NEWSLETTER Easter 2015 LAT Annual Teaching and Learning Please see below responses from Trust delegates Conference about the day: On Friday 13th February, ‘As a new member to the Trust (March) can I take the Wilmington opportunity to both thank you and congratulate you hosted for the fantastic day. The organisation was seamless the Leigh and two of the guest speakers were inspirational. Academies Trust I look forward to next year when I can take full Annual Teaching advantage of all that’s on offer.’ and Learning ‘A really well organised day that flowed nicely. Conference. The session lengths were good as it prevented any The Conference ‘Overload’ and made things snappy. The Lanyards is designed to were a nice touch and the catering was out of this support staff from across the . world! It felt very welcoming to be at Wilmington The key objectives were to network, share and Academy and had a true ‘Trust’ day feel. An excellent develop outstanding practice and celebrate collective job by all concerned in putting it together.’ expertise. This year, Wilmington hosted nearly 1,000 members of staff who were audience to key note speakers: Baroness Estelle Morris, ex-Secretary of The Department for Education; Bill Watkin, Operational Director of SSAT and Steve Brown, GB Para- Olympian. Elective sessions were facilitated by outstanding practitioners across the Trust (Specialist, Primary and Secondary phases), joined by Trust Directors of Improvement and an array of external specialist ‘A very well organised event. An appropriate range of facilitators to lead over fifty workshop training sessions that were informative and certainly got you sessions. thinking about the future direction in which teaching and learning across the trust is taking.’ 94% of the teaching staff rated the event and quality of workshops as ‘good – excellent’. May I thank all members of staff who helped organise this thoroughly successful conference. M. Gore

Marcus Alexander was in the building!! Students were in for a treat when the energetic and dynamic author Marcus Alexander paid a visit to Wilmington Academy on Friday 27th February. Arriving on a motorbike in black leathers, he certainly helped to change the students’ perception of what an author should look and sound like. Marcus is the creator of the fantasy series Keeper of the Realms which tells the story of Charlie Keeper who is forced to flee her home in London to the magical world of Bellania. Marcus began the day with a lively presentation where he explained how his travels around the world, his exotic diet and his love of extreme sports have influenced his writing. He spoke of the importance of learning from life’s experiences and told students to embrace life and make the most of every opportunity that comes along. He then met with a small group of Post 16 students where he talked about overcoming writer’s block and the importance of freeing their imaginations. He explained that you need to have an open mind if you want to succeed in life. Marcus also held two writing workshops with students in Years 7, 8 and 9 where he explained the importance and power of reading. He focussed on the skills of brainstorming and story planning, telling students to “think outside the box” and change the way they think about writing. Marcus encouraged them to imagine a world of fantasy and adventure based on a character called “Fo Fum.” At the end of the day there was a long queue of students waiting to get their posters and books signed, as well as having a photograph or two taken with him. It was definitely a fun-filled day and you know it’s a success when students are queuing up to read his books. D. Kennedy Post 16 Trip to Brussels - March 2015 At the beginning of March, 23 A Level Law and Citizenship students participated in a three day trip to Brussels. The visit complemented their current studies as the students visited the European Parliament and S.H.A.P.E, the military element of NATO. After an early start on the first day, students arrived in Brussels around midday. First on the itinerary was a walking tour of Brussels, which enabled students to experience the culture and tradition of Belgium. We were amazed to learn that French fries are in fact Brussels fries, the biggest tourist attraction in Brussels is a statue of a small boy and that Brussels is a multi-cultural city, where Dutch, French and Flemish are all commonly spoken. Wednesday brought about a trip to the Parliamentarian, where students took part in an interactive tour in order to learn about the origins, history and thought process behind the birth of the European Union. This gave students valuable first-hand knowledge of important events in The European Union, such as the common market, the Euro and the co-operation of all 28 member states on issues such as the environment, trade and crime. All the information gained during this visit will provide students with valuable information they can bring to both their upcoming exams and coursework. After the visit to the Parliamentarian students had the chance to meet Catherine Bearder, MEP for the South East in order to learn more about her role within the European Parliament and participate in a Question and Answer session. This also included a guided tour of the European Parliament, which dwarfs our own Parliament in size. The final leg of our trip saw students travel one hour outside of Brussels to S.H.A.P.E, the military arm