Summer 2016 Issue 6
Success, nothing less!
Around The Academy.... Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award Over the last year a group of Aspire students have been working towards the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which many young people find a life-changing experience. Millions of young people in the UK have already taken part achieving Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards, pushing personal boundaries, gaining new skills and enhancing their CVs and university applications. Each week after lessons our group have been meeting to learn how to do various things, such as put up tents and cook their own food, including the all-important lesson of how to make a cup of tea using a Trangia stove, all in preparation for their expedition. Group activities have enhanced their team building skills as they work in small mixed squads to develop resilience and communication skills, and it was clear to see from the start that they were bonding well in order to solve problems - a vital part in their training. Their expedition is due to take place during July; you will be able to read the report on our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page.
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
Dear Parents/Carers As we approach the end of another amazing year it is crucial that I thank everyone for their fantastic support throughout the past twelve months; thank you to FCAT, the Chair and Academy Council, staff, parents and carers, community members, and of course the students. During this year we have not only achieved significant progress but we also moved, very successfully, a full school to our new site in early November. Now we are firmly settled and establishing ourselves in our new buildings we tend to forget how huge this upheaval was. It also seems difficult to believe but we are now completing our second full year as Aspire Academy and shall be welcoming a full cohort of 180 new Year 7 students in September. These are extremely exciting times for our rapidly improving Academy. Finally, as I hand over the role of Principal to Mrs Shuttleworth-Brown, I am humbled by the support I have received from everyone over the past two years. I shall still be highly visible within Aspire as I act as Executive Principal and I am extremely proud of what we have ALL achieved in such a short period of time. Well done everyone and please remember: success nothing less! Mr C B Simkins OBE Academy Principal
TA Makes The Grade Congratulations to our Teaching Assistant of the Year 2016, Katy Edwards, who was surprised with the award in June. Pictured presenting the certificate and gifts is Christina Grindy from Hays Recruitment, who have recognised the commitment and hard work Katy has put in here at Blackpool Aspire Academy, while managing to complete her degree coursework and work placements.
English Faculty Stand Up To Bullying Day Tuesday, 5th July, 2016 was Stand Up To Bullying Day and to recognise this important movement our Anti-bullying team have been busy promoting its message. A student voice questionnaire was handed out during form time which will give an insight into how students feel and deal with instances of bullying. Weblinks were also distributed to videos promoting the anti-bullying message. You can find out more at www.standuptobullying.co.uk
An Inspector Calls On the 21st July, just a few days before their final GCSE Literature Exam papers, forty Year 11 students were taken, free of charge, to see the compelling production of ‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, Manchester; this is the same play they would be writing exam answers for in the following week.
The original and inspiring production brought the written script to life as the Birling household exploded on stage in front of their eyes. The Inspector’s unforgettable message was clearly defined for them by the production. All the students commented on how the visit had enhanced their knowledge as an excellent contribution to their revision programme for the Literature exam. Emily Rowe, a Year 11 student stated, the visit had created an ‘amazing memory’ and had given her ’inspiration’.
Rapid Readers The focus this term in Key Stage 3 English has been improving students’ reading and encouraging reluctant readers to enjoy picking up a book. The English department have invested in a dedicated reading programme called ‘Rapid Reading’ aimed at improving the reading and comprehension skills of all students involved. The programme is designed to help struggling readers to progress quickly whilst they deepen and develop their understanding and interest in reading. It includes a huge collection of fiction and non fiction around topics and themes that our students will enjoy.
English teachers have been working with focused groups of no more than three learners and have noticed a huge improvement in the students’ confidence and ability to read. Students have enjoyed the small sessions and the interactive assessments where they have taken responsibility for their own progression and felt a real sense of achievement. Congratulations to all those involved!
NOTICES
Library opening times: 8.15am until 4.30pm. The library is open access for all students before and after school and at break and lunchtimes.
Careers advice: please contact Mr Smith in the library and he will organise an appointment for you
LOST PROPERTY TO HAND IN OR CLAIM: PLEASE SPEAK TO STUDENT SERVICES
Expressive Arts Faculty Aspire Compete In Town Sports
Step Into Sport Blackpool Aspire Academy competed in the Pre-School annual Blackpool Town Sports 2016 competition Paralympic Sports in July coming up against five other schools in Day 2016 various athletics events. Our students performed extremely well and their behaviour was exemplary.
A special mention goes to the following students for their achievements on the day with three of our students coming first in their events: Chey Sampson - 1st 200m Megan Eadie - 1st 100m Owen Rixon - 1st Javelin and High Jump.
