NEWSLETTER I S S U E 4 0 EASTER 2019 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Principal’s 2 All-Action Year 7! Message British 3 Science Week Time To Talk 4 Walk SMSC Day 5 World Book 7 Day Football With 8 Chris Smalling Duke of 10 Edinburgh ur Year 7 students blindfolded). One of the “This was the first time spent several days most popular activities was many of this group had O in North Wales caving, where students been away from home making memories and were set the challenge of without their families, but learning new skills as part of crawling through an artificial they all stuck together and our annual residential visit. underground network of were incredibly supportive. tunnels. At the end of each These residential trips offer A group of 49 students day, the group enjoyed a so many benefits and it is travelled to Colomendy with disco, or jokes and songs clear to see students our staff to experience a around a campfire. developing their confidence wide range of teambuilding and resilience over a Enrichment Co-ordinator Mr and adventure activities at relatively short amount of Molloy, who organised the the Kingswood Centre in time.” February. visit, said: “Our students had the time of their lives After a hectic few days, Sessions included and their attitude and students arrived back at the everything from fencing and behaviour was exemplary Academy on the Friday archery to climbing and throughout the three days afternoon, with plenty of nightline (completing an we were away. stories to tell their families. obstacle course while www.stockport-academy.org | Twitter : @sptacademy | Instagram: @StockportAcademy P A G E 2 Principal’s Message It has been another were winners of Lloyd’s to learn that the school is eventful term at Rediscover Business again over-subscribed Stockport Academy and I Project (p10). Our and that we have the hardly know where to Business Enterprise group highest number of Year 7 begin. There have been won three separate student set to join us in in excess of 492 clubs this accolades including best September 2019 that we term, over 25 trips and stand, best product and have ever had. endless hours of best customer service additional revision for all award in the national We are excited to share students in preparation Young Enterprise more highlights and for mock and mid-year Competition (p6). We opportunities with you exams. I would like to received the BIG Childline within this newsletter, in take this opportunity to Anti-Bullying award for addition to our academy Mrs Janine McCann, thank all of our staff for the 4th time (p3). We website with further their commitment to our have been awarded the details. Principal students and to thank all Good Diabetes Care In of our students for being Schools Award, a national Wishing all of our staff, so mature, focused, wellbeing award and one students, governors, committed and of our Year 10 students families and members of aspirational in all that has been named winner our local community a they do. of the national Show restful and happy Easter This term has had many Racism The Red Card break. highlights, as this latest competition for an edition of our newsletter unprecedented two years shows. We are incredibly in a row. Not forgetting pleased to have started our Student Council, who 2019 in phenomenal reached the regional fashion - so far, we have finals of Goldsmiths’ Mr Frank McCarron, been recognised as a Community Award! It has School of Character, we been an honour this term Executive Principal Inspirational Art Two of our students had their work did extremely commended by a professional artist, as they well but missed narrowly missed out on winning an all- out on the top expenses-paid trip to Japan. spot. However, they received Billie in Year 10 and Elin in Year 11 both high praise from reached the final ten of United Learning’s Ruby, who described Elin’s work as ‘really International Art Competition, and their captivating’, and Billie’s piece as having work was displayed at the UL Leadership ‘lovely tonal qualities’. Conference to be judged by delegates and Manchester artist Ruby Tingle. The overall Head of Art, Ms Stirling, said: “I am so winner would receive a once-in-a-lifetime proud of everyone who entered their visit to Tokyo to the International Art artwork into this competition – everyone Festival, where their work will be displayed. put so much thought, effort and emotion in their pieces.” After tallying the final scores, both pieces I S S U E 4 0 P A G E 3 A BIG Win Our school was honoured with a national anti-bullying Val McFarlane, Director of Bullying Intervention award in February. Group, said: “This is a school which does not tolerate bullying. They have an excellent anti-bullying policy, We have achieved The BIG (Bullying Intervention regular staff training in mental health issues, Group) Award for the fourth year in a row, and are the awareness raising activities and a robust monitoring only school in Stockport to be recognised with this prestigious accolade. The BIG Award celebrates schools and recording system in place.” that have proven their excellence in tackling and preventing bullying. The school was commended on its wide-ranging approach to taking on the issue, including extensive staff training, parental consultation and an inclusive culture within the school. Science Celebration Students and staff celebrated British Science Week in Mr Campbell, who put on an excellent set of live March, which ended in a bang! experiments in front of a packed hall during Friday lunchtime. Each day, the Science corridor was buzzing with activity, as the department organised regular after-school clubs Mr Campbell said: “We have had a brilliant week for students to take part in. celebrating this fantastic subject and the impact it has on our day-to-day lives. It was great to see the students so On Monday, Mrs Llewellyn led a dissection workshop engaged and eager to learn, and I would like to thank all that enabled participants to get hands-on while learning the staff involved who gave up their time to make these about anatomy, then, on Tuesday, students had the experiences possible.” chance to learn how to make glue from milk. On Wednesday, Science Club ran a poster competition to celebrate British Science Week, before Mr Cox led a crime scene investigation activity that taught students about forensics on Thursday. Of course, it wouldn’t be Science Week without a show- stopping demonstration from Head of Science, P A G E 4 Performing Arts Showcase Our Performing Arts students put on a show Year 10 students Carys and Marcey sang to remember at the end of the first half term solos of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ and ‘Yours’ of 2019. respectively, and the showcase closed with the school’s Rock Band – who received a Highlights included numbers from our SA standing ovation along with the rest of the Dance group and tap dance enrichment, performers on the night. along with musical pieces from the steel band and our choir – the latter of which Mrs Campbell, Head of Expressive and performed the ‘The Sound Of Music’ classic Performing Arts, said: “Everyone can see ‘Do Re Mi’. that an awful lot of effort goes into putting on our showcase, and we are incredibly Our Drama contingent gave brilliant proud of our dedicated and talented performances with the National Connections students for delivering such a high standard group, offering the audience a teaser for the on the night.” competition piece they will perform in front of judges later in the year, while the school’s theatre company - Centre Stage – also shone. Another memorable sketch came from the Year 8 group, who produced ‘Awkward’, which offered a comedic insight into some of life’s most uncomfortable situations. Time To Talk Walk Students donned their walking shoes in Awareness Week, which saw local charity The February to raise awareness of mental health Jamie Horrocks Trust delivering assemblies issues. on the issue, while staff also offered mental health drop-in sessions for students during Years 7-10 spent the afternoon trekking break times. around the school grounds, the idea being that they take time out of Students wore non-uniform to raise money their busy day to discuss for charity, with over £680 brought in to mental health topics with support the cause. Earlier in the year, PE their peers. On their last teacher Ms Foster was appointed as an lap, each student came ambassador to The Jamie Horrocks Trust. up a pledge that would Ms Foster, who organised the Time To Talk work towards making a Walk, said: “We aim to provide an Education positive difference to With Character for all students at Stockport supporting each other. Academy, and developing their social and The event followed on moral consciousness is a key part of that.” from a successful Children’s Mental Health I S S U E 4 0 P A G E 5 New Experiences For SMSC Day We had another busy SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual, Students in Year 9 spent the day working with ‘My Cultural) Day in March, with students having plenty Perfect Uni’, which involved discussing what makes of opportunities to broaden their horizons beyond an ideal student at university, designing their own the classroom. university campus and other activities linked towards familiarising themselves with the possibility Years 7-10 spent the day off-timetable, with many of going on to higher education. external agencies coming in to deliver workshops on a wide range of topics.