Appleton Academy
Featuring:
o Year 11 Prom
o Bradford Digital Creatives special feature
o Careers update
o Trips and visits
o Sports fixtures and results
o Art and DT showcase
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Welcome
Welcome to our final newsletter of the year! This is a bumper edition as we have achieved so much in this last term.
Our prom was held in the last week of June to celebrate the final hurrah of our Y11 cohort, and we wish them every success in their next steps and look forward to seeing them on results day
We have had so many exciting this happening for our students this year from visitors to school, visits out, fabulous creative arts opportunities, careers events galore and even our first sports tour and I know that the content in here is only scratching the surface of what we have accomplished this last term. We have to remind ourselves that none of this is possible without the hard work and dedication of our staff who put in an incredible amount of hard work to organise these events.
We wish all our families a restful and safe summer break and look forward to the new academic year with even more exciting events planned
If you have things you would like to see featured in the newsletter, please let us know.
By Mr Bellwood. Despite a forecast predicting rain and a sky filled with slightly threatening clouds, the Appleton Academy Year 11 Prom was truly blessed with sunshine and smiles. Students were able to enjoy outdoor photos, laughterfilled conversations, and celebrate their achievements surrounded by family, friends, and staff. It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes, even when things seem uncertain, special moments shine through. The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and a shared sense of accomplishment as students marked the end of their Year 11 journey in style.
The students of Year 11 truly rose to the occasion, looking fabulous in their prom attire. From elegant dresses to sharp suits, each student showcased their own style and personality. Their stunning appearance was a perfect match for the excitement and celebration of the evening.
Royal Opera House School Matinee Carmen
Our enthusiastic Year 9 scholars recently travelled to London as part of the Royal Opera House’s Schools’ Matinee Programme, where they had the unforgettable opportunity to watch a live performance of Carmenat one of the world’s most prestigious opera venues.
For many, it was their first time going to London and seeing an opera and Carmen. Both staff and students were astounded by the talent and production and had the opportunity to meet Gail Ronson, a funder of the Schools’ Matinee Progamme.
As part of their visit to the capital, the scholars also enjoyed lunch in bustling Leicester Square, soaking up the vibrant energy of central London. Afterwards, they explored the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, home to masterpieces by artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Da Vinci.
Staff members accompanying the trip praised the students for their engagement and behaviour throughout the day. This was a brilliant opportunity for our scholars to experience world-class performance and visual arts. Many returned home with a newfound interest in opera and the visual arts and memories that will last a lifetime.
SPORTS TOUR
By Mr Young. On May 16th 2025 we took 48 students and 4 staff to Condover Hall in Shropshire to take part in a 3 day rugby, badminton and football tour. The tour included U13s and U14s rugby fixtures against Oswestry School and Shrewsbury Lions. The badminton team played fixtures against Oswestry School and Newport Shropshire badminton club and the U13s football team played Oswestry School and Baschurch JFC. Between the fixtures our students had training sessions and took part in a range of OAA activities such as climbing, archery, zip wire and abseiling.
Our students were all brilliant. Our footballers won both of their games and showed great ability. Marakai was our football player of the tour. Our rugby teams had a brilliant weekend and learnt how to play rugby union as well as league. Our U14s player of the tour was Liam and our U13s player was Charlie. Finally, our badminton players met some very impressive opposition from both Oswestry and Newport. Hitesh was selected as the badminton player of the tour.
Mr Young, Mr Sukara, Mr Sunderland and Mr Brogan are very proud of all of our team, and we look forward to our second sports tour next school year.
VE Day Celebrations in the Library.
By Mrs Parr. The Library hosted a tea party to thank veterans of past conflicts and serving members of our armed forces. Our students performed poetry, songs and drama as a thank you to our veterans.
Let Silence Teach You
Our writers have been busy this term. They have taken part in the West Yorkshire Poet Laureate Competition in conjunction with The National Literacy Trust. Ffyon in Year 9 was shortlisted and her poem features in The Young Poet Laureate anthology.