of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), a peace keeping organisation, which protects the defensive interests of 28 North Atlantic countries. Students learnt more about the operations of S.H.A.P.E and how they have had to recently react to the Ukraine crisis in order to protect members from growing environmental and cyber threats. After their visit to S.H.A.P.E, students developed their cultural diversity by learning about how Belgium’s most valuable export, chocolate is made. The workshop included an opportunity to make and taste test the chocolate. There was one last stop before departing Brussels, which saw students tasting authentic Belgian fries, many of them adopting to sample them the traditional way with lashings of mayonnaise! S Stevens & L Evans To Kill A Mockingbird Theatre Trip On 5th March the English department took 40 Year 10 and 11 students to the Orchard Theatre in Dartford to see “To Kill A Mockingbird”. The performance was very beneficial for Year 11’s in particular, because it helped us get an inside look at the text we have been reading in class. It also helped us to see the play in action and expanded our knowledge of the text. From my perspective the play was very useful as it helped me get a better understanding of the play and how I can use this vital information in order to achieve my B grade in English. In conclusion, the trip was very useful and entertaining. Our next trip will be on 17th September for Year 11 students studying “An Inspector Calls”. Amardeep Dadi, Year 11 Apollo New York 2015 During the February half term, twelve Year 11 and Year 12 students, accompanied by three staff, visited New York for five days. Over the course of the week we visited iconic landmarks such as The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty as well as taking part in guided tours around the U.N building and 9/11 memorial site. The week was filled with inspiration, laughing and awe and although the weather dipped to -180 and we were showered with snow, this did not dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of our students who were an absolute credit to the Academy from start to finish. S. Rackley Hunger Games From Monday 23rd February to Friday 6th March, the school was transformed into the arena for the 1st Annual Wilmington Academy Hunger Games Festival, in celebration of World Book Day 2015. Each tutor group was given the opportunity to have students “volunteer” to take part in 25 different competitions that ranged from fashion shows and bake-offs, to website creation and biological engineering. Each competition would have a victor and runner-up but students received a point just for entering. This meant each tutor group was also competing to get the most points. In the end it was M13, led by Mrs Murphy that won the crown and took home a £250 prize to spend on a reward of their choosing. The tutor group that took home the runner-up prize of £100 was Ms Oliver’s tutor group A11. Congratulations to all those who participated; may the odds be ever in your favour!

N. Markham

Music in the Community As a part of our Level 3 BTEC Music course, one of our units was to work in the community, creating workshops to teach younger students. We are currently working with Sutton-at-Hone CE who kindly allowed us to teach their Year 6 class. The objectives for the workshop were to help them create their own musical composition as a group; this included using African drums, clapping and leg tapping as well as musical games to teach them the music note values, dynamics and texture. There will also be lessons on composition techniques and stage presence to create the whole package as a performer. Working with the school has been a great experience and we can’t wait to see the outcome of their final pieces. S. Blackmore Hairspray This year students and staff have out done themselves with the Whole School Production. “Hairspray” – a story of segregation, dancing and a significant amount of Rock and Roll – became the first Wilmington Academy Musical to take place in the new Lecture Theatre. The performances involved 58 students, on stage, in the band, painting sets and helping out back stage, over 20 staff creating, lending, supporting and rehearsing and even 6 musicians from the local area who gave up their time to make the whole experience rich and energised. The whole process started way back in September 2014, with auditions and on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2015 well over 300 parents, friends and family were there to enjoy the culmination of all their efforts in the full performance of “Hairspray” the musical. We would like to thank you for all your support, we could not have done it without you. J. Cringle Netball Year 7 and 8 Netball teams played Wilmington Girls Grammar last Tuesday and won one game out of the two played. N. Stewart Trampolining On Tuesday 10th February I took 18 students to the Kent Schools Trampolining Competition and I am pleased to tell you that five students got through to the finals which will be held at Gillingham Rebound Centre on the 19th March 2015. Students that are going through to the next round are: Daniel Dobson, Charlie Edmundson, Tom Burgess, Clementine Young and Grace Cooper The rest of the students were excellent with our Year 7 girls, in particular finishing, 7th, 9th and 29th out of 60 competitors. Year 10 girls finished in 8th, 12th, 13th and 15th out of 25. An excellent day, thank you for all your support and allowing students out of form times to practice. N. Stewart Update on the Trampolining Competition With some amazing results from all the teams, the following went through to the final on 19th March to be placed 4th and 8th in Kent. Daniel Dobson and Charlie Edmundson joint 4th individual boys’ Novice Year 7 and Year 8 Thomas Burgess placed 8th individual boys’ Novice Year 7 and Year 8. A great result and a lot of hard work and dedication from all students involved! N. Stewart Boys’ football Year 7 boys took part in a tournament and drew 0-0 against Wilmington Boys Grammar and then beat 4-1. It was a very close match against the Wilmington Boys but unfortunately they knocked us out of the cup competition. We now have a chance of winning in The Plate competition. M. Slater

