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Whilst the law may remain at 18 for people to vote in the forthcoming general election, at Q3 Academy Great Barr, we are giving our students the opportunity to cast their vote and engage with the electoral process! Have a read of Mr Mills' wonderful article sharing what he has prepared for our students to engage in this week's general election. In addition, we visit the English and Geography departments to catch up on what they have been up to, we share some wonderful trip experiences some of our youngest and eldest students have attended, and check in with our Board Games club. Lastly, please see the update from our Ethos team if you want to know more about supporting your child with their career options. Election Fever Hits the Academy!In the run-up to the General Election on Thursday 4th July, our students have been learning all about the value of democracy and the importance of making your voice heard. Assemblies on this theme were delivered last week by Mr Mills and a Mock Election will be held in the Academy on the day of the real thing. Through this, students will be able to express their opinions and vote for the parties that share their values. 
In every previous mock election held at Q3 Academy Great Barr, we have correctly predicted the outcome of the real thing, either at constituency or national level. Let's see if we can do it again! – Mr Mills 
Imagine a Million Pounds: What Would You Do?In English, Year 7 have been exploring the book Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce. The book follows the journey of two young boys as they find a million pounds abandoned at the side of a railway track. The boys face a thrilling dilemma on how to spend the money, and their differing opinions lead to a series of chaotic events. 
As we reach the end of the book, Miss Hickman's English group have started to create a newspaper report based on a key event at the end of the story. All students have taken a huge amount of pride in their work. Take a look below to see what they are reporting! – Miss Hickman 
Bewdley Uncovered: Thriving Amidst Flood RisksOur Year 10 Geography students recently embarked on an enlightening field trip to the charming town of Bewdley. The aim of this visit was to delve into the intriguing question: "Why do people still live in a flood risk area?" as part of their human geography fieldwork, which is a crucial component of their GCSE Geography curriculum. 
During the trip, our students showcased their skills by creating detailed, annotated field sketches. These sketches highlighted evidence of flood risk, such as high-water marks, as well as the new flood management strategies being developed on Beal's corner as a part of Bewdley's new Flood Alleviation Scheme. Additionally, they captured the aesthetic features that make Bewdley such an appealing place to live including its scenic River Severn views, and historic architecture. 
Our students had meaningful conversations with Bewdley's residents. They approached the residents with a range of open and closed questions, gathering valuable firsthand information to support their research. Questions ranged from "How often do you experience flooding?" to "What measures have you taken to protect your property?" and "Why do you choose to stay in Bewdley despite the flood risk?" Throughout these interactions, our students demonstrated exemplary politeness and respect. 
We couldn't be prouder of how our students represented our Academy, demonstrating exceptional dedication and enthusiasm throughout the entire trip. 
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our next adventure! In October, our students will be heading to Carding Mill Valley to undertake their physical geography fieldwork. This will involve studying river processes, landforms, and the impact of human activity on natural landscapes, further enriching their GCSE Geography curriculum. We look forward to sharing more about their experiences and findings in our future newsletters. 
We extend our warm thanks to Mr Arnull, our dedicated geographer, for joining the recent geography trip to Bewdley and supporting our students in their fieldwork. His expertise and guidance made the experience both educational and enjoyable for everyone involved. – Miss Perkins 
Exciting Opportunities for Year 12 Students at the UCAS Discovery ExhibitionOn Tuesday 25th June, our Year 12 cohort embarked on an enriching trip to the UCAS Discovery Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. 
At the exhibition, students had the opportunity to interact directly with representatives from universities and colleges across the UK. This one-on-one engagement allowed them to learn about various courses, campus facilities, and university life. Whether students are considering a local university or looking further afield, these conversations are crucial in helping them make informed decisions about their higher education options. 
In addition to exploring traditional university pathways, our students were also able to speak with employers and apprenticeship providers. These discussions opened up a world of opportunities, highlighting the benefits and experiences offered through apprenticeships. Students gained a clearer understanding of how apprenticeships work, the qualifications they can achieve, and the diverse career paths available through this route. 
The UCAS Discovery Exhibition is more than just a fair; it's a comprehensive resource that helps our students broaden their horizons and consider all the possibilities for their future. We are proud to see our students taking full advantage of these opportunities, exploring their interests, and gaining clarity on their potential career paths. – Mr Crawford 
Students Shine at 'Have a Go' Sport EventOn Tuesday 25th June, we had the pleasure of taking 10 of our students to the 'Have a Go' sport event at Tipton Sports Academy. Our students proudly represented the Academy, and we couldn't be prouder of their efforts and conduct throughout the day. The event offered our students a fantastic opportunity to dive into a variety of sports, and they embraced it wholeheartedly. 
Students participated in boxing, boccia, table tennis, new age curling, tennis, judo, and even cycling. Each student gave their best, demonstrating resilience, self-belief, determination, kindness, respect, and teamwork. 
The aim of this educational visit was to encourage our students to try new sports and build their confidence, and we are delighted to say that they certainly achieved this. Boxing and cycling emerged as particular favourites among the students, adding an extra layer of excitement to their experience. Our students returned with a sense of accomplishment and a newfound enthusiasm for sports. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day for everyone involved and well done to all students who participated! – Miss Reardon-Allen 
Board Games Club Blossoms in Summer Term!Throughout this year, Mr Mills and Mr Kulyna have been running a weekly board game club, sharing and exploring some of the wide variety of games beyond the typical board games most people know. The aim of the club is to share with students the variety of games and experiences on offer. 
Over the course of the year, the club has grown in size, and we now have around 10 regular players, although we would always welcome more. We play a wide variety of games, and we are always excited to expand upon the types of games the students play. However, they certainly have their favourites! 
One favourite has been Love Letter, a simple card game, where students try to have the highest value card at the end of each round in order to win. Another game students have enjoyed is Skull, a bluffing game, and No Thanks. 
We have also played some slightly bigger games with the aim to share some more complex games with students, which may be completed over a number of weeks, rather than one club session. This has included Catan, and Ticket to Ride Europe. It would be great to see a few new faces next term, and well done to all the students who have attended this year and stepped outside their comfort zones to experience something new they may not have known about! – Mr Mills Careers Parent Podcast from our Ethos TeamWant to know about career options? Find out about apprenticeships, employment, and further education from our Ethos Team. Episode 1 discusses mental wellbeing and health, and episode 2 explores careers and next steps. There's also a bonus episode on CV writing! You can access these podcasts through your preferred service: Spotify, Apple, or Amazon Music. – Ms J Howl CAMHS Parent/Carer Workshops: Helping Families Thrive!We know that suffering from mental health difficulties does not only affect the person struggling, but also the family around them. Parenting a young person with mental health difficulties can create additional challenges for parents and carers. CAMHS are offering online Zoom workshops to support families with trauma and attachment, ASD, speech and language, depression, anxiety, OCD, self-harm, and anger. For more information and/or to register, contact Andrea Ehgartner at Black Country CAMHS on 01922 607400. Miss Mahey enjoys a week with Zog!Having secured her first ZAFTA win, Miss Mahey hosted Zog for the week in Religious Studies. She was recognised for her proactive commitment to curriculum development and high quality lessons. Zog was very impressed! – Mr Mills 
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