OFSTED review
Les Misérables
A journey from good to outstanding.
Students amaze audiences with one of the Academy’s best performances yet! Pages 4 - 5
ASA TODAY
Issue 50, Term 6, 2019
The All Saints’ Academy Newspaper
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www.asachelt.org
Another great year at All Saints’ Academy By Mr McNiffe
• Second in the town of Cheltenham for overall GCSE performance across non-selective secondary maistream schools and academies. • One of the top three schools in Gloucester- shire for the overall GCSE performance of students who come from a disadvantaged background. • The only church secondary school in Gloucestershire with a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating. • The best Sixth Form in Gloucestershire for achievement in Applied Level 3 qualifications.
Principal
I am hugely proud of our young people at All Saints’ Academy and it is my pleasure as Principal to welcome you to this special edition of ASA Today. Providing an excellent education for all our students in order that they can succeed in their academic studies is the major focus of governance, leadership and our staff team in this great Academy. Each day you can feel the sense of purpose from all in our community to guarantee the highest standards in teaching, learning, discipline, care and support, with a passion to ensure we achieve them for all the young people who come here from across Cheltenham, and, increasingly, joining us from Tewkesbury. It is our success over the past three years at GCSE and A Level that has made us the only non-selective comprehensive school in the area to secure improved results since 2016. . This has happened during a period of major reform of the examination system at Key Stage Four and Sixth Form. For the past two years, we have been the second best non-selective school in the town of Cheltenham for GCSE achievement, second only to Balcarras School. In fact, we have actually closed the gap between ourselves and Balcarras by a Progress 8 score +0.3 since 2017. All Saints’ Academy is now recognised and admired as one
Above: Thank you to our outstanding Year 11 Leadership Team for their hard work this year of the established Academies in the area for sustained school improvement. Our aim now is to build on this academic success, and on our Good Ofsted achieved in this academic year, to ensure that all our students achieve outcomes at GCSE and A Level that are well above national average.
Open Evening
Our 2018 examination results showed: • 16% improvement in combined English and Maths • A 21% improvement in higher level GCSE Science results • Massive improvements for the second year running in Physics, Biology, Science Double Award, Geography, Religious Education, English Language, Literature and Mathematics • Four of our students who went to top universities three years ago achieved First Class Honours degrees at the top universities in the country
Tuesday 1st October 2019
6pm - 8pm
EDITORIAL
Issue 50, Term 6, 2019
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In 2019 we achieved our second ‘Good’ OFSTED By Mr McNiffe Principal
Not many schools achieve an Outstanding Ofsted judgement these days and it has become increasingly difficult to maintain a good judgement with the recent changes to the Ofsted inspection framework. As a consequence of this, an Ofsted inspection is a major focus for every school and we use it to underpin our school improvement so that we will become recognised as an outstanding Academy serving the young people of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. In 2014 Ofsted judged us as a ‘Good’ school. I knew as Principal that we had to build on this recognition to achieve better results for our students in order that we could consolidate this Good judgement in our next inspection so that we could then push on for an outstanding judgement by 2021. We are now firmly on that path. In December 2018, we had a full Section 5 Inspection that included a team of three HMI inspectors and one Ofsted inspector. This was unusual because an inspection team would normally have one HMI to lead the inspection. Due to our recent success since 2016 and our culture and ethos for excellence, we secured our second ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement. In fact, the lead
Above: Our student leadership team with our latest Ofsted report HMI for the inspection commented on how much we had improved the Academy since the last inspection. In my time as Principal of All Saints’ we have made the most GCSE improvement of any non-selective school in the town of Cheltenham over a period of massive reforms to the examination systems as well as significant changes to the Ofsted frameworks. We move forward as a successful Academy community to achieve a deserved Outstanding Ofsted judgement for our students, their families, and our local community.