PGL Netball & Football Weekend We took 30 students to Boreatton Park, Shropshire to take part in PGL activities as well as Netball and Football tournaments and training. The group really benefitted from the experience and were able to play against different schools in competition. The coaches commented on how well the group responded to each other as well as to different schools and also mentioned their positive attitude throughout! The girls had a great time doing space hopper football, dancing at the disco, orienteering, Jacob’s ladder, trapeze, giant swing, quad biking and low ropes. A great time was had by everyone, even Mrs Murphy went on the giant swing! A big thank you to all students involved. Miss Stewart, Miss Collinson, Mrs Murphy and Miss Larner.

Action Day: – ‘Change the way you see, not the way you look’ During Action Day, which took place on Thursday 19th March 2015, Year 9 students were involved in a positive image day where they took part in the following: Healthy eating workshop: How to make a bread bowl salad, super fruit salad and a smoothie. All students tried each dish and took home a copy of how to make the dishes which will encourage healthy eating choices. Body image discussion: Students took part in discussing the media and how it can change our perception of beauty. Students created collages of positive and negative media that relates to body image. Body Shop workshop: The Body Shop came in to discuss how to apply natural make up and ways to look after the skin you are in. They also donated samples along with Boots who very kindly donated products so that students could have a goody bag at the end of the day. N. Stewart

GCSE Catering The Animal Aid organisation was invited to school on Tuesday 24th March by the Food Tech Department to work with Year 9 GCSE Catering students as part of their coursework preparation. There was a talk on vegetarianism, video and cooking demonstrations. The feedback from the guest speaker Patricia Gerrelli was very positive. P. Agbontohoma Careers’ Education at Wilmington Academy Another busy term at Wilmington Academy and the focus on careers’ education continues. As the older year groups prepare for their exams I am pleased to say that the students have made confirmed choices about future opportunities. We have just recently held a Year 8 event to which we invited representatives from Science Technology, Engineering and Maths careers alongside university undergraduates as well as apprenticeship providers. It is vital that the students are made aware of the different future options at the earliest opportunity. The students were given a hand out which required completion so they needed to ask questions of everyone in attendance. At this crucial time when the students are choosing their options it was an ideal opportunity to find out how these options could assist them in the future. Post 16 students who have chosen to enter the world of employment/apprenticeship schemes have been supported by myself and Chris Homewood of KCC who has specifically advised the students on apprenticeship opportunities. As we move into the summer term we will be starting to prepare the Year 10 students for their options after Year 11, this will include the Year 10 Careers’ Convention which should be even bigger in 2015, as it is the second year that it has been organised. The career section of the website is benefitting the students as they can research into their career ideas with ease. We are now attracting a number of vacancies from local employers who are looking to employ apprentices from the Trust. This is something that I hope will grow in the future. Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] with any questions or a request for guidance. L. Tannock Spring is here The growing season is upon us and our seedlings are beginning to emerge. This is the busiest time of the year for the Horticulture Department as we look forward to a productive spring and summer and being able to supplying our restaurant with home produced vegetables. We will also be making summer pots and hanging baskets to sell. This year the Horticulture department is concentrating on producing our entries for the Chelsea Flower Show. Our year 9 students are carrying out controlled experiments to see how plants thrive in different growing regimes. We are hoping that our plants and produce will be picked to be part of the show and that we can represent the school for the fourth year running! We have close links with Coolings Garden Centre, Knockholt and we have taken our Year 10, Year 12 and Year 9 students there for a visit. These visits are really inspiring as they are an insight into how