Happy New Year

4 January 2012

Hello Everyone

It seems such a long time since I wrote the last blog and last term was a very busy one for the students and the staff at the Thetford Academy. We had the visit of Michael Gove the Education Secretary and our local MP Elizabeth Truss who came to the Academy in October. We were all really proud of our students and the way they conducted themselves during this visit. The area the Minister was most interested in was the Hair and Beauty suite where he talked to a number of the students who were doing facials at the time. We couldn’t understand why he was so interested until Elizabeth Truss told us that his wife is a trained beauty therapist so he is clearly an expert in these matters! The BBC programme ‘The Politics Show’ was also filmed at The Academy during the day of his visit and we were able to sneak in some of the A Level art work behind the discussion panel. I have to say it looked brilliant and was a credit to the talented artists who had produced it.

On the subject of art we have been asked by local residents to refresh the art works in the subway under Croxton Road that were produced by Thetford students about ten years ago. The art work went up after the sad death of Gary Smith, a student who was knocked down and killed on his way to school. It was a way of remembering him and reminding our students to use the subway. Norfolk County Council has agreed to refurbish the subway so that when the new art work goes up in March the whole area will be improved. We think it is important to encourage the students to be aware of their environment and contribute to making it look better. The art work will be appreciated by all who use the subway and the refurbishment will mean that perhaps more adults and children will chose that route rather than crossing over the Mundford Road which can be very busy.

Of course this term we are working towards securing really good GCSE results for year 11 and some of our year 10 students. The current year 11 has been working hard and we are hopeful that their hard work will pay off with good exam results. It is important that they stay organised and attend school regularly. We are hopeful that this year the young people of Thetford will show everyone what they can achieve. We are all really looking forward to the challenges of this New Year and ensuring The Academy is successful.

Regards

Cathy Spillane

Principal