Year 7
Welcome to Year 7
LOUD AND PROUD, STRONG AND TRUE.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO!
“Success doesn’t come from being the smartest; it comes from never giving up”
It is with great pride and excitement that I introduce myself as the Achievement Team Leader for our new Year 7 cohort at Cecil Jones Academy. I feel truly honoured to welcome your child to our school community as they begin this exciting new chapter of their educational journey.
Starting secondary school is a significant milestone and an opportunity for students to discover new talents, build lasting friendships, and develop the skills needed to succeed throughout their lives. Whilst this transition can feel daunting, please be assured that your child will be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Year Care Team, form tutors and all members of staff at the Cecil Jones Academy.
We encourage our students to be ambitious, to set high standards for themselves, and to believe that they can achieve great things. Whether in the classroom, on the field, through the arts, or within the wider school community, we want every child to embrace opportunities and strive to be the very best version of themselves.
Secondary school is a time of challenge, growth, and learning from mistakes. We teach our students that setbacks are not barriers to success but opportunities to learn and come back stronger. Developing resilience equips young people with the confidence and determination needed to overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.
Parents and carers play a vital role in helping students develop these qualities. By encouraging effort, celebrating progress, and maintaining high expectations, you help your child build the confidence and perseverance that underpin success. Working together, we can ensure that every student develops both the ambition to dream big and the resilience to achieve those dreams.
I want my year group to hit the ground running as this is the key to a successful first year. Every day in school is an opportunity to learn, grow, and move one step closer to achieving personal goals and ambitions. To put this into perspective, 90% attendance equates to approximately 20 missed school days across the year – around 100 lessons lost. Every lesson matters, and every day presents a chance for students to fulfil their potential.
Our Year 7 Achievement Programme rewards students who consistently demonstrate our values and expectations through:
- Producing high-quality work
- Completing exceptional homework
- Showing respect and kindness to others
- Demonstrating excellent manners and behaviour
- Being punctual and ready to learn
- Showing resilience when faced with challenges
- Demonstrating ambition and a commitment to personal excellence (ASPIRE)
Students can earn Positive Achievement Points that contribute towards a range of rewards, including certificates, postcards, positive phone calls home, prize raffles, and educational trips. We want to create a culture where effort, determination, and success are recognised and celebrated.
At Cecil Jones Academy, our students proudly follow our school motto:
“In the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.”
This simple yet powerful statement reflects our core values of respect, knowledge, resilience, and kindness. It reminds us that success is built through positive choices, strong character, and a willingness to always strive for improvement. We aim to develop our students holistically to prepare our young people for success in the future and for them to reach their full potential. By following these 4 core values, we build strong-minded and aspirational students; therefore, they can face any challenges that come their way.
As your child’s Achievement Team Leader, my aim is simple: to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and inspired. I want every child in Year 7 to finish their first year at Cecil Jones Academy with confidence in themselves, pride in their achievements, and the belief that they can accomplish great things.
I am genuinely looking forward to getting to know all of our students and families. Together, let us make this a memorable and successful year, filled with learning, resilience, and aspirational targets. Should you have any questions or concerns at any point during the year, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Form Tutor, Mr Marshall (ATL), Mrs Wardle (YCT).
Warm regards,
Mr A. Marshall and Mrs J. Wardle
Year 7 Achievement Team Leader and Year Care Team
Cecil Jones Academy