a nursery operates behind the scenes and also give the students’ knowledge of job opportunities within the industry. P. Llewellyn & J. Borrell Andalucia 2015 On the 16th March 2015, 48 students and five members of staff set off at 7am in the morning on their adventure to Andalucia in Spain. Five days of excursions were planned. On day one we arrived and settled at the hotel before embracing some Spanish culture with an hour of Flamenco lesson. The students were out of their comfort zone but valiantly faced the challenge. On day two, our wettest day, we made our way to Seville and visited the Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Plaza de Toros. For a lot of the students the bull ring was the highlight of their trip as they were given the opportunity to know more about another Spanish cultural feature. On Wednesday, they visited three typical and contrasting southern villages: Ronda a town set on a canyon, Puerto Banus a posh seaside town where the students were impressed by the supercars and yachts and finally Mijas a traditional White Mountain side village famous for its donkey taxis. Thursday took us to Granada, famous for hosting the Alhambra, the last Moor Palace and the students were given a chance to practise their Spanish skills doing some shopping in small souvenir shops. Finally, on Friday we had to sadly pack up our bags, have our final meal at the hotel before going on our last adventure to Malaga to visit the Picasso Museum and do some last minute shopping for souvenirs. The students would tell you that they had to walk a lot and teachers would reply that they were given a once in a lifetime chance to discover Spain as the locals would. The students were praised for their good behaviour and were great ambassadors for the Academy. Even if the good weather was missing, we hope that they will remember the experience for years to come. Hasta la vista! Y. Mimoun STEM Club News STEM Club continues to go from strength to strength and many students from all key stages have really enjoyed studying photography this module. We have studied composition, light, timings, exposure, patterns, leading lines, portraits and so much more! Thanks to the Art Department, we have taken thousands of photographs using their cameras to hone our skills and we were also able to set up a mini-studio in school to practise our lighting skills. As the end of term approaches, we are learning how to enhance our digital masterpieces using Adobe Photoshop. This dynamic project ends on Tuesday 31st March in a glorious photographic competition where the students have been encouraged to submit up to 6 of their best photos. The judges which include our principal Mrs Trusler and Mrs Whitcombe (Director of Learning for Art) will have the incredibly difficult task of picking a winner. The best entry wins a fabulous Vivicam X022 camera and the top 6 entries will be proudly displayed in school. Next module we will be studying robotics and will be making a robotic arm with a view to scaling up to build our very own in-school robot which will interact with staff and students alike. For any KS3 students thinking about taking engineering and electronics in later life might think about popping along. STEM Club is, as always, open to all year groups so please join us on Tuesday in A01 at 3.45-5:00 pm. K. Oliver Germany and Poland Trip 2015 The Germany trip this year was one of the best experiences of my life and even though I went in Year 9, the trip this year was even better because we had more freedom to explore and there were more people there that I knew. There were 43 of us from Year 10 up to Year 13. After a trip of about 15 hours we arrived in Berlin and even though everyone was incredibly tired we went straight out and started our walking tour of Berlin; the weather was freezing cold so everybody was trying to keep warm. We saw the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie and they were all extremely interesting. It was very exciting to go to Berlin because just two decades ago it was divided into two, the West and the East. The hostel in general was very nice and it was located right opposite a big train station, one of the biggest in Europe. The highlight of Berlin for me was the visit to the Reichstag, the German Parliament building. On the Saturday evening we went right up to the top and at the top there was a massive dome with an open space at the top so we could see right across the city. In Berlin we also went to a Stasi prison, which is where the Soviets held their political prisoners. That affected me because the people of East Berlin thought that after the Nazis they would be free, however the Soviets treated them in roughly the same way. We also visited Sauchsenhausen Concentration camp (one of the first opened up by the Nazis) and were shocked by some of the treatment the prisoners received there. After three days in Berlin we again got on the coach and travelled to Poland, this time we went to Krakow. We were up early for another walking tour and this time it was even colder than Berlin. In Krakow we saw Wawel Castle and the Jewish Quarter which were very interesting to learn about. For me the best part of Krakow was the visit to Auschwitz, this may seem strange to many people who did not go on the trip and although it was incredible sad and emotional it was also the most interesting part of the entire trip. It was interesting because we got to see how the prisoners were