Welcome to Cowes Enterprise College

I am just emailing to express my thanks and gratitude to the Year 7 team, SEN department and my child’s teachers. We were very anxious and worried about his transition. We needn't have been. He has had an amazing transition and has coped exceptionally well with the change. He is extremely happy at school and is determined to do his best.

I joined Cowes Enterprise College in September 2022 after a few years working in Spain. I will be the first to admit that I am in the latter part of my career having worked at several schools and was possibly guilty of thinking I knew it all - I was wrong! The College has staff, ideas and CPD that are second to none! The school has encouraged and challenged me to think more openly and try new methods. The whole team is very close and you can talk to absolutely anyone as well as the management who are friendly and extremely approachable. In such a short space of time I am now enjoying the challenge and feel that my teaching has gone to another level!

I'm very grateful for the excellent education I received at Cowes, and the exceptionally positive environment at the high school and 6th form. So, thank you very much to everyone who taught me and generally made it a great place to be, and somewhere I am proud to say that I was taught.

I moved to the island over ten years ago and I have thoroughly enjoyed living on the Island and working at Cowes Enterprise College. I enjoy the collaborative planning within the department and the opportunities to develop my teaching with CPD. The students are great to teach and my colleagues are supportive and friendly.

Here at Cowes I’ve been able to play a key role in collaboration with Isle of Wight Councillors, devising sustainable energy policies and providing a youth voice for consultation. Young Enterprise and The Duke of Edinburgh Schemes have also been fantastic opportunities.

Cowes Enterprise College is the school I wish I had gone to as a pupil. Staff are friendly, welcoming and hugely supportive. Students are humorous and have such an inspiring range of talents. The facilities are great and the opportunities offered to the students are thoughtful of their futures. At the end of the day it’s also great to be able to take a moment to see the sea. Not many kids or adults get that.

The maritime curriculum is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we make learning relevant for young people. It connects students to the real world, whisks them away to new places and opens their eyes to new possibilities – all with rigour and focus. This is a model we can all learn from.

A pleasure to show Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Susan Acland-Hood the fantastic careers programme at Cowes Enterprise College this morning. Great demonstration of a school working with their Careers Hub to deliver world-class careers education, linking the curriculum to the local economy.

Thank you so much for your support in organising our visit to Cowes yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, it was both informative and insightful in terms of informing our work here at Gatsby.

Congratulations to all the pupils and staff at Cowes Enterprise College and the wider team at Ormiston Academies Trust, on such an impressive set of results. A Level results day marks the moment so many young people will make choices that can shape the rest of their lives, so whatever path they choose, every pupil at Cowes Enterprise College should do so full of confidence.

Cowes Enterprise is a real beacon of success in giving students realistic and sustainable career opportunities. Island education is extremely fortunate in having such a trail blazer in its ranks.

Looking back, my time at high school and sixth form at CEC was certainly some of the best time of my life, and it also well equipped me in terms of the knowledge, skills and mindset needed. I've kept in touch with a lot of friends too.

It is apparent that the strong employer engagement with the Enterprise and Skills Company and HE networks ensures that learners are aspirational, optimistic and focused on their personal career journeys. Learners are able to identify major employers on the Isle of Wight, the mainland and more globally.

The results of the evaluation framework using the Compass + tool is impressive and exceptionally high – It was evident that learners were flourishing, happy and purposeful and aware of the need to be adaptable, resilient, and agents of change economically and politically.

Superb visit to Cowes Enterprise College – thank you for showing me how you pair the highest of academic expectations with brilliant practical careers work.

The destination figures at KS4 and KS5 are exceptional – 0% NEET for 3 years and likely to be sustained for 2021 leavers despite the challenges of the 2019 COVID pandemic and is a testimony to the tireless work and dedication of the CEIAG team. The CEC has a clear commitment to social mobility and widening access agenda.

Many, many congratulations to you and all your colleagues on your recent Wellbeing award. Such an important provision, especially so in these difficult times.

We have seen you all going way 'above and beyond' in helping the students to grow in confidence and achieve their potential. Both of my girls have enjoyed their time at the college and will have many happy memories. You have all worked hard to make Cowes Enterprise a college that the whole community can be proud of and we hope that you continue to grow from strength to strength.

It is so important that pupils feel valued, listened to and cared for by their teachers. My son feels this from all his teachers at CEC.

Bob Seely, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the Isle of Wight commented it was the best hustings event he had been to in his career, whilst the school enjoyed positive feedback from other delegates.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year with the students (who really do want to work) and I work with an excellent department who are a real can do team. I made the right decision to join an amazing group that I feel values staff and students and a wider context of community with clear communication and well being at its heart.

I wanted to thank you and the CCF and the College for inviting me to your very special Remembrance Day service. I was very impressed with the way in which the whole school took part and hats off to you for the organisation.

Can you mention my praise in one of your staff meetings as coming from a parent with a child who has struggled for years to feel 'good enough' Mr Harding has made a huge difference!

I know he is very proud of his school and I’m sure he would agree that he would not be the person he is had it not been for everyone there.

"You know how much I love coming to CEC, it’s a great very well run School"

"The combination of outstanding leadership and exemplary student conduct made for a first class trip"

"We were so impressed by the way that every single member of the CEC team clearly had the highest possible expectations of the students"

“All the team here were delighted by the positive way that the students approached their tasks. They were a real credit to the school and their teachers. They were a pleasure to be with”