Dear all
Welcome to our third academy newsletter for 2015-16. In this edition you will find along with our
packed update, students are now volunteering their perspectives of events held within the academy
and our community and wanting to share their experiences with you.
Curriculum and Pastoral highlights for the Spring Term
Fix Up Year 11 Motivational Assembly 11 January 2016
As Year 11 begin the race for the final exams, Fix Up, held a motivational assembly. As part of their
preparation for their exams the Year 11’s were challenged and inspired in equal measures to stand up
and be counted. The high energy delivery by the guest speakers had them singing, dancing and more
importantly getting themselves mentally prepared for their exams. The following snippets had an
impact on four Year 11 students:
“It motivated me never to stop trying, I found it really helpful as they showed me a different point of
view”
“Revision is temporary, results are for ever”
“Success is not by magic, it’s by hard word”
“Do not revise ‘lastminute.com’”
All the students involved took something important but personal from the session.
Year 9 Options assembly, evening and Career Convention 14 – 18 January 2016
An important time for Year 9 as they make curriculum decisions to support their future life choices
have seen students engage in a choices assembly, 1 to 1 convention with their Head of House or
Pastoral Manager and attendance at our biggest and best ever Careers Convention with over 7 local
colleges, 5 universities and 18 training providers.
Students and parents will have their options confirmed by letter shortly after the Easter break.
World Book Day 3 March 2016 was promoted during the year group assembly each morning of week
beginning 29 February. Book vouchers have been given to every student, please encourage your
son/daughter to make the most of using this voucher and extending their love of reading.
Directors Celebration event 8 February 2016 again saw the awarding of 24 ‘Rising Star’ awards with
staff presenting a wide variety of heartfelt speeches in recognition of the achievements of academy
students.
The rising star award goes to Ella Applegarth who is a swimming coach at Eston swimming baths and
has recently offered to help a family friend gain valuable strength, confidence and motivation to get
back to full fitness and hopefully gain full mobility, after being through a terrible ordeal. I am pleased
to say that one year on from her ordeal, the lady in question has made a determined and full recovery
and some small part of that was down to Ella’s willingness to help out and give support where needed.
In addition to this Ella has also won the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural
award for her outstanding achievements within the local community.
See link on website http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/our-academy/photogalleries/rising-stars-2016/
Sporting successes
PE Teacher Darren Bunn won the hugely acclaimed Professional Achievement Award at the Youth
Sport Trust National Conference in Coventry in February. Darren beat an impressive field where
nominations were invited from hundreds of Youth Sport Trust member schools to scoop the award.
Darren’s outstanding success in the examined areas of GCSE PE and BTEC Sport, his stewardship of
Cleveland County Athletics and Cross Country teams and his exceptional work with SEN/D and low
ability students in PE all contributed to his successful nomination – Well done Darren!
Philippa Stone represented England in her first international call up and also won the regional Schools
Cross Country event. Philippa also came second in the Northern Championships.
Daniel Currie finished sixth in the English Schools Cross Country Championships and has qualified for
the England Cross Country team.
Extra-Curricular
The High Tide Industrial Cadetship Programme had a review evening on Thursday 11 February
reviewing the successes of the 2015 Apprenticeship programmes. As a direct result a former
Nunthorpe Academy pupil, Jack Holmes, who participated in July 2015, is now working for a local
company, Ithica Films. He will be visiting the academy later in the year to speak to students of the
benefit of taking part in the High Tide Apprenticeship Scheme. Our students will be invited to be part
of this programme again this year.
