Academy Life Issue 25 2022-2023

cademy

Life.

Issue 25 | July 2023

Newsletter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL | P2 School Spotlight | P3 Journey to Head Student | P4 Prefects and Frozen Trip | P5 Theatre Trips | P6 Madrid Trip | P7 International Women in Engineering Day & Oklahoma Trip | P8 Teaching and Learning Roundup & Year 10 Rounders | P9 Sports Day | P10 Sports Day Continued | P11 Careers Update | P12 Rewards & Year 8 Rounders | P13 Inclusion and Diversity & Brilliant Club| P14 Revision Website & School Nurse | P15 Maths Quizzes | P16 Blooket Brain Teasers & Plus Summer Reading Challenge | P17 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY | P18

Resilience - Excellence - Respect

cademy

Issue 12 | October 2019 W

e l c o m

f r o m

M

e r s

Dear Parents and Carers

m

Colchester Academy

e s s a g e

B e t t s

cademy

As we draw this academic year to a close we reflect and celebrate the wonderful achievements of all our students and the activities they have taken part and thrived in.

Students, as always, have been working hard in all year groups and it is lovely to see how they have developed, from Year 7 to 11, students have not only progressed academically but also as rounded, fully fledged members of our community.

Newsletter

School attendance remains of the highest importance.

Evidence shows that students who have 95% attendance and above at the Academy, achieve above their expected outcomes. It also ensures students build resilience, the ability to not give up, even when they are struggling and are able to embed themselves into all that the school has to offer. In this issue you will see the wide variety of events our students have enjoyed and these are only some of what has occured this year. Our staff remain committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to get involved in numerous and varied extra curricular activities.

This year we demonstrated, during a two day Ofsted Inspection, that the school is good in all categories.

Ofsted stated “Pupils are happy and are safe. The majority of pupils meet the high expectations that leaders set. There is a supportive and caring culture in the school. Pupils appreciate the relationships that they develop with staff. Pupils learn to respect one another. Pupils benefit from a broad and ambitious curriculum. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils particularly enjoy studying Spanish, following leaders’ development of the curriculum. In addition to learning a language, this helps pupils to develop their cultural capital”. As you will see from this edition, many of these strengths are highlighted, as we continue to strive for excellence and ensure equality.

More News

On behalf of all my staff I wish you all a safe and happy summer holiday. We look forward to welcoming Year 7 students back on Monday 4 September and the rest of the school on Tuesday 5 September.

Have a wonderful summer.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE J

B etts

Mrs J Betts Principal

WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL | P2 MEET THE STAFF | P2 RECENT NEWS | P3 FACULTY NEWS | P4 CLUB PROGRAMMES | P6 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | P7 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY | P8

Culture - Character - Currency - Commitment

School Spotlight 2022-2023

In each issue, we pick the highlights from our school and students’ achievements on our Socials and share them here.

Here are some from this year.

Follow us on Twitter: @ColchesterAcad

Spotlight Event My Journey to Head Student On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Hello everyone, my name is Nancy Daddy, I am one of the current Head Students here at 11 Prefects are Year show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students who have been Colchester Academy, along with my amazing colleagues, Rida Khan and Connie Leggett. students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical before w e of h athe v erole b e e of n dbecoming o i nshow g i t their a l l , the atalent t Cface o land c h eof ste rdepartments understanding by relating learning to realhow experiences world. dedication in school. front of a Now live my This is my article expressing I…got the my own

audience from Years 7-9.

In the past our performers undergoing a rigorous A c a d e m y journey all started with one form which simply was about becoming a Prefect for your school The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process.

They and this had be completed bytest every pupil of my year, because my Year Leader wanted carried out aform range of datato collection techniquesLockdown to their hypothesis “Coastal management strategies at Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has been long and tiring. Sitting in front of a screen, day have a range of duties to effective”.

Weeveryone compared two sites, Thechance Naze Tower beach the Town Beach to ensure got the today show why they can beofthe great leaders for their year by dancers, and even some onstage magic! in out, and has been a burden on near all us, pier. including students, fulfil including lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has assisted in becoming a Prefect.

Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, at longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit ensuring CA have continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorousto collect data to test their hypothesis. Once back in the class room we have audition been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.given this opportunity, I made sure I had good reasons and motives as to why I should be When Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round ofbe rehearsals and meetings to ensure that picked to become a Prefect, but I always knew I never wanted to one as I had eyes on Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in becoming a Head Student, but becoming a Prefect first was always part of the process.

So, when persevering to collect all of the data. I would like to progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. special the mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such sure as the ‘chat Imake got agiven form I remember planning for days before and I made I knew what points I Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected wanted to send out for those who would be reading the form.

My favourite question amongst selected from within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new accurately and quickly. ingenuity, dedication and creativity.

Any type of the application the one, which was who yourinrole model why?

Which responses and developing ideas and is thoughts a different way. and A successful and fun form day out was was had by trickiest all! group of Senior Prefects. performance involves an element of risk, and our would be Martin Luther King because I believe he was one of the greatest The leaders equality path for to these Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, and he relates to me when it comes to believing how even a stranger could be family to you, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher

and before selected, they academy, have been forbiggest all learners. because we are all equal but different within theproviding hearts.‘live’ Helessons is my inspiration because he Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone anof interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual had a good heart for helping people out and also loving them, which is one the best qualities lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has ISome have.of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny also Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with more lessons onone aChildren’s daily basis; again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head Students was an extremely difficult to make.

Nominated for a CILIP Carnegie Medal, it won the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers.

After the application process was completed, my yearexcellent group stagecraft got given the news to ofdetail, who resulting got thein and attention 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion students are stillsaw figures above national as reported by thewhich Sutton Trust. role of Prefects a week after, during ourarelunch breakaverages, and when I entered theour classroom and

Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work

myself and all the other students that got picked, I was thrilled because not only were there so classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the many students, but there was also the best choice of students and from there was when I saw Many thanks all our performers, audience members and academy.

We know that whatever measures have been put in place Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye Marzell. online, it doesn’t make up for the who quality of toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special. we the best Team ofthe 2023/2024.

Thehave last event was a Prefect Google Meet with author, Penny Joelson, who gave usface some insight into her writing style lea

(lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut!

The same week we Assistant Principal found out that if we were interested in wanting to go for the role of

Something else

Mr Searl becoming a Senior Prefect, then we had the chance to.Head 11 of students were Performing Arts up for the challenge,

1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country including myself, because I believe “if you don’t try, then you’ll never know what you’re good took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly at” which is my biggest motivational quote, as I don’t know if that’s my role until I try and go crashed!

Author Visit

for it. So, I went through that process and we were asked to produce a short speech nominating why youvery should the role.

What qualities dothe you hold as a person?

HowClub. can you meet the We were proudget to have been part of the launch of first-ever National Teen Book needs of your school? And honestly, I loved the experience and I loved how I got to prepare my Mrs Hawkins speech and tell others what my intentions are. During my speech I was given the chance to tell Library Coordinator people about my personality and how I can help the school grow in resilience, excellence and respect by having the best Prefect Team supporting it. And to my luck, I was nominated as one of the students who had made it to the stage of becoming a Senior Prefect.

Then came the final stage which was applying to becoming a Head Student, which was the golden role for me. Myself and 8 other students went through the final stage which was a fabulous interview with Mrs Betts (Principal) and Mr Halliwell (Assistant Principal). Overall, this was my favourite application process, because it felt more realistic to me. When I walked into the interview room I was nervous but excited and when I left that room, I felt like the nerves were never there. It was, honestly, so amazing having to speak to them, because I felt listened to and understood by both members of staff and today I stand proudly in my uniform, knowing I am amongst the best 2023/2024 Head Students of Colchester Academy. Nancy Daddy, Rida Khan and Connie Leggett.

Thank you so much for reading my story.

Nancy Daddy

Prefects: Our Student Leadership Team

Realise your Potential with Make Happen Frozen Theatre Trip A fantastic night at Frozen!

On Thursday 13 July, 36 Key Stage 3 students went to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London to watch the magical Disney musical Frozen.

