Pix Brook A cademy News

The summer term and the rou tines and processes necessar y for the completion o f one term and the star t o f ano ther are in full swing. It is interesting to reflect on the last few years and also consider ho w in some ways, schools are the same as we remember f rom our o wn time in school and yet also so different My recollections o f the summer term at school are o f endlessly ho t days, tr ying to write in boiling classes, cricket matches after school and the wait for the summer holidays to arrive. In that regard, schools are no different today than they were then (Although as I write we are still awaiting the endlessly ho t days!)

The next few weeks will include the usual end o f term activities, with assessments counterbalanced by trips and visits New classes will be created for new pupils and pupils who have no w been at the school for four years will be thinking abou t the next stage in their education where choices can be made and the impor tance o f all subjects ramps up

We look for ward to Step up day where we will welcome 180 new pupils and o ver 20 new staff The gro wth in the school continues unabated and it is bo th exciting and challenging managing so many new people into the school. For tunately we have a really strong body o f experienced staff who kno w our pupils well and have been instrumental in the development o f the school o ver the last few years

Looking ahead to the second half o f the summer term it will be great to see all pupils involved in our spor ts day that includes a huge range o f competitions and races, the sustainability visit f rom Willmo tt Dixon who will be working with our year 6 pupils, the year 7 end o f term trip, maths challenge, the completion o f the schools inaugural chess tournament, miscellaneous parents evenings and o f course the SATs results.

Having f ive year groups in the school means that PBA is a ver y different school f rom the one star ted by BEST in 2019. We have managed extraordinar y gro wth, mo ved f rom one small building to a really large school, sur vived the COVID pandemic and worked hard to create bo th the ethos and vision for the f irst Free school in Central Bedfordshire.

If this is combined with our position as an extended secondar y school that is also destined to transition to a secondar y school in the next few years it is clear to me why this school feels so different f rom the one I attended

Ever y year is so different f rom the previous one and any one o f these changes would be a signif icant challenge to manage on its o wn To be navigating so many, and to be thriving is a testament to the staff and pupils who come ever yday and work so hard and the parents who consistently suppor t the school in what we are tr ying to achieve: Educating the socially responsible citizens o f the fu ture remains our mission and we will continue to do all we can to make that a reality.

Enjo y the summer break when it arrives.

Steve Adams Principle.

To contact the Arlesey News Magazine please call 01462 731986

We star ted the second half o f the summer term with lo ts o f activities, trips, workshops, GCSE exams and various spor ting activities along with a variety o f enrichment oppor tunities across all years

Our Year 6 pupils enjo yed a day trip to the Warner Bro thers Harr y Po tter Studio, walking in the foo tsteps o f Harr y Po tter at Hogwar ts. Ever yone thoroughly enjo yed their post SATs treat exploring the wonders o f the Wizarding World and sharing the magic o f the studio tour.

Transition events have been taking place with visits to local feeder schools led by Ms Young and Mr Evason We are really looking for ward to meeting ever yone who will be joining our ETA community next academic year

We kno w this can be a time full o f excitement and or ner ves for those involved, it's ver y o ften a combination o f the two Often, we f ind this is eased by the children and families attending the various transition events we have scheduled to introduce them to Etonbur y and begin their journey into Secondar y education The next few months will be exciting for ever yone and we look for ward to welcoming our new star ters to ETA and suppor ting ever yone with their transition