First Ever Ofsted Rates Us 'Good'
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Pilgrim’s Progress2019-2020 REMEMBRANCE FIRST EVER DAY TRIBUTE OFSTED RATES US ‘GOOD’ MODERN TWIST FOR TIMES TABLES ROCK STARS PILGRIM FATHERS Challenging Year, But So Much To Be Proud Of When I became Principal of Pilgrim Academy in In mathematics, the report says, “a coherent and September 2019, I had no idea that it would be such embedded plan helps teachers to build pupils’ knowledge a challenging year! The severe disruption caused by and skills over time. Teachers’ good subject knowledge is the coronavirus has obviously had a great impact used well to explain new ideas and effective questioning on the education of our children. However, when we is used to check pupils’ understanding.” return to normality, as an academy and a community, we will work tirelessly and relentlessly to ensure our The report recognises: children continue to receive the excellent education “The Early Years curriculum has been they deserve. well developed to interest and engage It is important that we celebrate everything that we had children. A wide range of well-planned achieved before the period of lockdown and the fact that this review is so full, without any events between mid- activities capture their imagination. March and the end of July, is testament to how much had Children in Nursery and Reception happened between September 2019 and March 2020. are well looked after and behave well. As you will be aware, the government made huge changes They benefit from daily mathematics to curriculum expectations for schools and academies and phonics sessions. Consequently, this year. This has meant a large overhaul in some areas and I am delighted with how our curriculum has they are well prepared for their move developed, particularly with our focus on enrichment, into Year 1.” community and preparing our pupils more explicitly for their secondary education and beyond. Everyone connected with Pilgrim Academy will do everything possible to improve even further, in order to In January 2020, we faced a rigorous two-day inspection become an ‘outstanding’ school. from Ofsted, the first since the Academy had become part of Tollbar MAT in April 2017. The Academy was I would like to take this opportunity to thank you judged ‘Good’ in all areas, including: The Quality as parents and carers, for your continued support, of Education; Behaviour and Attitudes; Personal particularly during the recent difficult times. I hope you Development; Leadership and Management; and Early feel as proud of this review as we do and I look forward to Years provision. I use the word, ‘rigorous’ because it working with you and the children in the years to come. really was - during the two days, the three inspectors visited parts of lessons on over 40 occasions. In addition Andrew Clark, to speaking to children during lessons, more than 50 Principal children were spoken to separately, in small meetings with inspectors, where they listened to the children read; looked at their books; and asked them a wide range of questions, covering aspects such as safeguarding; behaviour; teaching and enrichment opportunities. This, together with the constant meetings with senior leaders and staff meant that the inspectors were able to gather a true reflection of the tremendous strides we have made together over the last few years. The report describes Pilgrim Academy as “a friendly school where pupils feel safe and happy. It says pupils talk positively about recent improvements at the school, including the things they learn in lessons. Leaders have led a drive to improve the teaching of reading: new resources, staff training and a clear programme for teaching phonics have all helped to improve pupils’ reading across Social distancing in the summer term the school.” as some pupils returned to school. 2 | Pilgrim’s Progress Contents Pilgrim’s Progress | 2019 - 2020 September 4 • Little Sign Of First-Day Nerves For These Pupils 5 • Democratic Election Process Helps Pupils Develop Into Respectful Young People October 6 • Harvest Festival Celebration Donates To Grimsby Food Kitchen 04 6 • Good Enough For Greek Gods But Pupils Give Mezze A Mixed Reaction 7 • It Really Is Fair Play To Win This Medal! November 8 • Pilgrim Fathers Get Modern Twist As Pupils Create Artwork For Illuminate Immingham 10 • Striking New Shields Honour Pilgrim Fathers As Academy Elects New House Captains 12 • ‘Around The World’ Theme Unites All Areas Of Curriculum For Learning 08 13 • Tremendous Effort For Remembrance Day 14 • Promoting A Passion For Reading 16 • Road Safety Officer Says: Take Your Headphones Off While Crossing Roads 17 • Pupils Help Volunteers Pack Parcels For Less Fortunate Children 18 • Cracking Quiz Raises Money For Children In Need December 19 • Exhibition Celebrates Extraordinary World 20 • Ancient Greece Brought To Life In Panto 16 22 • Parents Help Make Christmas Baubles 23 • Pilgrim