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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 25 November 2024

Former Chair of Governors recognised for significant contributions to the school with volunteer award

Madeleine Jackson, who served as Chair of Governors at Abbey College for over 30 years, has been commended for her contributions with the ‘Hadge Yeandle Community Volunteer Award.’

Following a fond farewell in summer, the former Chair was presented with the award for her exceptional dedication to Abbey College’s community on 1 November 2024.

The award was developed by Rotary in Ramsey in honour of one of its founding members, Henry Squire Yeandle, known as ‘Hadge’ by his friends.

Further details can be found:

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/community/former-chair-of-governors-at-abbey-college-recognised-with-volunteer-award-4867367

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/former-chair-of-governors-at-abbey-college-recognised-with-volunteer-award/ar-AA1u5bOT

https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/24733859.abbey-college-chair-governors-award-31-years-service/

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 23 August 2024

Students and staff celebrate as they received an exceptional set of GCSE results today.

Andy Christoforou, Headteacher at Abbey College, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for achieving these exceptional results. It is really pleasing to see their dedication, resilience and hard work has been rewarded with fantastic achievements.”

“These results are a real testament to our students’ commitment over the last few years.

“We are delighted to see so many of our students returning to Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form in September to complete their A-Levels and look forward to welcoming them back.”

These initial results indicate that students continue to make excellent progress during their time at Abbey College.

Overall, this year saw more students achieving Grades 4 and 5 or higher in the core subjects, and individual successes at Abbey College included:

• Emily achieved seven grade 9s and three grade 8s. She is looking to continue her studies at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form and pursuing her interests in Maths, Further Maths, and Science.
• Frankie achieved a grade 8 in Maths and grade 7 in English Language and Literature. He is continuing his studies in these subjects as A-Levels at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form.
• Tim achieved a grade 9 in Physics and five other grade 8s. He is looking to continue his learning at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form and will be studying Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths.
• Amelia achieved seven grade 8s, including Psychology which she is looking to continue at A Level.
• Freya achieved a grade 9 in Art as well as a further four 8s. She is staying on at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form to pursue her interests in Physics, Maths and Further Maths.
• Hannah achieved grade 8 in English and Maths and will be continuing her study of English at A Level. 

Several students from Abbey College, including Emily and Frankie, came directly from the airport to collect their results after a month-long adventure in Borneo with Camps International.

https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/24536271.ramsey-abbey-college-students-celebrate-gcse-results-2024/

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/education/abbey-college-celebrating-exceptional-gcse-results-4753015

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 15 August 2024

Staff and students at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form are celebrating brilliant post-16 results.

Strong results were achieved across many subject areas including Maths, Further Maths, and History, and vocational subjects such as Sport Studies and Business.

Initial indications suggest that the vast majority of students have been offered places at their first-choice universities.

Formerly known as Abbey College Sixth Form, Ramsey Gatehouse recently relaunched its post-16 offer, further developing and refining this whilst remaining at the heart of Abbey College’s site.

Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form launched its new offer across Huntingdonshire last September. The sixth form has undergone significant improvements and offers a diverse range of academic and vocational subjects that suit various student needs and help them achieve their career aspirations.

The full press release can be found here: https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/24519866.ramsey-gatehouse-sixth-form-students-a-level-results-2024/

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 04 July 2024

Students at Abbey College and Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form have been taking an active role in learning about democracy and politics with a unique mock election experience.

Our students have been preparing for the upcoming General Election. They have taken part in a series of engaging activities, ranging from campaign speeches to creating their own manifesto.

Watch the video here as our students go through the voting process.

A valuable learning experience for all involved!

See the Hunts POst article here: https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/24424597.students-two-ramsey-schools-held-mock-election/

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 17 April 2024

Before the Easter holidays, the hardwork of the English Department paid off and the new library was opened. Students, families, staff and governors attended the event which was opened by Louis de Bernières, author of Captain Corelli’s Mandoline. Further details can be read here: https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/education/abbey-college-opens-its-new-library-4572281

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 26 February 2024

Last term, Abbey College in Ramsey received an amazing donation of STEM kits from parent Mrs. Kamau and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Since then, Mrs. Kamau, has been into school to support captivating sessions for our Offer and Opportunity Programme #OOP! Students got to grips with extracting DNA from strawberries with our amazing new kits. Each attendee also received their very own science-goody bag, complete with a lab coat, goggles, and a notebook!

