We asked our Parents to comment on their experience with the CE Academy. Below are some of their responses:
“I have found the Cromwell Campus have been very forward in advising me of any concerns or achievements of (my son). I am very happy with what the school has provided for (my son).”
“If (my daughter) had stayed at her school she wouldn’t have sat any exams. She has worked really hard at Overleys. It’s like she’s a different girl.”
“Once (my son) learnt to settle and communicate with teachers he made a huge amount of progress. Six months ago we thought he would get no exams or work. Now he has applied for the army and has 4 exams. (He) has been inspired by the opportunities he has had at CE which he would not have had in mainstream. The personalised lessons and relationships have helped.”
“I feel that (my son’s) experience at The CE Academy was very beneficial for him. He seemed to get on better with small group sizes and he also enjoyed the college courses that he attended.”
“We as a family have found Overleys to be the most amazing school. The teachers have been very supportive, caring and helped both us and our daughter. Although at times there have been challenges, they have never given up and as a result she has completed her exams. She has had brilliant support, she is moving forward and has a bright future. So thank you all of the staff for everything”.
“I’m happy with how the school has been… and a lot of good things have come from him attending your school. This service is a great help for a lot of pupils. Thank you all for welcoming and helping out both of my sons.”
“The communication that I have had from staff at CE Academy – I could not fault this. Since (my son) has been attending CE Academy he has improved immensely and his behaviour has much improved at home. He praises all of the staff for the encouragement they have given him. He enjoys school now much more than he used to. The staff at CE Academy should be proud of yourselves as you all do a fab job, and I know (he) will miss you all.”
“We feel that (his) behaviour and attitude have much improved since being at the Campus. We also feel that if he had stayed at (mainstream school) he would not have progressed as much as he has done at the Campus. So big credit must go to all staff at Cromwell Campus.”
Letters sent to us from our Parents/Carers:
An email received in 2024 from the parents of a former pupil at the Fairlawn Campus
Dear All,
In January 20.., C… started at Fairlawn after three very difficult and traumatic years in mainstream education. C… was broken, her self-esteem and self-worth practically non-existent, made to feel like the problem, a naughty, mis-behaved child who couldn’t conform to rigid expectations. We all couldn’t go on as we were and needed something to change, especially C….
That change came when she began at Fairlawn. As her parents, we wanted her to be somewhere where she would be able to achieve and hopefully gain some GCSE’s. More importantly, we wanted her to be within a smaller environment with the extra support in place that she so desperately needed. We were of course apprehensive about the people she might meet, AP’s aren’t spoken of highly within mainstream, we kept being told that it wouldn’t be the best place for C… … HOW WRONG THEY WERE!
C… made friends easily enough and these girls were all girls she could relate to, she understood them, and they her. C… is a very empathetic and caring person, always willing to support her peers and teachers, this was observed by all.
Today C… leaves Fairlawn a completely different person to the one you all met on day one. To all the teachers and support staff who have worked with C…, we will forever be grateful for your dedication in creating a supportive, nurturing, and positive environment. You helped raise her self-esteem and her self-belief so that she could see that anything is possible, you allowed her to have a voice and supported her to achieve her desired outcome as much as possible, not an easy task at times! You never gave up on her, thank you does not feel anywhere near enough.
Whatever grades C… achieves I already know she has done better than she would have done had she stayed in any mainstream environment. Ultimately the positive experience she has had with you all in 18 months and the person she has become far outweighs any grade in my opinion!
I can see just by watching C… over the last 18 months how rewarding it must be and how amazing you all are. Keep up the excellent work you do, I will forever be an advocate for Alternate Provision having witnessed what I have.
From (name of parents)
Other letters received from Parents/Carers
“I would like to thank you and all of the staff at the school for sorting ___ out. It has been months since we have had any problems at home and I know that is because of the school. He is so happy now and I can’t remember him being so happy since before his dad died. He is lovely to be with, he is really polite and I am really proud of him. He talks about school all the time and although he is no angel at school, he is brilliant at home.
He used to throw things and shout when he was angry and he doesn’t do that anymore.
It is all down to the school.”
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for everything you have done to make (my son) the person he is today. Extra mention to Miss Judd for everything, you have been amazing and so caring towards (my son), I can’t thank you enough
Thank you”
“Mr Thomas – Deputy Head CE Academy
Steve O’Hara – Senco
All Staff at Spring Gardens Campus,To everyone at Spring Gardens who has been involved with my son, I just wanted to say a massive thank you.
When ___ came to Spring Gardens in May he had been through a tough time since beginning Year 7 - this left him with: - distrust; anxiety; feeling broken and that it was his fault as to why he was attending Spring Gardens.
___ is now going back into a very good Mainstream school with the help of Mr Thomas making sure that was possible, but also had it not been for all of the staff that have worked with ___ this would not have been possible.
You have turned ___ around - it’s so nice to see my son back to the way he was before he started Year 7 and excited that he is returning to Mainstream school.
When I asked ___, what was different being at Spring Gardens he said, ‘you are treated with respect, not shouted at, but listened to, understood and allowed to voice your thoughts and feelings.’
What you do at Spring Gardens is amazing and given the short amount of time ___ has been at Spring Gardens I am blown away. It’s just a shame that some Academies and schools don’t adopt the approach you have.
Thank you so very much. I will always be very grateful for the way you all helped and worked with ___ and for what you have done.
Kind regards
___’s Mum”