This term Year 7 students have had ‘The Bookbuzz Experience’. Bookbuzz is part of the BookTrust – a charity which aims to encourage students to The show was incredible, leaving many students and staff in read by providing them with their own books to keep. Here’s what some of tears!ourThe singing students had toby say.the cast was fantastic and a favourite

On Monday 21st March 2022 Year 10 took part in an all-day session of Jack moment was listening to Elsa singing the famous ‘Let it Go’ Petchey’s “Speak7O2 Out” Challenge. During this, many of us developed skills, Jasmine Switch-Up andwe seeing herwould amazing blue sparkly dress For appearing which otherwise not have known we possessed. example, during improvisation, confidence, independence andof perseverance.

At thea start To startThe our Bookbuzz journey welots watched a video containing review ofthe the song. set contained special effects thatofadded of thegroup books.I chose theto book SwitchUp about two girls who board we the session,each the year was asked complete a survey on how confident so much to the performance, including ice shards appearing same flight to London.

It’s the beginning of the craziest plan ever. felt before the session began, and at the end we were asked to do that again, out allowed of theus floor side the stagewe tohad turn theduring towntheof which to seeand how the much of anof improvement made Damiola 7H1 Animals Up Close day.

For most people, the most part of the session was the 1inminute Arendelle into a frozendaunting wonderland.

The costumes the speech you had to give on your own at the end, from which, people would be musical were and very detailed with sparkles Bookbuzz is agorgeous book company dedicated to getting books to lots Year 7of students chosen to compete in a large-scale public speaking competition, if they were for free.

I think Bookbuzz is a fabulous charity as I was not a fan of to bring the snow effect to life. Another great moment was willing to do so. reading. In class we watched a 24 minute film about the books and the

whenauthors a huge set of stairs appeared for Anna and Kristoff explained theice stories.

The activities we completed were interactive and entertaining, the skills that we to travel over.

The evening was a great introduction to learnt that day 7L2 can Little be used the workplace, and in our everyday lives.

Tristan Badin Man musical theatre forused some students, forpublic whom it wasand their Furthermore, they can be to support us in our speaking job first interviews.

The skills can help us get through those,ofwhilst presenting ourselves Bookbuzz hasahelped me a great deal. Instead me having to pay for a experience of West End show. book young (readingindividuals. is now one of my favourites) put it in my hands for as confident Therefore, if youBookbuzz ever have the opportunity to free. I highly could not thank Bookbuzz putting a brilliant book do so I would recommend takingenough part infor this, as it such will help you see a The students trip werewas fantastically behaved and it in my collection. part of yourself thaton youthe never realised there.

was a pleasure spending the evening with them.

Marleigh-Rose 7L2 City of Ghosts

Sanskriti Thakali I’ve always enjoyed mystery books so when I saw City of Ghosts I knew I Year 10 Student

Around Spotlightthe Event World in 80 Days On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

D r a m a T h e a tr e T r ip A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on

Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications.

In the exam students who have been O n 2 6 A are students p ril, asked I to oto k apply o u r Dknowledge ram a clu bto , co questions n sistin gbased o f 3 on 0 stu theduse en ts of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography.

It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical ran gin g fro m Y ear 7 to Y ear 1 0 , to th e M ercu ry T h eatre to departments before … w e h a v e b e e n d o i n g i t a l l , a t C o l c h e s t e r understanding by relating learning to real experiences of the world. show their talent and dedication in front of a live see an even in g p erfo rm an ce o f ‘A ro u n d T h e W o rld in 8 0 audience from Years 7-9. In the past ouraperformers undergoing rigorous A c a d e m y D ay s’ p erfo rm ed b y ‘T itled W ig Pro d u ctio n s’.

The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process. They carried out a range of data collection techniquesLockdown to test their “Coastal at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has hypothesis been long and tiring. management Sitting in frontstrategies of a screen, have a range of duties to B ased o n th e n o vel w ritten b y Ju les V ern e, th e p erfo rm an ce effective”. We compared two sites, The Naze Tower beach the Town Beach dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, and has been a burden on near all ofthe us, pier. including students, lunch w as a tellin g o f tw o tales; fact m eets fictio n as wand e learn th e and any other poor souls who has fulfil parents guardians, assistedincluding in Students profiles, counts, longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit ensuring students at continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching in cred ibcompleted le tru e stobeach ry o f profiles, fem ale groyne A m erican jo u wave rn alist N ellie BCA ly have Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorousto collect data to test their hypothesis.

Once back in the class room we have been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. w h o em u lated th e ch aracter o f Ph ileas in h er reco rd -b reak in g audition process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.

Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a trip aro u n d th e w o rld in ju st 7 2 d ay s! and supporting However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in Fo r m o st o f th ese stu d en ts it w as th eir first tim e visitin g a persevering to collect all of the data. I would like to progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special Hayleigh Jenkins flourish, ‘chat th eatre to seemention a live pto erfo rm an ce, fro mfor thlearners eir reactio n s especially with new features, such as theOur Head Students are function’ in the organising team in tog,ensure th ro u gh o uher t- gasp lau ghdata in g was an d collected th eir m u rm u red ‘w google o w s’, classroom. Such a function has enabled our selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly. it’s safe to say th ey w ere th o ro u gh ly en tertain ed an d en jo y ed ingenuity, dedication and creativity. Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior Prefects.

A successful and fun day out was had by all! group it im m en sely . performance involves an element of risk, and our

The path to these Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an Every stu dTeacher en t b eh aved im p eccab ly an d retu rn ed to th e D ram a rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography and before selected, they academy, have providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners.

C lu b w ith a sp rin g in th eir step , ex cited to em u late th been e Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual p erfo rm an ce tech n iqu es th ey h ad seen . T h e sh o w certain ly lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has cem en ted th eir p assio n fo r th eatre.

Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny also Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with lessons on aChildren’s daily again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year INominated lo o k fo rw ard tak in g o was u r stu dMedal, en t to it mmore o re difficult th eatre trip s in school’s Head an extremely one tobasis; make. for to aStudents CILIP Carnegie won the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers. excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9.

I hasten to add, these th e co m in g y ears, ex p an d in g th eir p assio n an d k n o w led ge fo r a confounding illusion students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by thewhich Suttonour Trust. th e p erfo rm in g arts. in a Google Students met online Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much deliberation, the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work

classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the M iss Selfe Many measures thanks all our performers, have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye academy.

Marzell.We know that whatever it doesn’t make up for the who quality of toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

D ramlast a T each The eventerwas a Google Meet with theonline, author, Penny Joelson, who gave usface some insight into her writing style lea

(lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Year 8 Promenade Theatre Something else Author Visit Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts

1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly This term in Drama the Year 8 students have been exploring the style of Promenade Theatre, this is where the crashed! audience walk around to watch a performance scene by scene, creating a more immersive experience. Within the scheme of work the students have been working on their ensemble skills, learning how to work together as We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club. a whole class.

Mrs Hawkins We have explored this style by telling the story of World War I whereby the first group were a family sitting Library Coordinator down to dinner then finding out the UK is going to war, the second group were soldiers signing up to the war, the third group explored life in the trenches then going over the top to fight, the fourth group displayed injured soldiers in a hospital followed by finding out the war is over and the final group performed a soldier coming back to their family.

The students of 8XPA4 have been outstanding in their dedication, sensibility and creativity. They have blown me away with their ideas of adding music, bringing in props, making props and even considering lighting.

Within the scenes they listened to each other, showed respect to one another and even complimented and encouraged each other within their work, ensuring to include the drama conventions and techniques that they have learnt in Drama so far.

I have been proud enough to invite Mrs Betts, Mr Elliott, Miss Edwards and their Year Leader, Miss Bull, to show off their fantastic work.

Miss Selfe Drama Teacher Message from Miss Bull - Year Leader As their year leader, it was a privilege to be asked to watch the year 8s perform. It was lovely to see a different side to some of these students, the fact that they had made such an effort to bring in their own props to support the performance, showed their dedication and commitment.

Thank you for allowing me to observe your performance and celebrate this with you. It is always a joy to see students achiveing so much. Well done!

Spotlight Event Madrid 2023

On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

Muchas Gracias!

students who have been students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical before … w ehalf-term h athe v e world. b e e n we d o itook nshow g i t their a l l , atalent t C o land cfrom h e dedication s t e rdepartments understanding by relating learning to real experiences of of a 10 live to Hello everybody!

