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We are thrilled to confirm that our Year 11 Prom will take place on Friday 27th June, and tickets are available on ParentPay. This much-anticipated event is a celebration of students' time with us and a reward for their shared journey of hard work, revision, and examinations. 
To attend, students need to collect 50 Passport to the Prom stamps. These are earned through weekly achievements such as 100% attendance, no negative points, and getting at least one Star of the Lesson. Students also receive a stamp for every intervention they attend. The goal is designed to be achievable for every student, and we hope for the whole year group to achieve their 50 stamps and come along to Prom. We will of course make reasonable adjustments in exceptional circumstances. 
After half term, we encourage all Year 11 students to attend after-hours interventions for English on Tuesdays, Maths on Wednesdays, and Science on Thursdays. There will also be 8:15am morning interventions for History & Geography on Tuesdays, PE & Sport Studies on Wednesdays, and French on Thursdays. Every intervention attended is a guaranteed passport stamp! 
Staying Safe in the CommunityWe have spoken with students today and implore you, at home, to reiterate the importance of being vigilant when walking to and from the Academy. We recommend that students do not walk alone and that they report any suspicious behaviour to a trusted adult. Two of our students were recently approached, one in Red House Park by an individual, and another by a group near Newton Road, their parents/carers have reported both incidents to the Police who are investigating further. We have shared this information with other neighbouring educational settings to share the message with their students, and asked that the Police support increased surveillance in the community at these peak travel times. Students Explore New Skills and SportsThis half term, students across all years have engaged in a variety of activities in Wellbeing Active lessons. Key Stage 3 students have showcased their creativity through dance, exercise to music, and gymnastics, while Key Stage 4 have focused on table tennis, football, fitness training methods, and basketball. Year 7 boys particularly enjoyed using the gymnastics equipment, developing impressive forms of flight, balance, and controlled landings. 
Year 10 and 11 GCSE PE groups have been diligently preparing for their practical assessments in table tennis, with their efforts contributing to their final grades. Overall, the students' dedication, creativity, and athleticism have been commendable, setting a high standard for future activities. – Mr Hard 
Diving into French Life and LanguageIn French Club, students come together to learn about the French language, culture, and traditions in a casual, fun environment. Everyone is welcome to join the club, no matter their experience with French. Its activities range from practising conversational French to learning about French history, geography, music, movies, and art. 
French Club gives students a chance to use the language in real-life contexts. Through activities like role-playing, games, and social events, students can improve their speaking, listening, and comprehension skills. 
By joining French Club, students can forge connections with others who share their passion for the culture and language. The club fosters a sense of community where students can collaborate, make friends, and support each other in their language-learning journey. – Mr Savadogo 
Year 10 Students Bring Blood Brothers to Life!In recent lessons, our Year 10 students have been hard at work staging the powerful final scene of Willy Russell's musical tragedy, Blood Brothers. As part of their drama curriculum, students are taking on the challenge of performing as actors while also designing the set, costumes, lighting, and sound to enhance the key themes of the play. 
Students' creative decisions have been both thoughtful and imaginative. For example, some groups have used costume design to emphasise the stark differences in social class between the characters, a central theme in the play. Others have incorporated red lighting to symbolise the intense emotions and rising tension in this climactic scene. These design choices reflect their deep understanding of the text and the impact they want to create for an audience. 
This practical exploration builds on the students' experience of seeing a live performance of Blood Brothers earlier this term, which has clearly inspired their work. The enthusiasm and dedication they have shown in tackling this complex scene is impressive and will serve them well as they prepare for their Year 11 written exam. In this exam, they will answer questions about the play's staging and explore how performance and design elements communicate meaning to an audience. – Mrs Karim 
Inspiring Young MusiciansOur students have been making excellent progress in their instrumental studies. Students have the option to learn an instrument with a professional instrumental tutor and can choose from a plethora of instruments! 
We are proud to offer a broad choice of instruments – students can learn to play brass (trumpet, cornet, trombone, horn, tuba), woodwind (clarinet, saxophone, flute), guitar (electric, acoustic, bass, ukulele), drum kit, piano, dhol, or vocals. 
Students' successes in learning their instruments go beyond personal pride. They learn the discipline and tenacity of rehearsal, have the opportunity to join musical groups inside and outside the Academy, and improve confidence and performance ability through shows and productions. 
Recent studies have shown that students learning an instrument and regularly practising have improved brain development with noted development in verbal memory, second language pronunciation accuracy, reading ability, and executive functions. Students' ability is also graded and certificates are awarded at each grade level. If you would like to learn an instrument, or join the waiting list to learn an instrument, please contact Mr Sassons in the Music Department. – Mr Sassons 
Mrs Martinez gives Zog a Mexican Makeover!Mrs Martinez won this week's ZAFTA award for the outstanding and proactive support she gives to students. She took the opportunity to bring some of her cultural heritage to the forefront by creating some beautiful new accessories for our dragon friend! – Mr Mills 
Upcoming Events
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