newsletter Transition
Special Edition: Spring 2019
Most improved results in Newham after joining the Community Schools Trust CUMBERLAND School is the most improved in Newham for GCSE results, according to statistics released in January. Less than a year after joining the Community Schools Trust, grades jumped by a remarkable eight per cent this summer. Results in the core subjects of English and maths saw a significant spike, despite a tougher new numerical GCSE grading system. In total, 60 per cent of students passed maths and English with grades between 9 and 4, equivalent to the old A*-C, up from 52 per cent last year. Headteacher Gillian Dineen said that standards had improved since joining the Community Schools Trust. Speaking in the summer, Ms Dineen said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the students.
There’s such a buzz at results day this year. “Joining the CST has made a tremendous difference to both our ambition and capacity at Cumberland. “Working with an incredibly highachieving trust means we can learn from some exceptional educators while sharing ideas and expertise. “While our results have improved significantly, we will continue to strive for improvement. This is a journey that will help us become an Outstanding school. Today we took an important step.” Executive headteacher Simon Elliott said in the summer: “An eight per cent rise, in anyone’s book, is a very strong improvement but our aim is to be among not just the bestperforming schools in the borough but the entire country. “That is where Forest Gate Community is and that is where we are taking The Cumberland School. Be certain of this – I will not rest until we get there.”
Delight: Exam results day brought joy for many students at The Cumberland School
On track to emulate Forest Gate THE Cumberland School took the first step towards becoming Ofsted-rated Outstanding when joining the Community Schools Trust (CST) in May 2018. The school works in partnership with Forest Gate Community School, which has been ranked in the top 50 schools in the country three years in a row. The two schools share expertise, good practice and resources but each school retains their own identity, including name and uniform. Since joining the CST, the school has
introduced a free breakfast for all students and staff, extra funding for experienced teachers and resources for special education needs. Last year, the school recorded the most improved GCSE results in the borough of Newham with grades 5 and above in English and maths jumping by eight percent.
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THE CUMBERLAND SCHOOL: ROAD TO SUCCESS
Reggie’s inspirational tale of progress
Return visit: Reggie with his former teacher Janet Moore
FORMER student Reggie Nelson inspired students with his remarkable success story when returning to the school. During a visit last October, Reggie told how knocking on the doors of Britain’s most expensive homes set him on the path to a top career. His bravado earned him work experience at a top City firm after impressing a wealthy banker. His story was also featured in a BBC documentary. He then enrolled on an economics degree at university and now
Student Maheraj earns Eton place TALENTED Year 11 student Maheraj Ahmed won a £76,000 scholarship to Eton, the school attended by Princes William and Harry, thanks to our new Prestigious Colleges programme. He will rub shoulders with the elite when he takes his place to study A-Levels in history, chemistry, biology and physics at Britain’s most famous school in September. Maheraj, who also attended Hallsville Primary, won his place after coming through a
Bright future: Maheraj with his family gruelling three-day assessment at the Berkshire school, which included three entrance exams, seven interviews and a public debate. He is the first graduate of The Cumberland School’s new Prestigious Colleges programme, which helps students win places at fee-paying independent sixth forms. The programme, which was pioneered at our partner school Forest Gate Community, was introduced by the Community Schools Trust last year. Maheraj was mentored throughout
the application process by our executive headteacher and CEO of the Community Schools Trust, Mr Elliott. Maheraj said: “The second I knew I had been accepted by Eton I knew my life had changed beyond all recognition. What Mr Elliott and the headteacher, Ms Dineen, have done can never really repaid. “I can’t imagine any school in the East End or any state school where you have your own mentor, who works with you every day, who pushes you and is willing you to succeed.”
earns a top salary working as a finance analyst for Legal and General Investment Management. He said: “I hope that having someone like me come to talk to students, someone they can relate to and who grew up in the same place and in this instance went to the same school, can help them see a more positive path. “I share my story because I want people like me to understand that you can change, you can make a better life for yourself.“
Supti’s wise study advice FORMER student Supti Akhtar, now studying at the world’s best university, has urged current pupils to work hard at their exams. Supti (below) is in her third year of a history degree at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, ranked the top university in the world last year. She left The Cumberland School with straight As in her GCSEs thanks to extra study classes, before studying A-Levels. She has advised our current Year 11s to take advantage of the support on offer in revision sessions and to study hard over the next few months to get top grades in their GCSEs. Speaking in our newsletter last December, she said: “Studying at Cumberland really helped me understand that with hard work there is nothing you cannot achieve. “The Year 11 students who are at the school now have so many resources available to them. They should go to all the revision sessions and take advantage of the teachers’ support.”
Przemyslaw heading to country’s leading stage school AN aspiring young actor who couldn’t speak English when he arrived in the country four years ago has now been offered a place at singer Adele’s old stage school. Cumberland School student Przemyslaw Glowacki added to his list of already impressive achievements when he was offered a spot at the BRIT School’s twoyear theatre course. Przemyslaw will cross London to learn stage craft from the country’s top tutors, who have helped to produce a conveyor belt of top stars in the entertainment
industry. Known as the country’s leading stage school, other big names to have passed through the school’s halls in Croydon, south London, include Spider-Man actor Tom Holland and singers Amy Winehouse and Jesse J. This is not the first time Przemyslaw has been given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his acting idols. Last May, the Forest Gate teen was accepted by the National Youth Theatre, which has turned out talent including James Bond actor Daniel Craig, Oscar-winning actress Dame
Helen Mirren and Luther star Idris Elba. His success is made all the more remarkable given he did not speak a word of English when he arrived at The Cumberland School in 2014. He said: “Without question it is my school that has made this happen. When I came to Cumberland, I was very shy, not really knowing the language. “They made such a big effort to make me feel welcome and part of the school. They helped me with additional classes to get my English up to scratch.”
