Kingswinford Easter Newsletter

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Dear Parents/ Carers,

Easter has come around incredibly quickly. It seems only a couple of weeks that we were breaking up for Christmas. It has in fact been ten school weeks (eleven including February half term).All learning time, whether it be in short or long terms, is crucial to our young people fulfilling their potential both academically and personally.The dark mornings and evenings can make everyone feel a little low during Winter. I’d like to think therefore, that this term has been hugely successful. We’ve seen off the darkness, Spring is in the air, our field is about to be back in-bounds at lunchtime again, and all of our outdoor extra-curricular activitiesfixtures, Duke of Edinburgh, Eco-club etc… can return in force.

With the start of the Summer term comes the fact that we are down to the last five weeks forYear 11 before their exams start in earnest. We are fully aware of the stresses of this time and will of course be doing everything that we can to get them across the finishing line. Our Race to Success programme is in full flight and i’m incredibly proud of the effort our young people and staff are putting in to ensure that this summer is successful. We are open for revision over Easter - the programme has been shared withYear 11 students and parents.

We have some staff leaving us at Easter. MrsAirey has been on maternity leave for the last twelve months, but prior to this wasAssistant Headteacher. She is taking up a position as a school improvement specialist for another school trust. Miss Stronach, who has been with us since September in MFLis also moving to another school. In addition to this, Ms Williams from our catering team is leaving us, as is Ms Geggie from the school office. We wish them all well.

Joining us are Mr Dasour (Teacher of Science), Mrs Kpeglo (Teacher of Maths) and Mr McCormack (Curriculum Leader of Business and IT).

We start back on Monday 8thApril at normal time.All that remains is for me to wish you a Happy Easter.

Best wishes,

Ian Moreton Headteacher KingswinfordAcademy

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for a CateringAssistant to join our CateringTeam.

We are looking for a caterer who is enthusiastic, committed, well-presented, has a polite and friendly manner and who enjoys interacting with students and staff.You must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, work under pressure and be able to organise yourself.

For further information and how to apply, please contact Helen Knowles, PAto the Headteacher hknowles@kingswinford.windsoracademytrust.org.uk

We are also recruiting for aTeachingAssistant Level 2 and Level 3. Please go through the vacancies on the school website if you are interested.

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Year 11 - GCSE Revision

To support students with their revision for the summer exams, our staff are offering a number of revision sessions during the Easter holiday.The programme is as follows:

Monday 25th 9-1pm Computer Science IT2

Tuesday 26th 10-12pm English EN1/EN2

Tuesday 26th 9-11am Sports Studies ML2

Tuesday 26th 12-3pm Textiles DT5

Wednesday 27th 10-2pm Physics SC7

Wednesday 27th 9-1pm DesignTechnology DT2/DT4

Thursday 28th No in school sessions - Virtual only (see below)

Friday 29th Good Friday

Monday 1st Bank Holiday Monday

Tuesday 2nd 10-12pm Geography HU5/HU6

Wednesday 3rd 10- 2pm Art and Photography ART1/ART2

Thursday 4th 10-12pm History HU2

Friday 5th 10-12pm French Foundation ML2

Friday 5th 12.30-2.30pm French Higher ML2

In addition, there are virtual maths and Chemistry sessions being offered at the following times:

Thursday 28th March

Maths Foundation 12 - 1:30pm

Maths Higher 1 - 3pm

Chemistry Foundation 10 - 11:15am

Chemistry Higher 10:45 - 12pm

Joining information for the virtual maths and Chemistry sessions will be added to the students' Google classrooms.

The sessions will provide important guidance and exam practice so we hope that students will attend.

If you have any questions about these sessions please direct them to the subject teachers offering the session in the first instance.

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Maths

Intermediate Maths Challenge results. Congratulations to all who won awards

Year 10

BRONZE SILVER

Year 9

BRONZE SILVER GOLD (AND TOPIN SCHOOL)

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Maths

The next chapters in the continuing success of our Head boy Sam…

Sam’s own words-

“In March, I was part of the six-strong UK team for the Romanian Master of Mathematics (RMM).

“Leaving Stansted for Bucharest, we all stayed in the charming Hotel Irisa in a leafy part of the city, with the competition being held in the nearbyTudor Vianu school.The hotel did us proud with some excellent Romanian food and hospitality!

“Throughout the week, we were treated to tours around the city, along with a day trip toTransylvania (fortunately we got back before dark!).

“Everyone was given a packed goodie bag, comprising hoodies,T-shirts, and much more, including delicious local Rom chocolate bars!

“In the competition, I was awarded an Honourable Mention, only 3 points off a bronze medal. Looking back at the questions now, I think that I could have achieved a silver medal, but considering the RMM is one of the tougher Olympiads, and that I was one of only four people to get top marks on a tricky linear algebra question, I was very pleased with my performance. Furthermore, the UK team did better than last year, finishing 7th out of the 14 teams present. So I think we all did the country, and our schools, proud”.

