I recently visited Francis Combe and met with the new Principal, Debbie Warwick, as well as some of the new student representatives, to hear about the positive changes happening at the Academy.
In the last year alone there have been over fifty new extra-curricular clubs created for Academy students to enjoy, from rollerskating in the School Hall in the mornings, to outdoor after school games. The popularity and the rate at which these clubs has grown is testament to the enthusiasm from staff and students, and the atmosphere at the school which is very much positive about the direction the Academy is moving in
As well as the host of new clubs, the structure of the school day has been changed to help both students and teachers, there is more involvement with the local community, and improvements continue to come in a number of areas. The two student representatives I met for example are newly appointed, and are looking at new ways of improving Academy life to build on everything that has already been achieved.
Francis Combe is very much an Academy which knows both its strengths and weaknesses. They know where they are and where they need to get too, but this is very much a new Francis Combe and I do think that should be recognised. Debbie, the new Principal, is probably testament to this – having attended Francis Combe as a student herself and then moved into teaching, I think it would be hard pushed to meet someone more positive about the Academy or more determined to help the pupils succeed.
I am looking forward to visiting Francis Combe again soon, as well as their students visiting Parliament. Only recently I bought the Education Secretary, Michael Gove MP, to Francis Combe to meet students and highlight their recent achievements, but work is nowhere near over and it is great to see that improvements have continued to come through since then. I have the utmost respect for all the students and staff at the Academy, and think we can look forward to a very bright future.