News
0-800: The Movie!
26th January 2010
The edited highlights of a play which saw local schoolchildren from around Cambridge take audiences on a fast-paced tour of the University’s entire history can now be watched online.
"0-800 in 60 minutes" was originally performed in November 2009 and saw almost 100 children from different schools cram the events of the last eight centuries in Cambridge into the space of a single hour.
From this weekend, highlights from the performance, as well as interviews with the Director, Lesley Ford, writer, Mike Levy, and some of its young performers, is available to view below.
The play was performed entirely by children and young people, many of whom were taking to the stage for the first time. As the title song suggested, the performance was a breathless romp through "Eight hundred years of English history, from Robin Hood to Gordon Brown" and featured plenty of songs, stunts and historical celebrities along the way.
Students from nine different schools took part, most of them from years six and eight (ages 10 to 13). The younger children were all from primary schools which feed into the secondary schools involved, the idea being that when they move on, there will be some children at their new school whom they already know.
The project was conceived and led by the University's Community Affairs team and the Keystage Company, a theatre group based in Cambridge. It was supported with funding from the 2009 Fund.
The participating schools were Coleridge Community College, Fawcett Primary School, The Grove Primary School, King's Hedges Primary School, Manor Community College, Morley Memorial Primary School, The Netherhall School, Ridgefield Primary School and The Spinney Primary School.
Home Access
25th January 2010
Home Access is a government drive which will help low-income families to get access to a computer and the internet to get online at home. Please visit www.homeaccess.org.uk for further information.
Year 4 Athletics Festivals
3rd December 2009
A report about the Year 4 Athletics Festivals, involving Young Leaders from Manor Community College is available to read by clicking here.
News from Cambridgeshire County Council - Excellence in English Leads to Prince’s Teaching Institute Award
A Cambridge headteacher met the Prince of Wales this week in recognition of his college’s excellent work in English. Ben Slade, Principal of Manor Community College, was at Clarence House to receive the prestigious School’s Programme Kite Mark Award.
The award – launched for the first time this year – recognises and rewards the development of inspirational ideas and activities that enhance the teaching of English, History or Science.
Manor Community College was one of 73 departments from only 51 schools across the country to receive the awards!
Schools joining the Schools Programme must demonstrate their commitment to their subject specialism, both in their own professional development and by furthering their students' understanding and enthusiasm both in and out of lessons.
Manor’s award was for its commitment to curriculum development, extra curricular activities relating to English and opportunities for students. Over the past year the college has achieved several notable successes, including:
- Working with Perrier Award winning poet and rap artist Baba Brinkman (on Chaucer)
- Entering students early for GCSE English Literature, gaining a pass rate of 89% A* - C
- Working with children’s author Cathy Cassidy
- Making a significant contribution to the Cambridge University 800th anniversary performance 0 to 800 at the ADC Theatre, Cambridge
- Fast tracking students in English – they will also move on to AS Level English in Year 11 – a first for Manor CC and one of the only schools in Cambridge to be doing this
- Improving planning and delivery in English which is having an impact on practice in other departments
- Working with other schools and organisations
- Developing an enrichment programme – in English and now across the college
All schools receiving the award are eligible to include the Prince’s Teaching Institute’s Schools Programme logo which bears the Prince’s feathers on their websites and stationery as evidence of their commitment to inspirational subject teaching.
Ben Slade said: “I am thrilled and honoured to have received the kite mark award from the Prince of Wales on behalf of Manor Community College. This is in recognition of the outstanding work my Deputy Principal, Jane Davies, and Director of English, Sue Heath, have done with the department over the last year or so to improve standards, enhance the curriculum and develop links.
"Together with our recent successful expression of interest in becoming a Trust School and gaining Arts Mark Gold, this award is further testament to our developing a culture of excellence and high attainment. The students at Manor have the potential to exceed everyone’s expectations and we need to ensure that we are doing all we can to make this a reality."
For further information, please visit the Prince’s Teaching Institute website article by clicking here.
Young Ambassadors 2009-2010
A report about the Manor Community College Young Ambassadors is available to read by clicking here.
News from Cambridgeshire County Council - Manor Community College Takes First Steps to Excellence
A Cambridge secondary school has taken its first steps to join forces with high-profile partners in its continuing quest for further improvements.
Manor Community College has succeeded in joining the Supported Schools Programme – the first hurdle in becoming a Foundation and Trust school.
The decision – by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) – reflects the considerable improvements made by the college over the past few years.
The formation of a Trust would enable the school to improve standards, raise aspirations, enhance leadership and encourage students to stay in education after the age of 16.
