VillageVillage Issue 10 Winter 2018 GreenGreen magazinemagazine ChristmasChristmas SpiritSpirit Beaumont Hill primary pupils spread seasonal joy BahBah Humbug!Humbug! Gurney Pease actors put on a Dickens of a show WinnersWinners Haughton high achievers raise the bar AcademyAcademy makesmakes ththee A SCHOOL community has been left beaming with pride after inspectors lifted its status by two categories in one go to ‘good’. TAFF governors and pupils at years provision and the 16 to 19 study “Staff have high expectations of S Beaumont Hill Academy have programmes also won high praise. what pupils can achieve socially, worked tirelessly since its last Inspectors highlighted that leaders emotionally and academically,” inspection, when it was deemed to and governors had worked closely inspectors said. be inadequate. together in order to bring about “Students who attend the school’s The result is a learning environment improvement across the academy. post 16 unit make good progress now considered better than ever Their report stated: “Leaders now overall. Children who join the school’s before for almost 300 children with have a clear vision for the future. early years provision have a range of complex needs, aged two to 19. They are focused and determined to different needs. Staff ensure that they Inspectors observed lessons, talked build on recent successes, for settle quickly into the nurturing to senior leaders, teachers, example in improving pupils’ environment and routines in all three governors, parents and pupils in a outcomes and the curriculum”. classes.” comprehensive review of every They recognised the new Parents held positive views on the aspect of life at Beaumont Hill curriculum in key stage 3 had quality of care and provision for their special school. “ignited pupils’ imagination and pupils and attendance had It awarded the school ‘good’ status developed their thinking skills”. continued to improve, inspectors across the board, including for: the Inspectors said the quality of noted. The principal and deputy effectiveness of its leadership and teaching and learning had principal have a clear vision for the management; quality of teaching, improved. Senior leaders closely future of the school. learning and assessment; pupils’ monitor staff performance and offer The quality of teaching and learning personal development, behaviour support and challenge to bring has improved since the last and welfare; and outcomes. Early about improvement. inspection and outcomes for pupils ee GradeGrade have also improved as staff regularly challenged pupils to try even harder. “Comments such as ‘I love learning now’ and ‘lessons are never boring’ reflect pupils’ views of their current opportunities to learn,” the report said. “School leaders are ambitious for pupils’ futures. Staff aim to ensure that pupils leave with as much accreditation as possible in order that they are well prepared for life in modern Britain.” Inspectors praised the quality of governance, noting governors were skilled and knowledgeable, visiting the school often and making a sizeable contribution to bringing about HelpingHelping thethe HomelessHomeless improvements. The arrangements for safeguarding KIND-HEARTED pupils have come to the aid of the are effective, leaders and staff have homeless with festive packs to make life a little easier on high expectations of what each pupil the streets. could achieve, allowing them to reach their potential. There was clear evidence that this EAR 5 pupils at Springfield “It is important for them to achievement boosted pupils’ Y Academy have been realise the challenges some self-esteem. working on a project people in their town face in life “Despite often having high levels of called Homeless at Christmas, and it certainly has helped them need, pupils who attend the school learning about the challenges appreciate how lucky they are. are happy and positive about coming facing people who have They have completed some to school,” inspectors said. “This was nowhere to live. excellent creative writing on the reflected in the smiles given to staff at As part of the initiative they topic and we have completed a the start of the school day. Several have linked up with the charity leaflet of guidelines for anyone pupils were bursting with pride at their First Stop and have been filling else wanting to help the achievement.” Principal Caroline Green said: backpacks with a host of homeless.” “Achieving ‘good’ reflects the essentials and treats to bring Pupil Amber Hutchinson said: “It unrelenting work of the entire school some relief to their plight. has made us think about these community to make Beaumont Hill the Socks, pants, gloves, hats, people and hopefully helped successful learning environment it is scarves, toiletries, including new make them feel more loved. today. toothbrushes, hand sanitiser Many