treated and the struggle that they had to go through every day. It was also covered in snow which gave us a good idea of how many of the prisoners must have suffered. Another place we visited in Krakow was Schindler’s Factory and many people who have heard of the film Schindler’s List may have heard of this. We visited his factory and went on the trail that the Jews went on through Krakow. The factory has now been turned into a museum so people visiting can learn all about the life of Schindler and how he helped over 200 Jews survive the Nazis. We also got to spend time in Krakow city centre and enjoy some very nice food, cakes and hot chocolate. The final place that we went to was back in Germany and we went to Munich. Although we were only here for a day it was still a very interesting place to visit as it was a complete contrast to Berlin: Munich was more modern whereas Berlin was more historic. We saw lots of the city centre on our walking tour and had some time to look around for ourselves in the city centre. Overall, the trip was an incredible experience and I’m sure that everyone who went on the trip enjoyed it as well despite the incredibly long coach journeys (2700 miles and three overnights on the coach)! Robert Stewart, Year 11 Apollo Science Visit to Wildwood On the 6th and 11th March the Applied Scientists and Biologists visited Wildwood at Herne Bay to complete their A Level coursework. We were lucky to have fantastic weather, which meant most of the animals were active. On the first day students experienced a guided tour around the park, learning about conservation and it’s importance. Students then practiced a range of sampling techniques in preparation for their own investigations. One of the highlights was getting to see the Kormisosh bears, which have arrived safe and well at the park after being rescued from Bulgaria. The bears will be in quarantine for the next four months before moving to their new woodland enclosure. Back at school the students are now using the data they collected to write up their individual investigations. This involves evaluating the techniques and methods they used and completing a statistical analysis of the results. G. Stringer POST 16 STUDENT VOICE The Post 16 students have voted in a new committee for Student Voice. They are responsible for the voice of Post 16 with each form having two representatives. The main representatives are as follows: President: Brodie Watts Vice President: Luke Kemp Artistic Director: Nini Tu Suggestions and Comments: Abigail Baskar Student Welfare: Hal Best and Chris Ball Carnival Events Managers: Jessica Eley and Lauren Burke Social Events Management: Ryan Parish and Clementine Young Teaching and Learning co-ordinator: Luke Kemp Treasurer: Lewis Drew Media: Taylen Leaver and Lauren Rumble J. Murty Comic Relief Day 2015 On 13th March 2015 staff and students threw themselves into the Red Nose Day spirit to raise money for the very worthwhile causes that Comic Relief supports in the UK and Africa. The students and staff gave a pound to come into school in non-uniform and the staff held a cake bake. The winner was Mrs Murty and runner up was Miss Rackley. After the cakes were judged by Mrs Trusler for taste and decoration they were cut up and sold by the Post 16 students to raise even more money. The grand total for the day was £551. 1st Prize: Mrs Murty 2nd Prize: Miss Rackley Anything we can do the students can do better!! In Food Technology the students have been baking their Easter cakes. As you can see from the results below I think they completely outdid the teachers. Well done to all the students who baked cakes in their Food Technology lessons. 1st place Demi Willats M12 J. Murty

Reporting Absences We have recently added an Absence Line to the Options list when you call the Academy. It is hoped that this will make it easier for parents to inform us when their child is unwell or unable to come to school for the day. Parents may also send us an email using ParentMail to notify us of any absences. We will shortly be introducing a text message service where we will text parents if we have any unexplained absences, requesting parents call the Academy with further information. We now have 80% of parents signed up to the ParentMail system. Whilst this is a very solid start, we would encourage every parent to verify their account if they have not already done so. Email and text reminders are regularly sent out, as the link is only active for seven days. If you require any further information regarding ParentMail please contact your College Admin team. J.Wilson MINERVA SPOTLIGHT Always do your best “What you plant now you will harvest later.” Og Mandino As we commence the spring season, I believe the above quote is quite apt for our students. As a college, both students and staff have been working tirelessly to ‘sow the seeds’ of knowledge and understanding within each lesson. With students working hard to grasp the new shoots of learning that is cultivated by our outstanding staff. Year 11 students are coming to the end of their five-year journey and are finalising their coursework and revising for their exams. The true extent of their dedication, hard work and commitment will come to fruition when receiving the results in the summer. Opportunities for extra revision, support and guidance have been abundant from the Academy and personal thanks go to staff, parents and students who have embraced this provision. Lower