OFSTED say:
• Outstanding Leadership • Outstanding spiritual, moral, social & cultural development • Exceptionally good behaviour by students • Students feel safe • The sixth form curriculum meets students’ needs exceptionally well to prepare them for their next steps in education, training or employment 2014
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Above: A Year 8 student working hard in Mathematics
Above: Chantae and Harvey amazed audiences with their portrayal of the Thenardiers in the Les Miserables this year
OFSTED say: All Saints’ Academy is an inclusive school. The school is calm and orderly during the school day. Pupils are polite and courteous. Pupils said that they felt safe in school. Pupils benefit from positive relationships with staff. They appreciate the availability of staff and the support they receive when needed. Teaching is good. Teachers’ subject knowledge is strong. Work seen in pupils’ books reflects the strong progress pupils make. Pupils are particularly effusive about the wide range of extra-curricular sports and arts in which they can engage. Participation levels are high. Staff hold fast to the school’s values and ethos which unite them in their drive to improve standards. 2018
Address: Blaisdon Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 0WH Phone: 01242 711200 Absences: 01242 711203 Email: admin@asachelt.org www.asachelt.org
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ALUMNI NEWS
Issue 50, Term 5, 2019
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Alumnus Jakub paves his way to stardom
Jakub as Mr Mushnick in All Saints’ Academy’s Little Shop of Horrors
Jakub took the lead role of Michael Dork in All Saints’ Academy’s Loserville
Jakub’s Year 11 Drama performance of Romeo & Juliet By Mrs Edgar
PR & Communications Manager Former All Saints’ Academy student Jakub Sprenger has been cast in a major new BBC production. Currently filming in Northern Ireland, The Children is a powerful drama depicting the experiences of the child Holocaust survivors who escaped to the Lake District following World War II. Up to 1000 children were granted the right to come to the UK by the British Government, following the close of the conflict. To recover from their horrific experiences, 300 of these children were brought to Lake Windermere for their first four months in the country, allowing them to adjust to their new lives surrounded by nature. The Children follows the
lives of these children and the adults who were given the responsibility of looking after them. Whilst studying at All Saints’ Academy, Jakub was actively involved in Performing Arts, taking Drama at GCSE-level and gaining lead roles in the Academy’s musical productions of Little Shop of Horrors (playing the role of Mr Mushnick) and Loserville (playing the role of Michael Dork). Jakub was known for his animated, confident performances and full commitment to his roles. After finishing his GCSEs, Jakub fought off stiff competition to attend drama school at BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy). Jakub will be starring alongside Hollywood names, including: Thomas Kretschmann (The Pianist, King Kong & Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider & Resident Evil) Romola Garai (The Miniaturist, Atonement & Suffragette) Tim McInnerny (Eddie the Eagle, Notting Hill, Spooks) Commenting on this fantastic opportunity, Jakub said “All Saints’ Academy helped me to understand myself and what I wanted to do. They gave me a lot of opportunities to train and show off my skills as an actor. I’m also really thankful for all the help I’ve received from my family the past few years, especially when I was still struggling with the English language they were always there for me. I’m thrilled about starring in this BBC film. Working on
Jakub on location in Ireland set with big stars is the best thing that could happen to a young actor, I have learnt so much from them about the industry and acting. They have always made sure that I was feeling good and supported by them on set.” The 90-minute film has been commissioned for BBC2 and the children in the production will be played by a cast of young European actors including Jakub. The film has been written by Bafta-nominated screenwriter Simon Block and is being directed by BAFTA winner Michael Samuels. It will include first-person testimonies of some survivors, whose interviews will feature in the film. The BBC has said that The Children will tell the “stark, moving and ultimately redemptive story of the bonds these children make with one another, and of how the friendships
forged at Windermere become a lifeline to a fruitful future.” Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, commented: “The Children promises to be a beautiful and powerful drama about a little-known part of British history. The refuge given in the Lakes and determination to give children back their lives so they could begin again is both deeply moving and humbling.” All Saints’ Academy Principal, Dermot McNiffe said “I’m delighted that Jakub fulfilled his dream to go to BOA to further his career in acting. To hear he has a starring role in a BBC film is testament to his dedication and hard work that he put into school. We are very proud of his fantastic achievement and look forward to watching his film on its release.”
