Front Page News

My first blog of my favourite term – which begins with a little disruption.

Bank Holidays fall on the next two Mondays, one to mark May Day and the second for His Majesty the King’s Coronation.

Academy students, though not its staff, had last Friday off to mark Eid.  It was the first time we were able to combine a teacher training day with the end of Ramadan.

It was an opportunity to have a really good family celebration and I hope our Muslim community enjoyed it.

Tomorrow (Thursday) marks the first of two more days of industrial action by the NEU. The second is next Tuesday.

Relevant communication outlining the impact on the Academy and families has been sent out.

Unions and the Government are working to ensure the action does not affect Year 11’s learning in this crucial period ahead of their GSCEs.

As parents / carers know, those students have not been impacted by the strikes and they will continue to be educated full-time, alongside the additional tutoring that has been put in place.

We are also starting extra Friday afternoon revision sessions to give them the best possible chances of success.

Thank you to parents / carers for working with us in supporting their Year 11 children. They need every single minute available to them – inside and outside of school – to prepare for their exams.

Tomorrow is Options Evening, the most important night of the year for Year 9 and their families.

It is vitally important parents / carers attend with their child and hear a presentation from senior staff explaining the process. This will take place at 4pm and be repeated at 5.15pm.

Choices need to be made about what they would like to study in Years 10 and 11. Those choices have consequences, which is why it’s important all Year 9 students and their families attend.

The evening will run from 4pm to 7pm, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the suitability of courses.

A week today (3^rd May) is our Year 11 Valediction Evening, a formal ceremony that celebrates  achievements based on GCSE exam grades staff predict they will receive in the summer.

For those in Year 11 and their families, please don’t miss an opportunity to celebrate students’ efforts and recognise their achievements ahead of the summer exams. It is also a chance to dress smartly. The evening starts at 6pm.

Congratulations to our Year 10 prefects who heard of their success by letter last week. Thank you to all those who applied for the positions.

It was a wonderful process to go through and great experience.

Their initial application by letter was followed by scenarios on which they were assessed. Those successful went through to the next round.

Their applications were anonymised and a panel of staff read through them before making final judgments. It was an interesting task and what was amazing was how aligned they were in their decisions.

There will be a formal evening in due course when the successful students will receive their badge and tie.

Tomorrow evening, the senior leadership team and me will interview six of those students for the head prefect positions. I’m looking forward to it.

On Friday, 12^th May, for the first time, a Combined Cadet Force formation parade will take place between 1.30pm and 3pm.

A significant number of staff from the Ministry of Defence will be in attendance with various equipment and resources.

A first series of promotions and the awarding of berets will take place and it should be a fantastic afternoon.

Letters have been sent out regarding the new biometrics system we are introducing at lunchtimes.

A significant number have given permissions but we still need responses from some parents / carers ahead of it going live next week.

It all adds up to a busy start to the new term.

31 March 2023

Dear Parents/Carers

Year 9 KeyStage 4 – Options

Options Evening – Thursday 27th April 2023 – 4.00pm to 6.30pm 

Our students are now entering an important chapter within their life at the academy.  They are about to make their option choices which will involve them selecting examination courses to follow from the next academic year in Key Stage 4. 

We are now excited to begin the KS4 options process with our year 9 students. All of the important information that you will need can be found in the interactive ‘Options Guide 2023’ on our academy website, Google Classroom and our Facebook page. It is essential that both you and your child find the time over the Easter break to explore our curriculum offer within the guide so that we can all help, advise and support them to make the right curriculum choices. 

Taster sessions of the options will be shared with your child during lessons from 17th April to 20th April.  It is extremely important for you and your child to attend the options evening on Thursday 27th April between 4.00pm to 6.30pm, where you will have the opportunity to speak to the subject staff about each of the option choices. Please complete the attendance form link confirming your attendance.

There is a very important presentation to parents and carers to clarify the options process and implications of subject choice. There will be two opportunities to attend: at 4:00pm and 5:15pm in the Westaby Hall.. Please ensure that you are seated before the start time to ensure a prompt and uninterrupted options information presentation. 

The key dates that you should be aware of can be seen below, these can also be found within the options guide.