Production Of Mary’s Knitting Proves Popular January 24 • Dragon’s Tale Enthralls Young Children 25 • Early Years Pupils Celebrate Cultural Differences 26 • Rock On! Interactive Maths Site Helps Pupils Prepare For Compulsory Times Tables Checks 27 • Sequencing Lessons With The Help Of Chris Quigley Greater Learning 20 Across The Curriculum February 28 • Ofsted: Academy Judged ‘Good’ After Joining Tollbar Multi Academy Trust 30 • ‘Passionate’ Team Wins Gymnastics Trophy March 28 31 • ‘120-Mile’ Academy Skipathon Raises Funds For Sport Relief 32 • Pupils Among Special Guests At Opening Of Town’s New Heritage Trail 34 • Fictional Characters Come Alive On World Book Day Text by Tracey Law at Lawpr.co.uk. Photographs by Sean Spencer and Ray Corke, Hull News and Pictures. 34 Pilgrim’s Progress | 3 Foundation Stage Two children show their excitement at starting school full time. Little Sign Of First-Day Nerves For These Pupils There’s nothing like your first day at full-time school, and these Early Starters at Pilgrim Academy definitely embraced it. Dressed smartly in the Academy’s signature green uniforms, the Foundation Stage Two pupils settled into their environment and got to grips with some of the fantastic play equipment. Maddie Shepherd and Charlie Sparkes hang around together! Catch me if you can, says Lydon Cooke. The joy shows on the face of Evalynne Young. 4 | Pilgrim’s Progress | September Democratic Election Process Helps At a time of political crisis, pupils Pupils Develop at the Academy showed just how successful democracy could Into Respectful be when used properly to help them to develop as respectful Young People and responsible young people. The pupils took part in their Student Council Elections for 2019/20, electing 20 members to represent their classmates and air their views on the issues that affect them within the Academy. Within each class, pupils were invited to stand for election and, where more than one person put themselves forward, a secret vote was held within the class. The pupils then met with the Academy’s Executive Principal, Mr Andy Clark, to hear their ideas and opinions as the Tollbar Multi Academy Trust school continued its drive forward. Pupil Zara Marcheva said: “I chose to be a student councillor because I’ve got many ideas that I hope can make my school better than all the others.” Borislav Latev said: “I am a good speaker for the class. I want to help others so that they can tell me things to tell to Mr Clark.” Bozhidar Georgiev added: “I wanted to be on the school council this year as I wanted to help make decisions about what happens in school, such as getting more activities for our playground.” Mr Clark said: “One of the Academy’s focuses this year is to further develop strategies to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain, developing them as respectful and responsible citizens, who contribute positively to society. The Student Council is just one area that enables pupils to develop such wider knowledge and skills.” Proud Pilgrim Academy Executive Principal, Andy Clark, with the newly-elected School Council members. They are: (Back row, left to right): Bozhidar Georgiev, Leah Lapworth-Smart, Zara Marcheva, Sophie Chapman and Charlie Hodson. (Middle row, left to right): Borislav Latev, Ethan Allen, Freddie Guest, Alfie Goold, Ebony Short and Maisie Carter. (Front Row): Archie Annand, Esme Crockett, George Lusher, Millie Jane Forrington, Lydon Cooke, Chloe Steward, Nathan Reynolds, Phoebe Cain and Imogen Cook. September | Pilgrim’s Progress | 5 Harvest Festival Celebration Donates To Grimsby Food Kitchen Pilgrim Academy children donated to the Grimsby Food Kitchen as they celebrated Harvest Festival with a food collection. Reverend Julie Donn visited the Academy and used a chocolate bar to illustrate where food comes from. The children sang songs, recited and wrote their own poetry, and said some short prayers all about Autumn time and the importance of harvest. Eleanor Stanhope, Curriculum Leader for Religious Education, said: “It was a wonderful celebration, and it was lovely to see the creativity of the pupils who wrote their own poetry to celebrate the occasion. I am thrilled and very proud of all the generous donations made to the Grimsby Pilgrim Academy Harvest Festival food collection. Reception Food Kitchen.” pupils with some of the food collected. They are (L-r) Finley Mountain, Maddison Handley, Daniel Fisher and Ruby Morris. Good Enough For Greek Gods But Pupils Give Mezze A Mixed Reaction It is the food of the gods, and pupils at Immingham’s Pilgrim Academy have been sitting down to a traditional Greek mezze as part of their project, ‘Who Let The Gods Out!’ Year 5 and 6 pupils are learning all about Ancient Greece and what the Olympians used to eat. Riley Smaller (9) and Brooke Fleming (10) are pictured trying out a plate filled with Greek specialities, including feta cheese, melon, olives, pitta bread, Greek yoghurt and olive oil.