Winter 2017 Wollaton The news magazine of Update Bluecoat Wollaton Academy Welcome from the Principal of Bluecoat Wollaton Academy I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to our first edition of ‘Update’, not just for this academic year, but as our first edition as a ‘new’ academy. As you will be aware, Bluecoat has been successful in gaining permission from the DfE to split into three schools and we are excited that Bluecoat Wollaton Academy has been given this opportunity to cement its own ‘family’ identity at the heart of its community moving forward. I would also like to assure parents that this does not alter the closeness of working with other schools in the Trust but it does help to make sure that we are very accountable for the work that we do here under our new Results in a wide range of subjects were seen record numbers apply for the Bluecoat governing body. The chances of outstanding, especially in the core subjects. Sixth Form and the fulfilment of our collaboration will be further enhanced with This was the first phase of the new ‘9 to 1’ commitment to a ‘seven year journey’ with confirmation that Emmanuel School, an gradings to replace the traditional letters in us. We are so excited at the opportunities additional Church of England academy, will English and Maths, with the majority of other that they have in front of them and will take also join our Trust from January. It really is an subjects moving to this during the present great pride in seeing them over the coming exciting time. academic year for our current Year 11. If you years. are not familiar with this can I please direct We hope that this publication will give you a As alluded to above our new website you to our new Wollaton website where we chance to see our work in a little more detail www.bluecoatwollaton.co.uk and have a guide to these changes for parents and to be reminded that, coupled with prospectus were in place before the summer and also an overview of our GCSE results exceptional results, Wollaton continues to and should you have any feedback on this which show just how much we sit above the educate the whole child. we would be glad to hear from you. You can Nottingham City and national outcomes. of course also see latest news there and We were of course especially pleased with Specifically, we are buoyed by the fact that follow us via social media for snapshots into our results this summer. We were able to our students, no matter what their our very busy academy life. You will also find celebrate some remarkable outcomes and backgrounds or starting points have all proposed changes to our admissions policy are in a very strong position to say that our made better progress than those from the on the site which will affect children Progress 8 score of 0.39 is significantly above same starting points nationally and have currently in Year 5 and give greater support the national average and places Bluecoat therefore been best prepared for their for families with siblings already in the Wollaton amongst the highest performing futures. academies in the country. I would like to school in gaining a place. A wonderful product of these results is the thank staff for helping to make this happen Mr Anderson record numbers who have continued into but also parents whose partnership is very - Principal, Bluecoat Wollaton Academy. much related to this too. Post 16 studies. In particular, Wollaton has www.bluecoatwollaton.co.uk Archway Work hard; show respect Learning Trust Update Winter 2017 Update Beyond the classroom Mathematics numeracy champion BIDMAS Time: At Bluecoat Wollaton, the Mathematics Faculty recently ran a Language Day at On the 18th October, 24 of our year 10 competition to design a new Numeracy Champion to spearhead Fibonacci Day pupils spent the day at the University their numeracy drive and act as the face of the newly Nottingham University of Nottingham for a day of languages. introduced ‘BIDMAS Time’. Thursday 23rd November the sequence, using the marked the inaugural We took both our year 10 French and how to introduce themselves, the The students did not disappoint, and Fibonacci Day, in celebration sequence, discovering that it’s German classes for the day which numbers from 1-12 and the Russian numerous entries were received, with of Leonardo Bonacci, good to ‘Fib’ on 23/11 with a comprised of a campus tour, alphabet. The pupils also learnt some the winners shown here. Visit the discoverer of the famous timely literacy link, and then presentations about Language facts about Russia; its geography, Bluecoat Wollaton Maths Twitter Fibonacci sequence of discovered how a manipulation Students’ years abroad, a Russian language and history. page to see the other entries: numbers. of the sequence calculates the taster session and bespoke French @BluecoatMaths Golden Ratio. Both the The bespoke French and German Fibonacci (as he was renowned and German seminars aimed to give sequence itself and the Golden language seminars were also a hit, by a 19th Century French our pupils a taste of a Language Ratio are seen throughout where the French group studied part historian) was an Italian Degree. nature, geometry, art and of a play by Molière; the hidden mathematician from the architecture. Our pupils behaved superbly and meanings and nuances within, while Republic of Pisa, considered to comments from both the staff at the the German group studied German be "the most talented Western The Maths Faculty would like to University and the Undergraduate poetry and had a go at creating their mathematician of the Middle take this opportunity to thank Students who looked after us were own poems. All pupils came away Ages". all of our colleagues for taking all positive, with the organiser saying with a greater appreciation of part and delivering these WINNER: Matt Amatic 3rd Place: Cap’n Calc Students spent the start of each that she’s never met a group of more languages and the doors they can 2nd Place: (b2) Mia B. Cook resources. Mr Codd James (Year 10) Ani (Year 9) Peithok (Year 8) of the 4 periods learning about engaged and enthusiastic secondary open for future careers. pupils. Mr Trodd The Russian taster session was a firm favourite, with our pupils learning Saturday 8th of July was the date of the second Bluecoat STEM Festival. A little taste of France STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and we had This summer our GCSE French “ambience du restaurant” which some fascinating shows, activities and demonstrations for primary students class tasted a little bit of added to the authenticity of France, right here in their experience. from across Nottingham. Nottingham. We had demonstrations and displays power even a toaster using your own Our pupils’ conduct was from the Universities of Nottingham, power!) and too many other activities to 10 Year 10 pupils went to Bistro exemplary and that, coupled Derby, Staffordshire and Nottingham mention. Pierre in Nottingham City Centre with the food and the general Trent as well as an amazing live show By far the most inspiring part of the to sample French cuisine and to enthusiasm for experiencing a from Mad Science. Game City came festival was the way in which Bluecoat have first-hand experience of part of French culture, meant along to do a programming activity, and students came together to create a day what it could be like in a that we all enjoyed our we had fossils on display – including which reminded everyone who attended restaurant in France. Our pupils afternoon. some genuine dinosaur poo! Wates again spoke in French for the entire the most important aspect of Science, Pupils involved supported the event, leading the two hours we were there; Maths and Technology learning – the fun – Aimee, Anastazja, Sophie, construction of a giant pyramid and the speaking to the waiter, ordering that results from having an enquiring Sam, Mignonne, Dannica, Institute of Engineering and Technology’s their food and attempting to talk European Day of Languages celebration mind. Tiana, Tom, Devonne and torch making activity was very popular. to each other in French as well. On 25 September, a group of the work they are involved in. Dylan Thank you to everyone who helped, Not only did our pupils enjoy 14 Bluecoat Wollaton pupils Our students interacted GHD Environmental provided interactive including Bluecoat staff and students. their food, but also the went to the Nottingham superbly and were extremely fun, and the students could learn about Next year’s festival will be even bigger Emmanuel School to celebrate engaged throughout the whole water repellent surfaces with the team and better! the European Day of day; asking great questions and from Nottingham Trent. There were crime Languages. really making an effort to take scenes, an exercise bike which measures Dan Sandiford the most out of the power (it turns out to be very hard to STEM Coordinator To celebrate this day and to Persian/Russian sessions. They build awareness of the use of came away with a greater languages and the benefits of understanding about the being able to speak foreign benefits of knowing a foreign languages, a member from the language and with the Persian Intelligence Services came to and Russian session, our pupils deliver a presentation on the were exposed to modern jobs and opportunities that languages beyond the French, knowing a foreign language can German and Spanish that are bring. He also spoke about what often studied in schools.