In addition to this, Sam also entered the National Cipher Challenge: 7th September 2023 – 6th January 2024, the 22nd national code breaking competition.There were 46 teams in Silver category. Sam represented our school in his team,The Kingswinford Warriors.

Well done Sam!

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Darts

Following the success of the teenage darts sensation, Luke Littler, in the World Darts Championship over Christmas, we founded the Kingswinford Darts Club.

As well being a lunchtime club, available to students from all year groups and of all abilities, we have also managed to have our first fixture against Summerhill

Report from Mr Parsons-

OnTuesday 5th March KingswinfordAcademy competed in their first ever darts fixture at Summerhill School.

On the day our Key stage 3 team won all 5 of their singles matches and and contributed really well to our overall score.

Our Key stage 4 team battled well in their games but lost by the odd leg in each of their matches.

Overall we lost 16 legs to 14 legs but students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and Summerhill are going to travel to us the beginning of SummerTerm for the return leg.

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Drama Club - Oliver Performance

This year, KingswinfordAcademy Drama Club had such large intake numbers that KingswinfordAcademy Drama teacher and club leader, Mrs Cooper wanted to put on a showcase of some kind.

The 30+ students that arrived at after school Drama Club week in week out decided they wanted to put on a West End style show. What started off as a few scenes from Lionel Bart’s classic ‘Oliver’became almost the full production of ‘Oliver Junior’. Some songs were added and MissAbel, Head of Music, helped to get them to show standards.Art & Design helped with the set and the school got behind the club's ambition.

No auditions took place. If you attended Drama Club you were in the show. Rehearsals took place in Drama Club and in recent weeks also took place on other evenings and lunchtimes.

The result was a sold out, 2 night show on the 20th and 21st March 2024 in the KingswinfordAcademy Theatre.The students' focus, professionalism, acting and singing ability was truly outstanding.The cast ranged fromY7-Y10 and became so much more than an extra-curricular club. It became a community to be part of.

Mrs Cooper, said to the elated audience, “I could not be more proud of this group of young people.They wanted to put on their own production and have worked tirelessly to make it happen.They are a credit to the school and their parents”

Mr Cotterill, WATHead of Performance said “To have an after school club produce a 2 night production of this standard is no small feat.Afree provision in school has provided these young people an avenue to showcase their talents on stage to full audiences and given them invaluable memories and relationships.”

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Girl’s Football

Let Girls Play at WAT - The Biggest Ever Football Session

In a groundbreaking initiative on March 8th, the Barclays Let Girls Play campaign facilitated the largest-ever girls' football event, coinciding with International Women's Day. Over 465,000 girls from 5,000 schools across England, including both primary and secondary schools within Windsor AcademyTrust. Our students participated in various events throughout the day aimed at promoting girls' football.This record-breaking effort is part of the FAand Barclays' third Biggest Ever Football Session, reflecting a commitment to increased participation driven by the EURO 2022-winning Lionesses.

During Friday 8th March, WindsorAcademyTrust spared no effort in providing opportunities for its girls to engage with football. Events such as house football tournaments, exclusive girls' football clubs, and designated access to facilities during lunch showcased the commitment of staff and students to promote girls' football across the trust. Many of the events across our trust were organised and run by young leaders.The leaders ran and organised various engaging activities like penalty shootouts, crossbar challenges to house competitions and free play, which all fostered into a vibrant atmosphere that not only celebrated the sport but also championed our trust ethos of unlocking personal potential.

Launched in October 2021, the Let Girls Play campaign aligns with the strategic goal of providing girls with equal access to football. Barclays, demonstrating its substantial investment in women's and girls' football, passionately supports this initiative. Baroness Sue Campbell, the Director of Women's Football, highlighted the success of the campaign, stating that over 750,000 girls have participated in the Biggest Ever Football Sessions since 2022.This impressive number underscores both the nationwide passion for football among girls and the ongoing necessity for equal access within physical education and extracurricular activities.

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Girl’s Football

Let Girls Play at WAT - The Biggest Ever Football Session

Isabelle Hyde Year 9 Student:

“Back in February Miss Holder took a number ofY8 andY9 Girls on a football leadership course called Barclaycards Game On and we did some leadership and teamwork activities, where we also learnt about how we can encourage other players and give constructive criticism to help others and ourselves improve. On 8th March the leaders and I volunteered our own time to put on various girls football activities across the day. We had a crossbar challenge, a penalty shootout and free play on the MUGAwhere girls could just turn up and play football. Over the course of the day we had over 100 girls show up and have a go and some even won prizes, everyone had so much fun”

If your daughter is interested in playing football here are some local clubs with links to their contacts:

Kewford Eagles Girls

Dudley Sports Juniors

HalesowenTown Colts

OldswinfordYouth

Wordsley Wasps Girls

Wordsley Wasps

GornalAthletic Minor

Black Country Rangers

Duncan Edwards Juniors

KingswinfordA

Wombourne Olympic Minor

Netherton Colts Girls

Girls FootballAcademy - Halesowen Town/Halesowen College Opportunity:

HalesowenTown FC in conjunction with Halesowen College are starting a Girls football academy for school leavers from September.

