Home Page Haverhill News

Young people from across Haverhill and beyond celebrated last Wednesday as the three schools that form the Castle Partnership Academy Trust joined together.

The three schools, Burton End Primary School, Castle Manor Academy and Place Farm Primary
Academy, made their way to the centre of the Castle Partnership Campus for a unique photo.

Over 1,500 people, including pupils, students, teachers, support staff, governors and directors formed the partnership logo, while a picture was taken from a radio-controlled hexacopter.

The event was designed as a celebration of the increased work that the schools are doing together.

As well as youngsters from the three schools there were also year six (ten and 11-year-olds)
students that will be joining Castle Manor Academy in September.

The variety of schools represented was a testament to the excellent work done as part of the family of schools and in Haverhill wide events.

This is the first time that the whole partnership has been together like this in one place.

People from the ages of two to 74 were gathered on the field as a reminder of the partnership’s focus on all-­through learning.

Following extensive planning the day began early with signs, a PA system and drinks stations being put in place before marshals, both
staff and students, lined the routes in.

Then began the task of getting over 1,500 people from four sites into one place.

The partnership pulled together and with military precision pupils came in from Burton End Primary School and Place Farm Primary Academy to take their spot in the logo.

Students from Castle Manor Academy joined them from both sites, before the synchronised arrival of the youngest pupils to take their spot.

With some encouragement and some musical entertainment the waiting young people kept themselves busy with songs, loud group hellos and a Mexican wave or two.

Finally it was time to look up to the waiting hexacopter and smile for a photo or two.

Vanessa Whitcombe, partnership director of learning and teaching, took a central role in co-ordinating students as they arrived.

She said: “Gathering so many people in one space could have been a difficult challenge. Our young people rose to this challenge, behaved impeccably and worked together as a team to produce a fantastic result.”

After the event primary pupils stopped for a drink on the field, while the Castle Manor students supported, before making their way back to lessons.

Each and every person in the partnership now knows what it is like to be amongst 1,500 people and how they can all pull together to make atruly memorable occasion!

Madeleine Vigar, executive principal of the trust, was very happy to see the event a
success.

She said: “Today’s event was a real symbol of the work we do within the partnership each and every day.

"Having all three of our schools together, in their entirety is symbolic to us.”

Ms Vigar has overall responsibility for the three schools and works closely with heads of
school to deliver the very best education and maintain high standards.

She said: “We are confident that all-­through
education is working for our young people and
I am sure they will remember today’s event for
a long time to come!”