Booking the Trend! Champions

NEWSLETTER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

I S S U E 3 7 EASTER 2018

 Year 7 Girls Football Booking The Trend! Champions

 BBC School News Report

 Adswood Primary Students’ Science Visit

S tudents and staff at Mr Clarke organised a student costume category Stockport Academy went all golden ticket competition for his Mad Hatter fancy Principals’ 2 with students having the dress. Both winners Message out for World Book Day this year—and were determined chance to win a new book received new Kindles! Hegarty 3 following a frantic search of not to let the bad weather Head of English Mrs Upton Maths Visit his bookshelves! spoil the fun! said: “The atmosphere Students also received book around school has been World Book 4 In what is now a time- tokens, while teachers absolutely brilliant and it Day Photos honoured tradition, everyone could dress up as shared what their favourite has been great to see the Sport Relief titles are during assemblies. effort that everyone has 5 their favourite literary gone to in celebrating World Performing character, with some At lunch, the judging of the 7 Book Day. Arts excellent efforts making student and staff costume Showcase their way into school. Have competition took place, “What is really encouraging a look through the photo with Ms Keough winning is that students are now Young Carers 8 gallery on Page 4 to see first place among the staff borrowing more books from Day some of the costumes. for her Willy Wonka the library than ever before Steel Band 10 costume (she managed to and they clearly can’t get As you might expect, the convince her entire GCSE enough of reading. It is library was a hub of activity Drama class to dress up as something we celebrate throughout the day. Along Oompa Loompas!) and every day here and long with literary word searches George Thomas winning the may it continue!” and other reading activities,

www.stockport-academy.org | Twitter : @sptacademy | Instagram: @StockportAcademy P A G E 2 Principals’ Message It is humbling each term to Yet again we are delighted given so much time outside reflect on all of that our and overwhelmed by of lessons to support them in school has achieved and this applications to join our achieving the highest has been yet another truly wonderful school, with possible progress. We are exceptional term. Our very numbers rising by over 140% hoping for the best GCSE first Sports Relief event was a in recent years. We are yet progress results ever at resounding success, raising again oversubscribed and Stockport Academy this year not only money for a good have an unprecedented – still some hard work to cause but also awareness of number of students joining come over the next few a healthy lifestyle for all of us in September from our weeks. our students (and staff). local primary schools. We We have planned another have been busy this term Our Performance Awards busy half term ahead; we beginning to make Evening was as always a have already started preparations for their arrival display of exceptional talent preparations for our end of and have been working to in sport, music, dance and year prizegiving, we have Mrs Janine McCann, support Year 4, 5 and 6 drama - worthy of any further performance Principal students in Science, PE, professional stage. We evenings including a Drama, Literacy, Numeracy cannot move on from this professional National and Steel Pans, with plans to term without fondly Theatre Connections also include Humanities, remembering a most performance, Sports Dance and ICT next phenomenal World Book Day, SMSC days, trips to term. We are really excited Day. From Cruella de Vil, France and Lake to be working with them and Willy Wonka and her Oompa Garda. There is as always so welcome them to our Loompas to Alice and Red much going on. In order to community. Riding Hood – this was a real keep up to date with so celebration of books across Interventions and support for many things that we cannot every genre, encouraging our Year 11s undertaking GCSE always squeeze into our students to read something this Summer are ongoing – I newsletter please follow us different and simply would like to take this on twitter (@sptacademy), celebrate literary talent of opportunity to personally Instagram published authors and thank parents of Year 11 for (@stockportacademy) and Mr Frank McCarron, students themselves. their support and all of our keep an eye on our website. Executive Principal subject teachers who have Year 7 Champions! Stockport Academy’s Year 7 Girls Football Team were crowned champions of “We are hoping for the best GCSE Stockport following a tournament held

progress results ever here in January. at Stockport Academy Our girls took on teams from Bramhall this year.” High, Harrytown, Stockport School, Hazel -Principals’ Message Grove High and Cheadle Hulme High

School.

