UPDATE Y11 examinations – week commencing 17 October 2016
Y11 students will sit exams in most subjects next week. The SYSZ will be open for breakfast and revision from 0800 each morning. Y11 students **must** be in the SYSZ early next week for registration – Mon by 0830; Tues by 0820; Wed by 0815: Thurs and Fri by 0840. Please remind students to bring correct equipment including calculators each day and at least two highlighters (contrasting colours) for English exams.
Key documents/information relating to this are provided below:
Opportunities to join as Head of Department for English or mathematics
Last September Ipswich Academy became the fourth school to become part of Paradigm Trust. There is a vacancy for a senior leader who is seeking to make an outstanding contribution. You will need to be open to fresh challenges, have high energy and commitment levels and work to the highest standards. The rewards are excellent, with Performance Related Pay for the best teachers.
Y11 compulsory business revision this Saturday 8 October 9:30-11:30am
Please note that all Y11 business students must attend a revision session this Saturday morning – 8 October – 9:30-11:30am. This is critical preparation for their actual business examinations which will take place every day next week, starting on Monday 10 October. Pizza will be provided at the end of the revision session. The examinations will determine the students’ summer results in this subject.
Briefing and subject consultation meeting for Y11 students, parents/carers – Thursday 10 November
The booking system is available here.
Y11 is a critical and intense time. It is crucial that students, parents/carers and staff work together closely, from the start, so that achievement is high.
We will be holding two briefing meetings on 10th November, starting at 4pm or 6.30pm. In these meetings we will:
- communicate the minimum grades which students are required to achieve, and explain the rationale behind this
- share results from the assessments which students are currently taking
- issue study guides – so that students are able to revise independently
- clarify homework arrangements and expectations
- explain our approach to additional learning sessions.
Individual teacher consultation appointments will take place between 4:30-6:30pm and then 7-9pm. Y11 subject teachers will provide clear feedback on what students need to do in order to achieve the required grades.
Information about the Y11 prom will also be provided at this meeting – students need to attend in order to receive the prom card which will be required to obtain a ticket. Students who attend with a parent/carer, and attend pre-booked consultations with at least five examined subject teachers, will earn their first money off voucher towards the prom ticket cost.
All meetings will take place in the school hall. Booking will be on a first come, first served basis and the booking system is now open. The number of appointments will, initially, be limited to five for each student to ensure that all parents/carers are able to participate. Nearer to the time, if additional appointments are available, we will release these into the booking system and notify you.
In order to login to the system, you will need the following information relating to your child, as held in our database:
- Child’s first name
- Child’s surname
- Child’s date of birth
- Child’s register class (in the form of e.g. 11-4)
You will need to enter the details we have on record for you. If you have recently changed your title or surname, for example, and not informed us, we will be expecting you to login with the details we have on record. The email address you enter is only used to receive a confirmation of your appointment. If the system gives you an error when you login, it will not be the email address that is the problem.
If you do not have access to the Internet, or experience any problems with using the system, please contact the school and ask to speak with Mrs Winstone.
Students are required to attend, with their parent/carer. Y11 lessons on 10 November will end earlier than normal at 3:40pm. This will allow students who are attending the 4pm briefing meeting to collect a drink and a biscuit (which the academy will supply) from the SYSZ, before making their way back up to the grey arena to be seated in time for a 4pm start.
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Class teachers (primary) required for January 2016 or sooner
Please click here to access further information.
Strengthening Families Programme – new start date Monday 10 October
The Strengthening Families Programme runs over seven weeks and supports families in strengthening their relationships with each other.
Parents and young people meet in separate groups for the first hour, and then come together in the second hour for a family session.
The group is led by a group of people from a variety of different agencies and backgrounds, who already work with young people and their families.
Please click here for further information on this programme
Year 11 GCSE boot camp – 23-24 September 2016
Please click here to access the programme and other important information relating to this event.
Ipswich Academy’s latest Ofsted report shows progress towards the removal of special measures
Ipswich Academy has been shown to be making strong improvement following its most recent visit from Ofsted. The inspector, who visited the school from 5th – 6th July 2016, agreed with findings from a previous inspection in February 2016 that, “leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures”.
Paradigm Trust took over the running of Ipswich Academy in September 2015. This inspection report states that since that point, “The executive principal continues to provide the school with a strong steer for its improvement. She and her team of senior leaders have maintained their efforts to raise expectations and embed the improvements noted at the time of the last monitoring report”.
The report also notes that “actions to raise achievement have been directed towards all pupils” while “greater rigour has been added to the assessment of pupil progress in all years”. Additionally, new initiatives introduced by the school “are being used effectively with individuals and in small groups to boost their confidence and competence”.
Whilst the report details key areas for improvement in order to raise all standards at the school, it also highlights that Paradigm Trust ensures that the school’s “plans are routinely checked to gauge the rate of improvement, and identify where further action is needed”, while the expectations of teachers “remain high”.
Amanda Phillips, chief executive of Paradigm Trust and the principal of Ipswich Academy said:
“We are very pleased that once again Ofsted has recognised the enormous amount of work being carried out by staff, pupils and parents to raise standards at Ipswich Academy. We are aware that more works needs to be done at the academy, but this report – alongside this year’s improved GCSE results – strengthens our belief that we are on track to achieve this.”
The latest inspection report can be viewed here.
Welcome back! Welcome for Y7 students who are joining us!
We look forward to welcoming students tomorrow – Monday. Students to arrive by 8:55am.
- Y11 students to gather in the SYSZ
- Y10 in the grey area
- Y9 in the red area
- Y8 in the blue area
- Y7 to enter via main reception and we will show you the way to the hall for a welcome assembly.