Carnegie Shadowing took place in the library again this year. Many thanks to the staff who agreed to read and review some of the titles with us. Pictured is Mr Sroka chatting about his chosen book 'The Final Year' by Matt Goodfellow.
We also took part in the Trapped in County Lines programme with author Christina Gabbitas. Students' poems feature in the Listen Up! Anthology.
This term saw the launch of our latest anthology of writing and artwork. Students performed their work to an audience of parents and staff.
Y8 History
The Great War workshops
In April we were lucky to have Bill Smith visit us from Great War Workshops. Bill is an ex-history teacher who has built his business up from his fascination of WWI which has sparked his life passion.
Year 8 studied the First World War in half term 5, after Easter, learning about the causes of the war, how soldiers were recruited into the war, what trench warfare was like and conditions in the trenches. This unit enhances their understanding of why we began to mark Remembrance Day every November 11th.
Bill’s workshop was fantastic at bringing the war to life for our students as they were able to hear about real life stories of soldiers who came from Bradford. They were also able to handle artefacts from the war, see the trench art first hand and try on the heavy uniforms that soldiers worn every day.
This was a once in a lifetime experience for some of our students, who really enjoyed the opportunity to get closer to their studies and were a real credit to the school. We gave a massive thank you to Bill Smith from Great War Workshops for talking to us about WWI and sharing his artefacts.
If you have any information about family in WWI you would like to find more about, please send it in with your child to pass on to their History teacher and we can see if there is anything we can find with Bill’s help.
By Mr Halston
Appleton has worked with Age of Wonder / Born in Bradford on a number of projects this academic year, with the most involved being the Bradford Digital Creatives (BDC), a scheme designed to bring media production experiences into our school and allow students to get hands on with professional technology and advice from industry experts on how to get into a career in the media industry.
We have run 16 separate workshops for over 120 Y9 students this school year, from audio recording to 3D scanning. The culmination of the project has been a specially commissioned exhibition at the National Science and Media Museum called ‘ReelBFD’, which is running until September. Several of our students visited the launch of the exhibition and were interviewed by the Telegraph & Argus, BCB radio and BBC Look North. The next few pages showcase just some of the highlights!
Appleton Y9s were given free roam of the NSMM 18th June, trialling the new ReefBFD exhibition as well as taking part in a computer games making workshop run by ImpactGamers
(Main image): William showcases the game he made earlier in the year with Impact Gamers.
(Bottom-left): Alfie talks to Look North about the opportunities the project has provided him this school year.
(Bottom-right): Videos from one of the workshops are on a reel in the Cubby Broccoli cinema, allowing students to see themselves on the big screen!
BiB – The Gameshow
By Mr Halston. In May, our Y10 Creative iMedia class took part in a very special project run by Born in Bradford, in partnership with Leeds Trinity University. Following a series of planning sessions in school, students visited the university on 21st May to record two gameshows, named ‘Wonderstruck’ and ‘World Wonder’, with students devising, acting out and filming the productions in a professional TV studio.
Seeing the students getting to grips with a range of roles from camera operator to contestant was a pleasure to see, with students able to make clear links between them to help their exam preparation for Y11. Students also enjoyed a tour of the university campus and facilities to show them what university life is all about.
Please click the links or scan the QR codes below to see the trailer for the gameshows on social media!
https://www.tiktok.com/@bibageofwonder/video/75120 70609237511446
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKepYVR1uR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiN WFlZA==
Lights, camera action: Navjot controlling the vision mixer to choose the best camera shots of the gameshow
Making sound decisions: William working with university staff to keep the audio running smoothly
Star of the show: Thomas dons his golden jacket with pride, with expert Isla in the greenscreen room
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Appleton Academy’s Theatrical Society performed their adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” set in the 80’s.