down the Academy, one can see the successful groundwork and preparation taking place in order to provide a strong framework in which to build a good set of results. Pathways are carefully being selected for the students of Year 8 and choices are being made in regards to their future subjects. As this Newsletter demonstrates, we have had some key highlights since the beginning of the year: Academy trips, performing art productions, music concerts, thoughtful assemblies, guest speakers, students and staff working within the community, literature festivals to name but a few! Opportunities like those listed make Wilmington Academy a special place to be and encourage students’ love of learning. I wish all those students taking exams the very best in their assessments and remember you get out what you put in! A final thank you to parents and carers for supporting students throughout the school year, the partnership between yourselves and the school continues to bring success. M. Gore, Head of College We’ve had a very busy start to the New Year with students and staff involved in a wide range of activities both in school and off site. The number of trips and events continues to grow each year and the opportunities within Wilmington are something we can all be proud of. I am sure that you will enjoy reading about some of these in this edition of our newsletter. On Thursday 19th March, we had our second Action Day of the academic year. Once again students had a range of experiences including opportunities to discuss moral and ethical issues, work in teams to complete challenges and benefit from external speakers. For example, the Year 8 students participated in a careers event with a variety of providers, during which they were able to explore the different fields of employment and how they can prepare for each. I know that students found this very valuable and I was impressed with the way that they spoke to the providers and conducted themselves generally. In fact, the feedback from everyone involved in the Action Day was positive and once again external speakers were very complimentary about our students. One of the highlights for me, so far this year, has been the way that Minerva students have worked together in their tutor groups to plan, prepare and deliver themed assemblies. The effort has been apparent in every assembly with provocative content and ample opportunities for reflection. Students are becoming more creative as their self-confidence increases. Another area where this is evident is in the Tutorial Programme which students are increasingly more instrumental in leading. These opportunities are invaluable for developing students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, so it is wonderful to see such high levels of engagement. Finally, I would like to congratulate the Year 11 students on their preparations for the summer examinations. We are pleased with the way that they have focused on their coursework, controlled assessments and the mock exams taken. Our tracking indicates that the vast majority of the students are well placed to achieve their potential with many individuals making exceptional progress. Focused revision over the Easter holidays is the next step to securing the aspirational targets set, so come on Year 11 get planning, if you haven’t already done so! T Salih What a quick and eventful term this has been. There have been so many great events, too much to mention them all. We both attended the School Production “Hairspray”. What a fantastic evening, especially watching all the students who are seriously so talented! Costumes were amazing, we hardly recognised them. Raising funds for the Humanities Department, we also supported the Quiz Night and were pleased we finished in second place. The Prom Committee has been busy fund raising for this spectacular event. We are both looking forward to spending the evening celebrating with the Year 11’s, the last time they will all be together. Pay early to reserve your place. For the latest updates please check the Wilmington Academy Facebook page. S. Duff & T. Penkert

AP☼LLO SPOTIGHT “Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” Winston Churchill With the increasing focus on British Values, it led me to look to someone widely regarded as embodying the spirit of Britain for inspiration. For me, his statement is accurate for a number of reasons. Whether as children or adults it is that continual drive to improve that ultimately leads to success. With application, sustained effort and a positive attitude, it is amazing what can be achieved. Visitors to the Academy often comment on the excellent behaviour of our students and the calm, working environment they find here. In order to achieve, it is vital that our students take advantage of every opportunity to learn. It has been great to see so many students attending revision classes after school, on Saturday mornings and during half-term and end of term breaks. Putting in the ‘hard miles’ during this time will ultimately pay dividends for those students in the summer. A “huge well done” to all the students that attend regularly and demonstrate ‘continuous effort’. ‘Unlocking potential’ is one of the key aims of any educator and at Wilmington we believe our students have enormous potential. Over the past two modules I have seen students from Year 7 to Year 11 lead excellent assemblies, take parts of lessons, conduct themselves with dignity and