During the May students Year in 8,front 9 and audience from Years 7-9. In the past ouraperformers undergoing rigorous A c a d e m y Madrid to get to know the Spanish culture and the beautiful places that the Spanish The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process. They carried out a range collection techniques to test their hypothesis “Coastal management atwith Walton-on-the-Naze are capital has oftodata offer.

Some of our days were very others a lot of rain. treated tohot guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, Lockdown hasthere been long and tiring.

Sitting in and frontstrategies of a screen, day have a range of duties to effective”. We compared two sites, The Naze Tower beach the Town Beach dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, and has been a burden on near all ofthe us, pier. including students, lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has fulfil assistedincluding in On our journey to thegroyne hotel, we were ableat to the Atletico de Madrid stadium and Students completed beach profiles, profiles, wavestudents counts, longshore drift tests, bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit ensuring CAsee have continued to be dedicated to their supervision, teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorousto collect data to their hypothesis.

Once back in the class room we been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. many oftest Madrid’s monuments.

We arrived athave theaudition hotel, which was spectacular.

During process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.

Once this list was decided, our the students engaged in a students and supporting our stay there, the students enjoyed the amazing breakfasts and also billiard table.

However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that the faculties.

Students team work and resilience, students for one the dedication resilience they have shownplaces in school’s The showed hotel excellent was close to Puerta del Sol, of theand most emblematic in the city. any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in persevering to collect all of the data. I would like to progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat

Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such athe function enabled organising her team to ensure collected The students weredata on was their best behaviour throughout triphasand onour all the guided selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly. tours they were very enthusiastic and quite curious, asking questions, especially on ingenuity, dedication and creativity.

Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior A successful and fun day out was had by all! group Prefects. involves an element of risk, and our the visit to Las Ventas (bullring). They were notperformance used to the fantastic cuisine that The path to these Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly Spain presents, with its jamonanserrano, croquettes or fried calamari, but they still appointments is rigorous, exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher tried it and many of them loved the have food. likedand thebefore mostselected, was the they academy, beenHowever, providing ‘live’what lessons they for all learners.

Highlights have seen 78% of the academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation and then undergone an interview with panel Our judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual Spanish McFlurry! lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the also seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an On ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. the last day we enjoyed a visit to the Warnerwas Bros Theme Parkbut where the students impressive enough, this was coupled with lessons onone aChildren’s daily again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head was anMedal, extremely tobasis; make.

Nominated for aStudents CILIP Carnegie it more wondifficult the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers. excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in

enjoyed every minute riding all the roller coasters. me, 11, of 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in YearBelieve 9. I hasten to add,they these were very scary, a confounding illusion which our students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by the Sutton Trust. but our students were very brave, even more so than the teachers!

The teachers also Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work enjoyed visit to the amusement park forforathemoment, we were classroom forthe our discussions.

We know we are alland, yearning return of students to the teenagers again.

Many measures thanks all our performers, have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye academy.

Marzell.We know that whatever online, it doesn’t make up for the who quality of face toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave us some insight into her writing style I would like to thank Miss Alvarez, Miss Moore and Miss Satterly who also went on the lea (lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mrtrip Halliwell and all the parents and students because they helped us in everything we needed. for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Something else

Mr Searl It will be a trip the students will never forget and I am very proud to have organised Head of Performing Arts this for participated them, theyindeserve they are the Itbest!

1,500 pupils the online it, interactive event! was the first time so many pupils across the country

took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly crashed!

Finally, as you may know, I am leaving the school so I would also like to say goodbye

Author Visit to all the parents, the students, the teachers and the school for giving me the

We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club.

opportunity to be the Head of Department and to be able to teach this group of Mrsfantastic Hawkins students, who are also amazing people. I will miss you all very much.

Library Coordinator

Adios Mr Lopez

International Spotlight Event Women in Engineering Day Event On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 I found that the opportunity to sit through the talk on Women’s show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students as who have been Engineering Day was truly eye-opening and inspiring it shows me that students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g being a woman shouldn’t have to hold me back from doing a job that nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to is essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical “manly” before … w e of h athe v eor b e“made e n d o for i nshow g ai tman” a l l , asuch t C oas land c hengineering. e dedication s t e rdepartments understanding by relating learning to real experiences world. their talent in front of a live audience from Years 7-9. In the past ouraperformers undergoing rigorous A cad em y The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students It was interesting tohave seemanagement the fieldsatthat were presented to us, sungdifferent to thestrategies audience, but this time we were selection process. They carried out a range of data collection techniquesLockdown toas test “Coastal management strategies at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a do, clarinetist, it their made melong realise the variety jobs that anyone could has hypothesis been and tiring.

Sitting inof front of a screen, have a range of duties to effective”. We compared two sites, The Naze Tower beach and the Town Beach near the pier. dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, has been a burden on all of us, including students, regardless of your gender. It additionally comforted me as it made me fulfil including lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has assisted in realise that my interest in maths and business doesn’t have to be Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, at longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit analysis to ensuring CA have continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a rigorous labelled a “business man’s” interest and instead, it could be anyone’s collect data to test their hypothesis. Once back in the class room we have been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. audition process, before being shortlisted for the final. small groups of younger interest. Overall, I think that this whole experience was encouraging and enquiry.

Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting I hopewethat more of these experiences canand becohort givenofto others around me, However, are immensely proud of our community frantic round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that the faculties.

Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for theyounger dedicationstudents, and resilience havehelp shown in school’s especially as they it may them realise that you can do any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in persevering to collect all of the data. I would like toanything progressing with Itput has been a mind real pleasure seeing our who you are astheir longlearning. as ayou your to it, no matter final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat regardless of your age, race, or gender.

Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly.

There and were a number ofand other schools inand attendance, ingenuity, dedication creativity.

Any three type ofof us responses developing ideas thoughts in a different way. of but, A successful and fun day out was had by all! group Senior Prefects.

topped the leader boards, winning the end of the day quiz, above all the performance involves an element of risk, and our The path to these Further to schools; this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with other Miss Kelly

By Sam Yuen appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher Sam Yuen (Winner) Year 10 student and before selected, they academy, have been providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners.

Rida Khan Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual Ashlee Ferguson lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny also Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with lessons onone aChildren’s daily again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head was anMedal, extremely tobasis; make.

Nominated for aStudents CILIP Carnegie it more wondifficult the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers. excellent and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Yearstagecraft 9. I hasten to add, these O n W e d n e s d a y 7 Ju n e M y s e lf, M is sfigures R o b sare o nabove , M r national H e rridaverages, ga econfounding a n dasMreported is s illusion N eby v ethe s to o k 4 0 Y e a r 9 , Y e a r 1 0 which our students are still Sutton Trust.

Students online when we came back school we were to use large After theLabove were fille athe appointments to work out! a n d much Y e amet r 1deliberation, 1 s tu din e natsGoogle to oClassroom n d o nstudents to wand a tc h th echosen m ufinally s ic ato l trying th tre s hto ow O k la h oof m aHead . Wable e Students. a rriv e d ain classroom discussions. weeare alldyearning return ofostudents thelly , th e p re m ie re fo r L e ic e s te rfor S qour u a re w ith p le n ty o f timWe e know fo r th s tu e n ts tofore the x p lo re . C in c id eto n ta Many measures thanks all our performers, academy.

We know that whatever have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye Marzell. th e T ra n s fo rm e rs m o v ie w a s ta k in online, g p la citedoesn’t w h icmake h c reup a te d a n e x tra b u z z a n d w a s e x c itin g fo r th e for the who quality of toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave usface some insight into her writing style s tu d e n ts to e x p e rie n c e . lea (lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell On e s tu d e n t in fo rm e d m e o f a n o p p o rtu n ity th e y to o k w h e n a s tre e t p e rfo rm e r o ffe re d th e ir m ic for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant to th e m ,Principal th e y s a n g fo r th e c ro w d s in L e ic e s te r S q u a re Mr w hSearl ic h w a s a fa n ta s tic e x p e rie n c e fo r th a t Head of Performing Arts s tu dpupils ent w h ic h g a v e th ta s te interactive o f w h a t it’s lik eItto b ethe a sfirst tre etime t p e rfo rm e r pupils in L o nacross d o n . the country 1,500 participated ine m theaonline event! was so many T h epart s h oin w aits e lf s e e m ePupil d to engagement e v o k e q u ite thfantastic e re a c tio–nthere fro mwere th eso s tu d e n ts w ith ththat e u sGoogle e o f nearly took book club. was many questions u n c o n v e n tio n a l c re a tiv e d e c is io n s . I w a s h o p in g th a t th e s tu d e n ts w o u ld b e s le e p y a n d q u ie t o n crashed! th e c o a c h b a c k to s c h o o l b u t th e s h o w s e e m e d to h a v e c re a te d a b u z z in th e s tu d e n ts a n d We were been of h the a lth o u gvery h I proud m y s e lftowhave a s tire d part it w aof s the a m alaunch z in g to e afirst-ever r th e s tuNational d e n ts d Teen is c u sBook s in g Club. th e s h o w th e y h a d ju s t s e e n , c o m in g u p w ith re a s o n s a s to w h y th e e v e n ts h a p p e n e d , s h a rin g th e ir fa v o u rite p a rts a n d Mrs Hawkins th e b its th a t s h o c k e d th e m .