The society created their own props and costume for the production and took part in lunchtime and afterschool rehearsals. They performed for their friends and families and were invited to perform for Year 5 & 6, who thoroughly enjoyed it and it encouraged those moving up in September to join and be part of our wonderful club. Students demonstrated passion, focus and brilliant singing and acting skills. Reviews of the performance were very positive, and we look forward to putting on our next show piece for the Appleton community next year!
Bradford New College visits Appleton
Performing Arts
This year we invited Bradford college in to share with our Year 9 Performing Arts students the opportunities available to them after Level 1 / 2 Music and Drama. The event began with a soulful saxophone duet that set a sophisticated tone. This was followed by an electrifying band performance that had the audience engaged and entertained. The drama students delivered a powerful and emotional performance based on Greek mythology in the style of Brecht, showcasing impressive acting skills and maturity. To close the show, a dynamic and energetic dance piece left the room buzzing with applause.
Every performance was polished, professional, and passionate- showing our students, the dedication and hard work needed to succeed in the Performing Arts.
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Our Year 9 students were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the routes they can take post-16. Our students showed maturity, curiosity and truly appreciated the opportunity to watch and engage with the students from Bradford College. “The talent was amazing—every performance was just so inspiring,” said one Year 9 pupil. “It made me really excited about college. I’d love to visit New College Bradford myself,” added another.
The visit not only showcased the creative arts but also opened minds to future opportunities. A brilliant celebration of talent, ambition, and what lies ahead.
Mr. Harley
Year 7
Art at Appleton
Each newsletter we feature amazing artwork created by our students
Our year 7’s have been creating their own Ink and Pen Fish outcomes inspired by the work of artist Scarpace.
Amir
Ilia
Lilah
Alyssa
Martyna
Taylor
Year 8
Art at Appleton
Each newsletter we feature amazing artwork created by our students
Our year 8’s have been creating bee drawings and learning how to use pencil crayon effectively to show texture. As well as this, also working on their Steampunk Bee designs.
Olivia
Niamh
Berenice
Year 9
Art at Appleton
Each newsletter we feature amazing artwork created by our students
Cagan
Our year 9’s have been looking at surrealism and illustrated their own poems. They then began to investigate surrealism in portraiture
Lucas
Year 9
Art at Appleton
Each newsletter we feature amazing artwork created by our students
Some of our year 9 students took a trip to see the end of year fashion show and exhibition at Bradford College featuring work from our very own Appleton Academy GCSE textiles class.
Appleton Academy DT
Art at Appleton
Each newsletter we feature amazing artwork created by our students
Our year 7’s have been making acrylic clocks
Our year 9’s have been making desk lamps
This is some of the work completed on this term's rotation of product design. In which student created animal acrylic clocks, lamps and amplifiers .
Lydia
Aimee
Pantita
Eloise
Dylan
Connor
Lacie
Year 10 Alhambra Theatre for Creative Futures Day
Exploring Creative Careers at the Alhambra Theatre
A group of our Year 10 students recently visited the Alhambra Theatre for a day of exciting workshops focused on careers in the creative industries. The sessions offered hands-on experience in areas such as costume and set design, production, audition techniques, and directing.
The event featured appearances from industry professionals and well-known figures, including comedian Jessica Knappett and the writer of the Bradford-based drama Virdee . Their insights and experiences gave students a fresh perspective on the wide range of opportunities available in the creative sector.
The day left students feeling inspired, with many now considering career paths they hadn’t previously thought about—proof of the power of real-world learning and creative exploration.
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Year 10 Scholars Gain Insight at Deloitte
Our Year 10 Scholars had an exciting opportunity to spend the day at Deloitte's Leeds offices, gaining first-hand experience of life in a global professional services firm. The day was packed with engaging, real-world tasks designed by Deloitte staff, including budgeting exercises, town planning challenges, and creative content development. Students worked collaboratively to complete the activities and delivered their ideas through confident, well-structured presentations. The visit offered a valuable glimpse into a professional workplace, with students exploring the wide variety of career paths available within such a large international organisation. Being in a dynamic city-centre environment added to the sense of excitement and inspiration, making it a day to remember.