After going four games unbeaten, they swept aside Cheadle Hulme High School PE Teacher Ms Foster said: “This was an amazing result for the team as it was their 3-0 in the final thanks to two goals from first ever tournament together. We Anaya Weaver and another from Scarlett couldn’t be more proud of them!” Aspril. I S S U E 3 7 P A G E 3

Meeting The Maths Maestro We rolled out the red carpet for Maths royalty in attending our Year 11 Parents’ Evening to give them January, with the visit of the founder of Hegarty advice on supporting their child’s progress ready for Maths, Colin Hegarty. the Summer’s GCSE Exams. Colin spent the day at school talking to students and hearing about their experiences using the platform, Head of Maths, Mrs which encourages independent learning through a Mackintosh, said: “Our series of online tests and exercises. students really enjoy using the program and He also met with Year 11 student Jack Edwards who it was an honour to has spent to date over 140 hours using the program to meet the man behind hone his Maths skills in his GCSE year. the Maths!” At the end of the day, Colin spoke with parents Bringing Poetry To Life

Our Year 11s spent the day at a special event learning directly from the poets whose work they are currently studying in their GCSEs.

The day involved a series of lectures, with speakers reading their own poems to a captivated audience, explaining how they wrote them and what inspired them. They also offered exam tips and advice on how to become a professional writer.

Stockport Academy Head of English Mrs Upton said: “It was a real once in a lifetime opportunity- just to be in the same room as the Legendary Poet John Agard with Poet Laureate and all of the poets that we heard from, offered our Year 11 student Paige students an incredible insight into what inspired them to write their poems. Context is often the hardest part of students’ poetry studies so it was a truly invaluable experience.” Celebrating Science Week

We celebrated Science Week in March, with a wide display of experiments in the Main Hall to cap off five range of activities and events to promote the subject. days of Science-based activities throughout school. Head of Science Mr Campbell put on a show-stopping Students had the opportunity to win prizes by entering a Science Quiz in form time, while assemblies were also themed around the subject. Meanwhile, Year 5 students from Adswood Primary were invited to take part in a CSI-style forensics workshop (read more about this on Page 9). Mr Campbell said: “Science Week was a fantastic success and we really enjoyed putting on the experiment display in particular. Science is a fascinating subject and it was great to have so much going on to celebrate this.” P A G E 4

World Book Day Photo Gallery A big well done to all staff and students who made an exceptional effort to come to school in fancy dress for World Book Day! All photos can also be found on our website.

“What is really encouraging is that students are now borrowing more books from the library than ever before and they clearly can’t get enough of reading.”

- Mrs Upton I S S U E 3 7 P A G E 5

Getting Our Running Shoes On For Sport Relief Students and staff celebrated Sport Relief in style, that took them on two laps through the playground with a full day dedicated to sporting achievement and around the sports field. At the end of the track, and aspiration in March. finishers all received a ticket that entered them into a prize draw to win sporting gift vouchers. The day started early, with our Sports Leaders and Cheerleaders arriving at school for 7.00am to support United Learning’s Head of Sport, Shaun Dowling, as he kicked off the next leg of his epic 600- mile charity RideABC bike ride. Shaun eventually completed his journey from Ashford in Kent to Carlisle, stopping off at around 25 United Learning schools around the country on the way.

PE Teacher Ms Foster, who organised the day, said: “This has really been a day to remember and it was brilliant to see everyone in school so engaged in sport. The money raised through activities such as our non-uniform day will be going to a fantastic cause and it is wonderful that students have taken Throughout the day, PE lessons involved students steps towards leading an active and healthy lifestyle attempting to fill out a ‘Sports Bingo’ card – while benefiting others at the same time.” completing 50 sets each of a number of activities such as skipping, throwing a ball and kicking a football. All completed cards were entered into a draw to win trampoline park tickets.

The undoubted highlight was the whole school coming together at lunchtime so everyone could run or walk a mile around the school. After gathering in the MUGA, students and staff set off on a course P A G E 6 School Report National BBC School Report took place on 15th March and Stockport Academy was once again involved for the third year in a row. Students from the school’s student newsletter spent weeks putting together their news stories, before turning their classroom into a makeshift TV studio to record their own video report. The final version can be found on our website, with reports on a wide range of school events, including World Book Day, Sport Relief, and the Performing Arts Showcase. Student Council Make Their Mark Our Student Council spent an afternoon in February Students took part in a number of workshops during honing their skills at Stockport Town Hall with the their stay, including a session focusing on their Stockport Youth Partnership (SYP). debate skills, First Aid Training and learning about

how to deal with hate crime.

