A Norwich school is celebrating becoming a Church of England academy.
The Bishop of Norwich toured Open Academy in Heartsease, meeting pupils and staff and leading assemblies, to celebrate it becoming a Church of England School.
Pupils told him that some of their favourite things about the school were that it was fun, sporty and inclusive, with good teachers and interesting lessons.
The school, judged ‘good’ by Ofsted last year, carried out extensive consultation about becoming a Church of England academy. More than 96% of responses were in favour.
Principal Jon Ford said, “We are delighted. Open Academy has become a beacon of success in inclusive education precisely because we are driven by our strong Christian values. We will remain proudly welcoming of all students from our local community. Our new faith designation will protect our inclusive ethos and ensure that our whole community knows it is loved and valued. As in all church schools, we will continue to welcome children, staff and visitors of all faiths and none.”
Welcoming the school into Norfolk’s family of Church of England Schools, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, blessed two crosses to be displayed at the school and said: “I am delighted that the Open Academy has become a Church of England school. Our schools support students from a wide variety of communities and we are committed to enabling students to find life in all its fullness within the distinctive Christian ethos of our schools where there is a deep respect and care for all.”
He spoke to pupils about serving and helping others and met some of its student leaders and some of its most vulnerable students and the staff who work with them.
Mr Ford said it had been an inspirational day, and a chance to show the bishop why being a Church of England school is so important to the work of Open Academy.
Open Academy was established with a Christian ethos in 2009 and has been part of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT) for more than a decade – but has just been redesignated as a Church of England School by the Department for Education.
Oliver Burwood, CEO of DNEAT, said: “It became clear that the overwhelming desire of the community was for Open Academy to become officially a Church of England academy.”
It was the first academy school in Norfolk and is now the first DNEAT secondary school. More than a quarter of young people in the Diocese of Norwich area attend Church of England Schools.
Year 11 Open Academy student Riley Benfield acted as official photographer when the Bishop of Norwich visited to celebrate the Norwich school becoming a Church of England academy.