For further information, please click into the link below. This link will take you to our ‘Futures’ website where you can find our Options Guide 2023/24 alongside parental/student support, options information, career guidance and subject specific support. – The St Lawrence Academy Futures website  – Link to options booklet

Yours sincerely

Mrs J Kock Mr J Stainton

Assistant Headteacher:  Learning & Progress Year 9 Achievement Team Leader

The St Lawrence Academy has moved to a fingerprint recognition system for our cashless catering and printing solutions. This will remove the need for the students to have to use the current card system. The move is part of a project to improve the catering solution and help to enhance the students’ experience. In order for your child to opt in to biometric recognition, we require your consent via the Arbor APP or by completing the attached CONSENT FORM as detailed below.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you using biometric recognition?
Biometric recognition converts physical characteristics into a unique digital signature that can be used to quickly and securely locate your child’s cashless catering account. This helps speed up service and eliminates the requirement to carry cash or an alternative method of access, such as a card that can be lost or stolen.

How does it work?
When the child places their finger on the scanner or looks at the camera, the software reads key features (unique patterns on a fingerprint or distance between facial features for facial recognition) and compares this against the database of registered users. When it finds a match it automatically opens their cashless catering account allowing the operator to complete the sale of their school meals.

Can these biometrics registrations be used by any other agency?
No, the software turns your child’s physical characteristics into an encrypted (using AES 256) string of characters known as a template (no fingerprint image is ever stored). Even if someone were to be able to gain access to the data and break the encryption, this template does not contain enough information to reverse engineer into a usable fingerprint.

What happens when my child leaves the School?
When a student leaves school all data can be deleted very easily.

I don’t wish to give permission for my child to participate with biometric recognition, can my child still purchase school meals?
Yes, an alternative method of authentication will be available. The option available is a personal pin number.
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What if I change my mind?
If you initially opt-in for your child to use biometric recognition but later change your mind, contact the academy and we will remove the permission from the system which will automatically remove any biometric data associated with your child and provide your child with an alternative method of authentication.

Biometrics opt-in form
Download the Arbor App via the App Store or Google Play
Download for iOS (Apple iPhone/iPad)
Download for Android (Google Play Store)
Logging In For the First Time

Use the email address we have on our system for you, and if you haven’t been provided with a password, or simply can’t remember it, then click the ‘Forgotten your password?’ link on your login page to have a reset password email sent to you.

This email/ letter will confirm your username (your email on school record) and a link for you to click on that will take you directly to the academy Parent Portal site.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Yours sincerely

G Drinkall

Garry Drinkall
Senior Manager Systems & Structures

It is the last blog of this term and my Easter message is this:

As our Muslim brothers and sisters mark Ramadan, we are drawing to the end of the Christian season of Lent.

Both are times of fasting, prayer and giving to charity.

With the ending of Lent, we are celebrating Easter in our Academy church services and Easter assemblies during which we have reflected on the times we have washed our hands of something, just like Pontius Pilate did with Jesus.

We have thought about how much Jesus’ life, death and resurrection means and what new hope it can bring to our lives.

And as we see the signs of promise and new life all around us, we hope you have a happy, peaceful and blessed Easter.

After the holidays, we start the last term of the year, always the best and my favourite.

Year 11 will be taking their exams and leaving us after their five-year journey. But we will also be looking ahead, welcoming children starting in September at our Year 6 transitional events.

So the third term is a period of reflection, reward and recognition, with a whole series of events to look forward to.

To help plan, here is a list of key Academy events/dates in the summer term:

• Inset Day / EID – Friday 21st April
• Year 9 Options Evening – Thursday 27th April 4pm to 7pm
• Year 11 Valediction – Wednesday 3rd May (approx 6pm time tbc)
• Year 10 Prefect ceremony – Thursday 11th May (approx 5pm time tbc)
• CCF formation parade – Friday 12th May 1.30pm
• Year 10 Work Experience – 5.6.23 – 9.6.23
• Sports day at Quibell Park – Monday 19th June (reserve date 26th June)
• Year 11 Leavers’ Event at the Academy – Friday 23rd June – (time tbc)
• Year 10 North Lindsey College taster day – Wednesday 28th June
• Year 6 Induction days – Thursday 29th June and Friday 30th June
• Year 6 Induction Evening – Thursday 29th June (approx 5pm – time tbc)
• CCF Central Camp – 3.7.23 – 7.7.23
• God & The Big Bang Conference (10 students) at Southwell Cathedral – Tuesday 4th July
• North Lincolnshire Athletics Championships – Tuesday 4th July
• RAD 3 and Year 10 John Leggott College taster day – Wednesday 5th July
• Celebration Evenings at the Baths Hall – Wed 12th July (approx 6pm time tbc)
• Summer Fayre – Thursday 13th July – (approx 4.30pm time tbc)
• Year 7 camp at Sunflower Park – 17.7.23 – 20.7.23
• Academy closes for Summer – Friday 21st July
• GCSE Results day – Thursday 24th August – (approx 9am – time tbc)

Changes have been made to the building structure over the past 12 months. We have improved classrooms, added a new library and created alternative provision accommodation.