For more information, please see: https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/education/abbey-college-celebrates-generous-donation-of-stem-kits-4524662

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 15 January 2024

Abbey College has been awarded for the mental health support it offers.  They received the gold-status award from Leeds Beckett University which has a research unit dedicated to mental health in schools and the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools Initiative praised Abbey College for having mental health awareness at the core of its mission.  

Further details in the press release: https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/24042224.abbey-college-ramsey-awarded-mental-health-support/

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 16 November 2023

Abbey College Ramsey celebrates ‘Good with Outstanding features’ Ofsted report

Students and staff at Abbey College and Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form are celebrating after Ofsted inspectors found that the school continued to be ‘Good’ and rated its personal development and sixth form as being ‘Outstanding’.

The report, which comes just after the launch of its new Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form, praises the whole school on its “calm environment that ensures pupils feel safe” and “rich and diverse personal development curriculum”, as well as “expert teaching” for post-16 students at Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form.

Quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were each rated ‘Good’, with personal development and sixth-form provision considered ‘Outstanding’. This led to an overall rating of ‘Good’.

Andy Christoforou, Headteacher at Abbey College said: “We are thrilled by the incredibly positive comments made by Ofsted inspectors. Securing another ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted, especially after changes to the inspection framework and disruption caused by COVID-19, is a testament to the tireless efforts of our dedicated staff, students, parents, and community. It’s humbling to know that we provide our community with the high-quality education and outstanding sixth form it deserves.”

The school has received awards for its outstanding contributions in areas of personal development, the arts, mental health support, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, whilst introducing Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form to ‘further develop and refine’ its Post-16 offer.

Mr Christoforou continued: “It has been a remarkable year for us, marked by numerous accolades that wholeheartedly recognise our efforts. Whether through our personal development programmes, dedicated commitment to the arts and mental health support, or the school’s inclusive and nurturing environment, we aim to leave a positive impact on every facet of our students’ lives.

“I am particularly pleased to note the praise for our school’s core values of humility, intuition and passion shone through the report. These qualities underpin our dedication to not only academic excellence but our commitment to shaping our students into well-rounded individuals.”

The report heaped praise on the school’s teachers and students in all areas of the report:

• ‘Pupils at Abbey College are happy, kind and friendly’
• ‘Pupils benefit from an orderly, calm environment’
• ‘Within lessons, disruption is rare’
• ‘Their interactions with adults and other pupils are very respectful’
• ‘Routines are clearly understood and followed’
• ‘Pupils benefit from an orderly, calm environment. Pupils queue up sensibly at the start of the day and before lessons. They move around the school very considerately. Transitions between lessons and social time are made in a calm manner’
• ‘These established routines ensure that pupils feel safe.’
• ‘The school has very high expectations for what students should achieve’
• ‘[Pupils] are well prepared to realise their potential because they study a rich and varied, well-taught curriculum’
• ‘Teachers have high expectations of what pupils should achieve’
• ‘Teachers have the appropriate subject knowledge to teach the curriculum well. Teachers routinely check what pupils remember and understand’
• ‘Teachers are skilled at adapting their teaching if there are gaps in what pupils remember’
• There are clear processes to identify and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)’
• ‘…pupils with SEND access the school’s ambitious curriculum, achieve well, and keep up with their peers’
• ‘Students speak passionately about the varied and interesting careers guidance they receive. They are extremely well prepared for future study or work.’
• ‘Governors fulfil their role and statutory duties with skill and dedication’
• ‘The arrangements for safeguarding are effective’
• ‘Students in the sixth form benefit significantly due to an ambitious curriculum and expert teaching’
• ‘Students speak passionately about the varied and interesting careers guidance they receive’
• ‘Pupils have an excellent understanding of the leadership opportunities that are open to them once they finish school and how to achieve them’
• ‘Pupils benefit from a rich and diverse personal development curriculum’
• ‘The school has carefully considered how to develop pupils’ character as well as their skills and interests’
• ‘Pupils talk with pride about the additional skills they learn that prepare them well for their adult lives’
• ‘Pupils are actively involved in the wider community. Pupils gain resilience and confidence’

Samantha Moore, Head of Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form, said: “We are delighted at the ‘Outstanding’ rating for our sixth-form provision in Ramsey.

