King's Lynn Academy | Newsletter Autumn 2016

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2016

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06/12/2016 09:01

Welcome This has been a long Autumn term, as well as an incredibly busy one! I would first like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the staff at King’s Lynn Academy for their hard work and dedication for ensuring that KLA is a great place to come and learn for all our students.

Year 11 have recently completed their first set of mock GCSE exams and they are fast realising that they are by no means straight forward and there is a lot of hard work ahead over the next 8 months. Departments are again offering after school sessions for revision and I am certain that the uptake of these sessions will increase after the Christmas break. There will be further intervention during the February half term and a ‘Help & Support evening’ for parents in preparation for the second set of mocks. I am certain that Year 11 will come back after the break fully recharged and ready for the hard work ahead!

The students at KLA have again been given a number of exciting events this term. This has included sporting fixtures, Maths mastermind, a trip to Leicester Tigers rugby club, a theatre trip to see ‘The Railway Children’ & a Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition to name a few. Again, this would not be possible without the staff at KLA providing these opportunities.

I would also like to say thank you to both the school Governors and Parent Voice for their support. I really do appreciate their honesty and feedback in helping to ensure that all children are able to have the best possible experience at KLA. I hope you all have a restful break and I look forward to seeing you in the Spring term.

Best wishes and a Happy New Year to you all

Barney Rimmer Head of School

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It has been a great start to the year for Student Commission at King’s Lynn Academy. So far, they have been involved in their learning walks and welcoming prospective students and their parents during the Open Days and Evening. As usual there were many fantastic comments from both staff and visitors about their work.

Recently an assembly was held in order to introduce the Year 7s to Student Commission and to open the application window for this term.

We had a large amount of students who were interested, several of whom have now applied. In the coming weeks interviews will be held so that before we break up for Christmas we will have some brand new, enthusiastic members of the Commission.

In September, Harvey Luker (Year 11) the local Member of Youth Parliament, once again championed the Make Your Mark Campaign.

Each year the UK Youth Parliament ask young people across the country to vote for the issues that are important to them, to help them decide what to debate in their session at the Houses of Parliament in November.

Harvey was determined to get the young people of King’s Lynn involved. Students from King’s Lynn Academy, King Edward VII Academy and Springwood Sixth form, as well as many other individuals, cast their ballots in September and the results were collated by Harvey and a team of fellow students. The

issues which the students at KLA decided were the most important to them were “A curriculum to prepare us for life” and “Stop cuts to the NHS”. The National debate was held in November and it was decided that “A curriculum to prepare us for life” should be the main campaign issue of the UK Youth Parliament for the next 12 months.

We are really proud of the hard work Harvey put into this campaign and are pleased to announce that he came 50th out of 1000 Make Your Mark champions in terms of the amount of votes that were collected with 1,600 ballots. He should be really proud and we look forward to using the KLA results to shape some of our provision in the future.

m o C mis t n e sio d u n St

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06/12/2016 09:01

REWARDS We celebrated our first reward assemblies of this term. We started with KS4, our Head Girl Kaitlyn Senter started the assembly off by reading out the names of the students who worked hard to be in the top 100.

Well done to them all, they all received a high street voucher.

The top student for KS4 and the whole school was Tamazin Bacon Y10 Cresswell House with a fantastic 168 points well done.

Cresswell was presented with the Behaviour Trophy in both KS3 and KS4 assembly. The Attendance Trophy was presented to Nelson for achieving 94.9%, this was also presented in both assemblies.

For the KS3 assembly KLA invited Mr Hill from Howard Junior to help award the prizes.

KLA’s Kaitlyn Senter read out the names of the students who were in the top 100.

Well done to all the students who received a high street voucher.

A special mention to Jack Dixon who was top for MacArthur House with 123 reward points, Erin Curl top for Nelson House with 106 reward points and Noah Partridge top for Vancouver with 103 reward points.

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The Endeavour Trophy KLA have a new trophy to present this year called the Endeavour Trophy, this will be presented to a student at the end of every half term.

It will be presented to the student who has made the most effort to change the way they work or who always tries to display 110%. KS4 received 7 nominations for this award, here are the names, Isabella Thurnell, Tamazin Bacon, Harvey Cross, Reece Maddern, Jasmine Reeve, Alexander Palmer-Silcock and Phoenix Booty. The nominations from KS3 were, Christopher Warren and Kaiden Lane. Congratulations to all students.

I had the great pleasure of announcing the first winner of this new award. Christopher was the lucky winner. He was nominated by Miss Barber from English for consistently trying his hardest, really appreciates feedback and uses it to improve his work.

Mrs Thomas

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IF CHLOE CAN...

Year 9 students were treated to a special performance of ‘If Chloe Can’ on 7 October by the National Youth Theatre.

