Sponsored by Sponsored College of Technology of dudleyacademiestrust.org.uk Jo Higgins Chief Executive Please, take a look as at the report, Ofsted have validated many of the Trust’s initiatives that are clearly making a real to our quality difference done of education. Well at to all learners and staff Pegasus. currently are So, our learners and staff by enjoying end of year celebrations activities participating in an action-packed Principals week. I am working closely with to and members of the central team continues to improve that the Trust ensure have exciting our academies at pace. We leaders, we plans for our team of student ready have a ‘commitments’ programme to launch for all learners (a range of extra- curricular opportunities and challenges) launching our ‘mind to be and we are as part of our pledge to kind’ programme support of genuine care, develop a culture and kindness in all of our academies. you will enjoy this edition of The I am sure Buzz. On behalf of everyone at Dudley carers parents, I wish all Academies Trust, and learners a lovely summer holiday. achievement. a truly great a truly great improvement’, improvement’, to ‘requires to ‘requires inadequate has moved from has moved from the just 18 months, anticipated. In Netherton I can hardly believe that another academic year believe that another I can hardly for the What a year this has been has passed. learners of our and staff so proud I feel Trust. does really edition of The Buzz and I think this academies. range of talent in our show the vast ACADEMY earlier than we six months THE LINK full inspection, undertake a recently to recently team visited Ofsted inspection To cap it all, an To Dudley JAMES ACADEMY ST E [email protected] W E [email protected] Dudley ACADEMY PEGASUS PEGASUS

I am delighted that learners in all year Big and fully certainly Dreaming are groups to embracing the opportunities presented have enjoyed so many amazing them. We toexperiences with our young people; choir performance name but a few: the DAT a great at University of Wolverhampton, trainedteam of young people who were National Opera, listening by the Welsh Out’ speech fantastic ‘Speak to Molly’s final in regional at the Speakers’ Trust about soBirmingham, and simply hearing throughout many learners rewards receiving effort.the year for their superb level of Sedgley

ACADEMY BEACON HILL BEACON Dudley Academies Trust Summer Newsletter Summer Trust Academies Dudley It’s time to discover more. It’s time to discover 2the 019 buzz 2Dudley Academies 019 Trust Summer Newsletter more... Dreaming BIG Speakers Trust Festival of Education (taster week) The DAT was very proud to host Nearly 700 of our Year 10 learners from across the Trust took part in the regional ‘Speak Out Challenge’ our Festival of Education, a taster week at our sponsor Dudley College final at St James Academy. ‘Speak of Technology. They were able to have a go at several A Level subjects Out’ is a programme designed to as well as 20 other areas such as Engineering, Graphic Design, Health & give school children the confidence Social Care, Catering, Construction Skills, Hairdressing and Computing. to speak in public, a skill that Learners were able to get a valuable insight into what to aim for when will be useful throughout their they leave school; they also did a session on the wide range of career routes lives. I would like to congratulate available in our region. Molly from Beacon Hill, who was runner-up on the day. Keith from St James was awarded a very close third place and Ashley from Pegasus spoke bravely about her experiences of Autism. Molly progressed to the Grand Final, which took place at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. Over 4,000 young people participated in the West Midlands ‘Speak Out Challenge’ this year and Molly was in the top twelve. Trust Rugby Blood Brothers The video of Molly’s speech from is available on YouTube Tournament performances (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=m8G0bdqSpHY or type The Trust and its sponsor, Learners from in: speak out challenge molly jarrot). Dudley College of Technology, took part in three wonderful A truly inspiring young lady, who have recently been working in performances of Blood Brothers, should speak in Parliament! partnership to introduce rugby into an award-winning musical written our schools. In May, learners from by Willy Russell. Parents and across the Trust took part in a Touch carers, learners, board members Rugby tournament on the College’s and central team staff all attended 3G pitches. The event followed the performances and fed back on a series of high quality training how magnificent they were. Well sessions led by our sponsor’s done to all the learners and staff Sports Department staff and involved in the performances and learners. It was a great afternoon thank you to The Link Academy filled with energy, skill, cheering learners Aaminah, Kiranpreet and fun. We hope to introduce more and Sneha who sent in their Trust sports events in the future. photographs of the performance.

