information required. It is a pity more schools do not adopt a professional business type approach to greeting and supporting visitors and industries who voluntarily give their time to help young people learn about the world of work. The areas where I was particularly impressed and your school stood out above others

• The organisation prior to the event in respect of arranging my parking and assistance in carrying my resources
• The meet and greet with a welcomed coffee/refreshments upon arrival
• The format of the room with labels on the tables
• The support in helping me put up the careers stand
• The teacher supervision and control of the students throughout the morning was executed quietly, efficiently and gave the impression of an excellently managed school with  well- behaved and interested students

Well done, thank you and you can count on the support of ConstructionSkills for future events.

Best wishes,

A Construction Careers Adviser
Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire
ConstructionSkills

November 2012

November 2012

October 2012

I just wanted to thank everyone at the Academy for all the hard work you do.

My son moved to your school in September into year 9. He had had lots of problems at his previous school. I know he felt really stressed, frustrated and undervalued at his old school, but I hadn’t realised just how much of a negative impact on him. He now has lots of energy and enthusiasm not only for learning in school, but for his outside hobbies (he gets up a 6.30 am on a Sunday to go out on his skateboard amongst other things) and life in general. He is back to the happy confident child I knew. He has so many positive things to say about teaching and subjects at school and feels that his knowledge and skills are genuinely valued.

Don’t ever underestimate the role you are playing as teachers. You have improved the lives of our whole family and I have no doubt that my son will reach his full potential with you.

Regards,

A very happy Mum

September 2012

I would also like to thank the staff and everybody at the City Academy school as you have given my children wings to fly, they have grown academically due to your effort, for instance two of my child’s poems have been published in Young writers books.

Thank you

From a parent of CAN students.

September 2012

Good morning Dave

I want to thank you for spending so much of your valuable time with Sheelin and I yesterday. Although I had already heard glowing reports about your school I was impressed way beyond my expectations.

There is so much to admire, starting of course with the magnificent building, but the most impressive feature was the atmosphere generated by the young people as we walked around.

Everyone with whom I made eye contact smiled back at me. Their courteous manners were so very uplifting when we hear from others less informed of the bad behaviour of young people today.

The brief contact we had with your staff was more than sufficient to gauge their competence and total commitment they clearly have to their job.

I shall enjoy being an ambassador for City Academy as I go about my daily life.

I congratulate you on what you have achieved thus far and your aspirations for even greater successes will I know be fulfilled.

I will forward to you later the information about the No Crime Get a Life project run by Norfolk PACT (Partners Against Crime) that I mentioned to you.

 

With kind regards

Paddy
Deputy Lord Lieutenant

“I just want to say a huge thank you to you for all you have done for me in the last 5 years because if it wasn’t for you God knows where i would be right now! Thankyou!”

From a student to Mr Glaysher, Head of Leadership School

13th July 2012

Dear Mr Green,

I am writing to thank you and all the Year 7 teachers for making [student]‘s move to City Academy such a success story!

[Student] has described professional, kind and caring behaviour from all teachers. The Year 7 Zone creates such a sense of community and belonging. [Student] has benefited greatly from this environment. She says that even when she has no-one with her, children say “hello” and welcome her in their friendship groups.

The most impressive point for me is City Academy’s emphasis on “Respect”. This has promoted a culture of “acceptance”. [Student] described to me how she and her friends help a boy who can not speak English and how they find other ways to communicate that they like him and want him as a friend. [Student] came to you having experienced discrimination, no acceptance and no respect. What a triumph that she can turn that negativity in to a positive for your school community. This is clearly due to the standards and values City Academy promotes.

Thank you Mr Green for giving my daughter back to me!

Dear Christopher

I wondered if you could pass on my very best wishes and thank yous to the Year 7 class I had the pleasure of meeting at CAN on Monday.

They were a clever, engaging and delightful group of young people and their questions were insightful, relevant and astute.

I hope some of what I had to say was useful and I am certain the stories they are writing will be as creative as they are.

Just a lovely class- thank you!

Susannah Leigh

Hello Paula

 

The Presentation Evening at City Academy Norwich was impressive.  Students were brilliant and the Principal and staff must be very proud of their achievements.  It must have taken much dedication on the part of the staff for the students to have achieved so much.  It’s clear that the students aspirations have been raised – and realised – and rightly so.  All students have a right to an education – education is a key priority in my book and in my association’s book too!  That is why our association was formed in the first place; ie to promote the education of women  – so more to your elbow – and the staff too.  I trust City Academy will go from strength to strength.

 

Both Joan and I enjoyed being there tonight and came away impressed with what the Academy is doing.

 

I look forward to receiving some photos when convenient so that we can arrange for it/them to go into our association’s newsletter and on our website.

 

With very best wishes.

Margaret Garwood

Education Consultant

British Federation of Women Graduates (Norfolk and Norwich Association)

 

Dear David / Ian

 

On behalf of the Year 6 children and staff at our school, I would like to thank you for the excellent opportunity that Ian and Mr Thompson provided for the children last week.

 

The class teacher told me how excited the children had been to be able to use the i-pods and gain a clear understanding of how the technology could be used to support website building etc.

 

We very much appreciate all the links we can establish with the local high schools and wish to thank you both for enabling the children to have such a positive experience.

 

Many thanks

 

Neil Henery
Head – Cringleford Primary