Ormiston Education

Ormiston academies supporting Children in Need

Ormiston Education — 2011-11-29T10:46:09+00:00

Academies sponsored by Ormiston Trust took part in a number of activities to raise money for Children in Need; from wearing spotty clothes and baking cakes to lining up pennies on the floor.

Generous students and staff donated thousands of pounds and highlights include:

• Samosa sales, chocolate piping, volleyball tournaments and a 'slave for the day' auction took place at George Salter Academy, West Bromwich.

• A readathon (with a ninja librarian), sponsored entries into the national ‘Mathletics’ competition and trail of 4,816 two pence pieces at Ormiston Venture Academy, Great Yarmouth – who are currently 15th in the country in Mathletics.

• A non-uniform day (with many dressed in pyjamas), cake sale and a flash mob dance set the tone at Ormiston Ilkeston Academy in Derbyshire.

• Ormiston Park Academy in Thurrock and Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough saw spots with students and staff donating money to don spotty outfits.

• A lunchtime show, cake sale and a staff vs. student football match raised money at Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham-on-Crouch.

• Ormiston Maritime Academy in Grimsby held a concert and sold tea and cakes to hungry staff and students.

Mrs Dundas Associate Principal of the Ormiston Ilkeston Academy said: ‘It was fantastic to see students and staff participate in such a fun day for a worthwhile charity. Well done to everyone who took part and helped to raise money.”

Rus Smith, George Salter Academy’s Extended Schools, Community and Sports Development Manager said: “our students are full of great ideas and are brilliant fundraisers. We’re at £560 and counting and really pleased to be able to make a contribution to children in need, supporting children across the country who need our help.”

Kris Griffin Head of Marketing and PR said: “We love to hear about our academy students’ fundraising efforts. There have been so many innovative ideas to raise money for a great cause. Well done to everyone who has taken part.”

Ormiston leavers celebrate A Level results

Ormiston Education — 2011-08-24T14:59:52+00:00

This year we’ve had some great news from our academies’ sixth forms. Every sixth form student has left with at least one qualification and is moving onto pastures new.

George Salter Collegiate Academy in Sandwell saw 96% of students gain two or more A levels at A*-E, with over half getting three or more.

Ormiston Victory Academy in Norfolk’s APS (average point score) went up by 29% from 2010. 90% of students achieved two or more A levels at A*-E, with 71% getting three or more.

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy’s brand new sixth form gained their first ever AS Level results with a 100% pass rate over 15 subjects.

Student highlights:

Chelsea Campbell started sixth form with a grade D at GCSE maths and an APS of 36.5. Chelsea has been totally dedicated to her studies and achieved a Distinction and two Cs. She has been successful in securing a place at Wolverhampton University to study Health Studies

Summik Limbu achieved A* in mathematics, chemistry and as well as four AS levels at AAB. She also completed an Extended Project on Autism in which she achieved a C grade. She has been accepted at the University of Birmingham, where she is going to read Biochemistry MSci.

Cong Ouyang arrived in the country with very limited command of the English Language. He achieved BCCD and will be studying BA Accounting and Finance at Anglia Ruskin University.

Zaina de Boorder got an A in French with a B and a C and is now off to the Sorbonne, France to further her studies.

Hannah Dunne gained AAB and has been accepted at UEA to read Law with AAB and sends her thanks to her teachers.

Kirsty Swatman achieved an impressive AAA as she also cares for her disabled brother and has a part time job.

Headteacher leaves Gold legacy

Ormiston Education — 2011-07-01T10:59:14+00:00

A Worksop Head Teacher is leaving a legacy of gold as he retires this year.

Staff and Students at Worksop Priory Primary School are celebrating their achievement of the Gold standard of the Every Child Matters Quality Mark, which is equivalent to an Ofsted judgement of ‘outstanding.’

Robin Woodhead was appointed as the first Head Teacher of Worksop Priory Primary School in 1990 and has now completed 21 years at the helm.

Mr. Woodhead said “I am truly delighted to hand over the school to my successor with this award signifying the quality of work at the school and our total commitment to the development of each individual child. Well done to the "Priory Team" and thank you for your support, enthusiasm, commitment and encouragement. In addition, thank you to the wonderful pupils of Priory School, who make each day a delight."