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THE CUMBERLAND SCHOOL: ROAD TO SUCCESS
I’m certain this school is building success
Mum Ruksana Akthar explains why despite having never heard of The Cumberland School when her daughter Arifah was allocated a place, she is now happy she is a student at the school...
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Cumberland wasn’t even on my list – if I’m honest I hadn’t heard of the school because I live quite far away in Forest Gate. My first choice was Forest Gate Community and when I didn’t get that or any of my other choices, I was disappointed. When I realised Cumberland was being helped by Forest Gate Community School, I
she is happy at this school and is making friends and progressing very well in her studies. As a parent that is what you want. It is clear that they are building success at this school brick by brick. There is work to be
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was glad and decided that I would give it a try. I knew Forest Gate was not a very good school when the headteacher took over but now it is one of the best in the country. Ms Dineen, the headteacher here, sat and talked to me for half an hour in her office and I was convinced that Cumberland was going in the right direction. I am so pleased with my daughter’s development since she has been here. She talks a lot about how helpful all the teachers are and how much support she gets. Most importantly,
done but they have the right team to make it happen. My advice to any parents who are in the same position as I was last year, is to stay here and try Cumberland. It was the right decision for us.
Latest students have settled in nicely Our current Year 7 students have completed nearly two terms at The Cumberland School. Here four of them talk about their experience so far...
Arifah Akthar joined us from Earlham Primary School. Arifah said: “The teachers here are just amazing, they are so helpful and really make you feel welcome. “I was a bit worried coming here from primary school because it is a big change but now I wonder why I was worried. It’s so nice here.”
EriK Davtyan joined us from Dersingham Primary School. He said: “I was worried that it would be difficult to make friends but all the activities the school put on make it really easy. “You take part in lots of activities to make sure that you are able to make new friends quickly and settle at school.”
Aleena Baig joined us from Central Park Primary. Aleena said: “We did not get to do a wide variety of subjects at primary school so having the opportunity to learn more subjects is great. “I love my history lessons because it gives you a chance to learn about the past and its impact on life now.”
Diamond Correa joined us from Ranleigh Primary School. She said: “Since I have been at Cumberland I have been involved with lots of extracurricular groups after school. “There is something here for everyone and every interest. I really like music club because I love to sing.”
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THE CUMBERLAND SCHOOL: ROAD TO SUCCESS
Helping our new Year 7 to settle is our first aim
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... says headteacher Gillian Dineen WE are very pleased to welcome you as new members of our school community. Our students are warm, open and engaged young people with a thirst for learning and a desire to be successful. As you will read in this newsletter, we have recently joined forces with high achieving school Forest Gate Community. It cannot be underestimated the changes that have taken place within this school since our two schools have been working together. Alongside extra resources for Special Educational Needs, free breakfasts and experienced teachers, our partnership has brought a renewed focus on academic achievement. This is a school community that has extremely high ambitions for the families and the young people we serve. There has never been a better time to join The Cumberland School. We are very glad you have joined us on this journey to becoming an Outstanding school.
Head of Learning William Plange-Rhule says making students feel happy, safe and welcome is the number one priority when the young learners join us in September...
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The transition programme starts at Cumberland with a visit to primary schools to meet students who will be joining us in September. We will visit their teachers and get the necessary information we will need to make sure the support we give each student is tailored to them. We also hold a transition day in June where each student will get the chance to meet their
form group and tutor and become familiar with the school. The first day at secondary school is always quite daunting so Year 7 are invited in a day earlier to make sure that transition is as easy as possible. It gives them the chance to learn the layout of the school without having the older year groups around. The support that students receive in Year 7 is ongoing. Every day I go out in the playground to see if there are any Year 7 students sitting on their own. If they are, I will talk to them, try to pair them with another student and ask them to join my mentoring. Those who are struggling
are never left to get on with it but are given tailored one-to-one support. The school also has a counsellor available for any students who have any issues they would like to discuss with a trained professional. As you will read in this newsletter, the school has made a huge improvement in academic standards in the previous few years. This is incredibly important but our first priority for students arriving in Year 7 is to make sure they feel at home in our school. We want them to feel supported, safe and ready to learn.
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We have high ambitions for our students
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Committed to driving up academic standards A message from Executive Headteacher Simon Elliott
same rigorous approach to driving up academic standards. It was not that the teachers and students were not working hard enough, it was that the right procedures were not in place to help them to thrive. There is a huge amount
of talent in the teaching and leadership team at this school – all we have done is focus that in the right direction. The improvement in GCSE results at The Cumberland School did not happen by accident this year. It will be repeated and improved upon every year you are a parent at this school. I have done it at Forest Gate Community and I will do it at Cumberland.
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Welcome to our school. You will find it to be a highly motivated, ambitious and supportive learning environment. When I joined Forest Gate Community School as headteacher, it is fair to say we were underperforming in the area of exams. We worked extremely hard to turn it from a school failing to live up to its potential to one of the very best in the country. Families at Cumberland can expect the
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