The production explores issues that can arise around exams, anxiety, career confusion and issues at home. There is a half-time interval in which a panel of four, led by Esther McVey - broadcaster and former MP, answer questions from the room on how they got to where they are now.

Esther set up the ‘If Chloe Can’ charity and the ‘You Can Do It’ school programmes, to provide career support and an array of role models for students to meet, read about and find out about.

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She feels very passionately about ensuring students know their options and said: “Pupils weren’t meeting people from similar backgrounds to themselves who’d gone on to achieve their career goals, so I set about changing that.”

Paul Roseby, CEO and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre sat on the halftime panel. He grew up in Dersingham and as a teenager, made the decision to follow his dreams by leaving Norfolk and volunteering at the National Youth Theatre, in London. He told the students to “never take no as an answer”.

06/12/2016 09:01

CINDY MCLEISH AWARD Cindy McLeish is a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and Assistant SENCO, working closely with students who have difficulties in areas of literacy. Earlier this year she was nominated as HLTA of the year. She is an amazing support to staff and students alike; her never-ending enthusiasm for young people is an inspiration to us all.

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Mrs McLeish was nominated for HLTA of the year, for her work with a Y11 student with Special Educational Needs. The student was supported by her in his GCSE English lessons. Her patience, support and compassion for the student’s needs helped him to believe in himself. On the day of his English exams, she met him by the front door to reassure him before walking him to his exam.

Unsurprisingly Mrs McLeish won the award for the Eastern Region and was invited to London for a national ceremony.

Congratulations to a fantastic colleague!

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING What a great morning, the atmosphere was buzzing. The cakes looked sensational, KLA students had been busy baking in school. The students supported by wearing something green and donating £1.00 plus buying cakes at break time. This is our fourth coffee morning and everyone is always so generous, I cannot thank you all enough. Our raffle was a great success, first prize was Tea for Two at the Bank House and was won by Jack Defty!

KLA RAISED £1,102

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06/12/2016 09:01

ATTENDANCE THERE ARE

175

NON-SCHOOL

DAYS FOR HOLIDAYS,

ATTENDANCE

MATTERS ON TIME. FIRST TIME.

EVERY TIME.

£60

F I X E D F I N E PER CHILD PER PARENT FOR UNAUTHORISED HOLIDAY

STUDENTS WITH GOOD ATTENDANCE

248 O F

OUTINGS +

APPOINTMENTS

448

For your child to progress to their full potential, it is essential that they attend on time, first time, every time.

With our expertise and your support, we can work together to shape our students into enterprising young people.

With good attendance at King’s Lynn Academy, their learning really does have no limits.

T H O S E

H AV E 1 0 0 % ATTENDANCE

2 FAMILIES

FAST-TRACKED TO PROSECUTION

FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

Keep up to date with us on our website kingslynnacademy.co.uk Why not follow us on Twitter

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06/12/2016 09:01

HOUSE NEWS HOUSE NEWS HOUSE NEWS

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elson

Last term Nelson students learnt about the reasons behind their House name and were given the opportunity to put forward their ideas for a House charity. Many students came forward with suggestions, several with quite moving reasons why they wanted to support a named charity. The charity that we decided to go with is the British Lung Foundation. Information about this charity can be found at https://www.blf.org.uk/. So far we have raised £112.75 for the charity from our first non-uniform day. We will continue to hold non-uniform days and events throughout the year to raise money. The next non-uniform day is on the 8th February.

This term we hope to hold some inter-house competitions to get some friendly rivalry with the other Houses and to promote our identity as a House. These competitions will run throughout the year and will include sports, quizzes and other challenges. Let’s hope for a successful year with plenty raised for charity and some success in the House competitions!

Mr May (Enrichment Co-ordinator) Last half term, Vancouver students learnt many things about our namesake, from his many achievements to his family, and birthplace. We discovered that Captain Vancouver was a very accomplished man indeed!

Our House charity is the Teenage Cancer Trust. Several students put this charity forward as they felt it was appropriate to people their age and a reminder that cancer can affect any age group. Please visit their website or Facebook page to hear about the incredible and inspirational work already taking place (www.teenagecancertrust.org/). The first non-uniform day raised £112.75, which is a great start. We’re hoping to beat this total on the next nonuniform day. I am looking for students to help organise fundraising events so if anyone has ideas, please get in touch.

On a final note, myself and the other Enrichment Co-ordinators have been getting our heads together to plan some inter-house events. Please keep an eye out for notices. There’s nothing like a bit of healthy competition!