“Our aim has always been to provide a supportive and enriching environment for our older students, where they can flourish academically and personally. Besides their academic accomplishments, what truly makes us proud is how the report illustrates our student’s growth into young adults, fully prepared to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

The report can be read here.

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 18 September 2023

Abbey College receives LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag Award

Staff and students at Abbey College, Ramsey have received an award for their commitment to improving inclusion and diversity.

This recognition underscores the school’s commitment to raising visibility of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, plus other related identities) rights and combatting instances of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

Siobhan Dowd, Assistant Headteacher and Moral and Spiritual Lead, said: “We are thrilled to  have achieved the LGBT+ Rainbow Flag Award, which is a testament to our three Spirit virtues: humility, institution and passion. I’m proud of our staff and students who work towards these principles every day, leading us to receive this incredible recognition.”

The Rainbow Flag Award is granted to schools that excel in six areas: skilled teacher, supportive governors and parents, effective policies, inclusive curriculum, pastoral support and student voice.

Staff at Abbey College proactively educate students about equality and diversity by implementing an inclusive curriculum and comprehensive PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic) programmes.

The school amplifies its students’ voices, promoting an environment where they are empowered to express their perspectives and concerns. A significant aspect of this effort is its dedicated Pride Group, consisting of students who actively take part in curriculum planning to ensure it remains responsive to evolving needs. The group plays a crucial role in identifying and addressing any comments or behaviours that do not uphold inclusivity standards.

Additionally, Abbey College has revised its school policies, and signposts to support spaces where students can seek advice.

Students were overjoyed when they learnt the news, and a founding member of the school’s Pride club said: “The progress our school has taken towards the Award has made it a better environment and a more inclusive place for everyone.”

Siobhan continued: “We believe in providing a safe environment where our staff and students celebrate one another’s differences and consider the impact of our actions on those around us.

“This award reaffirms our dedication to improving the lives of all young people and aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire inclusive and acceptance in our students.”

The project has been funded by the Government Equalities Office, via the Department for Education (DfE).

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Written by Katie Dodsley

Published: 24 August 2023

Abbey College proud of remarkable GCSE achievements

Students and staff at Abbey College are glowing with pride after receiving their GCSE results today.

Andy Christoforou, Headteacher at Abbey College, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and perseverance leading up to their outstanding results today.

“While the exams were sat under more usual conditions, we must not forget the significant disruption these students have faced during their secondary education. After completing Year 7, the pandemic forced most students to complete their learning away from schools as the country battled the challenges of COVID-19.

“These are truly remarkable results, especially given this context, and are a testament to the hard work they have put in over the past few years. We look forward to seeing many of them returning to our brand new Sixth Form, Ramsey Gatehouse Sixth Form, in September.

“The tireless efforts of our excellent teaching and support staff should also be recognised. They have all worked above and beyond to help students secure these excellent results.”

Strong results were secured across the whole curriculum, including GCSEs in Maths, English Literature, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, French, Art, and Physical Education. Vocational courses in Music and Business Studies also secured high grades, with an average grade of a Distinction.

Individual successes at Abbey College include:

• Year 11 student, Isabelle, achieved 11 Grade 9s and one Grade 8.
• Annabelle McCabe achieved 9 Grade 9s and 3 Grade 8s.
• Taylor Foss achieved five Grade 9s and 4 Grade 8s, as well as a Level 2 Distinction.
• Travis Lindsay achieved 6 Grade 9s and 3 Grade 8s, as well as a Level 2 Distinction* and a Level 2 Distinction.
• Tom Waterworth achieved four Grade 7s, alongside a Level 2 Distinction and 5 Grade 6s, whilst competing in the British Schools Championship where he won two Gold medals at middle distance, one at 800m and one in the 4x400m relay. Tom is the English Schools Champion and has also been selected to represent England in the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB).