Two key members of a new school in Littleport - including the former vice principal of Neale-Wade Academy in March, say they are aiming for an ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted - despite only having opened this week.

Scott Gaskins, head of school and former vice principal at Neale-Wade Academy, says he expects Littleport and East Cambs Academy to be rated ‘outstanding’ when Ofsted visit in three years time.

“The way the country’s growing, there will be more and more schools opening and I’d like the academy to be an example of a successful new school.

“I’m chomping at the bit to take on this new challenge.

“We want to instil in students that if you are determined and keep trying then you will succeed – that was what our first assembly focused on.

“Our ethos is ‘it’s not that you can’t do it, it’s that you can’t do it yet’ – nine times out of 10 that is the case.

“I think that’s what we’re about; we want the students to be the best people they can be. We’re already offering 10 subjects; we even hold after school classes where people can learn Japanese or Latin.

“Because we’re operating with Littleport Leisure Centre next door, we can offer the best range of sports. I can’t think of a sport that we wouldn’t be able to offer.

The academy, commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, currently has one year group with 85 pupils. However Mr Gaskins says the school will have 600 within five years.

The academy is part of a £30 million site and run by The Active Learning Trust. It opened to students for the first time on Wednesday September 6.

Jason Wing, executive principal of Littleport and East Cambs Academy, Neale-Wade Academy and Burrowmoor Primary School in March, has equally high hopes.

“We’ve got a blank slate of paper here and some very committed staff – we want to hit the ground running.

“Everything has been set against ‘outstanding’ Ofsted criteria.

“We’ve got really great people working with us and when Ofsted come through our doors we want to be an ‘outstanding’ school straight away.”

Two open evenings have been planned: Thursday September 21 from 4-7.30pm and Wednesday September 27 from 5-8pm.