Miss Watts (Enrichment Co-ordinator)

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It has been a very exciting term so far for the MacArthur House charities and a great start has been made to begin raising money for our student selected charities. This term saw KLA run the first non-uniform day which saw a grand total of £112.75 raised. As MacArthur students selected to support both the Alzheimer’s Society and Vasculitis UK this year we now have £56.36 in each charity pot. This is a great start!

Along with the generosity shown by our students, I have also been very encouraged to have students approaching me with further ideas to raise money for our two charities. An idea that is regularly being discussed is to organise a second indoor cycling challenge. Last year, this event raised £158.00 for the Purfleet Trust charity and students are keen to step up the impact of the event by involving students from King Edward Academy and potentially competing in a ‘head to head cycling battle’. This event is currently in the planning stages and I look forward to keeping you updated on its progress.

I would like to offer my thanks to all students who are making the effort to support our charity work so far this year and I look forward to being a part of this continued enthusiasm.

Mr Endersby (Enrichment Co-ordinator)

We have had a great start this term, lots of positives, lots of rewards. I have seen many students working with great promise and potential.

Our House charity this year is Little Discoverers. Little Discoverers is part of the School for Parents network originally set up by Scope. Its aim provides an early education for pre-school children with movement difficulties and delayed development. They are completely dependent on fundraising, donations and grants to be able to deliver this valuable programme of work.

I am sure that everybody will rally round this extremely worthwhile charity and thanks to the nonuniform days and a stall that we had at the Christmas fayre we have already raised over £200 and we’re well on the way towards supporting them do their fantastic work.

Many thanks to all Miss Carnell (Enrichment Co-ordinator)

C

resswell

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06/12/2016 09:01

KS3 ROUND UP I cannot believe how many fantastic trips are on offer at the moment for the Year 7 & 8 students, lots of them have enjoyed the Christmas Market trip to Paris with Miss Anton. There is a trip to Disneyland next summer and a PGL trip to the South of France, I am sure the students are very excited and will have a great time!

Mrs Fysh, with help and support from staff, organised her Maths Mastermind at the beginning of December. Well done to all students involved you not only showed your maths skills but your bravery in volunteering yourself for the challenge.

We really do have talent here at KLA and this is a great way to show it off.

We have many students that have represented the academy for various sporting and academic events, you have all shown dedication and excellent teamwork. I would like to congratulate Harvey Larkin in Year 8, Harvey has shown great improvement in all areas this term. In partnership with the Safer Schools inactive Harvey was given the opportunity to spend the day at the Police Headquarters in Wymondham for the ‘11 million Take Over Day.’ Harvey spent the day learning all about the Police and their many roles, most importantly Harvey had an amazing day.

The arts staff have put together an amazing Talent Show this year, it is such an enjoyable evening for all Season’s greetings to you all! involved and always great to see the Debbie Germaney, Head of KS3 talents of our students.

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06/12/2016 09:01

KS4 ROUND UP

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It is hard to believe we are at the end of the first term of this academic year.

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I would like to thank all parents, carers and staff for their continued support.

It has been a pleasure to meet many of you at parents/welcome evenings and the numerous in school events where our students hard work and talents were celebrated. They may have baked cakes, taken part in the Talent Show or supported extra-curricular events.

Students have had many opportunities to take part in activities both in and out of school. From trips abroad to interhouse and inter-school competitions.

Many have also succeeded in their own area of expertise and we are always pleased to mention these in assemblies and weekly parent bulletins.

Well done to all KS4 students who have represented their Year group or the academy and all nominated or awarded Student of the Week, too many to name but I am proud of you all.

Well done to Tamazin Bacon, she was chosen to take part in the 11 Million Pound Takeover Day. This is a day organised by companies and businesses for young people. She went, with a KS3 student, to the Norfolk Police Headquarters in Wymondham where she experienced the ins and It was a pleasure to welcome our outs of policing. Tamazin said, “It was Year 7 students as they begin their amazing, I loved every minute of it� academic journey and we all wish success to our Year 11 students who Finally I would like to wish you all a eagerly await the results of their mock very Happy Christmas and best wishes exams which heralds the beginning of for the New Year. the end of their journey.

Bridie Defty, Head of KS4 We have enjoyed varied assemblies, some with heartfelt messages and others appealing for support for worthwhile causes and charities.

Our students are always a credit to themselves in the way they support those less well off.

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06/12/2016 09:01

PE & SCHOOL SPORT P Basketball For the second year running the school has joined partnerships with the Head Coach of Fury Basketball and Wales International team James Bamfield. James will be running weekly Basketball sessions after school on a Thursday 3:00 – 4:30pm and attending Year 7, Year 9 & Year 10 GCSE PE lessons delivering the Basketball Curriculum. This will be an extremely exciting opportunity for the school and we hope next year to continue the connection and develop the sport further into greater success. The PE Department and students at the school would like to thank James for all his hard work and dedication to develop the basketball at the school and encourage students to take up the sport and gain a love for the game.

