Message from the Principal

On behalf of all of our students, staff, governors and partners, may I extend a very warm welcome to all visitors to the Manor Community College website. I hope it helps to give you a flavour of the excellent work we do in this small but vibrant learning community. I am fiercely proud to be the Principal. Our students are fantastic and deserve the very best standards of education. I lead a talented team focused on further improving standards and dedicated to the wellbeing of each and every student. Being a small learning community we are especially good at developing excellent relationships with students and parents/carers responding quickly to the needs of each individual. Furthermore we are united in our determination to improve the reputation of the college in the wider community. My vision is to put “students first” and to “develop the talent (creative and academic) of the future”. In order to do this we must focus on raising standards, raising aspirations, developing a culture of excellence, high achievement, no excuses and equity. I lead the college with a committed team of governors and senior leaders (SLT and Directorate). We meet regularly and maintain an open and honest professional dialogue focused on college improvement. Together with all of the staff we are determined to make Manor the first choice for parents and carers in the North of Cambridge City. We are currently exploring ‘Trust Status’ (the proposed North Cambridge Community Trust) in order to help turn this forward-looking vision into reality.

Therefore the future of the college is secure and bright. Our results are improving dramatically. In 2008 and 2009 we achieved the best results since GCSEs were introduced in 1988! This is an outstanding achievement for all of the students and staff involved in this success story. We realise maintaining and improving from this base point is a considerable challenge but we are resolute in the pursuit of excellence and to emerging from the national Challenge earlier than expected. We are also entering our third year as a specialist creative and performing arts college (designated by the DCSF in 2007). The Arts are pivotal in the relentless drive to improve standards at the college. In late 2009 we were awarded ArtsMark Gold status by the Arts Council for England; the Prince’s Teaching Institute Kite Mark Award for English and the Local Authority presented us with a Lowry print for meeting (and indeed exceeding) the criteria for the Cambridgeshire Culture Guarantee. A number of high profile links have been developed and strengthened and we continue to work in partnership with a wide range of associate schools, community groups, SinCru our artists in residence, local businesses and the Local Authority (www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk).

We know the building has all of the good looks of a 1960s car park! However we are continually working to improve the aesthetics and to bring it up to the standard required for 21st century learning. In summer 2009 we put in 3 new computer suites, an updated library study zone, new showering facilities as well as over £500,000 being spent on the fabric of the building and bringing the safety features up to date.

At Manor, we realise that choosing the right school can be a very difficult task. After all it is one of the biggest decisions a family has to make. Although this website and our college prospectus will not be able to tell you all the things you need to know to make that decision, it will help you to go through the process. Naturally, any website or publication can only give you an impression of what a school is really like. Therefore we urge you to make an appointment to come in and see us in action. Above all we attach a great deal of importance to students feeling safe, enjoying learning and college life, achieving (and indeed exceeding) their target grades in an atmosphere of mutual respect, tolerance and positive behaviour. I believe your role, as parents and carers, in ensuring that this happens is crucial. We can only be successful if we work in partnership. As such your involvement will always be respected and welcomed. It is also our birthday – we are 50 years old this year! As such there will be many events to commemorate this. Please keep checking the website for details.

Ben Slade - Principal

Ben Slade, Principal

Ben Slade meets HRH The Prince of Wales
to collect the PTI Kite mark award, November 2009

Ben Slade (Principal since 2007) meets
Paul Lewin (Principal 1959 – 1978)
at the college Golden Jubilee