Principal Ben Slade said he was delighted that his application had been successful. “This is a hugely significant decision by the DCSF for Manor Community College. The Trust proposal is the blueprint for its future. Manor has made significant improvements over the last few years – including some of the best results ever, standards of teaching and learning and behaviour.
“Manor needs to set its stall out as a specialist performing arts college with high standards, a caring ethos and a bright future focused on raising attainment and aspirations working with a range of partners including primary schools, post 16 organisations, a local university, the NHS and Cambridgeshire County Council.”
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Learning Cllr David Harty added: “This is great news for Manor Community College, its present students and staff, and all those who will be benefitting from its expertise in the years to come. It has made significant strides forward in recent years, and success in becoming a Foundation and Trust school can only enhance the improvements already made. We will fully support its bid to the DCSF.”
Trust School - Expression of Interest Approved
The recent application for the expression of interest in becoming a Trust School has now been approved. We will, of course, enter a full consultation period with all stakeholders, partners and trade unions over the next 12 months to ensure all are informed, updated and consulted.
The full letter from the Trust and Foundation Schools Partnership can be seen by clicking here.
School Pupils Assist with Arrest
Cambridge officers wish to publicly thank around 20 school children who helped chase an offender.
PC Mark Lappin and PC Ian Gray from the roads policing unit requested a driver to stop in Scotland Road on Monday(September 28) at 3:20pm. The driver refused and made off on foot in Eastfield, leaving his vehicle. The two officers gave chase but lost sight of him in Pakenham Close. The helicopter was scrambled and the man was later spotted in Union Lane, around 20 minutes later.
PC Mark Lappin said: "This arrest was assisted by around 20 teenage pupils, who I believe came from Manor Community College. They gave us information about where the offender was, and even loaned us their bikes so we could chase him. When we caught up with the man he even said he couldn't escape due to the numerous school kids chasing him. I often feel that young people are given a bad name when it comes to anti-social behaviour. Without the help of these pupils we probably wouldn't have been able to catch up with this man. They did a great job."
An article and video covering this story in the Cambridge Evening News can be see by clicking here and also in the Telegraph, which can be seen by clicking here.
College Gains Top Award for the Arts
The Arts Council for England confirmed this week that Manor Community College had been awarded "Arts Mark Gold" in recognition of their commitment to high quality Arts education. The award (the highest of its kind) also recognises the significant increase in participation in the Arts and the impact this has had on students’ experience of school and indeed overall results!
Ben Slade, Principal of Manor Community College, said "I am absolutely thrilled that, once again, students and staff have proved that we are able to step up to the plate and achieve great things. The Gold status recognises the quality of our arts provision and the ambition we have to continue to grow and develop in this area. This award endorses our specialism in the performing arts (awarded by DCSF in September 2007) and shows that the college is both on the map and on the move!"
"I would like to praise the hard work of Naila Din, Director of Specialism and Head of Art and Design, and her talented team: Kevin McCann (Deputy Director of Specialism), Lee Parry (Drama), James Utting and Peter Glazebrook (Music) and Natasha Gray (Dance and PE) for all the time they have invested in applying for this award and evidencing our achievements. I am proud of this team of staff and what they do for the benefit of our students."
The college has also been selected to join the Prince’s Teaching Institute programme for English for two years (allowing them to carry the Prince of Wales’ feathers on their letterhead) and was recently awarded a Lowry print by Helen Whiter, Director of Learning at Cambridgeshire County Council in recognition of the college’s commitment to culture.
Furthermore, Manor student, Alex Marsh (leader of Junior Sinstars – a street dance company), was the only student choreographer in East Anglia to be selected by "Young Creatives" to showcase his work at the Royal Opera House – a fantastic achievement.
These awards not only put Manor on the map but also put Manor in a position to rival other schools and colleges in the county.
Recent Results Statistics
The college has recently seen its students' GCSE A* to C grades rising from 32 per cent in 2007 to 49.4 per cent in 2008. If the figures are made to include Mathematics and English in the five subjects, then the figures rose from 23 per cent to 42 per cent.
These were the best results in the 50-year history of the college.
The OfSTED inspection of June 2008 noted that overall teaching was "satisfactory and improving with a number of emerging good features".
The leadership of the new principal was praised by OfSTED: "The newly appointed Principal provides clear direction for the work of the college. Since September 2007, he has accurately evaluated its work and set about tackling the areas for support with vigor. He has not flinched from the challenges posed by this and is resolute in his pursuit of improved standards and achievement. The changes made are recognised by parents, the vast majority of whom are supportive of the college's work. A considerable number commented on the improvements, including the renewed focus on improving standards. The comment, 'the effort of staff and pupils to make a dramatic improvement is working', is typical."