As noted in the Spring edition of Buzz, Dudley Academies Trust alongside other local schools had been working in collaboration with the Welsh National Opera. After a number of rehearsals when they learned operatic techniques, approximately 20 learners from across the Trust performed in ‘Freedom’, a production devised and performed by the young people themselves. Welsh National Everyone who attended the event in The Chancellor’s Hall at the University of Wolverhampton was impressed by the quality of the production and the Opera performance singing. The learners were exceptional and proudly represented the Trust.

Keep up to date and follow us on Twitter @DudleyAcadTrust more... Rewarding effort... Trust wide merit competition Easter and Following a Trust wide competition, the below learners achieved the most merits, had 100% attendance and did not go into Supporting summer rewards Expectations between 25/03/19 - 10/04/19. Other learners who had no lines During assembly on 24th May, Hafash Ali from The Link Academy was from January to March didn’t miss rewarded with an Amazon Echo and certificate by the Chief Executive, Jo out, either. The Easter prize draw Higgins, for achieving the most merits across the Trust. saw a variety of rewards gifted for The other learners were given a Showcase cinema voucher and certificate excellent effort and achievements. for achieving the most merits in their academy. Well done to all the learners for Rewards included Intu Merry their excellent effort, there will be more competitions like this to come. Hill vouchers, Showcase cinema Learner vouchers, The Leap Trampoline Merits Year Academy name(s) Park experience for two, Easter 1st 162 Hafsah Ali 7 The Link Academy eggs and many more. We hope learners have enjoyed the rewards 2nd 72 Sydney Sawyers 9 St James Academy provided so far. There will be Beacon Hill 3rd 68 Reel Mohammed 8 a prize draw at the end of the Academy summer term which will include Jack Grabble & 4th 48 7 Pegasus Academy Callan Wagg lots more exciting rewards.

Working with the Black Country Leading together Chamber of Commerce Business in a post Brexit Britain panel In May, learners from Pegasus Academy attended the Business in a post-Brexit Britain event, organised by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce at the University of Wolverhampton. The exclusive event saw representatives from Britain’s biggest business support organisations Young Chamber Committee discussing the implications of Brexit on businesses across the UK. Learners posed some important questions The Young Chamber Committee to the panel and were recognised for consists of representatives from their intelligent contribution. secondary schools and colleges across the Black Country who voice the opinions of their whole school body. We are delighted that learners from across the Trust are part of the committee and that the Student Vice-Chair of the committee is a Year 11 learner from Pegasus Academy, Ezha Jahangir.

Keep up to date and follow us on Twitter @DudleyAcadTrust Dudley Academies Trust Summer Newsletter Respecting each other and our world Working with the West Midlands Police Funding for the Trust Knife arches The Trust has been working with Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) West Midlands Police to help keep We are pleased to confirm that the Trust has been successful in our schools and children safe. securing additional funding as part of the government’s Condition Police Officers visited Beacon Improvement Fund (CIF). Works due to be carried out include the Hill Academy and carried out safe following: searches using a knife arch. The Trust is committed to ensuring • Electrical improvements at St James Academy. our learners respect each other • Heating, window and roofing improvements at Pegasus Academy. and our world and understand the • Roofing improvements at The Link Academy. impact of knife crime. The West Midlands Police will be working Pegasus Academy has secured £1.6 million to upgrade school with our other academies in the buildings. Following on from last years’ improvements in A block, this future. Learners have also been new funding will be used to replace the heating and windows in B Block working with West Midlands which houses English and Mathematics. Alongside the renovation Police Cadets, gaining new skills of the humanities floor for our Year 8 Literacy for Life pupils, these and experience of how the police improvements will really make a much needed difference to the school operate. environment. Learning that inspires... Working with Employers – Careers strategy A lot of great work goes on in Thomas Dudley Ltd our academies to help learners explore the possible careers that As part of the Black are on offer to them. However, there Country Chamber of is very little government support Commerce Business for these vital activities. The Trust Festival, a group believes that every learner should of Year 10 learners understand the opportunities that visited local business they could aim for; that’s why we will Thomas Dudley. Prior be launching a co-ordinated careers to the visit they spoke to strategy across all of our academies learners about how they next term. We’ll update you with the thought businesses could details as soon as the new team is help them prepare for the in place. world of work. During the visit they put the learners’ ideas to business leaders. These ideas included how businesses could provide mentoring, assemblies, help with business skills and work taster sessions. Meanwhile, Year 11 learners have not only been working hard in lessons but have participated in many out of school events including a Business Speed Networking session at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

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