The school was awarded the Every Child Matters Quality Mark by Birmingham-based Ormiston Education, a company at the heart of education improvement and innovation.

The award is designed to ensure that all young people are given opportunities to thrive during their school years and in the future.

Mr. Woodhead added “We were delighted to have our commitment to Every Child Matters recognised with the Gold Quality Mark. It is always rewarding to have our work scrutinised by an external body, and in this case be accredited with the top gold award. At Priory School all the staff and governors are committed to ECM. The process of preparation for the assessment was in itself reassuring as we identified evidence to exemplify each of the elements.”

Victoria Griffith, Head of Development at Ormiston Education said “We are so pleased to be able to award the school the Gold standard Every Child Matters Quality Mark. This award demonstrates their commitment to each and every child in their school, and is a great legacy for the current Head Teacher to leave”.

Top educationalists attend first annual conference

Ormiston Education — 2011-07-01T10:45:13+00:00

17^th-18^th June saw Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) hold its first annual conference at Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent.

The ‘Leadership for Change’ conference was attended by 70 OAT delegates who gathered to listen to presentations given by high-profile speakers including Baroness Estelle Morris and Sir John Jones.

Exploring various topics including student engagement and aspiration and raising the quality of teaching and learning, the conference was an opportunity for speakers and OAT delegates to not only reflect on the successes and lessons learnt from the past year, but to focus on realising the opportunities for the future.

Concentrating on the visions and values of Ormiston and how these can be used to maintain the high standards the academies have set, the two day event also explored how knowledge sharing and innovation is vital for those academies wanting to go from being good to outstanding.

Ian Cleland, chief executive of Ormiston Academies Trust, comments: “With 16 OAT academies due to open by the end of 2011, our first annual conference was an excellent opportunity to look at how we can develop skills to ensure the continued progress of the staff, pupils and the academies themselves.

“Ormiston works hard to provide an innovative and inspiring environment for all of its pupils and is dedicated to staying at the forefront of the education industry. As our conference demonstrates, we are committed to the continued improvement of our academies by not only sharing knowledge with our colleagues, but by working with thought-leaders within the industry, such as Professor Russell Quaglia who presented at our conference and is considered by many to be America's foremost authority on the development and achievement of student aspirations.

“We’re looking ahead to a busy and successful year and I’m sure our pioneering attitude towards education and teaching will continue to benefit our pupils.”

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Ormiston academies team up for Comic Relief

Ormiston Education — 2011-03-18T11:57:58+00:00

With Red Nose Day fast approaching, Ormiston academies are combining their fundraising efforts to create one big cheque for charity.

The eleven academies sponsored by Ormiston Trust are taking part in a number of activities for Comic Relief from Wii dance-offs to sponsored leg waxes and gunging Principals. Not to stop there, Ormiston employees are contributing to funds with a ‘wear something funny for money’ day and cake sales.

Ormiston Trust sponsors academies across the UK, with academies in the West Midlands, Stoke-on-Trent, Cheshire, Thurrock, Norfolk and Peterborough.

Fundraising has already started with cake sales, pyjama days, car washes and leg waxing but the main event remains Friday 18th when the academies have innovative ways to raise money.

Highlights include:

A sponsored gunging of Principal Mark Stanyer of Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
College Leaders’ ‘eat-off’ at Shelfield Community Academy Walsall (with the exact foods to be revealed at the time)
A Wii dance-off at Ormiston Venture Academy, Great Yarmouth
The sponsored leg waxing of PE teacher Mr. Samuels at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy, Oldbury
An Eisteddfod at The Gateway Academy, Thurrock
Strictly Come Teacher Dancing at Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy, Cheshire – Teachers are partnered up and have each been learning a different style of dance for a competition on Comic Relief day.

With further surprises to be revealed alongside a host of events on the day, the combined effort of Ormiston aims to raise hundreds of pounds for charity.

Ian Cleland, Chief Executive of Ormiston Academies Trust said “Ormiston is dedicated to making a difference and as part of the Ormiston Family, it’s great to find out what everyone’s doing to raise money and to combine our efforts to create a big impact for charity.”