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LES MISÉRABLES
By Harry
Year 5 pupil from Swindon Village Primary School
On the 30th January 2019, Year 5 travelled to All Saints’ Academy to watch a fantastic performance of Les Misérables made by the young, brave drama students from All Saints. The plot was set during the 18th Century French Revolution, with Les Mis being all about a young, innocent man who stole a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s children. Unfortunately, he was caught and became a slave. After 19 years of slavery, he was freed and became a successful businessman. However, Inspector Javery was jealous of Jean Valjean so tried to put him back into slavery. The performance was marvellous throughout the play and I think that it was very well practised. All of the young characters acted brilliantly. The one that stood out for me was the actor who played Jean Valjean as he had lots of songs to practice and I think he absolutely nailed his role in the wonderful musical. The set was outstanding, especially the barricade as it was very authentic and detailed. Also, the background gave the show a realistic effect. The costumes were appropriate and suited the amazing musical. However, the lady with twigs in her hair had them whilst she was wearing poor clothes but also whilst she was wearing rich clothes. I enjoyed the performance very much and the singing was simply great. I would definitely recommend this superb musical to anyone aged 10 or over. I give it a confident five-star rating and I’m sure that adults, teenagers and children alike would love to see this performance.
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www.asachelt.org
Issue 50, Term 5, 2019
Pupils from Swindon Village Primary kindly reviewed our production of Les Misérables The musical is set against the backdrop of 19th century France and tells an enthralling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. Featuring the famous songs ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own’, ‘Bring Him Home’ and ‘One Day More’ this production was one not to be missed! Talented students auditioned for parts at the beginning of October and rehearsed for 3 and half months to give the most phenomenal sell out performances on Thursday 31st January, Friday 1st February and Saturday 2nd February 2019.
In this play the actors did an incredible job of being so natural when walking onto the stage, Jean Valjean did an amazing job of speaking in the right tone at the right time. The actor playing the inn landlord was perfect at using hand actions to the tune of the songs. The crew that did the stage and the lighting were very good and alert so after someone had finished a scene they would quickly get on the stage and get the play props off the stage and put the new equipment on the stage rapidly. The lighting and the sound effects were timed perfectly the gun shots were also 100% on time. By Jack, Y5, Swindon Village Primary
The standard of the student’s acting was extraordinary. The ‘master of the house’, played by Harvey, was very humorous with multiple cheeky lines that followed his ridiculous-looking dancing! He brought energy and joy to the whole performance. As soon as Harvey entered, the whole mood changed to a jovial atmosphere.
The actors, who were very well rehearsed, made a spectacular show on the 30th. Even though there were technical difficulties, the cast kept going and sang their hearts out. The students of All Saints’ Academy – especially the innkeeper were very realistic and really took on the role of their character. Everyone who performed was very professional. The stage and lighting was spectacular, they dimmed the lights at appropriate times and also at one point, changed the colour to red.The stage was very convincing; the colour of wood was faded and it looked very old.The lights were usually focused on the main character of that scene.
By Ella, Y5, Swindon Village Primary
By Hannah , Y5, Swindon Village Primary
Issue 50, Term 6, 2019
SPIRITUALITY www.asachelt.org
‘Live life to the full’ By Mr McNiffe Principal
Our Mission Statement written by the Diocese of Gloucester and the Catholic Diocese of Clifton breathes the purpose of our work to support our young people and local community. At the heart of All Saints’ Academy is the belief that Christ is at the centre of all we do and are. Rooted in His teaching, we seek to fulfil in every member of our community their full potential so they are able to ‘live life to the full’ (John 10:10) and recognise that they are called to use their gifts and talents for the benefit of all. We seek to do this by: • providing a safe and secure environment where faith, prayer, compassion and reconciliation are visible in word and in action; • providing an excellent education
By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain
As well as being here for all students and staff and accompanying them on their spiritual journey, I also have a special responsibility for our Roman Catholic students. This entails having close links with the Catholic parishes and clergy and arranging for sacramental worship here at the Academy. Mass is celebrated every half term and on Holy Days of Obligation for the students who wish to attend. Students take part in the readings and compose and read the bidding prayers, carry the gifts in the offertory procession and serve at the Mass. The music department provides the music and we sing a variety of hymns old and new. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered during the season of Lent and students are encouraged to receive it. We have our annual evening Mass for the dead celebrated during November during which all deceased members of the Academy and predecessor school communities are remembered. On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul parents were invited to attend the celebration of Mass with their young people and refreshments were served afterwards. Our students have been invited to par-
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John 10:10
with a broad, balanced and creative curriculum which will allow everyone to discover their potential and to develop and share their unique talents; • providing opportunities for all to be nourished and challenged both academically and spiritually in their respective beliefs; • respecting and valuing the diversity of all, believing that everyone is created as a unique individual in the image of God; • building a resilient community able to reach out and support others, both locally and globally; • modelling through the Academy’s policies, practices and values a concern to serve the common good, a heart for justice, a desire for reconciliation and the need to protect and sustain the environment. Our Christian belief is to see the face of God in everyone and our Christian values provide the prompts for us to live out our Christian values during our daily lives in the Academy and outside in the local community.