Year 7 PGL Trip The PE department organised for the new Year 7s an Outdoor Adventurous Activities trip to a PGL centre at Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. The trip took place over a long weekend. During the trip students took part in a variety of activities ranging from Abseiling, Climbing, Jacobs ladder, leap of faith, obstacle course, canoeing and raft building. The trip was a great success with all students thoroughly enjoyed themselves, made new friendships and worked on their communication and team building skills.

Rugby Trip On Sunday 20th November the PE department took a group of students to watch a premier league rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Harlequins. The group of students are regular rugby players who represent KLA and West Norfolk. This was a fantastic opportunity for the boys to see rugby played at such a high level.

Hockey The U14 & U16 hockey girls are having a very good start to their season so far this year. The U14s came second at the West Norfolk Hockey Tournament recently and went through to the County Finals. Several of the girls have now become full members of the local Pelicans Hockey Club and are playing adult Ladies Hockey regularly on a Saturday. In January the girls have an opportunity to go to watch the Super 6’s Indoor Hockey Finals at the SSE Arena Wembley. The girls will get the opportunity to watch Hockey played at elite levels in both the women’s and men’s Final games.

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06/12/2016 09:01

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Jade Windley Sky Sports Living Programme As a school we have joined a Sky Sports “Living for Sport Programme�. The programme is a free initiative open to UK Secondary schools that uses sports stars and skills learnt through sport to build confidence and develop life skills with students.

The project KLA has designed is to work with a group of Year 10 students, who will plan, organise and deliver a sports festival to a local Primary School, Howard Junior, over a 6 week period. I am really excited to announce the Athlete Mentor delivering our schools initiative is Jade Windley.

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Jade Windley is a British Tennis Player from Lincolnshire.

Windley has won three singles and 16 doubles titles on the ITF tour in her career.

On 7th April 2014, she reached her best singles ranking of world number 279.

On 7th April 2014, she peaked at world number 159 in the doubles rankings.

The Initial visit took place on Thursday 10th November, where Jade had the opportunity to meet the school and students and for us to find out more about the programme. On the day Jade delivered a tennis masterclass to our Year 10s and Howard Junior Year 5s.

06/12/2016 09:01

SEASON’S GREETINGS! This last term we have enjoyed getting to know the new Year 7’s. Hopefully they are now used to seeing us in and around the academy.

We’ve had inputs in all assemblies around the need to be safe and well behaved over the October half term holiday which was close to Halloween and Bonfire night. KLA students were on the whole very well behaved with only a very few behaving in such a way that their names were bought to our attention by local colleagues for follow up chats in school.

On Friday 18th November we took two KLA students to Norfolk Police HQ for the Constabulary’s “11 million Take Over Day”, an opportunity for young people to get to see the workings of the constabulary for a day. We hope they enjoyed their day out, they certainly seemed to.

And finally you may have heard PC Bolderstone on KLFM of late - the news desk there are very keen for us to do news articles around any local policing issues, be it safety, behaviour or general advice that we may have or local policing colleagues may have. It’s a good opportunity for us to get key points and messages across to listeners, some of who will undoubtedly be parents and carers of KLA students but students from other schools and further afield too.

The picture, right, shows the two of us with a lady called Ann Bartlett. Ann has set up “One Punch Can Kill” following the death of her serviceman son by a single punch.

She goes round the county and country delivering presentations to Year 9’s around the whole subject of the potential dreadful consequences a single punch can have as she so painfully knows. She was at KLA on Tuesday 8th November. I think everyone who Have a great Christmas and our best was there, students and staff will testify as to wishes for 2017! how powerful the presentation was.

PC John Bolderstone & PCSO Jon Cockerill

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06/12/2016 09:02

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06/12/2016 09:02

Term Dates Wednesday 4th January – Staff Training Day (No students attend) Thursday 5th January – Spring term begins Tuesday 10th January – Y11 Parents evening Tuesday 24th January – Y8 Parents evening Wednesday 1st February – Y8 Options evening Thursday 2nd February – Parent Voice Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February – Half term Tuesday 21st February – Y10 Parents evening Thursday 16th March – Parent Voice Monday 27th March to Friday 31st March – Y11 Mock 2 exams Monday 3rd April to Monday 17th April – Easter Holiday

General Information Executive Principal:

Craig Morrison

Chair of Governors:

Wendy Fisher

Address: Telephone Number:

King’s Lynn Academy, Queen Mary Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 4QG 01553 774671

Email:

enquiries@kingslynnacademy.co.uk

Please visit our website at:

kingslynnacademy.co.uk

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06/12/2016 09:02