We have invested in internal doors with improved locks and, next term, a tannoy system will be installed, meaning messages can be relayed across the site quickly and effectively.

While the latest mass school shooting in America has happened in a different culture where guns are readily available, it does serve as a reminder about the importance of safety and security in all schools.

Parents / carers, students and staff can be reassured about the improvements we have made and full details about our procedures will be explained to the children.

We have also been looking at creating a robustness and greater efficiency around ordering food.

Far too many children forget or lose their swipe card and, inevitably, this creates queues.

We will be going out to contract with regards to food supplies in the coming weeks.

The Academy is moving to a biometrics system, with a child using their fingerprint to order food, rather than the card. We are working with a biometrics company and what it means for the children and how it will work will be explained.

This Friday after school, the cloakroom will be cleared of any remaining coats in readiness for the summer term.

Students are asked to take home any left in there before then please.

After Easter, with the rise in temperatures, we will be moving back to the system where jackets, hoodies, jumpers and coats are not to be worn inside school and in any area. This will include the central atrium and during lunch inside.

A reminder the Academy will be closed to students on Friday, 21^st April, for a staff duty day. This is the last teacher training inset day of the academic year.

The first day back after holidays, Monday, 17^th April, marks the start of two weeks of exams for Year 10.

Finally, you may have noted we have moved the Year 9 Options Evening because of a clash. It will now take place on Thursday, 27^th April from 4pm.

It is an important event, helping students choose GCSEs to study in Years 10 and 11. I’d encourage as many parents/ carers to attend with their children as possible.

For those sitting exams next term, your hard work during the holidays will pay off. To everybody else, please enjoy the break.

21st March 2023

Dear Parents/Carers

“Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain God consciousness” 

I am sharing with you information relating to Ramadan, Eid and our Easter Services.

Easter Services will take place the week commencing 27th March.

Year 7 and 8 will walk to St Lawrence’s Church on Oswald Road for the last lesson of the day and will be dismissed directly from the Church.  However if you wish your child to walk back to the academy with staff, please advise their form tutor or ATL.

Year 8 will attend on Monday 27th April from 2.30pm to 3.45pm

Year 7 will attend on Tuesday 28th April from 1.30pm to 2.45pm

Year 9, 10 & 11 services will take place during assembly time in the academy.  

This month is Ramadan, a period of fasting and reflection for Muslims. With over 30% of our students and staff observing Ramdan this year, I felt it was important to reshare our academy’s message of generosity, respect, justice, forgiveness and truth that I feel aligns with the spiritual focus of Ramadan.

As the passage from the Quran suggests this is a month for muslims to feel closer to God and at the academy we  appreciate that in the academy we have many students and staff that belong to and practise a faith ( over 65 % have said they belong to a faith group). 

We also acknowledge many students and staff don’t have faith but this does not separate us but unites us a community of people who are here to celebrate each other and our differences.

The period of Ramadan starts for our Muslim students and families on Thursday 23rd March until 21st or 22nd April.  At the end of Ramadan follows the Eid celebration which will be on Friday 21st April or Saturday 22nd April.  Therefore our inset day for April is now confirmed that this will be on Friday 21st April and the academy will be closed to all students.  This will allow families the opportunity to spend time with each other celebrating Eid. 

At the academy we celebrate and value our difference in faith and no faith!  We have accommodated for our students by providing the following:

• Friday 17th March- students to presented a Ramadan info in staff briefing
• In our Central Atrium we  have ‘ Ramadan’ display information for those who would like to learn more about Ramadan.
• At lunch times classrooms WF04, WF05, WF06  will be available as safe spaces for prayer – the reflection room will not be suitable due to the number of students wanting to pray. 
• Toilets will be open during both lunch times for students to make wudu (ablutions)
• Reflections for the week beginning Ramadan are around Ramadan allowing students and teachers to reflect and have conversations around why muslims fast.
• Students that are eligible for free school meals are still able to use their allowance to purchase food  ( e.g cakes, cookies) and then put in their bags to eat for their iftar meal in the evening.