ticipate in Masses in the local parishes and recently two of our students represented the Academy by reading at the Mass of Thanksgiving following the renovations at St Gregory’s Church. In March, I, together with our Anglican Chaplain attended the CYMFED Flame Conference at Wembley Arena accompanied by a group of students. This event is the largest gathering of Catholic young people in the UK and takes place every two years. This year’s theme was #Significance and the strong message conveyed was that each one of us, created by God has individual importance and worth, we are significant. We also provide opportunities for our students to become involved with charity work and currently we have Year 10 students taking part in the CAFOD Young Volunteers Programme, the aim of the programme is to work with young people, exploring how they, using their God given gifts and talents they can work towards making our world a better, fairer and more just place, showing them that as young people they can make a difference. The role of Chaplain is varied and extremely rewarding; it allows me to walk alongside our young people helping them explore their faith, ask questions and discern how they can use the gifts God has given them in His service and the service of others.
Above: All Saints’ at the Flame Conference at Wembley
By Mr Pinless
Anglican Chaplain RE Teacher As a faith Academy under the direction of the Diocese of Gloucester, we believe that faith should lie at the heart of our Academy. The vison of Gloucester Diocese is based upon the teaching of Jesus when he said he had come to bring life in all its fullness. This is also a foundational belief for All Saints’ Academy, where we strive to ensure that all we do brings about fullness of life. As such, we believe that regular reflection and prayer is key in assessing our own place in the world. In Meet, Greet and Pray, we pause each morning and afternoon to reflect on our lives and our spiritual journeys for those of faith and for those without faith. It is times like these we think about our place within the wider school community and reflect on how we can as individuals who live out our core Christian values of Respect, Love, Service, Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. As a faith school, we believe in developing strong links between our schools and other partners in faith within the Cheltenham area. This is displayed in our connections with other schools in the area through our participation in the Good Shepherd Project that was instituted with the diocese education department. Through this project we investigated what it is be part of a wider community in regards to Christian education. It encouraged us as a school to consider how all faith schools can work together and consider how we all follow the example of Jesus, the good shepherd, in our settings. As a chaplaincy, we believe that we are called to the service of
Above: The Tanzania 2020 team with Madame Rose and the Rt Revd Sadock both students and staff. To this end, each week we serve a coffee morning for our staff so that they themselves can experience a small token of esteem and Christian gratitude for the hard work they do. Each fortnight, we also celebrate Communion in the school chapel. This is a fantastic way to start the day in quiet reflection and is open to students and staff alike. Local members of the clergy come to lead these services and it is a brilliant way to develop links with local churches. Our links with the diocese also extend beyond our school walls and as such the school has been involved a number of wider diocese activities over the previous few years. A large project, spearheaded by Bishop Rachel of Gloucester, is the ‘Liedentity’ project which seeks to address the problem of self-image and selfidentity amongst teenagers. Our students have been involved from the outset with meetings with the Bishop, press releases and interviews, attendance at the launch conference and also in developing an innovative
schools’ resource with a local creative media and advertising company. In recent years, the Academy has also had a place and been represented at the annual festival and services of remembrance at Cheltenham town Hall and Gloucester Cathedral. At both places we were invited to contribute to the programmes by creating original prayers, readings and poems that were used within the corporate worship of those events. We were the only school to enjoy such a privilege and it underlines the esteem that the school is held in by the wider diocese. Our Tanzania link also ensures a link that extends beyond the shores of the UK and through a partnership developed by the diocese many students have the opportunity to engage in a mission trip to Tanzania. We are now in the process of organising our third trip to Tanzania, scheduled for 2020 and just this year have the opportunity to host a number of Tanzanian teachers and staff to the UK as part of developing an ongoing reciprocal partnership.