Library Coordinator A ll in a ll it w a s a fa n ta s tic e x p e rie n c e e n d in g w ith th e s tu d e n ts p e s te rin g m e a b o u t w h e n th e n e x t L o n d o n th e a tre trip w ill b e ...

Oklahoma Trip

Something else

Author Visit

Teaching and Learning Round Up Spotlight Event 2022-23 On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students who have been T h is y eare a r asked has s e n t hknowledge e in t r o dtouquestions c t io n o fbased L e aon r n the in guse R oofufieldwork t in e s inmaterials t o a ll le s s oan n sunfamiliar a t t h e context.

A c a d e Fieldwork m y. students toeapply from is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography.

It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical L e a r n in g R o u t in e s h a v e b e e n in t r o d u c e d a t k e y p o in t s in t h e le s s o n , fo r e x a m p le , a t t h e before … w e of h athe v e world. b e e n d o i nshow g i t their a l l , atalent t C o land c h e dedication s t e rdepartments understanding by relating learning to real experiences in front of a live b e g in n in g o f a n d t h e e n d o f t h e le s s o n , t o e n s u r e t h aaudience t a ll le sfrom s o n sYears a n d7-9. t e aIn c h e r s h a v e t h e s a m e the past our performers undergoing a rigorous A cad em y fieldwork was Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students to gthe audience, but we were eThe x pKey e c tQuestion a t io n s of a nthe d fo llo w tenquiry h e sam e “How r o u teffective in e . W earekthe n o coastal w thave h a management t sung h a v in astrategies r o u t in at eselection m a this k e s time it e a s ie r fo r process. They carried out a range of data collection techniquesLockdown to test their hypothesis “Coastal management strategies at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has been long and tiring.

Sitting in front of a screen, seffective”. t u d e n t We s (acompared n d a d utwo lt s !) t o le a r n , a s t h e y k n o w w h a t is e x p e c t e d o f t h e m in e v e r y le s s o n , a s t h e have a range of duties to sites, The Naze Tower beach the Town Beach dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, and has been a burden on near all ofthe us, pier. including students, s a m e e x p e c t a t io n s a n d r o u t in e a p p ly in and e v guardians, e r y c la sand s . Tany h eother in t rpoor o d usouls c t iowho n ohas f tfulfil h e r oincluding uint in e s h alunch s a ls o parents assisted Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, at longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit analysis to ensuring CA have continued be dedicated to their supervision, teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a rigorous h a d t h e b e n e fit o f m a x im is in g le a r n in g t im e w it h in t h e le s s o n , e n s u r in g t h a t le s s o n s s t a r t collect data to test their hypothesis. Once back in the class room we have audition been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of p r o m p t ly a n d fin is h w it h a s h o r t q u e s t io n in g e x c h a n g e . enquiry.

Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in Spersevering t a ff h a v to e ccollect o m pall le tofe d a r a n g e o f p r o fe s s io n a l d e v e lo p m e n t t h is y e a r t o s u p p o r t t h e ir t e a c h in g . the data. I would like to progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make especially ‘chat T h is ahspecial a s in mention c lu d e dtoaHayleigh t t e n d aJenkins n c e a tfor n learners a t io n aflourish, l c o n fe r e n c e swith s u new c h afeatures, s R e s esuch a r cas h Ethe DOur in Head L o n d Students o n ; r e g ioare nal function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected eaccurately v e n t s sand u c hquickly. a s s u b je c t n e t w o r k e vteachers e n t s ato n dquestion in -h ostudents u s e Throughout p rino afedifferent s s io nthe amanner, l process, d e v eengaging lo p m students enew n t lefrom d showed b y within A c areal d eam y selected our Any all!e n tresponses group sAtsuccessful a ff. T o sand u p fun p o rday t t out h e was d e vhad e loby pm o f t e a cand h edeveloping r s t h is yideas eingenuity, a r ,and w ethoughts hdedication a v e in foacdifferent u and s e d creativity. oway. n q uof e sSenior t io ntype in Prefects. g of and performance involves an element of risk, and our The path toh ic these m o d e llin g w it h in t h e c la s s r o o m . TFurther h is istot o a llo w s t a ff t o a s k e ffe c t iv e q u e s t io n s , w h in fo r m this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an sGeography t a ff o f tTeacher h e le v e l o f u n d e r s t a n d in g s t u d e n t s ’ h a v e a b rapturous o u t k e y capplause o n c e p tfrom s a n an d le s s o n c audience. o n t e n t . S t a ff excellent and before selected, they academy, have been providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners. c a n t h e n u s e fu r t h e r q u e s t io n in g tHighlights o exp an d s t u d e n t k n o w le d g e o r r e t e a c h a c o n c e p t t o e n h a n c e seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, deliveredhave a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in u n d e r s t a n d in g . M o d e llin g h a s a ls olessons b e e nper a nday, a rwith ea o f fo c u s a s w e k n o w t h a t o n e e ffe c t iv e w a y o f winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading inoYear 9) magic itself le a r n in g is brecent y w a t years, c h in g and a s udue b je to c t the e x pquality ert co m pthe le t ecandidates, a t(both a s k fr m sdecision t afor r t ttheir o fin is h . trick.

S t would a ffThe h a villusion e b een witnessed in of the of whom become the seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny also Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with p e r fe c t in gfor d iffe r e n tCarnegie t ewas c h nan iq u e s tit o more su p p o rFCBG t sontone uaChildren’s d eto n tbasis; s a cagain, rBook o s s this aAward llhas s upeaked bfor je cOlder t ata 53.9% r e aReaders. s .in Year lessons daily school’s Head extremely difficult make.

Nominated aStudents CILIP Medal, won the excellent and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Yearstagecraft 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by thewhich Suttonour Trust.

Students online a nGoogle when we back toout! were After deliberation, fill appointments T h e Amuch c a met d em y h a sinc o tthe in u above e Classroom d t o students w o r kand w itwere h lo cchosen a l finally t e a cto htrying ecame r t the r ato inwork in g pschool r o v idwe e r of C oHead lc able h e Students. s tto e ruse T e aa clarge h er classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the T r a in in g C o n s o r t iu m (C T T C ) t o s u p p o r t t h e t r a in in g o f n e w t e a c h e r s . W e w is h t r a in e e s w h o Many measures thanks all our performers, academy.

We know that whatever have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye Marzell. h a v e b e e n p la c e d a t t h e A c a d e m y t h is y e a r a ll t h e b e s t in t h e ir fu t u r e c a r e e r s .

A n y online, it doesn’t make up for the quality of face to face teaching and staff who made our Spotlight event so The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave us some insight into her special. writing style lea p a r e of n ts / c a r enotes) r s in tand e r e stold t e d the in story a c a rof e ehow r in she teac h inonce g (p so r imimmersed a r y o r s in e c her o n dreading, a r y ) c a she n fin d locked fu r t h ein r a library (lots Post-It was got Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut! in fo r m a t io n a b o u t C T T C a t w w w .c o lc h e s t e r t t c .o r g .u k Assistant Principal

Something else Year 10 Rounders Author Visit Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts

1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly crashed!

We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club.

On Wednesday 25 May we took our Year 10 girls Rounder’s Mrs Hawkins team to a tournament at St Benedicts.

We came 6th overall with a fantastic win against Library Coordinator St Helena and a near miss in our final match against TLA, losing by 2 rounders.