Student Council leader Mrs Nicholls said: “We had a great time and I think the training and experience our students gained can only help to make them even better student councillors. “It was fantastic to see them get involved—especially in the debate session where they were able to put some really compelling arguments across. Thank you to the SYP for inviting us!”

Driving Ambition Year 9 made their annual trips across to Lex Lex Autolease for allowing us to run these trips, Autolease in March, as part of their introduction which are now in their fourth year. They are an to the world of work. invaluable experience and give our students a real insight into life after education.” The group spent the morning speaking with Lex Autolease staff about their roles within the company, their career pathways and the perks and challenges of their jobs. At the end of the tour, each group posed for a photo with a luxury car. IAG Co-ordinator Mrs Selby said: “Thank you to I S S U E 3 7 P A G E 7 Showcase Success

Our Performing Arts department put on a superb show ‘Careless Whisper’ on his saxophone, accompanied by to sign off the first half term of 2018 in style. choreography from last year’s Year 11 Dance students.

The Showcase took place on a February evening in the The show ended with a magnificent routine from the SA main hall, with students from Years 7 through to 10 all Dance group, who performed to ‘This Is Me’ from the taking part. soundtrack of ‘The Greatest Showman’, before the choir had everyone up from their seats singing Yazoo’s 1980’s Our Year 10 Dance Group opened the show, followed by hit ‘Only You’. The night finished with a rousing, further choreographed routines, monologues from our thoroughly-deserved, standing ovation for all students Drama students and musical performances from our involved. ukulele players. Head of Performing Arts Mrs Campbell said: “We all After a short break, the audience was wowed by the really look forward to the Performing Arts Showcase as it Caribbean vibes of our Steel Band, before another gives us the chance to show off the humongous amount appearance by the ukulele group and the first song of of talent within our Stockport Academy community. the night by our Academy Choir. “Thank you so much to the students and staff for giving up their time to put on another fantastic show!”

One of the highlights of the evening was a short performance by some of our ex-students, who returned to Stockport Academy to talk to the audience about their experiences of studying Performing Arts here. Shaun Brady – now studying Music at Salford University – then played a beautiful rendition of George Michael’s P A G E 8 Celebrating Young Carers Young Carers from across Ellis (Year 7) who Stockport were celebrated explained what being a in January, as we opened Young Carer means and our doors to students how they are offered across the borough for support at Stockport Young Carers Awareness Academy. This was Day. followed by slices of pepperoni and Students from Cale Green, margherita pizza and Alexandra Park and Lark Hill then a raffle– with Primary Schools joined our winners picking own group of Young Carers something to take home proud of our Young Carers for a pizza lunch and party with them from a prize and they made such an games, as an opportunity to table. effort to make our primary meet others in similar school guests feel welcome. situations to their own. Party games followed, with students enjoying a variety “We had a great afternoon The event started off with a of activities before saying and it was an excellent presentation from Robert goodbye to their new opportunity for our Young Dimelow (Year 9) and Logan friends. Carers to share their experiences and celebrate Designated just how wonderful they Safeguarding and are. Thank you also to Child Protection Signpost Stockport For Officer Mrs Young Carers and Nicholls, who ProjectINC for attending organised the day, and offering their support.” said: “We are so New Year 7s On The Way Stockport Academy will The news comes after and Induction Day once again be over- another record-breaking scheduled for the Summer subscribed for Year 7, when Open Evening in September Term. current Year 6 students 2017, following Principal Mrs McCann said: start with us in September. confirmation we are one of “We can’t wait to welcome the top schools in Stockport Pupils at primary schools so many new faces to the based on the Department across the borough found Stockport Academy family for Education’s Progress 8 out which school they had in September. It is a really measure. been allocated at the start exciting time to be coming of March, with applications Students set to start here in to our school and we are for Stockport Academy well the new school year should looking forward to getting exceeding the places now have received their to know you all over the available. welcome letters, with dates coming months.” for a New Parents’ Evening Adswood Primary Crack The Case I S S U E 3 7 P A G E 9

Year 5 students from Students conducted flame tests Adswood Primary spent to analyse crumb samples, ran time with our Science fingerprint analyses and used chromatography to match the department to learn correct pen to a note left at the more about how the scene of the crime during the subject can be used to hour-long workshop. After lots help fight crime. of hard work, they successfully identified the guilty party so Mr Our Head of Science Mr Campbell could ensure justice Campbell invited the was served! class into school as a taster session to Science Adswood Primary Year 5 at secondary school, Teacher Ms Richardson said: with students taking part “The children absolutely loved in a CSI-style the experience today and they investigation to work out all learnt a lot.” which member of staff

had stolen his cookie.