Issue 50, Term 6, 2019
NEWS www.asachelt.org
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Fundraising for Tanzania 2020 By Miss Morley
Head of Health & Social Care Our Tanzania 2020 team have been busy fundraising for their trip with a sponsored triathlon on the 11th July. They rowed the width of Lake Tanganyika (72km), cycled the width of Arusha National Park (137km) and walked the width of Mount Kilimanjaro (40km). This is our first group fundraising task; every person going on the trip has a fundraising target of £500 to make before Christmas to help go towards our overall target of £34,000 in order to send 12 students and 4 staff to Tanzania for 3 weeks in the summer of 2020. This will be the third trip that we have run from All Saints’ and each year we continue to build on the relationships we make there. It was exciting to have Madame Rose and the Rt Revd Sadock from Tanzania come and visit us in April this year. They met our team and were bowled over by everything we did here in England. Madame Rose and the Rt Revd Sadock are teachers at Bishop Makaya High School, which is the school that the first team went to help build back in 2014. They have now started recruiting
Above and right: Students and staff taking part in the triathlon fundraiser students for the school. We are hoping that when we go over in summer 2020 it will be close to being finished so we can help put up displays as that was one thing that the Tanzanian teachers were particularly impressed with at All Saints’ as they don’t have those in Tanzania. We will be doing lots of arts and crafts this time which will be good fun. Hopefully, the school will open whilst we are over there. We can then
help teach at the school. This would be amazing as it will bring us full circle from when we helped build the school. Madame Rose and the Rt Revd Sadock are looking forward to hosting us again, so this a real starting point for us now in terms of our fundraising. The next big group event will be around Christmas time, we will be attending a lot of craft fairs, refreshments at pantomimes and Christmas fairs.
We will also have lots of independent events run by students, for example, last week one of the students put on a car wash at Wentworth Court. It was really successful and we raised about £100 straight away which was great. Any donations would be very welcome and there are a few ways you can help support us: • A cheque to All Saints’ Academy with a letter explain-
• • •
ing that you wish to support the Tanzania 2020 fund Attend one of our fundraising events Sponsor our t-shirts or equipment if you run or work for a business If you would like any more information about how to help us with our Tanzania mission please do get in touch via: dmorley@asachelt.org
Students perform at Chelteham Music Festival in the community opera By Mrs Edgar
PR & Communications Manager
This year, a number of our students have had the fantastic opportunity to work with Cheltenham Festivals on a community arts project alongside professional writers, composers and directors to create a Community Opera called ‘Across The Sky’ which premiered at the Cheltenham Music Festival on Sunday 14th July at the Cheltenham Town Hall. A lot of different students have been involved throughout different stages of the project. English and Drama students worked with the writer, Miranda Walker, in helping to write the story. Gifted Music and Drama students worked alongside the composer, Michael Betteridge, in writing lyrics and composing melodies and rhythms. A final group of students attended workshops on performing with the director, Bryn Holding. On Sunday 14th July, a group
of thirty All Saints’ Academy students sang as part of a chorus for the the community opera alongside professional opera singers and primary pupils from Hester’s Way and St Thomas More. They performed to two sell out audiences at the Cheltenham Town Hall on the last day of the Cheltenham Music Festival. The students involved in the project learned so much during the process and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help write and star in such a fantastic production.
Above: Students ready for their final performance at the Cheltenham Town Hall for the Cheltenham Festivals Across the Sky opera
Open Evening Tuesday 1st October 2019 6pm- 8pm
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All Saints’ Academy, Blaisdon Way, Cheltenham. GL51 0WH