The students involved were Chrissie-Mai Howard, Amber Tate, Nancy Daddy, Zala Sanaie, Tamzin Mitchell, Cheyenne Kennedy, Frances Balenaivalu, Precious Amadin Imafidon, Sam Yuen, Ellina Overed-Sayer and Rida Khan. Our player of the tournament was Nancy Daddy for her phenomenal batting and her ability to take out most of our team as well as a few others! We also received the catch of the tournament which was awarded to Precious!

Very well-done team.

Miss Jones Team Leader, PE

Spotlight Event Sports Day 2023

On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students who have been students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by Sports Day 2023 This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical before … w e of h athe v e world. b e e n d o i nshow g i t their a l l , atalent t C o land c h e dedication s t e rdepartments understanding by relating learning to real experiences in front of a live audience from Years 7-9. In the past ouraperformers undergoing rigorous A c a d e m y On Friday 30 June, after postponing for a day due to The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process. They carried out Colchester a range of data collection techniques to test hypothesis “Coastal management at day Walton-on-the-Naze are rain, Academy hosted itstheir annual Sports Day. treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, Lockdown has been long and tiring.

Sitting in frontstrategies of a screen, have a range of duties to effective”. We compared two sites, The Naze Tower beach and the Town Beach near the pier. dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, has been a burden on all of us, including students, This was the first time this event had been held since lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has fulfil assistedincluding in 2019, due to COVID and, therefore, had been highly Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit ensuring at CA have continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorousto collect data to test their hypothesis. back in theand class room we have audition been and analysing the data to conclude our studies. anticipated with lots ofOnce planning organising bypresenting the process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.

Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting PE department. In the few weeks running up to the event However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that Students excellent team work and resilience, studentstheir for the dedication resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. formshowed groups were busy discussing tactics and and any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in persevering to collect all of the data. I would like to progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our deciding who to put in for which event.

Students in some a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat

Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom.

Such a function has enabled our organising team to ensureperfecting data was collected formsherwere busy their techniques and trying selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly. to beat their best times and distances at Athletics Club, ingenuity, dedication and creativity.

Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior A successful and fun day out was had by all! group Prefects. performance of risk, and our in the hope of securing victory for their form on the day. involves an element The path to these Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher This year did not disappoint, with a have record number and before selected, they academy, been providing ‘live’of lessons for all learners.

Highlights have seen 78% of the academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation and then undergone an interview with panel Our judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual school records being broken. This is testament to the lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process was the most competitive the school has competitive edge and desire of individuals to do well for Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the also seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an themselves ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. and their form groups. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with lessons onone aChildren’s daily again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head was anMedal, extremely tobasis; make.

Nominated for aStudents CILIP Carnegie it more wondifficult the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers. excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion which our students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by the Sutton Trust.

Our Year 10 students really led our school, in both spirit

Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work

and competitive nature in their and Sports classroom for our discussions.

We first know we are alllast yearning for theDay return of students to the

Many thanks all our performers, We know whatever measures have been put in placeaudience members and atdone the Academy.

They and tookSkye allacademy. elements in that their stride Well to Daniel Johnson Marzell. online, it doesn’t make up for the who quality of face toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave us some insight into her writing style and although there were no records broken in this year lea (lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mrgroup Halliwell this year, their overall performance was incredible for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Something else

Mr Searl and they should all be very proud. Special mentions to Head of Performing Arts Elisa Neto who was queen thrower of the day, 1,500 pupils participated in the the online interactive event!

It was the first time so many pupils across the country took part in a book engagement fantastic so to many questions that Google nearly securing two club. gold Pupil medals in the was javelin and– there shotwere putt, crashed! our sprinting champions Simon Niedzwiecki and Trisha James who held down the sprint races and long jump We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club. competitions.

Author Visit

Mrs Hawkins Library WellCoordinator done to 10C2, hosted by Simon Niedzwiecki, Liam

Stevens, Aidan Darby and Harry Sugden for the boy’s relay race, marginally missing out on the school record by only 1 second, but showing excellence throughout with very smooth transitions at all four changeovers, when they absolutely annihilated the other competitors.

Spotlight Sports Day Event Continued: On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

Year 9 were also strong competitors this year andA had an array armyof of support from their form dazzling Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition. groups, who hadwas prepared banners and designed glitter stencils of their form names on The aim for the fieldtrip to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications.

In the exam students who have been students are askedThe to apply knowledge questions based on the use day of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context.

Fieldwork is an their faces. stand out to performance of the went to Evie Harding who won an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical impressivebythree in…the 100m, and twoinoffront herof before w e of h athe v e world. b e e200m n d o i nshow g i t their along l l , atalent t jump C o land c h ewith s t e rdepartments understanding relating gold learningmedals to real experiences dedication a live audience from Years 7-9. put In thein past ouraperformers undergoing rigorous performances breaking our previous records.

Elise Tallowin a strong A c a d e school my The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process.

They performance winning gold medals in the 1500m, breaking our school record and helping carried out a range of data collection techniquesLockdown to test their “Coastal at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has hypothesis been long and tiring. management Sitting in frontstrategies of a screen, have a range of duties to effective”.

We compared two sites,first.

The Naze Tower beach and the Town Beach near her relay team secure Grantas dominated the long jump, previous dancers, and even smashing some onstagethe magic! in day out, has been a burden on all ofthe us, pier. including students, fulfil including lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has assisted in school record with a massive 5.36m jump.

Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wave counts, longshore drift tests, bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit analysis to ensuring students at CA have continued to be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a rigorous collect data to test their hypothesis. Once back in the class room we have audition been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.

Year 8 were ready to impress this year and didn’tOnce disappoint. medals were quite this list wasThe decided, our students engaged in a students and supporting However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals andup meetings to ensure that evenly distributed in the morning, which meant the competition heated in the Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties. any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in persevering to collect of the data. I would like to pushing progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeingHowever, our afternoon withallcompetitors really themselves to the maximum. there a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat Our Head Students are was no doubt that the afternoon saw 8O2 strive for success.

Truly incredible function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected selected from within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new new accurately and quickly. performances came from Mirabirth Ohumende, who not only secured two school ingenuity, dedication and creativity.

Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior A successful and fun day out was had by all! group Prefects.

records in javelin and shot putt, but got a gold inperformance the 100minvolves race and led her relay team to an element of risk, and our The path to these Further to the attendance to lessons took of all students has been of performers those risks and were rewarded with victory. inthis, 200m with Benneth Eremeonye, shot putt with Miss Kelly Further records were broken appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher Joel West and long jump with Alex Neagu. and before selected, they academy, have been providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners.

Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, finally choosing Dylan Manehit and Evan Bament Well done to all of the Year 7 for their first Sports Day in high school.

You the ground of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process was the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for their magic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision of whom would become the running, number school records broken this year.

A special mention to Stevie also seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of with ‘I HaveaNo Secrets’ of

by Penny Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with more lessons on a daily basis; again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head Students was an extremely difficult one to make.

Nominated for a CILIP Carnegie Medal, it won the FCBG Children’s Book Award for Older Readers.

Wilson who secured two of those records in the 100m and long jump, showing a true excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion students still drive to excellence. Other record breakers Evie inwhich the our girls longare jump figures are aboveincluded national averages, as Cornish reported by the Sutton Trust.

Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work

and Finley Sutherland in the boys 1500m, obtaining the record with a very close 0.01 of a classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the second faster than the previous!

Many measures thanks all our performers, have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye academy.

Marzell.We know that whatever it doesn’t make up for the who quality of toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with theonline, author, Penny Joelson, who gave usface some insight into her writing style lea (lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library This year’s winning forms were: Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Something else

7L2 Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts 8O2 1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country 9L1 part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly took crashed!

10C2

Author Visit

We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club.

Well done to all students who participated in this year’s Sports Day, be it competing or supporting Mrs Hawkins members of their form by acting as coaches, cheerleaders, helping the PE department with measuring, timing and general running of the day which made it a Library Coordinator fantastic event.

Thank you very much, we can’t wait to do it all over again next year.

Miss Jones and the PE Department

Spotlight Event Careers Update 2023

On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students who have been students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical This year has seen another increase in participation of careers driven events and activities across departments before … w e h a v e b e e n d o i n g i t a l l , a t C o l c h e s t e r understanding by relating learning to real experiences of the world. show their talent and dedication in front of a live the school. Students are really showing great signs of ambition and an understanding of how to audience from Years 7-9.