Photo Competition - Spring Term This term saw a host of local primary schools visit us for a number of sports tournaments, as well as a brand new Drama Club with Oak Tree Primary students and Steel Band Club with Cheadle Heath Primary. If you spot your child, email [email protected] to win a prize! P A G E 10 Steel Band On Tour Our Steel Band brought the by Year 11s at Manchester learned an awful lot of new sounds of the Caribbean to Academy who cooked and material in a very short Manchester Academy to served staff a delicious three space of time!” support fellow students -course meal. It all added to completing their GCSE Food a fantastic atmosphere, with Technology coursework at the band playing tunes such the school. as ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. The group spent an hour providing the musical Music Teacher Ms entertainment at a popup Stevenson said: “I am really Caribbean restaurant set up proud of the group who Love Is All Around Students and staff went all they would like to leave a out to celebrate Valentine’s message for staff and Day this year, with a wide fellow students to let range of activities taking place them know what they to raise money for charity. appreciated about them by leaving messages on a 9ILE designed and sold notice board in the Valentine’s Day cards, while atrium—with plenty 9JTR ran a bake sale during taking the opportunity to break and lunchtime. spread the love! Students were also asked if

By Student E-Zine Reporter No Pain No Gain Violet Ashby On the 15th of February, students from 9SKO held a leg charity so they did even more! waxing charity event that cost The teachers all ended up with £1 per ticket. Mr Small, Mr three patches on their legs Campbell and Mr Farnworth from the waxing. were all waxed at once. Rip! Ouch! There were many people there, with some staff also coming to They all ended up with wax- watch their fellow colleagues strip-length-clear-skin patches raise money for charity. on their legs. It was an entertaining event Harry Cox from 9SKO said that and a great fundraiser. it was ‘funny and a good fundraiser for our form’. Violet is a contributor to our Even though it was painful, the student E-Zine ‘Spark’, which teachers knew it was for can be found on our website.

I S S U E 3 7 P A G E 11 A Term In Tweets What’s being said on social media? Follow us @sptacademy

Diary Dates And Contact Details Summer Term 2018 Term dates for Summer 2018 16th-18th May: Year 7 Residential Trip Monday 16th April to Friday 25th May 13th June: Talent Show Monday 7th May – Bank Holiday 28th June: New Parents’ Evening

29th June: Year 11 Prom Monday 28th May to Friday 1st June 5th July: New Year 7 Transition Day Half Term 5th July: Prizegiving Awards

9th-14th July: Performing Arts Italy Trip Monday 4th June to Wednesday 18th July 17th July: Sports Day (early closure on last day of term)

Group emails Group emails allow you to get in touch with staff quickly. Group emails—faculty addresses Simply use the relevant email address and include the staff member you wish to contact in the message. You will get a Phone:english 0161@stockport 283 0330- academy.org responseContact within us: 48 hours during term time. E-mathsmail: enquiries@[email protected] Post: Stockport Academy, Heathbank Road Website:science @stockportwww.stockport-academy.org-academy.org [email protected] Cheadle Heath, Stockport SK3 0UP Twitter: @sptacademy Pastoral Managers email and direct dial telephone numbers: (includes geography, history, RE) [email protected] Transition, Years 7 and 8 [email protected] [email protected] 0161 362 4226 (includes business studies, computing and ICT) Year 9 [email protected] [email protected] 0161 362 4252 (includes drama, dance, art) Year 10 [email protected] [email protected] 0161 362 4293 (French and Spanish) Year 11 [email protected] [email protected] 0161 286 4293

Have your say…. Contact us: Post: Heathbank Road, Cheadle What would you like to see in the newsletter? Heath, Stockport SK3 0UP Is there something you particularly like or Telephone: 0161 286 0330 dislike? Please tell us by emailing [email protected]. Email: enquiries@stockportacademy.org Twitter: @sptacademy Instagram: @StockportAcademy