Ski Trip February Half Term
“The skiing trip was a really good experience, I learned how to ski and overall got to know people that are not in
my year. Also we got to take part in Austrian activities that aren't skiing such as curling and tobogganing. I
thought this trip was a great experience and hope to go again next year to further my skiing skills.”(Molly
Broderick Year 10)
“The Ski trip has been one of the best experiences of my life. I also went last year, so this year I was in middle
group which gave me a chance to ski on bigger slopes. The views are honestly stunning and the atmosphere itself
is amazing especially on a night when we would either just relax after skiing or go out. The trip was also one of
the funniest experiences I’ve ever had due to the teachers as their enthusiasm was good. On some nights we had
presentations which contained pictures and videos of the students throughout the day skiing, there was one
which consisted of many photos of people asleep which was quite amusing. Overall, the ski trip has been a
wonderful experience and I would definitely recommend it and I hope I get on it again next year.” (Amy Noonan
Year 12)
Ski Trip
Berlin Visit
Berlin Visit February 11 - 13 February 2016
A group of GCSE and A-level German students went to Berlin with Mrs Joyce, Mr Cowan and Miss
Ward. “Needless to say, we were all exhausted when we arrived, but there is no doubt that the journey was
worth it. We visited the Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall, among other
things. There was plenty of opportunity to go shopping and buy ourselves souvenirs, before we finally reached
home at around 2:00am on Sunday morning. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and provided us all with
ample opportunity to experience German culture and practise our day-to-day language skills.” (Ben Riley)
On speaking to the students and asking how the trip was one of them said;
"One of my favourite parts of Berlin was the Reichstag dome because you could see a majority of the city and it
was beautiful. I also enjoyed the U-Bahn and S-Bahn as they felt so easy to navigate and it was sometimes the
place where the funniest things happened!" (Joe Lenghan)
All in all it was a successful trip with many students coming back asking if the trip is running again next
year.
Community
Titty Bottle Park Saturday 5 March
“Dear Mr Brown, I am emailing to say how nice it was to have worked with Mrs Alison Blacklock and the 20
pupils on Saturday, during the “Clean for the Queen” event at Titty Bottle Park in Normanby. As you can see
from the photograph, the event was extremely successful with a total of 28 bags of rubbish collected. All of the
pupils involved are a credit to your Academy, they gave up their Saturday morning and were keen and great
company from the start through to the end.
Alison and I are working on a few other projects for the future, and I look forward to these. I am very pleased
and proud to be able to shout about the commitment and successes your young volunteers have achieved. Thank
you for your support. Regards Roy Morris” Roy Morris Community Development Officer for Ormesby and
Normanby
Fundraising
Interact (Junior Rotary Club) hot chocolate stands at the end of the academy day.
Aimee Yeoman, President of Interact for the last two years, retired to concentrate on her GCSE studies
as the exams fast approach. Aimee has offered to keep in touch and be of assistance if required. There
was an election to choose the new President. The students had an opportunity to say why they would
make a good President and then voting took place. Amelie Nicholson was voted in as President, Emma
Womack as secretary and Amanda Livingstone as treasurer. There has been a recruiting drive and we
now have a healthy number of students who are part of Interact. The students attended a dinner with
the Rotarians at Gisborough Hall as a thank you for the fundraising that they have been involved in.
“I love Interact as it has given me many opportunities to meet new people and have fun raising money and getting
the feeling of happiness when you give money to the charities is really special. Thanks” EW (Secretary)
Left to Right: James Norman, Emma Womack,
Amelie Nicholson, Amanda Livingstone and
Annalise Hand.
Staff Challenge – Miss Hutton – Grand Canyon Trek for Global’s ‘Make Some Noise’ (Easter 2016)
This charity helps to change young lives by supporting projects across the country, which deliver life
changing work to youngsters and their families living with illness, disability, bereavement and lack of
opportunity. The projects are small local projects with very little money. They find it hard to get heard
so this charity is a unity of eight radio stations in the UK to give them a voice. The trek is nine days
walking and camping through the Grand Canyon, just short of 100km. Miss Hutton has raised £4200
so far. £465 raised by her tutor group completing a sponsored silence, cake sales and Christmas raffle.
If
you
would
like
to
support
Miss
Hutton
please
go
to
https://beyondthegrandcanyon.everydayhero.com/uk/katy
Any donations would be greatly appreciated and go a long way to helping young people.
New opportunities -Over the next term we are trialling the use of iPads in lessons. One class of Year
7 students have been given an iPad each to use both in the academy and at home. We are going to
be looking at the effect the device has on teaching, learning and organisation. We also have many
more staff using iPads in lessons and have devices which can be booked out by classroom teachers.