There is an open invitation to businesses and the people of Community to fast with the Muslim community and a Fast-A-Thon is being planned for one day during Ramadan, where anyone can pledge their lunch money to Scunthorpe Foodbank and fast for a day. This will take place on 30th March. At the end of the day there will be an Iftar in Central Park where everyone will break fast with water and dates, be able to observe prayer, followed by dinner, provided by the Muslim community inside UCNL. Further information, including how to pledge and book your ticket can be found here. 

From our TSLA ‘family’ Academy to yours, Ramadan Kareem (Blessed Ramadan)!

Yours sincerely

Phill Dalowsky 

Headteacher

As we approach the end of term two, I would like to reach out to all faiths represented at the academy but say specifically for tomorrow Ramadan Kareem / Mubarak.

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain God consciousness.”

Our Muslim community which celebrates or takes part in Ramadan will be starting that special month of the year. For them, it is a period of fasting and of reflection.

As the above passage from the Quran states, this is a month for Muslims to feel closer to God.

We have many staff and students at the Academy who practice a faith. We also have a number who do not.

This does not separate us but unites us as a community.

A letter is being sent to all families explaining our commitment to Muslim students but also including the Easter services next week for those with a Christian faith, showing how Christ is well referenced and remembered during this time to.

There is one more teacher duty day to confirm. For the first time in the Academy’s history, it will coincide with Eid, celebrating the end of Ramadan.

On Friday, 21^st April, staff will be in the Academy but students won’t.

A significant number would not have attended school anyway because they would have been celebrating Eid. It makes sense to combine the two.

Another reflection of our community is that an appeal on Facebook for additional prayer mats for Ramadan saw us pretty overwhelmed with donations. Thank you to those who contributed.

Our community unity is there for all to see. We are at the forefront of what it is like to be living well together.

It fills me with a great sense of pride.

The determined admission arrangements for 2024/25 for currently open schools and academies in the North Lincolnshire area can be found via the link below:

Admission arrangements 2024-25 – North Lincolnshire Council (northlincs.gov.uk)

 Any interested party has the opportunity until 15 May 2023 to object to the determined admission arrangements if they contain practices or criteria that they consider do not comply with the law or the mandatory provisions of the schools admissions code. Further information on how to make an objection can be obtained from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator

It was a pleasure to welcome author Jeffrey Boakye to our Academy last Friday.

He officially opened our new library but his impact was felt way beyond that relatively simple task.

Jeffrey made a lasting impression on all he met.

Students found him engaging, informative and inspirational.

He also gave staff plenty to think about when he spoke in an afternoon session.

He picked up some of the themes he writes about in his book and was forthright in his views that we shy away from debating big topics such as misogyny and racism and don’t understand what it is like for our students who are different.

Jeffrey (pictured) feels strongly teachers nationwide do not talk to children about difficult issues for fear of upsetting them.  It is a failing across the education system, Jeffrey argues. I understand what he is saying.

He had students in the palm of his hands and I loved a couple of his quotes.

He told students “whatever is holding you back can push you forward” and “we’ve all got our own superpowers.”

How right he is on both.

We are always talking to students about believing in themselves and I hope the quotes provide inspiration when they are needed in the future.

He was very generous in his assessment of the Academy, picking up how proud our young people were to study here.

It was, he said, a “truly powerful culture to cultivate” and he had had “an energising and inspiring day”.

I repeat again, I am proud to be headteacher at this Academy.

In terms of the library, it has been terrific to see children using the quiet, chill out space for 15 minutes. It is clear a significant proportion have needed it.

Today (Wednesday) it is the first chance our Combined Cadet Force students have had to wear their full uniform to school. They have waited for it to arrive and then be measured up. I know they will wear it with pride.

A total of 70 students are in the programme. When Year 11s leave next term, there will be a recruitment window for Year 7s to join in September.

I would encourage them to give it some thought and look out for the opportunity being advertised.

A Year 7 Parents’ Evening takes place tomorrow (Thursday) from 4pm.

Subject teachers will be available and it is important to attend, half way through the year, to check on your child’s progress and attainment. If you have not committed to coming already, please do so.

Next week, Year 9 will experience exams in Maths, English and Science in full exam conditions. It will give them great experience as to what is ahead. Children need to be arriving in a positive state of mind. I wish them well.