A generic copy of our 2023 ‘Welcome’ letter to year 6 parents is available here
A copy of our ‘Year 7 Parent Information Booklet‘ is available, along with a copy of our ‘Transition Letter’ to parents and a Reply Slip Booklet)
Welcome to Ormiston Sudbury Academy! (Please click here for our ‘Welcome’ video.)
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| I am Miss Webster, Head of Year 7, and I would like to officially welcome you all to Ormiston Sudbury Academy.
I understand that transition can be an anxious time for some of you, however, it is also a very exciting one. You will learn new skills and develop as individuals during your time at the Academy. As long as you embrace this new journey through secondary education, do your best and work hard, opportunities will open for you. Your confidence will grow and we will support you with your wellbeing and your academic progress. You may need to set yourself some personal goals at the start of Year 7, to ensure you are successful during your time at the Academy. You will be supported to meet your goals in tutor time, in lessons and in any extra-curricular activities you decide to take part in. Hard work in and out of the classroom will always pay off and we will encourage you to challenge yourself every day. I am confident you will settle quickly into our community and make lots of new friends. So, please embrace this new adventure, and remember to ask for help if you need it – we have a fantastic team of staff at OSA, all waiting to support you, every step of the way. I look forward to meeting you all very soon. |
Click on the picture below to access their presentation
Again, click on the picture below to access the video
You may be interested in hearing about some of our former students’ experiences at OSA – as well as some of the members of staff who teach here – and this brief video offers that opportunity.
What is OAT?
Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) is the Trust which Ormiston Sudbury Academy (OSA) is affiliated to. We are a national Trust and have links with students and staff across the country.
How will I get to the Academy?
Each parent/carer is responsible for making arrangements for their child(ren) to get to the Academy. Many of our students walk, some use the bus services – you will find more information about the services you may be able to access by using these links to visit the Suffolk County Council ‘Transport‘ section of their website.
Will I get chance to spend any (transition) days at the Academy?
You will be invited to spend three days at the Academy as part of our ‘Transition’ programme, at the end of the term summer (PROVISIONALLY scheduled for Wednesday 12th, Thursday 13th and Friday 14th July 2023)
How will staff at OSA get to know me, before I join the Academy?
OSA staff, such as the Head of Year 7 and/or the OSA Director of Inclusion will meet with your Year 6 teacher during the ‘Transition’ period. We also provide a Parent Information booklet for Parents to complete and return information to the Academy. You will also be invited to a meeting with a member of OSA staff, which will take place at your Primary school, to allow you to seek answers to any additional questions you may have. We will also ask you to complete a ‘Getting to Know You’ booklet, before you join OSA.
Which members of staff are available to help me and will I get to meet them before I join?
All OSA students have a Form Tutor, a Head of Year and a Pastoral Manager to help them with their learning and self-management.
You will receive a ‘Profile’ sheet, introducing your Tutor (who you will see every morning, for registration and ‘tutor time’) and your Pastoral Manager (who will be involved in looking after your non-academic needs at the Academy) during the Transition process next summer, and will meet them, and your Head of Year, Miss Webster, on the first of your ‘Transition’ days (12th July 2023)
What happens if I get lost?
Don’t worry about getting lost – it happens to everyone when they first start! We will make sure that all students have a map to guide them and that they are given a tour of the Academy when they join us and older students will help younger students if they are not sure where they need to go. There are also lots of staff in corridors who are always more than happy to help give directions and advice.
What are the timings of the Academy day?
From September 2023, we have five 60-minute lessons per day, with timings as follows:
8.35 a.m. – 5-minute warning buzzer
8.40 a.m. – Buzzer (start of registration)
8.40 a.m. – 9.00 a.m. – Tutor Time/Registration
9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. – Lesson 1
10.00 a.m. – Buzzer (START of movement time)
10.05 a.m. – Buzzer (lesson 2 starts)
10.05 a.m. – 11.05 a.m. – Lesson 2
11.05 a.m. – 11.25 a.m. – BREAKTIME
11.20 a.m. – 5-minute warning buzzer
11.25 a.m. – Buzzer (lesson 3 starts)
11.25 a.m. – 12.25 p.m. – Lesson 3
12.25 p.m. – Buzzer (START of movement time)
12.30 p.m. – Buzzer (lesson 4 starts)
12.30 p.m. – 1.30 p.m. – Lesson 4
1.30 p.m. – 2.10 p.m. – LUNCHTIME
2.05 p.m. – 5-minute warning buzzer
2.10 p.m. – Buzzer (lesson 5 starts)
2.10 p.m. – 3.10 p.m. – Lesson 5
Will I get ‘homework’?
At OSA, we no longer use the term ‘homework’ but will refer to ‘Independent Study‘. All students are expected to work independently at home, with tasks also being set on Microsoft ‘TEAMS’ and a bespoke ‘App’ (EdulinkOne) – you will be given all the information you need when you start with us.
What is the uniform/PE kit?
You will find information on our uniform and PE kit, and where to purchase it, here
What time is lunchtime and what food is available?
Students may either bring their own packed lunch and eat it in our dining areas, or purchase food from the canteen. For the health and welfare of all students and staff, we are a completely ‘NUT-FREE’ zone – and ask that parents/carers bear this in mind when providing students with a packed lunch.
We operate a ‘cashless’ payment system (iPayImpact) whereby parents are able to load credit for students to use to make purchases (using a PIN) of food from our Vertas catering facility.
Students who are entitled to a Free School Meal will find that their account is loaded, daily, with their allowance; if this is not used, it is cleared from the account before the following day’s allowance is added (it cannot be ‘accumulated’ over a number of days.)
With COVID restrictions now significantly eased, we are seeing a return to the provision of a wide variety of hot and cold snacks at morning break, along with two or three options for a hot meal (including vegetarian option) and Vertas colleagues are only too pleased to help anyone with specific dietary requirements; students need only speak to them for help and advice.
Information about the food available and pricing can be found here
How do I apply for Free School Meals?
OSA runs on the Suffolk County Council application system, which is mainly ‘online’ based; you will find all the information you need (AND can apply, at the click of a button) on the local authority website here
Will I be able to join a student council?
You will have the opportunity to join a ‘Year’ or ‘Faculty’ council and these will be introduced to students during the ‘Transition’ days.
What kind of clubs can I join?
We offer a range of lunchtime and after-school (extra-curricular) groups, practises and clubs, tailored to suit students’ interests and the time of the year. We have extensive sporting clubs running ‘in season’ (e.g. athletics in the summer, football/rugby in the winter) and will always do what we can to put on new activities if students express an interest in something which doesn’t already happen. Over the last couple of years, at varying times, we have run such diverse clubs/groups such as:
You will find the most up-do-date schedule of extra-curricular activities/clubs on the relevant section of our website here
Will I be able to go on any trips?
Many trips are arranged to support students’ learning and/or research in their chosen GCSE, BTEC and A level courses, from year 9 onwards. We also arrange a number of optional enrichment trips, which are usually offered to students by subject teachers; occasionally, these trips are for specific groups of students – but often, they are open to any student who wishes to sign themselves up. Some examples of trips that year 7 students have been involved in over recent years are:
Please take the opportunity to browse our website for lots more information, guidance and helpful links which may also help to give you an insight into what it is like to be a member of our OSA community; we look forward to you hopefully joining that community in September 2023 and if we can be of any assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to make contact with us (you will find all the contact details you need here.)
For more information on the Suffolk County Council school travel policy and getting your child to school please visit; www.suffolkonboard.com/opt-in-apply
