I am so proud to lead this Academy; what it stands for and what it does.
Diversity Month, which began on Monday and runs through to half term (22nd), is a terrific example.
A host of events and activities are taking place to celebrate the Academy’s diversity and details can be found at Diversity Month
We are here to serve the needs of our local, diverse community. We believe we must celebrate what makes us different and find joy in our uniqueness.
Another example of supporting our community comes tonight when we host a settling in evening for Year 7 between 5pm and 6pm.
Parents / carers can drop in on an informal basis, meet their child’s tutor and discuss how they are settling in, finding friends and finding their way around the Academy.
A focus of the next few weeks, quite rightly, will be on our Year 11s.
The group continue to make us very proud. They have always had a fabulous work ethic and are one of the best sets of role models we have had.
Given all that has happened, they have been patiently waiting for details about next summer’s exams. We have had that in the last day or so.
The Department for Education has said Year 11 will receive grades based on a midway point from the last three years of exams.
There will be options in terms of the questions they answer and there will be advance notice, with us by 7th February, on exam subjects.
Consultation is underway and will end on 13th October on what the plan will be if next summer’s exams are cancelled like the last two years.
Given this, we have decided to start collecting evidence that could be used for teacher-assessed grades in 2022 if, and it’s a big if, the exams are scrapped.
We will have Academy exams for Year 11 from Monday, 8th November, the second week back after half term.
A timetable for those exams will be handed out before that break.
The first reports for Year 11 will be distributed on 1st November, a week before the exams start.
We want students to look at what is in those reports and really invest time and effort in the following two weeks.
Those exams could be vital for their grades next summer.
Be organised, study and revise – that investment in time could be really worthwhile.
It is an important month coming up for our Year 11s. We wish them well.
