Iceni Academy

Academy in Methwold, Norfolk, England

52°31′38″N 0°33′23″E / 52.5272°N 0.5564°E / 52.5272; 0.5564InformationTypeAcademyMottoAim High, Work Hard, Be KindEstablished1957TrustAcademy Transformation TrustDepartment for Education URN139058 TablesOfstedReportsChair of GovernorsAlexandra SmithPrincipal (Secondary)Richard RushtonPrincipal (Primary)Emma OwnerGenderMixedAge4 to 18Enrollment683Capacity885Websiteicenimethwold.attrust.org.uk

The Iceni Academy (formerly Hockwold and Methwold Community School) is a mixed, all-through school located over two sites in Norfolk, England.

History

The school was first formed as Hockwold and Methwold Community School in September 2011 from the merger of Hockwold Primary School and Methwold High School.^[1] Methwold High School was built in 1957 and officially opened on 28 April 1958 by Col. Sir Bartle Edwards. Records suggest that in 1939 children who did not pass the exam to go to Downham Market Grammar School stayed at the Primary School (as it was then) until they were 14 years old.

Hockwold and Methwold Community School was awarded academy status and renamed Iceni Academy in January 2013.

Today the school, which celebrated its 60th birthday in 2018,^[2] continues to operate over the original Hockwold and Methwold sites accommodating the primary and secondary departments respectively.

The Academy received its first-ever "Good" rating in July 2016.^[3] In 2018 the Academy was recognised for its work to bring the world into the classroom with an award from the British Council.^[4]

Location

The Hockwold and Methwold sites are six miles apart and accommodate the primary and secondary departments respectively.

5km
3miles

Hockwold

Methwold

In all, the school serves the largest rural catchment in Norfolk, and each department is smaller than average for that category of school.^[5]

Extra-curricular activities

As part of the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP500) Iceni Academy was approved to set up a Combined Cadet Force which is affiliated with the British Army. They started parading in September 2019 with an initial group of 30 cadets.

Principals

Prior to 2010 - Ken Earl
September 2010 – August 2013 - Denise Walker
September 2013 – December 2017 - Gee Cook

Hockwold (Primary site)^[6]

January 2018 – present - Emma Owner

Methwold (Secondary site)^[6]

January 2018 – August 2020 - Stephen Plume
September 2020 – April 2023 - Lesley Hogg
July 2023 - present - Richard Rushton

Senior leadership team

As of March 2023:

Stuart Pryke - Vice Principal
Amy Staniforth - Vice Principal
Sarah Turner - Vice Principal

Notable alumni

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North

References

^ "Ofsted puts Hockwold and Methwold School under special measures". BBC News. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
^ Chris Bishop (5 September 2018). "Open evening will celebrate 60th anniversary for Iceni Academy in Methwold". Eastern Daily Press.
^ Bethany Whymark (20 September 2016). "Iceni Academy achieves its first "good" rating from Ofsted". Eastern Daily Press.
^ Rebecca Murphy (13 February 2018). "Iceni Academy, Methwold, recognised with British Council award for its international education". Thetford and Brandon Times.
^ "Ofsted Report 2020". Ofsted. March 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b Lauren Cope (15 January 2018). "All-through Norfolk academy starts year with two new principals". Eastern Daily Press.