In the past our performers undergoing a rigorous A cad em y The of the fieldwork was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were getKey toQuestion their chosen futureenquiry career. selection process. They carried out a range of data collection techniquesLockdown to test their “Coastal at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has hypothesis been long and tiring. management Sitting in frontstrategies of a screen, have a range of duties to effective”. We compared two sites, The Naze Tower beach the Town Beach dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, and has been a burden on near all ofthe us, pier. including students, We started our year with preparingparents our year 11s for their college applications in tutor time, they fulfil including lunch and guardians, and any other poor souls who has assisted in Students completed profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit then had theirbeach mock interviews, conducted by staff some of the national organisations such to ensuring at CA from have continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorous collect data to test their hypothesis.

Once back in the class room we have been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. as Peabody Trust and the NHS, as well as some of our audition best local organsiations, such as Ellisons process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. small groups of enquiry.

Once this list the was whole decided,school our students engaged in a Solicitors and our wonderful colleges and companies.

From here participated in students and supporting However, we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that our annual festival we sawfor yet inthey thehave number organisations faculties.

Students showedcareers excellent team work where and resilience, students theanother dedication increase and resilience shownthe inofschool’s any performances were stage-ready.

This culminated in persevering to collect all of the data.

I would like to varied progressing with their learning. It has been a real to pleasure seeing our in their joining us in advertising the wide and opportunities available our students a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat futures.

Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly. ingenuity, dedication andunderstanding creativity.

Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way. of Senior AIn successful and fun out was had by our all! Tutor group Prefects.

Skills for Lifeday Lessons and programme we have developed an of what performance involves an element of risk, and our The path to these skills the labour market involves, what wages are linked to what jobs, how to develop work-based Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, and how to apply for various roles. an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher and before selected, they academy, have been providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners.

Highlights have seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending have completed an application form, delivered a presentation then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual We have purchased Unifrog too, with the sole purpose of ensuring our students have everything lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has they need to peruse their life ambitions.

Unifrog is a comprehensive careers programme that Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the seento real dedication from our students with 51% university attending 4 or covers work,by careers, how into various professions, and quizzes to an ebook all of ‘Iaspects Have Noof Secrets’ Penny also Joelson, aget page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator. was impressive enough, but this was coupled with more lessons on a daily basis; again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head Students was an extremely difficult one to make.

Nominated for a CILIP Carnegie Medal, it won the FCBG Children’s Book Award for Older Readers. ascertain what skills and interests link to which jobs in the market.

There are also many podcasts excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in 11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these and webinars streamed throughoutfigures the are year, for students toasview in school and outside.

So still please a confounding illusion our students are above national averages, reported by thewhich Sutton Trust.

Students met online in a Google Classroom and when we finally came back to school we were able to use a large After much deliberation, the above students were chosen to fill the appointments of Head Students. trying to work out! do ask your children to login and show you around. classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the Many measures thanks all our performers, academy.

We know that whatever have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye Marzell.

We have continued to widen out links toit many universities, from Essex University and their online, doesn’t make up for the quality of face to face teaching and staff who made our Spotlight so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with the author, Penny Joelson, who gave us some insight event into her writing style lea amazing sessions and day events celebrating STEM and Computing, Anglia Ruskin programmes to

(lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell remove barriers to accessing further education and training, to Emmanuel College Cambridge for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Something else

Mr Searl University who are working very closely with us, to ensure our students know there is no barrier to Head of Performing Arts theirpupils success.

We also additional connections with such as Power 1,500 participated in have the online interactive event! It was thenational first time organisations so many pupils across theUK country Networks International Women’s Day in Engineering.

Wesohave also worked closely local took part in afor book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were many questions that Googlewith nearly crashed! organisations including Colchester United, who are very supportive of our endeavours and events.

Author Visit

We wereHappen very proud to have been part the launch first-ever Teenwell Bookand Club.

Make have continued to of support us of in the driving howNational to achieve reach goals for all

our students, but in particular this year Years 9 and 10, have had some highly interactive and fun Mrs Hawkins events, teaching them all about how to overcome barriers and strive forward, even when things Library Coordinator stand in your way of success.

We have had a number of meaningful work experience events, that develop work skills and an understanding of the work place. These have been achieved through events in school and the wide variety of trips and visits our staff have made available to students.

We continue to offer independent careers advice by our wonderful advisors from Directions, this theme will continue next year. In addition to this we have created a Colchester Academy Careers Newsletter, which is emailed to all students, parents and is published on our socials. In it are key, up to date, jobs, apprenticeships, events and information locally and nationally.

Next year we continue the theme of resilience; there is no doubt our students are highly ambitious; therefore, we will be continuing to develop skills to overcome hurdles and keep going when things get tough!

There has been so much going on this year, but next year will be even bigger, making sure every child at Colchester Academy knows what opportunities there are, how to get there and what support is available along the way.

Rewards 2022-2023 Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 had the privilege of attending a careers fair, here in school, where 30 employers and further education providers exhibited on Thursday 7th October, 2021. The event was designed to allow students to seek information from the various employers and colleges regarding their organisations, the jobs they seek to employ, the qualifications needed and the level of job satisfaction that might be on offer, should they choose to peruse that pathway.

It fantastic to be able to open our doors and create face to face careers event in school. The benefit of face to face conversations and information gathering was a huge benefit to our students. The interactions and questioning they were able to engage with, was priceless.

Students and exhibitors were very positive about the event and both gained much from those interactions.

All the employers who attended stated that the students at Colchester Academy were wonderful; they said they asked some very intuitive questions, were not afraid to ask challenging questions and sort as much information as they could, to help them make informed decisions about their futures. Students represented the school brilliantly and made us all very proud.

It was a privilege to create and host such an event, next year we hope to make it even bigger! It was a proud moment to see the high level of engagement in the activities. Well done to all our students, we hope the information you gathered will inspire you to aim high and seek to be the best that you can be.

Mrs Ross Assistant Principal

Throughout the academic year, students have been recognised for their hard work and commitment to academic achievement. This year, as with all years, the competition within each year group has been heating up as we head into the final week of the academic year.

Nineteen students so far have earnt their Gold Award, with a further 40 about to cross the threshold of 450 points. Badges and certificates will be awarded during our presentation assemblies on the last day of term. so look out for a new badge on that left lapel.

Realise your Potential with Make Happen

With the end of term fast approaching, we also see staff nominations taking place for students in one of the following four categories; Effort, Excellence, Most Improved and Community. Staff can award a point per category per lesson. Each year group has an award for each category, with a certificate and £10 Amazon voucher.

Bake Sale Next year we see a development in the rewards system. Watch out for subject rewards, as The Year students havecelebration been focusing onin working with others well as10an end inofCoPE year the form of an Awards Ceremony. this half term. The students have done lots of tasks and had lots of discussions about working as a team and what good team work looks like.

Kevin Stronach One of the challenges asked of the students was to ‘work with others to Assistant Principal

help raise money for a good cause’. The students spent the last 6 weeks planning, organising and researching how they were going to run the event and which charity to raise money for. Sarah, Hannah and Alfie did this with minimal input from the teacher and they came up with all the ideas themselves. The Bake Sale was a huge success and we must also say thank you to some Year 21 7 andJune Year 11 students baked treats for team the Wednesday saw ourwho Year 8 some Rounders Bake Sale. The 3 students raised over £114 for BBC Children in Need. Well attend a tournament at St Benedicts. done.

Year 8 Rounders Tournament

The students who attended were Holly Cole (captain), Miss Fosker Teacher of COPE Megan Cole, Lexi-Rose Master, Jada Obwoya, Milly Dale, Maisie Butler, Francesca Carveley, Layla Setterington, Mia Burgess, Iris Farmer and Zeba Sanaie.

The students played phenomenally well and showed drive and passion throughout. There were some really close games against TLA and Stanway A, that we lost by only 2 rounders! There were fantastic catches from Layla Setterington and Jada Obwoya, with the player of the tournament being Mia Burgess.

Well done girls!