people don’t realise how “Everyone has worked incredibly tissues and handcream, much they struggle and how hard to achieve this and can be justly chocolates, biscuits, crisps, much they are ignored. I hope proud of their efforts.” sweets and paperback books they like what we have given Chief Executive of the Education have been collected for the them.” Village Academy Trust, Mike Butler, homeless. Springfield Academy pupils added: “Everyone was stung by the Children also made Christmas have also been on a march to previous inspection findings but they have all responded incredibly well. cards and the packs will be improve their fitness. They have “The result is that Beaumont Hill delivered to First Stop which will just started completing a Daily Academy is better than ever before distribute them among the Mile in line with a national and will continue to work without homeless. initiative to get young people respite to ensure the very best Organised by Year 5 teacher more active. Mrs McManus said: outcomes for all its pupils.” Kelly McManus, she said: “We “We reached Newark in the first Chair of governors, Rohit Patel, study homelessness as a topic week and are hoping to get to commented: “We are really excited and thought this would be a London during the second as about the future of the school and nice thing to do. It has been pupils walk the equivalent look forward to building upon this really good and the children distance a mile at a time in the success and developing the school have enjoyed it. playground.” further”. AA BrilliantBrilliant FutureFuture PUPILS have been dazzling mentors with their brilliance in an initiative designed to promote higher education. EAR 7 and 8 pupils from Y Haughton Academy joined the Brilliant Club, an initiative aimed at encouraging them to consider university life. Work was assessed to degree standard and one pupil, obtained a mark that would have been equivalent to a first. Chosen from SATs tests that ranked them among the school’s most able and talented, 13 pupils worked with a Phd student and teachers Caroline Laren, Laura Bliss and Kate Marsland for seven weeks on projects including microbiology and the immune system. Their work was assessed and marked as if it was degree standard and one pupil, Jorja Stewart, obtained a mark that would have been equivalent to a first. Vocational curriculum lead Mrs Larsen said: “This scheme is designed to raise aspirations and standards of work and encourage children who are able but might not otherwise consider going to university. “We will track them throughout the remainder of their time with us to ensure they do fulfil their potential.” Pupil Gabriel Kaddoura said: “I have enjoyed my experience with Brilliant Club because I have learnt about writing essays in the future, which I know is a key skill to have.” Classmate Annabelle Foulds added: “I have really enjoyed the Brilliant Club which covered so many interesting things about malaria and science. I would really recommend it.” TopTop ofof thethe ClassClass GIFTED and talented students celebrated over the summer after they were rewarded with top GCSE . THAN Shepherd-Smart was ensure they believed in their own dream of travelling the world. E diagnosed with Asperger’s abilities and it has really paid off “I have read National Geographic when he was six, a with many now going on to study since I was six and it has inspired me high-functioning condition on the A Levels and with ambitions to go to find out about the world,” said autism spectrum. to university.” the 16-year-old, who achieved A pupil at Haughton Ethan,16, said: “I was putting in three 9s, four 8s, a 7 and a 6 and is Academy he completed 8,000 a lot of work and my teachers now studying media. “I have revision pods in just seven weeks as urged me to stop and enjoy travelled around Asia and would he worked for 60 hours a week myself as well. My mum even love to go to China.” preparing for his exams. knocked off the internet Classmates Bethany Higgins and His efforts earned him two 9s, an connection so I couldn’t revise Chloe Hutchinson, both 16, also 8, three 7s and three 6s helping any more. performed well gaining, Haughton Academy secure “I am really pleased with the respectively, three 9s, six 8s and a 7 record results and cementing its results and I would say to anyone and two 8s, five 7s and three 6s. reputation in core subject areas else with autism not to be Bethany is now studying A Levels in including maths English and disheartened; just do your best. biology, maths and psychology . science. You cannot allow your autism to “I’m really pleased with the results Principal Jonathan Lumb was restrict you. If conditions aren’t and would love to work in the delighted with pupils’ right for me, I do struggle to medical profession one day,” she performances. “We set our most concentrate, so I must also praise said.