Not just one… but THREE hard working Franklin House students have become the first this year to achieve their Gold PLEDGES accolades. It has become clear that students have spent their time in national lockdown well, as not only the Gold’s, but also the Bronze and Silver awards have been rolling in!

Kicking the start of term off with a bang, Lucy Francis and Sophie Norman in Year 11 met with our new Principal Mr Warburton to be awarded their Gold pins and certificates. These were the first Gold PLEDGES Mr Warburton would bestow in his new role at Ely College so this was a memorable moment for all.

  

When asked what the secret to their success was, the girls commented on how, throughout Years 9 and 10, they had both took part in a number of activities that accumulated quickly, leading them to GOLD. These included taking up the roles of Sports Leaders and volunteering at sporting events. This, they discussed, was particularly rewarding at the time, as they both enjoyed the opportunity to encourage younger students at Ely and partnering schools to find their passion in sports and keep up with exercise. Both enjoy dance and had great fun, sharing routines with primary school students as we invited them to collaborate in different sports projects with the college.

Speaking about their achievements, Lucy and Sophie said: “It has been hard work to meet the criteria, but we have really enjoyed the challenge. We were given ownership on so many projects including our recycling project and different House projects we did together when we joined the student council. Working towards our PLEDGES has offered us new experiences we are very proud of and we now look forward to encouraging other students to do the same and keep aiming for Gold.”

Just a few days later, Franklin House hit the mark again as Joseph Chapman was awarded his Gold pin. Joseph is only in Year 9 and has already achieved great things through the PLEDGES system. One of our current Student Ambassadors, he is working on his personal project put forward for consideration by the student council; this year he and a friend are working to revamp our infamous Ely’s Got Talent show AND start to plan for the schools Aquafest boat race entry in July. It is their hope that loads of students will get involved in these events, not only to earn their own PLEDGES but also in the hope that these events will raise money for the RNLI.

After listening to student feedback last year and some time to reflect on the value of PLEDGES, the extracurricular system has recently been updated including how to log PLEDGES through TEAMs and the class notebook. Mr Fisher and Mr Craven have taken the lead on this so if you have any questions please contact them.

Since Ely College joined the CMAT trust, the college has introduced a simple but broad set of PLEDGES that pupils are expected to complete during their time at the school, at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The fact that some students are completing the set before Year 11 is very impressive. Students gain their PLEDGES through activities and work across seven categories: Participation, Leadership, Environment, Diversity, Giving, Excellence and Service.

We have recently adjusted the PLEDGES poster to include more COVID friendly options, in the hope that student keep going with their PLEDGES through this difficult time and know there are outlets for them to achieve. Well done to all the Bronze and Silver award winners this term, including Freyja Gunn from Turing House here with Mr Burke.

The PLEDGES form part of the school's parallel curriculum – a system that is designed to develop the whole child and complement the academic courses. Similar to the Duke of Edinburgh scheme (also offered at Ely College!), it helps pupils develop character and skills that can be taken into their adult life.

Simon Warburton, Principal at Ely College said “The scheme has really helped drive a wide range of activities and improved relationships. It encourages students to give back to the school and their communities. Through PLEDGES, we can recognise, encourage, and reward those important aspects of personal development and learning that examinations do not. I’d like to congratulate Franklin House and look forward to giving out many more gold awards in the months to come”.

Two of our amazing Student Ambassadors are the think tank behind this fantastic new initiative. We are here to listen. We are here to help. Well done to Poppy and Erin on the student council for identifying some of the barriers young people experience in opening up about their personal well-being.

'Helping Hand' is a new 'student self-referral' email address dedicated to starting conversations and offering support around student mental health. On the other end are a small team of safeguarding officers and students offering peer support.

From daily worries & anxieties in and out of school, to more serious concerns for yourself or a friend, 'Helping Hands' is a confidential point of contact for all students; one that we hope offers a new way to start these important conversations and encourages more of us to open up about mental health and well-being.

Ely College back to business, safeguarding and educating our young people, as they welcome students back to the ‘new normal’.

This week saw a phased return of Ely College pupils to the school site with lots of smiling faces. The developing Coronavirus situation has presented a number of challenges but after a full term of high quality remote learning and months of preparing, it was a joy for staff to welcome students back and celebrate the start of term.

New Principal Simon Warburton addressed students and parents on Friday (4th Sept) with a review of how the first few days had gone: “As the first couple of days draw to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to say how great it has been to see college, once again, full with students and staff. Our data indicates that student attendance today was in excess of 98% which is a fantastic figure to realise on the first full day of term. Thank you for your support and patience with our plans. After many months of absence seeing children back in classrooms and engaging with teachers and their friends is heart-warming!”

The leadership at Ely College and Bishop Laney Sixth Form had been in constant communication with parents in the lead up to reopening, reassuring all on the protective measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission. As well as increased hygiene and sanitation stations, children remained in their consistent year groups or ‘bubbles’, and measures including staggered break times kept groups apart.

“Clearly the new arrangements for staff and students have presented a challenge unlike anything we have experienced before – but that fact that over 98% of our students have been able to come into college today shows the confidence that parents have in our commitment to support their children.  We are thrilled to have the students back”.

Some great photos of the first few days back AND a short video on our COVID Secure College, from the Student Council....

      

  

 

Students at Bishop Laney Sixth Form have achieved exceptional post-16 results again this year, despite difficult challenges posed by Covid-19.

Particular student successes include Maya Constable, who served two terms on the Sixth Form’s Student Council, most recently as Chair, and achieved one Distinction and two Distinction* grades in Applied Science. Maya now leaves the Sixth Form to take up a place at University in Nottingham to study Biochemistry.

William Ashdown studied Sport and Exercise Science and Accounting and has already started his accounting career in his first post. He achieved one Distinction and two Distinction* grades.

Adam Steels, Head of Bishop Laney Sixth Form, said: “We are delighted to congratulate William, Maya and all our students who have received results today, which are the result of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

“At Bishop Laney Sixth Form every student is known, valued and supported; giving them the best opportunity to succeed in their chosen next steps, be that higher education, apprenticeships or employment.”

Richard Spencer, Principal at Ely College, said: “We are all very proud of the excellent achievements of our Bishop Laney Sixth Form students, especially in such a challenging year. It is particularly pleasing to be celebrating our first A Level results for some years, alongside significant success in our established diploma programmes. This year group have blazed the trail for the huge growth Bishop Laney is now seeing, and we are delighted with their results today!”

Members of the Bishop Laney Leadership Team have spoken to students individually today following the issuing of results electronically. Despite exams being cancelled; tutors and the Leadership Team have kept in regular touch with students by email and online calls since the closure in March.

If you wish to enquire about current vacancies within the sixth form, please contact the sixth form on admissions@bishoplaney.org and 01353 652818.

Today, Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust was pleased to be able to confirm that the Trustees and Academy Council have appointed Mr Simon Warburton to work alongside Mr Spencer as the new College Principal from September.