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Everything wrong about the perception of state schools was included in an article in The Times – but my faith was restored by a perfect riposte from a former pupil.

Columnist Emma Duncan, in an article headlined ‘We’re hurting Oxbridge in the name of equality’,  had her argument dismantled by Gordon Dougan in one tweet.

He responded (see below) by saying he was born on a Scunthorpe council estate, went to state school (this one) and became a father at 20.

He is now professor of Medicine at Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

“Nothing was fair about getting there,” he says on Twitter. “If I am damaging Oxbridge, so be it.”

I could stand and applaud.

The article made me feel so angry – and Prof Dougan’s reply, so proud.

The professor, an alumni of this school, is an award-winning expert on infection, vaccines and genomics. Wow.

He did not let what people say is a disadvantaged background get in the way of him becoming a renowned expert in his field across the world.

On the back of this, it is worth reiterating again: Our young people at this Academy can do anything and we will do all in our power to support them achieve it.

We do not want to see them put off by the likes of Emma Duncan, blocking their progress and putting further barriers in their way.

We aspire for all our students to leave here to do great things.

An example is a Year 11 who has been offered a place at one of the UK’s leading independent schools, Gordonstoun in Scotland, on a full scholarship.

That is really important to us. One of the nation’s top education providers is allowing our young people a chance to do what they want.

The messages delivered by former alumni can be powerful. Remember Prof Stephen Westaby, who became one of the world’s pioneering heart surgeons and an award-winning author?

The main hall is now named in his honour following his visit in 2019.

I would like to hear from more alumni. They may be reading this blog, sitting in another part of the world. Or they may be more local and have an equally compelling story to tell our students. Please do get in touch. I would love to hear from you.

I wonder what those Year 11 students who attended Valediction last week will be doing in a few years time?

Thank you to the parents who joined us at a packed event to celebrate academic success.

It was a fantastic occasion and students, at the end, did not want to go home, with lots of selfies with staff, family, and friends.

The night celebrated five years of educational achievements and their potential grades. All we can do is wish them the best of luck in their exams.

The event was another great representation of what we do here.

I was also proud of our latest visit in our efforts to support primary schools. We have been responding positively to requests to share our teaching on collective worship and diversity.

Primaries, some feeder schools and others further afield, have been interested in how it can be taught, delivered and understood in their local communities. It is something on which we have great experience.

We have taken students to six primaries over the last six months and some have visited us. The feedback has been fantastic and our young people have been a credit to this Academy, their families, and themselves.

Another group who excelled were the Year 10 footballers, beaten 5-4 after a late goal, in the final of the Humberside Schools under 15 cup final at Glanford Park in front a big crowd, including parents, friends and staff.

Congratulations to winners Withernsea but our boys were brilliant and came off the pitch with their heads held high.

They were further, fine examples of everything that is right with a state school.

It has been lovely to speak to a lot of students about their Eid celebrations this week after Ramadan ended.

In a world of seemingly never-ending doom and gloom, there is so much positivity around the Muslim culture, with family at its heart.

I spend time at Christmas, as a Christian, reflecting on what is important in life, that is family and friends.

Muslim staff, students and friends have been doing the same over the Eid festival, sharing and celebrating with each other.

I often talk to students about the importance of being positive, thinking positively and looking after people who are most important to you.

Sometimes, we take our eye off the ball and Eid serves as a reminder to keep our focus on what and who matter.

It links to what I learned in the national news this week. Tractors became a hot topic of conversation (for those who don’t know the story, please Google Neil Parish MP).

It is important because it’s another story that promotes dishonesty. There is a lot of it about in the news.

At the Academy, we encourage people to be truthful – it is one of our core values – but it is not just about telling the truth, it is about being respectfully truthful.

If we add that to positivity, it creates a fabulous combination.

The deadline for Year 8s choosing their options to study at GCSE is tomorrow (Thursday).

We had an 85% attendance at last Thursday’s Options Evening, where students and families discussed with staff aligning subjects to their ambitions and aspirations.

It was a really good night and thank you to all who attended.

Another highlight this week has been helping interview seven Year 10 prefects who have put themselves forward to be senior prefect.

They all possessed a confident, enthusiastic, and positive outlook and each spoke about themselves and how the Academy had helped them.

What a wonderful process to put themselves through. They embraced the fact only two Head Prefects will be chosen and the rest will join the greater prefect team.

I am looking at two books on my desk now which could not be more appropriate: Dare To Dream and It’s Not How Good You Are but How Good You Want To be.

The seven young people demonstrated desire to push themselves that extra mile and they should be proud of what they have achieved and will go on to achieve. We have an incredibly difficult decision to make.

The winner will be announced in front of parents at our formal presentation as prefects on Thursday, 12th May, at 5pm.

