Newsflash Edition 2: Friday 15 th September 2017 INTRODUCTION FROM MR WILSON Welcome to the second edition of Newsflash for this academic year. I hope that your child has settled back into the routines of Academy life and is living our values of politeness, hard work and honesty. If your child is new to the Academy, I hope that they are finding their way around the building and getting to know their teachers and their new friends. Early indications are that we have made a good start to the year; the overwhelming majority of students are meeting our high expectations and there is a happy and purposeful feel in and around the Academy. Thank you to all parents and carers for playing your part in making this happen. As you will be aware, the Academy is currently being inspected by OFSTED and we have had an Inspection Team present in school both yesterday and today. The Academy s last Inspection took place in October 2015 and we hope that the team will recognise the improvements we have made over the last two years. Whilst a visit from OFSTED can be a stressful time, we welcome the inspection and hope that the report will reflect our own self-evaluation and the priorities we have identified in the Academy Action Plan. A full report will, of course, be made available to all parents and carers in due course. Thank you for reading this edition of Newsflash and, as usual, I hope you have a pleasant and relaxing weekend. Best wishes Mr P. Wilson Headteacher GCSE COUNTDOWN Year 11, there are only 28 school weeks left, just 140 days in school, until your first GCSE exam. Some subjects will be running their Lesson 6 timetable from next week, week commencing Monday 18 th September. Students have been informed which subjects are running, and on what nights, and know that they must attend. The compulsory lessons run from 2.35pm to 3.30pm and provide crucial additional support for Year 11 students. Year 11 Parent Teacher Consultation Evening will take place on Thursday 26 th October. Further information will be sent out nearer the time.
IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK The Academy welcomes Inspectors for its OFSTED Inspection. A full report will be available for parents/carers in due course. After school clubs start for Volleyball and Athletics. Both clubs run on a Monday evening and are open to students from all age groups. Football trials are held for students who wish to play for the Academy teams in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Assembly theme for the week is student leadership. THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR 2017 to 2018 The team of Year 11 students detailed below were appointed to their roles at the end of the last academic year and will lead our student body between now and the summer of 2018. We are sure that they will do a tremendous job for the Academy and grow as leaders throughout the year. Head Boy and Head Girl Deputy Head Boy and Girl Sports Captains Senior Prefects Community Ambassador Samuel Aro and Anisha Joshi James Hesketh and Molly Palmer Djabu Balde, Alicia Fenton, Sophie Fulton, Connor Nicholson, David Ojo and Sophie Shaw Sophie Anderson, Dorcas Bawuah, Harriet Berrisford, Jennifer Boateng, Amelia Brzeska, Ellie Marie Chesters, Chloe Clark, Liam Cook, Owen Etches, Liam Howe, Missy Johnston, Melissa Larkin, Milka Luanga, Noelly Nkombo, Patricia Nyka, Louise Shaw, Lisa Spencer, Sarah Spike, Alicja Stanczyk, Amy Walker and Sana Zafar Andrew McPhail Sam and Anisha, our Head Boy and Head Girl, can be seen here addressing guests at the Academy Awards Evening last July.
LUNCHTIME AT THE ACADEMY The Academy has two dining areas for students at lunch time. The main dining area on the ground floor is for students who have purchased a hot or cold school meal from one of the three catering outlets in the Atrium. This area can only be used by students who have bought a meal at the Academy and cannot be used as a seating area for other students as, unfortunately, space is limited. We always insist on good manners and consideration for others in the dining areas and place a real importance on all our students enjoying a civilised lunch time. To avoid excessive queuing in the atrium at lunch time, Years 7, 9 and 11 are able to buy their lunch from 1.00pm with Years 8 and 10 taking the second sitting at 1.15pm. The rota is changed each term so that all year groups have their turn at going for first sitting.
The second smaller dining area on the second floor is used by our Prefects and students working with the Inclusion team. Students who bring a packed lunch eat their dinner in one of the three designated rooms, M16 and M17 for KS3 students (Years 7, 8 and 9) and M15 for KS4 students (Years 10 and 11). There is an expectation that, after their dinner, students will relax and get some fresh air outside in the Academy grounds, rather than stay inside the building. However, students wishing to stay inside can go to one of the activity areas. There are a number of activity areas including the Sports Hall and pitches, the Games areas, the Great Learning Zone and the Learning Support Centre. Activities available in the Sports Hall this half term include Table Tennis, Volleyball and Trampolining.
CHECKMATE! Why not come along and join the Chess Club which runs every Thursday evening from 2.35pm to 3.45pm? There are regular competitions for players of all abilities from novices to Grand Masters! Beginners who have never played the game are welcome too! There is also a Board Games Club which runs every Tuesday night from 2.35pm to 3.45pm. Both clubs meet in Room T21 and further information is available from Mr Cosgrove. ARE YOU RECEIVING NEWSFLASH BY POST? If you are receiving Newsflash by post and you now have an email address please forward it to the Academy so that we can send you our weekly bulletin electronically instead. REMINDERS AND MESSAGES Parentpay Wherever possible, we would like parents and carers to pay for all Academy trips and visits using Parentpay. If you are unsure how to use Parentpay, or you have lost your log-in details, please contact Mr Wakefield in Student Services.
Vacancy We currently have a vacancy for a Site Manager who will be responsible for the security and maintenance of the whole school site and will assist the Facilities Manager to ensure the school complies with all current legislation relating to site safety and management. The successful candidate will ensure the Academy achieves the most efficient and economic use of the school premises, facilities, plant, equipment and materials. Hours of Work: 36 hours a week Salary: Band E 18,746-21,268 (point 19 23) Closing date: 12 noon - Friday 22nd September 2017 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Year 7 CATS tests will take place in the week beginning Monday 25 th September. The Academy Open Evening will take place on Thursday 28 th September. HPV1 vaccinations will be given to Year 8 girls on Wednesday 27 th and Thursday 28 th September.
There will be a theatre trip to the Lowry on Monday 2 nd October to see a production of Things I know to be true. Year 11 students studying GCSE Food and Nutrition will be involved in practical examinations on Monday 2 nd and Tuesday 3 rd October. There will be a workshop for students involved in the National Shakespeare Schools Festival on Tuesday 3 rd October. There will be a theatre trip to see a production of The Kite Runner on Wednesday 4 th October. The Year 7 Spelling Bee competition will take place on Thursday 5 th and Thursday 12 th October. The Academy will celebrate National Biology Week in week beginning Monday 9thy October. The first Academy Maths Battle of the year will take place on Friday 13 th October. Year 10 GCSE Art students will visit the Northern Quarter to study Street Art on Monday 16 th October. Year 11 GCSE Art students will be visiting Liverpool on Monday 23 rd October. Year 11 Parent Teacher Consultation Evening will be held on Thursday 26 th October. The Academy breaks up for the Half Term Holiday on Friday 27 th October.