Heart Education Trust

A Multi Academy Trust established in 2013 for schools in Norwich and Norfolk.

Chloe Smith Congratulates Top Performing School

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Author: Cameron Bradbury, Updated: 31 January 2020 14:55

Six primary schools in Norwich North have showed an increase in the proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, visited the top performing school of the six.  

The 2019 Key Stage 2 results, which were published on the 13th December, showed that the national average had increased to 65% this year. These results are the fourth of their kind since the Department for Education introduced more rigorous assessments to align with the new national curriculum in 2016.

This has brought England’s primary education in line with the best in the world. Each year, more children are meeting the high expectations it sets.

The six primary schools showing a performance increase in Key Stage 2 results were the following:

Heartsease Primary Academy (2018: 41% 2019: 57%)

https://www.chloesmith.org.uk/Template/Chloe-and-C.-Kenna-002.jpg

Catton Grove Primary School (2018: 49% 2019: 63%

St William’s Primary School (2018: 55% 2019: 62%)

Firside Junior School (2018: 68% 2019: 75%)

Sprowston Junior School (2018: 60% 2019: 61%)

George White Junior School (2018: 66% 2019: 67%)

Chloe Smith paid a visit to Heartsease Primary Academy and met with Christina Kenna who is the CEO and Accounting Officer of the HEART Education Trust. Chloe congratulated Ms Kenna on Heartsease’s huge increase in Key Stage 2 performance data and thanked her for all the work her staff, parents and herself had put into the school.                                                                                                                                                 

Chloe Smith said “I am so proud to see this increase in results from primary schools in my constituency. It goes to show the sheer dedication parents and staff put in, to make children’s learning experiences, educational knowledge and school life as fruitful as possible”.   Christina Kenna commented “It is great to see these kinds of improvements in Key Stage 2 data. We have worked hard at Heartsease to improve on the results of 2018, and clearly these results show what we have been doing with the children is working”.

Academy Trust Seeks to Improve Children’s Futures Through Health and Sustainability Initiative

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The HEART Education Trust in Norfolk has launched an initiative to increase the uptake of universal infant free school meals across its four primary academies.  From 6th January, pupils will no longer bring packed lunches to school but will instead get a free hot meal.  Trust CEO Christina Kenna said, “We have introduced this new initiative as part of our vision to give children the best possible chances in life.  Not only will they concentrate better and be ready to learn if they have had a proper hot meal at lunchtime, but they will also learn to make healthier choices about what they eat and get the right nutrition to grow up healthy.”  A 2012 pilot study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that Year 6 students in areas of universal provision made an additional two months’ progress over the course of two years relative to similar students in other areas. These significant effects were roughly equivalent to the benefits from national programmes such as the “literacy hour”.

Trust leaders cite a 2018 Education Policy Institute report, where parents were said to be saving an average of 50 minutes and £10 each week as a result of UIFSM.  “Schools receive funding specifically for the purpose of providing hot meals to children in Reception and Key Stage One” says Trust COO, Hazel Cubbage.  “It seems ridiculous for parents to struggle to plan and pay for lunches when we can provide them for free.”

The Trust says that parents of children with special dietary requirements should not be concerned by the move.  “We have worked closely with our caterers to ensure we can provide a wide menu selection that accommodates a range of dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options.  Children will have a choice between three hot meal options, a jacket potato with a selection of three different toppings and access to a salad bar.”

In its letter to parents communicating the initiative, the Trust referred to the positive difference it would make to preserving the planet for its children.  Trust COO, Hazel Cubbage, said “Everything we do is about improving the futures of our children, but what future will they have if we destroy their planet and teach them to do the same? We are incredibly conscious of our responsibility as an organisation to make sustainable choices.” 

The Trust advises that the initiative is completely in keeping with its organisational values, which include inspiring and empowering personal growth, promoting social mobility and a commitment to social responsibility.  “At The HEART Education Trust we are trailblazers.  It is our hope that other schools and academies will see what we are doing and follow suit.”

Key Stage 2 pupils, who are not entitled to free meals under the government’s UIFSM programme will continue to bring in packed lunches. 

Author, Jack Trelawny, visits pupils at Heartsease Primary Academy

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Heartsease Primary Academy were recently visited by the author Jack Trelawny. He talked to children in years 2 to 6 about how stories are everywhere and that you can start to write about real life experiences. They loved the funny pictures he showed them and enjoyed hearing him read from one of his books. Some of the children bought copies of his books and are loving reading them.

GB Athlete Emma Finnegan visit to Heartsease

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Heartsease Primary Academy had a fabulous day when British BMX World Cup Freestyler Emma Finnegan came into school to share her inspirational journey and future aspirations with everyone on Tuesday 30th April.  The pupils thoroughly enjoyed her visit and were suitably inspired.

Thank you to everyone who donated 50p for the ‘Wear your p.e./sports kit to school Day’ on the day. £181 was raised which will go towards the ‘Inspire Through Sport’ charity.

Year 5 pupil’s visit from the Pop-up Planetarium

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In connection with the year 5 topic on space, on Thursday 9th May, Heartsease Primary Academy hosted a ‘pop-up planetarium’. They were joined by Year 5 classes from all the other trust schools. Children were taken on a spectacular journey through our solar system, from the Sun way out to Neptune, and beyond. Most children had not been in a planetarium before and they loved the experience, as well as learning a great deal. We’d like to thank Miss Williams at Lingwood for arranging this exciting event.   

Into Opera workshop Heartsease Primary Academy – EDP article 27/03/19

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Last Week some of our Year 4 children from Heartsease Primary Academy were able to take part in a brilliant Opera Workshop held at Sprowston Junior School.

This links to their work with Into Opera, who have been composing and writing an Opera with pupils in year 4.

Take a look at the article for more information…
https://www.edp24.co.uk/…/patrick-hawes-into-opera-norfolk-…

Young Journalist Academy – more exciting articles from our pupils at Heartsease Primary Academy

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Four more articles have been published on the Young Journalist Academy website over the weekend.
They were written collaboratively by a number of pupils in our Year 5 class at Heartsease Primary Academy.
They are all really enjoying the process and are excited about recording their radio programmes!
Read all about them at:-