Girl Power! This show incorporated a collection of scenes from famous musicals featuring women’s empowerment through the ages, and was the last show of the Btec Musical Theatre variety at Aspire Academy, going out with a bang after its eight year existence. The show included excerpts from Chicago,
14 Blackpool Aspire students were selected to become young leaders for the Step Into Sport Pre-School Paralympic Sports Day 2016 hosted at Blackpool Sports Centre. Our students were asked to host various stations on the day for able bodied and disabled children between the ages of 2-4 years old. It was an amazing day in which all the young children had the time of their lives trying new activities. Our students were incredible with the young children and parents who came along on the day and conducted themselves in a manner that senior staff from other organisations were very complimentary of the way they represented the school. It was a very proud moment when the children and parents had commented that our young leaders were their “favourite part of the day” and “without them this day would not have been so special”. We look to further our relationship with Highfurlong who invited us for the privilege to help on this special day. Grease, Dreamgirls, Mamma Mia, Flashdance, and Burlesque, and was an amazing success. Its legacy has been honoured completely by these nine fantastic young women who have worked so hard to put on a show dedicated to Girl Power!
Chameleon Dance Opportunity At the beginning of May, eight GCSE Dance students from Blackpool Aspire Academy were selected by Blackpool Council’s Arts Service to take part in a two day workshop and performance with professional dance company Chameleon. Throughout the two day workshop students worked solidly alongside professional dancers Kevin Edward Turner and Theo Fapohunda to learn a set dance and create their own piece to display on Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet. The experience has also allowed students to work towards the Bronze Arts Award which is a nationally recognised qualification. Aspire students were also joined on the Comedy Carpet on Saturday 14th May by students from Anchorsholme Academy and Blackpool 6th Form, who all put on a fantastic performance. Head of Dance at Blackpool Aspire Academy, Mrs Elson said, “I’m extremely proud of all the students today as they have put on a fantastic show. I have seen them develop and grow in confidence throughout the whole experience and that is down to Kevin and Theo who have been truly inspiring. I know the skills the students have learnt on these workshops will certainly help them as they go forward in their GCSE dance qualification over the next two years.”
Science Faculty Key Stage 3 STEM Club: Science, Technology, Engineering, And Maths Throughout this term Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths have been very much driven by Key Stage 3 students. They have found the immersive experience extremely useful for their learning and skillsets, whilst exploring STEM through fun and exciting opportunities. We have contributed to Tim Peake’s Space Plant Experiment, which involved planting rocket seeds that have been in orbit with the ISS and submitting data to contribute to our knowledge of life on earth. Students have also mastered key strategies for structural design, discovering the true strengths of great engineering. Further to this, we have been able to participate in some risky and exciting experiments in the lab. Currently we are collaborating our knowledge to save Suzie the shrimp!
Year 8 have had the opportunity to visit the Lancaster Science Festival, an interactive event bringing science practitioners together allowing students to see first-hand the breadth of sciencerelated expertise and its real-world applications; students really enjoyed the festival and many are considering new aspirations in life. We have explored many exciting aspects of the fun part of learning, mostly contributed to by our students and we are especially enthusiastic to do many more!
Solar System Space Quiz To celebrate the successful six month mission to the International Space Station of British Astronaut Tim Peake we’ve put together this quiz. The answers will appear on our Facebook page during the summer holidays. 1. What is the closest planet to the Sun? 2. What is the name of the 2nd biggest planet in our solar system? 3. What is the hottest planet in our solar system? 4. What planet is famous for its big red spot on it? 5. What planet is famous for the beautiful rings that surround it? 6. Can humans breathe normally in space as they can on Earth? 7. Is the sun a star or a planet? 8. Who was the first person to walk on the moon? 9. What planet is known as the red planet? 10. What is the name of the force holding us to the Earth? 11. Have human beings ever set foot on Mars? 12. What is the name of a place that uses telescopes and other scientific equipment to research space and astronomy? 13. What is the name of NASA’s most famous space telescope? 14. Earth is located in which galaxy? 15. What is the name of the first satellite sent into space? 16. Ganymede is a moon of which planet? 17. What is the name of Saturn’s largest moon? 18. Olympus Mons is a large volcanic mountain on which planet? 19. Does the sun orbit the Earth? 20. Is the planet Neptune bigger than Earth?
Humanities Faculty GCSE Geography Fieldwork 2016 65 Year 10 geographers braved the wind and the rain on Friday, 29th April to collect data for their GCSE Geography Controlled Assessment. The fieldwork forms an integral element of their GCSE course and primary data must be collected in order to complete their coursework. Despite the worst weather conditions for many years, students remained resilient and collected an amazing amount of data in 30mph winds and heavy rain. Students are studying the characteristics of Blackpool’s Central Business District and were able to identify both urban regeneration and decline within the centre of Blackpool. All students were a credit to Blackpool Aspire Academy and should be commended for the hard work and effort. Well done geographers!