While mentioning Year 10s, a reminder it is Parents’ Evening on Wednesday,18th May, between 4pm and 7pm.

For Year 11s, their time with us is rapidly drawing to a close, with only three weeks of the half term left after this week.

At 6pm tomorrow, is our traditional Valediction ceremony. Those Year 11s who have achieved the most academically will be recognised and rewarded.

The formal evening, now in its 14th year, gives families and staff the chance to pay homage to those students who have done so well.

It’s another celebration – and positive note to end on.

Our Ref VOY/Year 7 Camping

May 2022

Dear Parent /Carer

As part of the academy vision, it is intended that every child will get a residential experience at The St Lawrence Academy. I am very pleased to announce that we are intending to take the students in year 7 on an educational camping experience to Sunflower Park campsite in Laughton. 

We will be taking the students in two groups.

The first group consisting of students from 7G, 7R and 7A will leave the academy at 9.00 am on Monday 13th June 2022 and return to the academy at approximately 3.00pm on Tuesday 14th June 2022 and be allowed to go home.

The second group consisting of students from 7E and 7T and 7GREAT will leave the academy at 9.00am on Wednesday 15th June 2022 and return to the academy at approximately 3.00 pm on Thursday 16th June 2022 and be allowed to go home.

Students will be taken by coach to the camp and will take part in curricular activities which will include a hike, shelter building, and team games besides other activities. They will have the experience of camping, cooking, singing campfire songs, toasting marshmallows and sleeping in a tent! 

We are asking for a voluntary contribution of £15 per student to be paid via ParentPay and consent is also to be given via ParentPay.  If you need your Parentpay login please contact us.  We will be providing your child with a tent, sleeping bag, if they require one, cooking equipment and food for both days, as well as all the activities. If your child would like to bring their own sleeping bag they are more than welcome to do so. There will be strict limited usage times allowed for mobile devices, therefore we strongly advise that students do not bring them.  Any child with a mobile device will hold all responsibility for it if it is lost or damaged. We also advise that clothing is suitable for the weather conditions, warm and old as it may be muddy. The following items are suggested:

• Old t-shirt – Jumper/hoodies
• Old trousers – not jeans – Walking boots or trainers
• Waterproof coat/jacket – Sleeping attire
• Torch – Woolly hat, gloves
• Small bag/rucksack                                              

Please also complete the data collection form to ensure we have accurate and up to date information for your child.  

We are asking all parents to ensure you have downloaded our Arbour parent portal to give you access to a host of student information. Further information is available on our website. 

Yours sincerely

MCretney

Mr. Cretney
Achievement Team Leader for Year 7

We have returned after the holiday to attendance reaching its highest point since before the pandemic.

It is a pleasing statistic as schools nationally have struggled, with attendance averaging around 87% to 89%.

We have been consistently above those levels for more than seven months and the latest figures are encouraging. But we are not complacent.

Our stronger attendance is, I believe, a consequence of parents and children having the confidence in school.

Our young people are re-energised and have a trust in the Academy. They know it is the right place for them to be.

Schools have a vital role to play in education across the board. To illustrate the point, we have produced the Character Education Learning Journey.

This one graphic, that has attracted strong traction on social media, demonstrates the range of topics children learn in their time at the Academy.

It is above and beyond the normal subjects you expect to be taught in school.

This is about giving our young people crucial knowledge that will help them develop into first class citizens and role models.

I am really proud of the Character Learning Journey we provide from the point children step into The St Lawrence Academy in Year 7 to the moment they leave in Year 11.

It is important parents / carers know what their children are being taught in school goes far beyond the national curriculum. We are developing the whole child.

Our prefects are perfect examples of what I’m talking about and they have been selected for the 2022/23 academic year.

Their formal presentation as prefects – when they will be awarded their tie and badge – will take place on Thursday, 12th May, from 5pm. Parents / carers are being invited.

Mr Murray is leading on interviews to select the head prefects, who will also be announced at this ceremony. I am also involved.

Each of our prefects have put themselves out, helped others and enriched life at the Academy.

Their reward has come in being announced prefects. Each are fantastic ambassadors and role models, inspiring younger students to follow in their footsteps.

The prefect ceremony is just one of the events that make the summer term the busiest in the academic year.

Many events take place in the evening and involve parental support in one way or the other (see below).

Tonight, for example, it is the Year 9 Options Evening, the first time in their education children can choose subjects they wish to pursue.

It is vitally important families attend and support their children in making the right choices.

Events are communicated via our Arbor system, which has now been downloaded by more than 50% of parents / carers. We want that figure to be 100%.

The app is simple to download and easy to use but if you would like help, please email  [email protected]

A reminder that it is a Bank Holiday on Monday (2^nd May) and the Academy will be closed.