Miss Akers

Inclusion and Diversity Update Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 had the privilege of attending a careers fair, here in school, where 30 employers and further education providers Texhibited h is y e aon r tThursday h e g o a 7th l o fOctober, C o lc h e2021. s t e r The A c aevent d e mwas y ’sdesigned I n c lu s io & Dstudents iv e r s it to y Cseek lu binformation w a s t o cfrom re a t the e avarious n in c luemployers s iv e to nallow and regarding ecolleges n v iro n m e n t –their a s aorganisations, fe p la c e w the it hjobs o u tthey p reseek ju d to ic eemploy, – w h the e requalifications s t u d e n t s hneeded a v e tand h e the o p level p o r tofu job n it satisfaction y t o t h r iv that e . S might u c c e be s s fon u lly offer, should they choose to peruse that pathway.

ra is in g a w a re n e s s o f d iv e r s it y w o r k s t o h ig h lig h t in d iv id u a l c h a ra c t e r is t ic s a n d t ra it s t h a t m a k e p e o p le ourredoors uIt nfantastic iq u e ratot hbeeable r t hto a nopen d if fe n t . and create face to face careers event in school. The benefit of face to face conversations and information gathering was a huge benefit to our students. The interactions and questioning they were able to engage with, was priceless.

Students and exhibitors were very positive about the event and both gained much from those interactions.

W e fe e l a t o u r s c h o o l t h a t y o u n g p e o p le n e e d t o u n d e r s t a n d e q u a lit y a n d h u m a n r ig h t s . T h is k n o w le d g e All the employers who attended stated that the students at Colchester Academy were wonderful; they said they asked some very intuitive hquestions, e lp s t h were e m tnot o uafraid n d e to r s task a n challenging d h o w t hquestions e y s h o uand ld bsort e tas remuch a t e d information a n d h o w ast othey t recould, a t o tto h ehelp r s . them W h emake n y o informed u p ro m decisions o t e e q u a lit y futures. us ralls tvery aabout n d ttheir each t h e s eStudents t o p ic srepresented , y o u c re athe t e school a s a febrilliantly e n v iroand n mmade e n t fo u d eproud. n t s t o c h a lle n g e , d is c u s s , e x p lo re , a n d fo r m la s t inagprivilege v a lu e sto, m o ra and ls ahost n d osuch p inan io event, n s . next year we hope to make it even bigger! It was a proud moment to see the high level of It was create engagement in the activities. Well done to all our students, we hope the information you gathered will inspire you to aim high and seek to be the best that you can be.

T h e s c h o o l a n d o u r I n c lu s io n & D iv e r s it y C lu b fe e l t h a t w h e n s t u d e n t s a re t a u g h t t o re s p e c t d iv e r s it y , t h e y Mrs Ross g a in k n o w le d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d in g t h a t c a n h e lp t h e m t o im p ro v e re la t io n s h ip s , t a c k le p re ju d ic e , a n d Assistant Principal m a k e p o s it iv e d e c is io n s t h ro u g h o u t t h e ir liv e s . I n t o d a y ’s c h a lle n g in g a n d d iv e r s e s o c ie t y , y o u m u s t in s t il y o u n g s t u d e n t s w it h p o s it iv e a n d o p e n - m in d e d a t t it u d e s .

M r H a lliw e ll

Realise your Potential with Make Happen

Bake Sale The Brilliant Club - Emmanuel College Visit The Year 10 students in CoPE have been focusing on working with others this half term. The4students have done lots a ofgroup tasks and of 10 students had the On Thursday May, myself and ofhad 12lots Year discussions about working as a team and what good team work looks like.

wonderful opportunity to attend Emmanuel College, at the prestige university of Cambridge, part of Science subject One of the challenges asked of theas students wasthe to ‘work with others to Brilliant Club programme. help raise moneyOur for a day good cause’. started Thewith students a tour spentof thethe last various 6 weeks colleges and the planning, organising and area. researching how they wereon going run the a event surrounding town We then went to to having tour of Emmanuel and which charity to raise money for. Sarah, Hannah and Alfie did this with College, its dining area, the library and student accommodation and social minimal input from the teacher and they came up with all the ideas areas. themselves. The Bake Sale was a huge success and we must also say thank you to some Year 7 and Year 11 students who baked some treats for the Bake Sale. The 3 students raised over £114 for BBC Children in Need. Well As the day progressed, we had a presentation delivered by the programme done.

lead, Kevin, where he spoke in greater detail about the expectations of the Brilliant programme and his experiences of life at Cambridge University, Miss Fosker which also extended towards other current and past students speaking Teacher of COPE about their Cambridge University experiences.

The main takeaway from the day was that your background does not matter, Cambridge University welcomes all people from different walks of life, and through hard work and determination, you will be welcomed with open arms.

Overall, it was an insightful and inspiring day for the students. Of the 12 students on the visit, 6 confirmed that they will apply for a place to study at the University and the experience itself had inspired them to do so.

Finally, I would like to thank Mr Herridge for driving us there and back on time and safely.

Miss Shiyanbola

Spotlight Event Revision Website

On Friday 4th March Year 11 GCSE Geography students spent a beautiful sunny March day visiting Walton-on-the-Naze.

A dazzling array of Colchester Academy’s talent was on Prefects are Year 11 show at our annual Spotlight competition.

The aim for the fieldtrip was to prepare students for the ‘unseen fieldwork’ section of Paper 3: Geographical Applications. In the exam

students who have been students are asked to apply knowledge to questions based on the use of fieldwork materials from an unfamiliar context. Fieldwork is an R e m o t e L e a r n i n g , L e a r n i n g O n l i n e , L i v e L e a r n i n g nominated by This was an opportunity for our young performers to essential aspect of geography. It ensures that students are given the opportunity to consolidate and extend their geographical before … w e of h athe v e world. b e e n d o i nshow g i t their a l l , atalent t C o land c h e dedication s t e rdepartments understanding by relating learning to real experiences in front of a live the past ouraperformers T h e C o l c h e s t e r A c a d e m y G C S E Ar ce avdi se imo yn w e b s i t e audience from Years 7-9. In undergoing rigorous The Key Question of the fieldwork enquiry was “How effective are the coastal at but Walton-on-the-Naze?”.

Students havemanagement sung to thestrategies audience, this time we were selection process. They hcarried a s b out een l a u n c h e d .

O n t h e s i t e , s t u d e n t s a n d a range of data collection techniquesLockdown to test their “Coastal at day Walton-on-the-Naze are treated to guitarists, drummers, singers, a clarinetist, has hypothesis been long and tiring. management Sitting in frontstrategies of a screen, have a range of duties to beach the Town Beach dancers, and even some onstage magic! in day out, and has been a burden on near all ofthe us, pier. including students, peffective”. a r e n t sWe c acompared n f i n d two : sites, The Naze Tower lunch parents and guardians, and any other poor souls who has fulfil assistedincluding in Students completed beach profiles, groyne profiles, wavestudents counts, at longshore drift tests,to bipolar evaluations and a cost benefit ensuring CA have continued be dedicated tosupervision, their teaching Our students applied to get onstage through a analysis rigorousto collect dataAtod test their hypothesis.

Once back in the class room we have been presenting and analysing the data to conclude our studies. audition process, before being shortlisted foryounger the final. v ic e a n d r e s o u r c e s fo r r e v is io n small groups of enquiry.

Once this list was decided,students our students engaged in a and supporting E x a m i n f o r m a t i oHowever, n we are immenselyfrantic proud of our community and cohort of round of rehearsals and meetings to ensure that Students showed excellent team work and resilience, students for the dedication and resilience they have shownthe in school’s faculties.

H i n t s a n d t i p s f o r s u c c e s s f u l r e v i s i o n persevering to collect all of the data. I would like to

any performances were stage-ready. This culminated in progressing with their learning. It has been a real pleasure seeing our a final show in theatre on Friday 26th November. make a special mention to Hayleigh Jenkins for learners flourish, especially with new features, such as the ‘chat

Our Head Students are function’ in the google classroom. Such a function has enabled our organising her team to ensure data was collected selected within Throughout the process, our students showed reala teachers to question students in a different manner, engaging new from accurately and quickly. ingenuity, dedication and creativity.

Any type of responses and developing ideas and thoughts in a different way.

A successful and fun day out was had by all! group of Senior Prefects.

T h e s it e c a n b e a c c e s s e d h e r e : performance involves an element of risk, and our The path to these Further to this, the attendance to lessons took of all those students has been of performers risks and were rewarded with Miss Kelly appointments is rigorous, an exceptional standard, especially when you consider we, as an rapturous applause from an excellent audience.