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
A Sunny Day of Discovery at Bradford University
On one of the hottest and sunniest days of the year, a group of our students had the fantastic opportunity to visit Bradford University. The day began with a warm welcome—ironically delivered in the cool comfort of a lecture theatre, much to everyone's relief!
After the welcome, students were introduced to a group of enthusiastic student ambassadors. These current Bradford students were keen to share their personal journeys to university, offering honest and inspiring insights into their paths. They were helpful, engaging, and full of energy—making a great impression on our students.
Throughout the day, our students asked some absolutely fantastic questions and were commended by the tour leader for their exemplary behaviour and thoughtful approach. Their curiosity and maturity truly stood out.
The visit continued with a chance to meet four professionals linked to the university. One of the highlights was Charles Wild, a lawyer from London who prefers to be called a barrister. This sparked some light-hearted confusion when a student mistook his title for a barista— perhaps hoping for a coffee demonstration instead of a courtroom one!
Another professional shared their journey from Utah to Bradford, offering students a glimpse into the global reach and diversity of the university community.
Students were then treated to a fascinating tour of the forensics lab and crime scene rooms, where they got hands-on insight into investigative science. The excitement didn’t stop there— they were also shown the anatomy teaching room, where a brilliant demonstration of the equipment left everyone thoroughly impressed.
And while the students explored the world of higher education, Mr. Martin had his own little adventure—catching a bus!
All in all, it was a day filled with learning, laughter, and inspiration. A great time was had by all, and we’re sure it’s a trip that will be remembered for years to come.
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
On 10th June, we hosted our annual Careers Fair for students in Years 6 to 11 - a highlight in our school calendar. The event was a great success, with representatives from a wide range of colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers, and both local and national employers in attendance. Our students made a truly positive impression, engaging thoughtfully with stallholders and asking insightful questions. Their enthusiasm and curiosity about future opportunities were clear to see, and we are incredibly proud of the way they represented our school.
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Year 9 GCSE Options – Graduate Fashion Show at Bradford School of Art:
Future Fashion Designers Visit Bradford School of Art!
In June, our Year 9 students who will be taking GCSE Textiles next year had an exciting opportunity to attend the Graduate Fashion Show at Bradford School of Art and what an inspiring day it was!
The students were treated to a front-row glimpse into the world of fashion design, watching the innovative collections of graduating students hit the catwalk. From eco-conscious streetwear to elegant evening gowns, each collection told a story of creativity, craftsmanship, and bold ideas.
"It showed me how fashion can be more than clothes, it's about identity and message," said one Year 9 student.
The trip wasn't just about admiring beautiful garments, it opened up a world of career pathways in the fashion industry. Students learned about:
Fashion Design & Pattern Cutting
Textile Innovation & Surface Decoration
Fashion Photography & Styling
Marketing & Fashion Communication
Four garments made by our current GCSE Textiles Fashion students at a university taster day in December were featured in the show. Amazing work by year 10s
Alyssa, Annie, Demi and Isla. Fashion stars in the making!
This visit gave our budding designers a real taste of what their GCSE Textiles journey could lead to from further study at places like Bradford School of Art to careers in a fast-paced, global industry.
We’re so proud of our creative students and can’t wait to see how this inspiration feeds into their own designs next year!
Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.
Student and parent support
In each newsletter we will have a focus on a service or services that can support our students and/or their parents. These services may be something we offer through the school or something that an external provider can deliver. If you have any questions about these services, please contact the school.
Looking to the future: Alumni appeal
At Appleton Academy we highly value our connections with former students. We like to celebrate their achievements and experiences with students, staff and the local community.
We would love to hear from former students and hope to be able to work with them, in the capacity of volunteer, mentor and/or inspirational speakers. If you are a former student and would like to be contacted about the possibility of working with us, please complete the form on the link below or alternatively