Mr. Slade has recently submitted a bid for Trust Status for the college and there is a possibility of Channel 4 filming at the college later this year.
Maverick TV
Maverick TV (working for Channel 4) visited the college on 6th March 2009 to see if we are suitable for a proposed "Cutting Edge" documentary about the college and Mr Slade's role. Mr Slade, a number of teachers and a wide range of students were involved and did their very best to promote The Manor in a good light. The producer was impressed. We will hear shortly if we have been successful.
Trust School
Mr Slade has submitted an expression of interest form for the college to become a Trust School. If this is approved, there will be full consultation with parents, students, staff and governors. This will be a really exciting development for all students and staff at the college if it all goes through.
Rebuild
There are plans to rebuild The Manor for opening in 2012. We are eagerly waiting an announcement on this from the DCSF and the Local Authority.
National Challenge
Students and staff are reacting well to the National Challenege and hope to beat the targets set by the government again this year. Click here to read documents which summarise Cambridgeshire's performance in important areas.
Manor achieved the best set of results in its history this year
Manor achieved the best set of results in its history this year. 50% 5 A* - C (up from 32% last year) and 42% 5 A* - C including English and Maths (up from 23% last year). Positive comments have flooded in from all directions and press reports have been overwhelmingly positive. Principal Ben Slade said, "I am thrilled with the performance of our outgoing Year 11 students - they have broken all the records. However, we still have lots of work to do. I won't rest until this is an outstanding college with consistently impressive results"
Student overcomes heart op for top marks
...from the Cambridge Evening News
Beth Reeve, 16, of Swavesey, spent a week in Great Ormond Street Hospital and had a total of 12 weeks off school, but she managed to gain an impressive two As, four Bs and a C in her GCSE studies.
Beth, who also changed schools in Year 10 to move to Manor Community College, has been awarded a scholarship at the Cambridge Centre for Sixth-Form Studies (CCSS) in September.
She said: "I am really pleased with my results and the feeling was brilliant when I opened them up.
...click here to read more
Olympic feat as GCSE records take a tumble
...from the Cambridge Evening News
RECORDS were shattered as the GCSE students of mid-Anglia covered themselves in glory with top-class grades.
School after school reported results that surpassed anything previously achieved as joyous students opened the envelopes with delight to reveal stellar scores.
... The turnaround at Manor Community College continues with the percentage achieving five or more A* to C grades rising from 32 per cent in 2007 to 48 per cent this year. Including maths and English in the five subjects, the figures rose from 26 per cent to 42 per cent.
Principal Ben Slade said: "The results reflect the hard work of the students and the staff guiding them. These are the best results for 20 years, but we still have a continued school improvement job to do. I won't rest until this is an outstanding school in the next Ofsted inspection."
... Councillor Martin Curtis, Cambridgeshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Children, congratulated students and school staff.
He said: "The results announced so far indicate that Cambridgeshire's GCSE students have excelled again.
"Their success is down to many months of commitment and study, supported by their families and inspired by the professionalism and dedication of their teachers. My warmest congratulations go out to them all."
Schools in new jump up tables
BRIGHT pupils from across the region have recorded another top-notch set of results in exams for 14-year-olds.
...click here to read more
Abovo Creative Invests in Local School
Abovo Creative, the new international online and offline design agency in Cambridge, has teamed up with Manor Community College to offer pupils a chance to get creative this festive season with a view to winning an amazing new student only website courtesy of Abovo Creative.
The collaboration with Manor Community College is part of Abovo Creative's already growing portfolio of community-based projects. The company has kindly donated Manor a 12ft Christmas tree for the pupils to decorate with creative designs before the Christmas break. After the winning design has been chosen the young budding designers will be working closely with Abovo Creative in order to create their new student only website.
Justin Pardy, Abovo Creative Director, comments: "We are always keen to work with various organisations in the area and are incredibly excited about working with Manor's young creative talent."
Principal Ben Slade said "This is a great initiative which really celebrates our new status as a Creative and Performing Arts Specialist College. The new student only website is an exciting idea and I am delighted that Abovo have chosen to work with Manor Community College. Things are changing here and we want to be at the forefront of what’s happening in Cambridgeshire. I understand the Christmas tree came from the same growers as the one outside 10 Downing Street. If it is good enough for Gordon, it is good enough for Manor".
More information about this press release and Abovo Creative can be found by clicking this link.
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