Geography Teacher h t t p s : / / s i t e s . g o o g l e . c o m / c o l c h academy, e s t e r a chave a d been em y . o r and before selected, they providing ‘live’ lessons for all learners.

Highlights seen 78% ofOur theand academy logging on and attending ghave . u k /completed c o l c h e s tan e r aapplication cad em yre v i s i odelivered n / h o m have ea presentation form, then undergone an interview with panel judges had a very difficult time picking anaeventual lessons per day, with this peaking in certain year groups to 82.9% in winner, was finally choosing Dylan Mane and Evan Bament of senior staff members.

This year’s demanding selection process the most competitive the school has Some of our Year 7 and 8 students have been participating lockdown Mini Bookwe Club Year 11, 79.3% in Year during 10 and 79.5% in Yearin 7. a Additionally, have– At Home reading (both in Year 9) for theirofmagic trick.

The illusion itself witnessed in recent years, and due to the quality of the candidates, the decision whom would become the also seen real dedication from our students with 51% attending 4 or an ebook of ‘I Have No Secrets’ by Penny Joelson, a page-turning thriller seen through the eyes of a unique narrator.

M is s E d w a r d s was impressive enough, but this was coupled with lessons onone aChildren’s daily again, this has peaked at 53.9% in Year school’s Head was anMedal, extremely tobasis; make.

Nominated for aStudents CILIP Carnegie it more wondifficult the FCBG Book Award for Older Readers. excellent stagecraft and attention to detail, resulting in A s s is t a n t P r in c ip a l

11, 55.5% in Year 10 and 52.7% in Year 9. I hasten to add, these a confounding illusion students are still figures are above national averages, as reported by thewhich Suttonour Trust.

Students metdeliberation, online in a Google Classroom and were whenchosen we finally came back toout! school weof were able to use a large After much the above students totrying fill the appointments Head Students. to work classroom for our discussions.

We know we are all yearning for the return of students to the Many measures thanks all our performers, have been put in placeaudience members and Well done to Daniel Johnson and Skye academy.

Marzell.We know that whatever it doesn’t make up for the who quality of toSpotlight face teaching and staff made our event so special.

The last event was a Google Meet with theonline, author, Penny Joelson, who gave usface some insight into her writing style lea

(lots of Post-It notes) and told the story of how she was once so immersed in her reading, she got locked in a library Mr Halliwell for 2 hours after it shut!

Assistant Principal

Something else Mr Searl Head of Performing Arts

1,500 pupils participated in the online interactive event! It was the first time so many pupils across the country took part in a book club. Pupil engagement was fantastic – there were so many questions that Google nearly crashed!

School Nurse Author Visit

We were very proud to have been part of the launch of the first-ever National Teen Book Club.

Come and see the School Nurse each Tuesday, Mrs Hawkins breaktime or lunchtime.

Library Coordinator Everyone can access this service, you don’t need to ask for an appointment!

You can talk about: Mental Health Physical Health Exercise Healthy Eating Relationships Sexual Health and much more.

Pop in and see what is available.

Maths Quizzes For July 2023

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 had the privilege of attending a careers fair, here in school, where 30 employers and further education providers exhibited on Thursday 7th October, 2021. The event was designed to allow students to seek information from the various employers and colleges regarding their organisations, the jobs they seek to employ, the qualifications needed and the level of job satisfaction that might be on offer, should they choose to peruse that pathway.

It fantastic to be able to open our doors and create face to face careers event in school. The benefit of face to face conversations and information gathering was a huge benefit to our students. The interactions and questioning they were able to engage with, was priceless.

Students and exhibitors were very positive about the event and both gained much from those interactions.

All the employers who attended stated that the students at Colchester Academy were wonderful; they said they asked some very intuitive questions, were not afraid to ask challenging questions and sort as much information as they could, to help them make informed decisions about their futures. Students represented the school brilliantly and made us all very proud.

It was a privilege to create and host such an event, next year we hope to make it even bigger! It was a proud moment to see the high level of engagement in the activities. Well done to all our students, we hope the information you gathered will inspire you to aim high and seek to be the best that you can be.

Find the next number in the sequence.

Realise your Potential with Make Happen Mrs Ross Assistant Principal

Bake Sale The Year 10 students in CoPE have been focusing on working with others this half term. The students have done lots of tasks and had lots of discussions about working as a team and what good team work looks like.

One of the challenges asked of the students was to ‘work with others to help raise money for a good cause’. The students spent the last 6 weeks planning, organising and researching how they were going to run the event and which charity to raise money for. Sarah, Hannah and Alfie did this with minimal input from the teacher and they came up with all the ideas themselves. The Bake Sale was a huge success and we must also say thank you to some Year 7 and Year 11 students who baked some treats for the Bake Sale. The 3 students raised over £114 for BBC Children in Need. Well done.

What’s the smallest number of moves you could take?

Miss Fosker Teacher of COPE

Family Quizzes For July 2023

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 had the privilege of attending a careers fair, here in school, where 30 employers and further education providers exhibited on Thursday 7th October, 2021. The event was designed to allow students to seek information from the various employers and colleges regarding their organisations, the jobs they seek to employ, the qualifications needed and the level of job satisfaction that might be on offer, should they choose to peruse that pathway.

It fantastic to be able to open our doors and create face to face careers event in school. The benefit of face to face conversations and information gathering was a huge benefit to our students. The interactions and questioning they were able to engage with, was priceless.

Students and exhibitors were very positive about the event and both gained much from those interactions.

All the employers who attended stated that the students at Colchester Academy were wonderful; they said they asked some very intuitive questions, were not afraid to ask challenging questions and sort as much information as they could, to help them make informed decisions about their futures. Students represented the school brilliantly and made us all very proud.

It was a privilege to create and host such an event, next year we hope to make it even bigger! It was a proud moment to see the high level of engagement in the activities. Well done to all our students, we hope the information you gathered will inspire you to aim high and seek to be the best that you can be.

Mrs Ross Assistant Principal

Realise your Potential with Make Happen

Bake Sale

J o in th e

The Year 10 students in CoPE have been focusing on working with others this half term. The students have done lots of tasks and had lots of discussions about working as a team and what good team work looks like.

Su m m er

R e a d in g C h a lle n g e

One of the challenges asked of the students was to ‘work with others to help raise money for a good cause’. The students spent the last 6 weeks planning, organising and researching how they were going to run the event and which charity to raise money for. Sarah, Hannah and Alfie did this with minimal input from the teacher and they came up with all the ideas themselves. The Bake Sale was a huge success and we must also say thank you to some Year 7 and Year 11 students who baked some treats for the Bake Sale. The 3 students raised over £114 for BBC Children in Need. Well done.

2 0 2 3 Summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Miss Fosker Teacher of COPE

Dates for your Diary Issue 12 | October 2019

Trips & Visits Colchester Academy

cademy

Friday 1 September

Non-pupil day

Sun 16 Feb

Year 11 Disneyland, Paris

Monday 4 September

Year 7 only

Tuesday 5 September

Whole School returns

Wed 26 Feb

Year 9/10 History theatre

cademy trip

Wednesday 6 September How to support your child with

Friday 22 September

studying at home Parent Event

Wed 11 Mar

Year 10 Stratford Field Trip

from 4 to 6pm

Thu 19 Mar

Year 10 Walton Field Trip

Year 10 Geography trip to

Tue 31 Mar

Year 10 Aspire GCSE STEM

Stratford, London Thursday 28 September Open Evening Friday 29 September

Careers Festival

Friday 13 October

Year 8 Maths trip to Science

Trips & Visits

Museum, London

Year 7 Residential 2020 - students can Tuesday 17 October July Year 7 Art trip to collect information letters from Student Gainsborough House Reception. Cost £190 (monthly payments Friday 20 October Non Pupil Day accepted) Friday 23 October

Half Term

to Friday 27 October Year 8/9/10 - South of France Trip Summer 2020 - £681 (monthly payments accepted) 7 spaces available. Students can collect information letters from student reception

Newsletter

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Colchester Academy A Different Story Hawthorn Avenue Colchester Essex CO4 3JL

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL | P2 MEET THE STAFF | P2 RECENT NEWS | P3 FACULTY NEWS | P4 CLUB PROGRAMMES | P6 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | P7 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY | P8

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