
Two principals have been appointed as Principals Designate for the proposed Academies at Costessey and Oriel high schools as they move towards academy status.
Rachel de Souza and Nicole McCartney, currently Principal and Vice Principal of Barnfield West Academy will take on the leadership of the Proposed Academies in Costessey and Gorleston respectively in September.
Barnfield West Academy in Luton was named as The Most Improved School and Academy in the UK by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust after 100% of students achieved 5+ A* to C grades in their GCSEs this year and tripling the number of students achieving 5A*-C with English and maths.
Ms de Souza, one of the country’s top Head Teachers, will also be Executive Director of Ormiston Trust’s eastern region academies which include the Proposed Academy in Gorleston and Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Peterborough. As an Executive Director, she will be overseeing the other Ormiston Academies in the region.
Ms de Souza and Ms McCartney became Principal and Vice Principal of Barnfield West in 2007. As part of a strong leadership team, they have seen the school gain an Ofsted rating of ‘outstanding’, awarded with the Education Business award of ‘outstanding academy 2009′ and it has experienced the sharpest rise in GCSE results recorded on performance tables so far.
The Academy has also seen continuous proof of achievement through various awards including International Schools Award, ICT mark, 15 national awards for transforming learning and raising attainment, Healthy Schools Status, First Place in the world Mathletics Competition and the Gold standard Every Child Matters Quality Mark.
Ian Cleland, Chief Executive of Ormiston Academies Trust, sponsor of the proposed academies said “We are thrilled to have two outstanding Principal Designates for Gorleston and Costessey. Both Rachel and Nicole bring a fantastic track record to the area and we are very confident that they will both drive for the highest standards. Ormiston Trust has worked with Barnfield West Academy since it was created and knows well the outstanding qualities of its leadership team which will now be supporting the transformation of learning in the new academies. We are looking forward to building on the successes of the predecessor schools and to building relationships with all stakeholders.”
Councillor Shelagh Hutson, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “These excellent appointments will help us fulfil our ambitions for both schools. We look forward to working closely with the Ormiston Trust and other partners – and to the contribution Rachel de Souza and Nicole McCartney will make to these academies, as well as to children and young people’s learning and education in Norfolk as a whole.”