humility on school trips and show their care and concern for each other and the world around them through small acts of kindness and consideration, as well as fundraising and increasing awareness of charitable causes. It is these things, as much as academic ability that sets our students apart. My challenge to all students is to grasp every opportunity to learn and develop that comes their way, to believe that with hard work and application ‘Anything is possible’. As parents we value your support in encouraging your sons and daughters to always give their best, to be able to walk away from any task knowing that they have given 100%. If any student is able to do this, no one could ask any more from them. This may be focusing in every lesson, or attending revision classes, improving personal school attendance or completing that daunting homework task on time. Yet, it all starts with making the decision to make a commitment to learning and owning that commitment. I am extremely proud to be Head of Apollo College and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together. Having seen the potential of our students, I am sure it will be exciting! P. Devlin, Head of College On returning from an action packed Year 11 and 12 trip to New York at half-term where temperatures reached -18oC one day, enough to freeze Niagara Falls! I have been leading a succession of key developments at Wilmington Academy. We have planned the new curriculum for next year and have consulted parents about the Year 8 and Year 12 option choices. We have also successfully run a number of online external examinations, a trend that is increasing with the Examination Boards. We have employed and trained some new exam invigilators so that all students get the examination support that they are entitled to and they have been involved in the recent exams. We are in the most crucial period leading to external examinations after Easter and I would encourage all of our KS4 and KS5 students to attend the revision sessions being held after school, on Saturday and during the Easter break: I will be here to welcome them. Developing good revision habits at home makes a significant difference to student performance in examinations. I would encourage students to focus on the topics that they find most challenging and to seek help from their peers and subject teachers to develop their understanding of these topics. Revising each evening is the best strategy! I wish every student success in these examinations. B. Dedross Firstly we would like to say a huge welcome back to Sweetie (Mrs Johnson). It was lovely to watch the students’ faces and listen to the cheers when she surprised everyone in Apollo assembly. We have been very busy; students have been working hard taking part in numerous extra-curricular activities. I had the pleasure of going on the trip to Germany and Poland in February. It was a truly wonderful experience and I would like to express how proud I was of how they dealt with some difficult experiences. Attendance is always one of our main priorities and Apollo tutors have been working hard to win the best tutor group attendance award. It is with great pleasure that we were able to reward A8, A12 and A16 with the prize for achieving a fantastic 96.4%. All of the tutor groups have worked hard as a team to improve their attendance. 100% attendance is not easy to maintain, especially at this time of the year. We would like to congratulate the following students for achieving this award. Savannah Armstrong A3 Lennon Hobson A10 Adrian Batty A12 Alex Bonner A8 Ben Chester A9 Thomas Costin A14 Amar Dadi A4 Joseph Hill A8 Lewis Holmes A12 Courtney Johnson A15 Ellis Latchford A1 Mason Latchford, A10 Harlie Lovell A11 Zack McLean A8 Sam Nelson A2 Temilade Onafowokan A12 Daniel Powsey A5 Jake Roake A14 Samuel Stevens A9 Ruby Troke A5 Simon Walster A7 Ben Webb A12 Christopher Wells A10 Our Student of the Month winners since the last newsletter go to Lucy Cockerill Y11 and Morgan Hepton A4 Year 8. A huge “well done” as this is an award which is awarded to students that have been nominated by staff. M. McLean Apollo Quiz League This module Apollo has started an inter-form quiz league. Students play their matches at home or away, and each quiz contains sixteen questions on a variety of topics studied at Wilmington Academy. The Apollo forms, and their tutors, have been enthusiastically competing against each other determined to beat their opponents. We are just approaching week three so it is early days, and anyone could win. The current league table: Form A1, A7, A10, A14 and A15 are joint leaders with a score of 6 points Form A16 have five points Form A5, A8, A12 and A13 have four points Form A9 have three points Form A2, A3, A4, A6 and A11 have two points. D. Garrett

Key Dates Thursday 2nd April 2015 /School breaks up for Easter - 3:40pm finish Monday 20th April 2015 School returns and module 5 begins Tuesday 28th April 2015 Tutor Group Photos Thursday 30th April 2015 Year 10 Diphtheria Tetanus and Polio injections Monday 11th May 2015 Parents’ Forum 6:30pm - 7:30pm Monday 11th May 2015 GCSE/A Levels start Thursday 14th May 2015 Year 9 Parents’ Evening 5pm - 8pm Monday 22nd June 2015 GCSE/A Levels finish

Wilmington Academy Common Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent DA2 7DR 01322 272 111 | www.wilmingtonacademy.org.uk All text and images © Wilmington Academy 2014 Newsletter design by Toby @ Genobi | genobi.net