Four-legged friends at Thetford Academy’s Sixth Form

If you’ve been following Thetford Academy’s Facebook page recently, you might have noticed a slightly ‘paw-culiar’ week of ‘pup-dates.’

Usually, posts come from Headteacher Mr Fordham, but during Year 7 transition week they appeared to be penned by Albus – one of the three support dogs who work on site within Thomas Paine Sixth Form, part of Thetford Academy.

This fun concept of an ‘Albus takeover’ was brought to life by Thomas Paine Sixth Form’s talented Year 12 Media Studies students. With Mr Fordham away supporting students on the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, someone was needed to keep parents updated on how new Year 7 pupils were settling in. It proved the perfect chance for sixth formers to take the reins of the Academy’s social media, providing them with practical experience while showcasing the full academic journey a student can take from Year 7 to Year 13.

The students pitched their campaign to Mr Fordham in advance, preparing a house style, narrative voice for Albus, and scheduling updates for key events. Guided by Media teacher Mr Conrad-Hale, they worked hard behind the scenes — learning the challenges of managing content (and persuading dogs to pose for photos!). The result was a week of light-hearted posts that entertained parents and highlighted the support dog programme at Thomas Paine Sixth Form.

The dogs play a big part in student wellbeing. As one student put it: “No matter the day, a moment with one of the school dogs makes everything feel a little lighter.” Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Pastoral), Josh Safier, added: “Their presence reflects the supportive and inclusive environment we’re so proud to have here.”

Meet the Dogs

Lexie (7) – Owned by Mrs Burbridge, SENCO. The original support dog, Lexie started in 2020 supporting students through bereavement and has been a much-loved presence ever since.

Albus (4) – Owned by Ms Richards, Head of English. A real character, Albus loves attention and is often found surrounded by students — or sneaking off to sunbathe in the school library.

Dave (5) – Owned by Mrs Armes, Exams Officer. A rescued street dog from Romania, Dave joined the team this year and is especially supportive during exam periods, offering calm, cuddles and companionship.

Thomas Paine Sixth Form is still accepting applications for September 2025 entry. For more details, visit www.thomaspainesixthform.org.