Finally, Year 11 are in their final weeks at the Academy before their next step.

There are a plethora of revision sessions to support them with their GCSEs and all should be attending them.

Any parents unsure as to what sessions are available should get in touch.

This is a crucial time for the home-school partnership, working together to ensure those children make the right choices and are prepared for what is to come.

Good luck everyone.

Dates for the diary:

Wednesday, 27th April – Options Evening for Year 9

Thursday, 5th May – Year 11 Valediction

To be confirmed – Community Café

Thursday, 12th May – Year 10 Prefect Ceremony

Wednesday, 18th May – Year 10 Parents Evening

Friday, 24th June – Year 11 Leavers Event

Monday, 27th June – Sports Day Years 7-10

Thursday, 30th June – Year 6 Induction Evening

Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th July – Y7/8/9 Celebration Evenings

1st April 2022

Dear Parents/Carers

Year 9 KeyStage 4 – Options

Options Evening – Wednesday 27th April between 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 2022’ 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 21st April to 27th April.  It is extremely important for you and your child to attend the options evening on Wednesday 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.

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 2022/23 alongside parental/student support, options information, career guidance and subject specific support. 

The St Lawrence Academy Futures website 

Yours sincerely

Mrs J Kock Mrs J Elston

Senior Leader – Learning & Progress Year 9 Achievement Team Leader

April 2022

 Revision Workshops

Dear Parent/Carer

In order to give your child the opportunity to achieve their full potential, the academy is holding revision workshops out of term time for these subjects. 

Computer Science – Mrs Dualeh

Geography – Mrs Kock

Technology – Mr Cretney

These will be held as follows :

Monday 4th April at 9:00am until 2:00pm

Students will need to bring a drink and packed lunch with them on the day and arrive promptly at 09:00am. Students do not have to wear their school uniform.

We would be grateful if you would encourage your child to attend the sessions that apply to them. 

Please complete the consent form by clicking the link below and completing the attached form. 

Extra Revision Consent Form

We appreciate your support in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Ellerby
Deputy Headteacher
of Teaching & Learning

I watched the footage of Will Smith at the Oscars and thought immediately of the poor example he was setting to young people.

Here was a Hollywood icon using violence to resolve a disagreement.

Smith has, of course, subsequently apologised to comedian Chris Rock for the assault but the damage in terms of the message sent out had already been done.

It is the opposite of what we expect at this Academy, with education, restorative practice and learning from mistakes, key tools when dealing with disagreements.

We are accountable for our actions and take responsibility. It is all part of creating good citizens.

Just because we don’t like a comment, we still need to think about the right and proper way to respond.

It is the same online. We need to consider our digital footprint and what might be read in the present and in the future.

Relationships are the most important thing we try to get right – between pupils, between staff and pupils and between staff.

We encourage conversations and debates but we always have to ask ourselves before we answer, what damage could I do by saying or writing the wrong words?

Will Smith would do well to spend some time at this Academy.

Easter’s a good time for reflection.

As a Church of England school, we recognise it is an important period for Christians. We have had a great week of reflective assemblies around Easter and what it means.

We are also mindful Ramadan begins on Saturday, 2^nd April. It is a hugely important event to our Muslim community, who make up a significant proportion of our Academy.

Religion is important to a lot of people in our community. Central to whatever faith we practice are peace and respect.

I hope you enjoy the holidays and please remember we return on Thursday, 21^st April.

We face an extremely busy term and I wanted to flag up the key dates:

• Wednesday, 27th April – Options Evening for Year 9
• Thursday, 5th May – Year 11 Valediction
• Wednesday, 11th May – Community Cafe
• Thursday, 12th May – Year 10 Prefect Ceremony
• Wednesday, 18th May – Year 10 Parents’ Evening
• Friday, 24th June – Year 11 Leavers’ Event
• Monday, 27th June – Sports Day, Years 7-10
• Thursday, 30th June – Year 6 Induction Evening
• Monday, 18th, Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th July – Years 7/8/9 Celebration Evenings

Friday sees us say farewell to three members of staff.

Senior leader Mrs Newlands-Melvin is taking up a senior deputy position closer to where she lives; English teacher Miss Chajid is moving to Morocco; and PE technician Mr West begins officer training at Sandhurst.

On behalf of the Academy community, I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them well in their future careers.

On the communications front, the Arbor app has been downloaded by 40% of parents.

There will be a big push next term to have a much higher proportion signed up to what is going to be the best way to check children’s progress and keep in touch with school.

If you are having difficulty setting it up or would like help with it, please don’t hesitate to email  [email protected]

The app also celebrates success and rewards – something the Academy in Los Angeles was trying to do on Sunday night.

It is the final countdown for our Year 11s – and we’re determined to give them all the support we can muster before exams start.