History In The Making In June Year 10 History students embarked on a field trip to Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, where they saw first hand the living and working conditions experienced by children in the 19th Century. This working venue is one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution and a museum of the cotton industry, and a great way of learning what it was really like in that era. In the coming weeks the students will be completing their Controlled Assessment based on their visit. Year 10 Liam said of the visit, “Whilst Quarry Bank Mill was a great place to work for children at the time, it still made me appreciate how lucky I am.” Tilly and Jagoda, students from Year 7 proudly display their excellent homework, tasked with creating a model of a medieval castle or creating their own dream castle.
Fairtrade Assembly Over the past year Mr Butt’s group have been raising awareness of Fairtrade and the importance of company objectives. Students held a question/answer session on the importance of buying Fairtrade products and explored how chocolate trade farmers are being exploited and treated unfairly. They also looked at how people in a small town in Pakistan called Sialkot are being paid less then 60p a day to make branded footballs; Fairtrade has helped these workers in Sialkot receive better wages by making footballs under the Fairtrade banner. The students in Years 7, 8, and 9 were engaged and intrigued by the exploitation of powerful organisations. Eloy Gunn and Chloe Cassidy will be going around KS3 tutors trying to raise money and awareness by raffling Fairtrade chocolates.
ICT and Technology Faculty Year 9 And Year 11 Review The Year 11 leavers have recently completed their two year course of GCSE Product Design and Textiles. We have had some fantastic products designed, developed, and manufactured as part of their controlled assessment. Here are some images of the excellent products produced.
ECDL: European Computer Driving Licence Year 10 students have been given the opportunity to achieve the nationally recognized qualification as part of our school-wide agenda on raising aspirations for our young people. Students have been having a personalised curriculum focusing on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel which has been providing them with the skills needed to achieve at least 75% in each of the four exams they must sit to achieve this qualification. We have had some amazing success stories with this - Shalika achieved 96% on a PowerPoint exam, and Jon-Luke achieved 91% on his Word exam, “it’s really great to get an early qualification under my belt”, said Jon-Luke.
Artist Impression Art students this term have been looking at 19th century Impressionism, an art movement originating in Paris around 1870 to the 1880s. Manet, Renoir, and Monet were some of the main Impressionists and their work inspired our students to produce their own pieces of oil and pastel work. Using landscape as the subject much of the art featured here are first attempts, which bodes well for the future!
Over the past term Mr Barnhurst’s Year 9 product design class (new Year 10) have been manufacturing themed amplifier speakers. There were some excellent outcomes from a Cookie Monster design to Batman themed speakers.
3D Is Really Making An Impression The Technology department have recently taken delivery of a brand new 3D printer. The printer has been purchased through the kind support of the Trustees to help develop the Technology curriculum, further modernise the department, and allow pupils to experience cutting edge technology. Watch this space next academic year, as pupils will have an opportunity to manufacture products using this new piece of kit!
Maths Faculty Cluster Class Mr Jenkinson has provided support for students in Year 7 and Year 8 over the past two weeks doing a bespoke diet of Mathematics aiming to progress the level of students to make sure they are in the best possible position to achieve their full potential in the future. Mr Jenkinson and Mrs Obiorah worked with 18 Year 8 students and 14 Year 7 students. The students enjoyed the variety of approach to take on the harder topics, and giving the opportunity to improve their final level and their levels in specific End of Topic Assessments. After the trial over 54% of the students achieved an improvement in their score. Well Done!
GCSE Changes Due Shortly The GCSEs are changing for Mathematics as of academic year 2016/17 as there are a multitude of changes. The major bit of information our students need to know is that the level of problem solving and multi-topic questions has increased. •
There are now three papers instead of two (one non-calculator and two calculator papers)
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The grades are no long A*-G but instead are awarded 9-1.
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The higher paper is now 50% of what we call traditional A-A* level work.
These changes have come into effect to help raise the level of education in the country and to accommodate the new Mathematical topics that have been brought into the Mathematical syllabus. This is the biggest change in education in decades and the students need to be prepared, this means working a lot on the ‘wordier’ questions. Students must stay focused in lessons as there is more content to get through than before, and it will be an increase in challenge for the them to achieve the Government’s pass grade of 5; this is equivalent to a current C+ so we need our best foot forward to make sure our students reach their full potential.
