Academy aims for ‘outstanding’
Since opening 2 years ago, City Academy’s “improvement has been rapid” according to Ofsted.
Praised by inspectors, the former failing school is now aiming for ‘outstanding’ by 2014.
Pupils will move into the brand new school being built on the corner of Earlham and Bluebell Roads in May 2012. Building work is ahead of schedule, which means the former Earlham High site will be demolished by next summer.
Principal at City Academy Norwich (CAN), David Brunton said he was “absolutely delighted” with the school’s Ofsted report: “What came as a surprise was how many aspects were graded outstanding.” The Ofsted report comes ahead of the school’s Open Morning this Saturday. The fencing around the new building will be removed allowing prospective parents and pupils a glimpse of what the school will look like by next September.
As an Academy with specialisms in English and Digital Technology, the new £22m building will be fitted out with the latest IT equipment. Ofsted praised the school for having “a clear mission” with a “very highly motivated leadership team and staff body and imaginative strategic planning with highly challenging targets.” The teaching is “good, with an increasing proportion of lessons which are outstanding.”
The Academy draws on its sponsors for support: the University of East Anglia provides 50 hours of student mentoring a week; Norwich School offer students lessons in Latin and Philosophy, while City College Norwich offers pupils a range of vocational 
courses. According the principal, the school tries to offer as many different subjects as possible: “What we really want to do is… we want them to find a passion.” The school offers pupils the chance to take some GCSEs in subjects aged 13 or 14, by extending the school day.
As Earlham High, statistics show the school was failing to attract pupils who lived on Bluebell Road. This year, the prinicpal hopes to attract a full year group of 180 pupils. As Ofsted reports: “The roll is increasing; the academy is becoming more popular with parents.”
CAN Open Morning: Saturday 15th October 10-12 am
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