For any more information on the trial please feel free to email Tom Day (tday@nunthorpe.co.uk) and
I will try to answer your questions
Sixth Form Ambassadors Training Day at Teesside University saw 30 Ambassadors taking part in the
training; they have participated in three training sessions so far - one at Teesside University and two
at the Sixth Form - the final session and certification ceremony is Wednesday 13 April 2016
Prospective Medics Conference Wednesday 24 February2016, The Sage, Gateshead
12 students, from years 10-12, attended this event to gain an insight into the competitive world of
medicine. Here’s what their experience taught them.
“I would first like to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of this amazing visit. It has provided me
with an insight to the complex application process of the medical world. I am now more confident and I feel that
my chances of getting into medical school have increased… I have tips to use in my personal statement to difficult
interview questions as well as extra information on what to do during my work experience.” (LT Year11)
“It not only taught me about this but it taught me about what to do to improve my social skills and that I must
conduct my own independent personal research. Overall it has opened my eyes to how hard I must work to
achieve my dream of studying medicine and it has given me a big wake-up call” (LT Year r11)
“In my opinion the most beneficial part of the day was the information given on how to answer some of the more
difficult interview questions correctly and how to make my personal statement stand out. I will definitely use this
experience in the future when applying to medical schools and (if I am successful) my time as a doctor. It has also
opened my eyes as to how important work experience is and how to make the most of it, for example I will
definitely do some individual research in order to develop my scientific skills, whilst also take part in social
activities, like working at a care home, in order to improve my social skills.” (LC Year 11)
Useful information on the website:
Easter Revision timetable
http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/content/uploads/2015/02/EasterRevisionTimetable-March2016.pdf
Examination timetable for summer 2016 http://www.nunthorpe.co.uk/our-academy/examinations/
Need the school nurse for advice? Elaine Verrill now has a confidential email account for concerns
which she will aim to address when she is in the academy on a Monday. Please email on
schoolnurse@nunthorpe.co.uk Elaine also continues to provide a drop in service for students on a
Monday lunchtime in the Inclusion Conference Room at the front of the academy.
Key Dates for your diary
Thursday 24 March
PD Day
School closed to students other than Year 11 revision classes
Friday 25 March
Easter Holidays
Tuesday 29 March
Year 11 revision programme begins (see website for programme)
Monday 11 April
Summer (1) Term begins
Supporting our students through partnership with the local authority
HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIOUR SURVEYS
Our school, along with several others, has agreed to participate in a very important Health Behaviour
Survey amongst young people. We have been asked to support the work of the Local Authority and
Public Health and we stand to benefit substantially through our participation in the survey.
The survey data in schools may prompt review of the curriculum and have also been used in a variety
of ways including:
1.
As a starting point for discussion in classroom activities
2.
As a guide in the choice of resources
3.
As a prompt for appropriate timing of courses
4.
As a beginning for further enquiry to strengthen existing programmes, e.g. in PE
5.
As a starting point for discussions between parents and schools
The survey method that we are using has been developed by the Schools Health Education Unit, Exeter
and has been in use now for over 30 years. Over 3000 schools have used the survey, many of them
regularly repeating the survey.
The questions concern a wide range of health behaviours, for example:
Home and family
Relationships, emotional health and well-being,
Tobacco, Alcohol,
Leisure and money
Drugs
Sexual health
Healthy Eating
Exercise
The Local Authority and Public Health will also have a reliable database upon which it can objectively
plan health care provision for young people. Links between the school and the Authority can be
strengthened.
Both the Local Authority and the school find the content of the questionnaire acceptable; it has been
customised to suit our local setting.
Each questionnaire is anonymous and confidential, and no pupil will be identified when the data is
returned to your school. The Local Authority will receive only the summary of all schools in which
individual schools are not identified.
I hope you will agree with us that this is an exercise in which we wish to co-operate fully. I will assume
you do approve unless I hear otherwise and I look forward to working with you in planning improved
health promotion for our pupils. We hold a copy of the questionnaire in the school office, and if you
would like to examine it, you are welcome to do so by appointment.
As part of the survey it will be helpful if your son/daughter brings the following information:
1. their postcode
(this will be used only for drawing maps of results in the area;
your house will not be identified)
The survey will be carried out weeks commencing the 14 and 21 March in ICT lessons.
Yours sincerely
Kate Kell
Vice Principal – Student Expectations and Engagement