Over a week Team Aspire has been challenging other schools to become ‘Boss of the North’, a competition where students earn medal points by completing curriculum-aligned games and activities on the Mangahigh website. All points accumulate towards the school’s running total. The school with the most points at 13:00 BST on 19th July will be crowned the champion. With two days to go Aspire currently sit in fourth place out of the 5,200 schools. The pupils have put in a great effort and have gain 10,870 points, (3 points = Gold, 2 points = silver, 1 point = bronze.) To get the medals our students had to pick a topic in Maths - as they get more questions correct so the difficulty of the questions increases. We have some star pupils: Robert Keen (Year7) = 339 points Charlie Smith (Year8) = 313 points Joshua Atkinson (Year9) = 286 points Zoe Middleton (Year7) = 201 points Hannah Scott (Year9) = 193 points Current Standings: 1. Sale Grammar School .................... 38,410 2. Standish Community High .............. 32,819 3. Trinity Academy Halifax .................. 10,885 4. Blackpool Aspire Academy ............. 10,870 5. Belper School ...................................9,542
Teachers Make The Grade! Miss Isherwood and Mrs Rawson have had a busy year delivering PSHE to all Year 7 and 9 students and have successfully become Chartered Teachers of PSHE. This award is recognised by the PSHE association showing effective practice and raising the standards of PSHE education within the school. Students and Teachers have thoroughly enjoyed the topics covered, with excellent work produced from both year groups. Both teachers are pictured receiving their awards from Dr Arif Rapjura, Director of Public Health Blackpool.
Modern Foreign Languages Faculty What Have We Been Learning In MFL In The Summer Term? Students in Year 8 have been working on the topic of food and drink and have developed a good understanding of French traditions and culture. Students have learnt about typical French foods and can talk about their own mealtimes. Pupils have been taking part in dialogues ordering drinks and snacks in the French café. They are now moving on to talk about their home and local area. In Year 9 students have been working hard on the topic of Holidays and Tourism. They have developed a good understanding of the past tense and have described an account of a past holiday, giving information about where they went, how they travelled and what they did as well as what souvenirs they bought and what they thought
of their holiday. Year 9 students have also created a persuasive leaflet in French about their town, encouraging French tourists to visit Blackpool. Year 10 students have been working on the topic of Media and Communication. They have been discussing how they use the internet and the advantages and disadvantages of social media. They have also been learning how to arrange to go out to the cinema, discussing films they like. We have learnt how to give a review of a film we’ve seen. Finally Year 10 students have enjoyed taking part in a project watching a French film – Les Choristes. Through their first experience of a foreign film, students have taken part in discussions about the characters, setting, and plot
of the film, giving their opinions of it. In Year 11 pupils have been working hard on their controlled assessments. Students have successfully completed their first speaking assessment in the form of a job interview, raising their confidence greatly in this skill. Students are now preparing for their final writing assessment on the topic of town and local area.
Congratulations to all linguists who achieved a Deputy Principal Award in Modern Foreign Languages this term
TERM DATES
Year 7 Lee Carmichael......... for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French
AUTUMN TERM 2016 Academy opens 31st August 2016 Academy closes 21st October 2016 Mid-term closure 24th October to 4th November 2016 Academy re-opens 7th November 2016 Academy closes 21st December 2016
Year 8 Katie Hughes............. for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French Holly Holmes ............. for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French Kadence Stanmore .. for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French Heather Walton ......... for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French Chelsea Laird ............ for excellent effort, attitude and achievement in French Year 9 Nikola Chmielewska.............................attainment in the year 8 French exam Holly Grubb ...........................................attainment in the year 8 French exam Daniella Holland ...................................attainment in the year 8 French exam Kai Parker ..............................................attainment in the year 8 French exam Jennifer Hartley.....................................attainment in the year 8 French exam Julia Stegienta ......................................attainment in the year 8 French exam Year 10 Adam Hague .........................................attainment in the year 9 French exam Freddie Eaves .......................................attainment in the year 9 French exam Year 11 Shannan Byrne .....................................attainment in the year 9 French exam Chiana Dickson.....................................attainment in the year 9 French exam
SPRING TERM 2017 Academy re-opens 9th January 2017 Academy closes 17th February 2017 Mid-term closure 20th February 2017 to 24th February 2017 Academy re-opens 27th February 2017 Academy closes 7th April 2017
You can find us online at: www.blackpoolaspireacademy.co.uk - www.facebook.com/blackpoolaspireacademy - Twitter: @blackpoolaspire Or contact us by telephone: 01253 353155 or email: admin@aspire.blackpool.sch.uk Inspire newsletter designed and printed by Mr Sheldon