A year has 365 days, 52 weeks, and 12 months.

A school year has 195 days, 39 weeks, and 6 terms.

5 days in each school year are training days for teachers, these are also called Inset days, therefore students attend school for 190 days per year.

A school day is divided into two sessions, students should therefore attend school for 380 sessions.

• One day off per school year means that a student has about 99.5% attendance.
• Ten days off per school year means that a student has about 94.7% attendance.
• twenty days off per school year means that a student has about 90% attendance.
• 90% attendance means 4 whole weeks off school.
• 90% attendance in years 7 – 11 means 1/2 a year off school.
• 17 days off school every year means that you will probably obtain a whole grade lower in your exams than you are really capable of.

The Oriel Means Business project had its official launch on Thursday 26th February with a business network meeting held at the school. The evening began with students giving the business men and women a tour of the facilities at Oriel, followed by a three course dinner and trivia quiz.

Oriel Means Business is an opportunity for individuals, businesses, companies and organisations to  show their support and become involved in our vision of improvement for the community.

The successful launch saw over 60 representatives attending from the local community, businesses and oriel. We have partnered with Norfolk County Council Adult Education and can offer some really exciting opportunities to businesses involved in the project. This includes training for staff and access to national qualifications. The attendees are impressed with the benefits to be gained from the project and everyone is genuinely excited about working together in the future. We have already had offers from a number of representatives to become more involved in the school. A highlight of the night was the signing of a formal partnership agreement between Oriel and AMEC. This will see us working closely together in the future including mentoring, enrichment days and work experience opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming involved in this project you can use our on-line application form.

Nadine Simmons has excelled in Design & Technology, exceeding all expectations and has already achieved 2 A grades in Resistant Materials and Graphics. Nadine is also completing 3 GCSE’s in “DET in Electronics”.

Nadine has applied for a scholarship with the Arkwright Foundation and is presently awaiting her interview at Cambridge University.

She has previously gained a top national award for her work in Design Technology sponsored by Fitchet & Woollacott Ltd.

Oriel has been awarded an affiliate to the Arkwright school, which is committed to supporting the Arkwright vision of encouraging and stimulating high ability students to take up engineering or technology.

World Book Day is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland. Here is a poem written to inspire you to pick up a book today:

A turn up for the books

Why not turn over a new leaf?

Pick up that  book by your bed.

Learn something new about other things.

Bring a story to life in your head.

For a book can open up a world

That springs to life from the page.

A book can amuse,

A book can upset,

A book can prompt feelings of rage.

A character can somehow seem real

As if you have met them before.

The best books are the ones you cannot put down…

And leave you wanting a little more.

Make no mistake, a film can be great.

The special effects are immense.

But all the best films spring from the best books.

Come on! You know it makes sense!

A film will keep on playing

If you go to the kitchen or loo.

But a book will sit, patiently waiting

For the book can’t be played without you.

To read and write is critical

In these info driven times.

And you’ve read to this point in the poem

(or others would say it’s a rhyme).

But reading is more than just functional.

It doesn’t just help us exist.

And if you are feeling sceptical,

Perhaps you don’t know what you’ve missed.

Books can be truly magical;

I hope I have given that hint.

So why not try reading, and reading for pleasure

Those messages hidden in print?

M F Cowan (2009)