Elaine Edmunds, who works at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy said “I think it is a great idea to link the academies together and show a united front in helping others.”

Our new website is launched

Ormiston Education — 2011-03-15T10:11:00+00:00

Today, Birmingham-based Ormiston Education are celebrating the launch of their brand-new website.

The new website coincides with the release of the company’s brand overhaul. The three-year-old company now has the new strapline, ‘believe in Ormiston’ and a more youthful brand to communicate their vision.

A non-profit organisation, Ormiston Education’s vision is to make schools better, aiming to enable pupils to realise their aspirations and dreams.

The new website and brand aim to clarify Ormiston Education’s offer of school improvement services, marketing and PR, HR, finance, ICT and learner programmes to all schools and academies.

Case studies and staff profiles have been added to the website to create a closer relationship with clients and partners. The site also contains a link to the company’s frequently updated Twitter page, which is increasing in popularity as the brand develops.

Kristian Griffin, Ormiston Education’s Head of Marketing and PR said
“I’m delighted to launch the new Ormiston Education website which gives a true reflection on the work we do and services we offer in the rapidly changing education sector. It will allow us to engage our audience quickly and efficiently and concentrate on sustaining our commitment to young people all over the UK."

James Brindley's new name announced

Happy Giraffe — 2011-01-24T15:02:10+00:00

The name of the new Ormiston Academy at James Brindley Science College has been chosen after consultation with students, staff and the local community. The college will reopen this September as Ormiston Horizon Academy.

Ormiston’s Education Advisor, Peter Bishop said “The name reflects the meeting of two things; surface and sky, student and teacher, aspiration and attainment. It’s about a meeting of minds, which will create a trailblazing future.

Horizon is also about breaking through the limits of understanding, experience or interest, going beyond to reach or look to the future and have vision.”

Students, staff and the community were consulted on the academy’s new name, and the school is now working with students to name the four colleges and to design the uniform.

Plans for the academy are now well ahead, with improvements to the main reception and hall, science labs, toilets and the learning centre already underway in preparation for September.

A brand new building for the academy, for which work starts this summer, will be completed in 2013. Peter Bishop commented “the new build will be something to make staff, students and the community very proud.”

Joyce Hodgetts, Managing Director of Ormiston Academies Trust said “It’s fantastic to be able to involve staff, students and the community in the naming of their new academy. Everyone at Ormiston is looking forward to working with Ormiston Horizon Academy to create a great future.”

Star learner Designs company Christmas card

Happy Giraffe — 2010-12-20T15:12:32+00:00

A 14 year old student from Malvern had her artistic talents recognised when a Birmingham-based company commissioned her to create their Christmas card.

Not-for-profit Ormiston Education runs the You Choose Learning programme, which helps learners gain qualifications outside of mainstream education. As part of a You Choose Bronze Award project, home-educated Beth submitted hand drawn fairy illustrations, which were so popular at Ormiston that they asked for one to be created especially for this year's cards. Ormiston has made a donation to Beth's chosen charity Water Aid, to help children in Africa have access to clean, healthy water.

Ormiston Education's Head of Development, Victoria Griffith said “Beth is a very talented young lady. We think that her work is fantastic and she deserves recognition for it. We were delighted when she accepted our commission as everyone really loves the cards.”

Beth first created her Sad fairy illustrations for an elderly family friend who was feeling ill. So-called because her father commented that one fairy looked like a sad little fairy, Beth began to create cards for family and friends under the name Sad Fairy.

The cards she created for Ormiston will be going out to hundreds of schools and businesses, giving Beth full recognition for her skills and a valuable addition to her portfolio.

Beth said “At first I didn't understand what the question was, it seemed too good to be true – I was surprised and happy to be asked.

“I was unsure of what I was meant to do, it was all new to me, but I‟m so glad I did it now, I‟ve always wanted to donate a large amount of money to a charity. It's certainly given me confidence to take the next step and make it a small business; I'd love to make a living as an artist.”

Beth completed the You Choose Bronze Award in September and is currently working on the You Choose Wider Key Skills, which will give her a recognised qualification and help her fulfil her aspirations of going to Art College.

She is also working on a You Choose Enterprise qualification which will help her to develop her entrepreneurial skills with which she is building her own business to sell her cards.