Everybody is gearing up for the first national GCSE on Monday, 16^th May (RE, paper one) and they come thick and fast after that.

We return from the Easter break on Thursday, 21^st April, which means, just three-and-a-half weeks later, Year 11s will be sitting in the exam hall.

That is not meant to panic anybody.

We appreciate it is never an easy time for students or their families / carers but this year takes on greater significance as we have not had full blown exams for two years.

But a series of plans and interventions are in place to support our young people because, what we do know, is they are all different.

Some are organised, plan well, give themselves time and remain calm. Some are interdependent and prefer to work in small friendships groups, motivating each other.

But there are also those who, despite the help, support and guidance offered, don’t plan effectively, run out of time and, ultimately, leave it to the last minute, causing themselves a great deal of anxiety.

The plans and interventions for Year 11 are:

• Over the Easter holidays, revision sessions will be sent out every day for each student for a select number of subjects via Google Classroom, used so effectively during the COVID lockdowns.
• A school-led tutoring programme will be run every Wednesday over the next six weeks. Those who have accessed it over the past 12 weeks have seen anticipated grades increase, so it works.
• Tutor times first thing each morning will be taken up with English, Maths and Science revision. Some will spend time with Heads of Department.
• Staff training time will be used on the first three Fridays after Easter between 1.15pm and 3pm to cover an array of subjects, taught in a different way.
• An after-school revision timetable is being put in place, changing every day up to the exams starting.

No stone will be left unturned as staff do everything in their powers to support and guide our students. A letter will be sent out to Year 11 next week with the details.

The Google Classroom sessions give all our students a base offer every day over the holidays. We know many will do much more – and we hope they do – but every student has something to work on daily.

Thank you to staff responsible for putting this comprehensive revision programme together and led by my Deputy Headteacher Dan Ellerby.

It is an exciting time for Year 9. Their Options programme is about to be released, allowing them to choose subjects to study at GCSE over the next two years.

We give responsibility to those young people to prioritise the subjects they wish to continue. It’s a big decision.

They need to look out for the Options booklet and it is then important they talk to teachers and staff to enable them to make the right, informed choice.

In addition to the above, our Year 9’s are undertaking their first exams they have sat at the Academy next week. Monday 28th is English Literature, Tuesday 29th is Maths calculator, Wednesday 30th March is Science and Thursday 31st March is Maths non calculator. All are in the main exam hall.

Next Thursday, please don’t forget the Easter Community Café, which will replicate the successful formula from last term.

It is great to welcome the community for a cuppa, cake and chat and for them to see our young performers in a relaxed atmosphere the day before we break up.

Next Friday, on the last day of term, we will be hosting our first Year 7 house event between 12.15 and 1.45pm.

There will be competitions and activities for them to compete in and it will be a really nice way for that year group to end the term.

Finally, increasing numbers of students are arriving without a tie. They need to ensure they adhere to the uniform policy and have a tie on. If it’s lost, then a new one needs ordering from Shah’s Uniform on West Street, Scunthorpe.

They need to arrive at school ready to learn and the correct uniform sets the tone. Thank you.

21st March 2022

Year 11 Awards Evening and Valediction Ceremony

Dear Parents of Year 11 Students

The Awards Evening and Valediction Ceremony for our Year 11 students will take place on Thursday 5th May 2022 at 6.00pm prompt. On the occasion of the Valedictory Celebration, all Year 11 students are hereby invited to join together to celebrate their five years at The St Lawrence Academy. We know this will be a memorable and enjoyable event and we are able to offer two additional tickets, but only to students who are receiving prizes and who would like members of their family to attend.

The awards are mainly of an academic nature and are based on the final teacher assessment grades and completed modular examinations as well as the top achiever in each subject being awarded with a subject trophy.

Valediction Trophies presented on the evening will include:

• ATL Trophy: Prefectship. This is awarded to students who have demonstrated roles of Leadership.

• Headteacher’s Shield. This is given to the student for Leadership and Service, at the Headteacher’s discretion.

• Work Experience Award. For the student for whom we received a glowing report for Work Experience.

• Dux Scholar Award. For the student who is overall top achiever based on academic data.

• Outstanding Progress Award. For the student who has progressed the most over their 5 years in the academy.

• Service Above Self Award. For the student who has made a significant contribution to life in the academy beyond the call of duty. 

• Fortitude & Courage Award. For the student who has overcome obstacles and difficulties to be their best possible self.

• House Core Value Award. For the student who has best represented the values of the academy through the House system

I would like to wish all students the very best in their preparation for their examinations and believe that through hard work and support from parents/carers, all goals will be achieved.

Yours sincerely

Miss Sally Walker

Achievement Team Leader Year 11