They are looking to recruit local girls and give them an opportunity to continue playing football at a high standard and hopefully with the links we have with local professional clubs push players on as well as keeping them in higher education.

They are holding a presentation and Q&Aevening on Monday 15thApril 7-8pm at Halesowen College, this is open to currentYear 11 andYear 10 students.

22 March 2024

STEM Club

Students have been working hard in our STEM club producing some really cool models.They have spent the last few weeks making and painting miniatures and scenery.They are now using them in intense battles learning how to play this strategy game along the way.

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Dudley Children's BookAwards

Ten KingswinfordAcademy students from across Key Stage 3 were excited to attend the Dudley Children's BookAward Ceremony atThe Dormston School this week, along with students from many secondary and primary schools across the Dudley borough.The ceremony was the pinnacle of many months of avid reading by our students, as they devoured the shortlisted books in order to vote for their favourites. We saw some super reading skills and engagement with books. Well done!

Four of the shortlisted authors, Josh Silver,Tia Fisher, Carolyn Ward and Jasbinder Bilan, generously donated their time to attend the awards ceremony and take part in a meet and greet book signing after the presentation.

Our congratulations go to the winning authors,Tia Fisher for theTeen Category, Carolyn Ward for the Children's Category and Lucy Strange for the Short Story Category.

The full shortlist is now available to borrow in the school library.

Newsletter 22 March 2024

School Uniform:

As we look ahead to the NewYear we want to remind you of our uniform regulations, in particular please ensure your child is wearing shoes (not trainers), if they wear a jumper under their blazer it must be black v neck (not round neck), if they wear trousers they must be tailored trousers which are not tight to the ankles (no leggings), false nails/nail varnish are not permitted. Please see this link for full details of what is permitted, including some helpful FAQs. Incorrect uniform will lead to sanctions being issued to students

School Uniform:

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Reminder of PE kit and PE policies:

Girls’PE Kit - Compulsory

Compulsory Unisex polo shirt

Shorts or skirt (No ‘hotpants’)

PE Jumper

Long black football socks

Trainers

Football boots

Optional:

Active sports jacket

Black thick leggings

Black tracksuit trousers/joggers

Boys’PE Kit - Compulsory Rugby shirt (reversible)

Compulsory Unisex polo shirt

Shorts

Long black football socks

Trainers

Football boots

Optional:

Active sports jacket

Black tracksuit trousers/joggers

PE Jumper

Gum shield (for rugby) and shin pads (for football) are highly recommended

Our approved suppliers are:

The Sports Shop, Kingswinford https://thesportsshopkingswinford.co.uk/collections/kingswinford-school

Newsletter 22 March 2024

Reminder of PE kit and PE policies (continued):

Base Layers:

With the colder months upon us, we appreciate students might want to wear additional base layers to keep warm. Students are allowed to wear a black long sleeve base top which can be worn under their polo shirt/rugby shirt.

Medical:

If your child cannot participate in PE lessons for any reason we do require a note to be written explaining the reasons why and also how long your child will be out of action for. With regards to longer term injuries, if your child has been told they cannot participate in PE lessons for a period of more than 6 weeks we will require a medical note.

Please also ensure that if your child suffers from any medical conditions, such as asthma that they are bringing their inhalers/other medical equipment to school daily and to their PE lessons.

Changing at the end of the school day:

If students have PE lessons 5 and 6 students are required to get changed back in to their school uniform after their PE lesson before leaving the school site.

22 March 2024

ASPIRE to Excellence - Our Expectations

Ready, Respectful, Safe

We have our Ready, Respectful and Safe approach to everything we do in school fully operational in school. We have worked hard to embed our routines within all aspects of our school environment and the benefits can be seen, we would like to thank everyone for their continued effort and support.

Students Missing from Lesson

Asmall minority of students, at times, decide not to attend a lesson, or have not returned from being permitted to go to the toilet during a lesson, therefore being noted as “Missing from Lesson” on Class Charts. We treat truancy from lessons seriously, this is of great concern, as we are unable to account for your child's whereabouts during these episodes. We have worked with our community to ensure students are aware of the consequences should they truant from lessons. Students will be challenged in line with our behaviour policy, initially this will be time in the Refocus Room and if the issue persists. potential suspension from school. We trust we can reply upon you to speak to your child about the severity of the issue; students cannot achieve if they are not in lessons and therefore will not unlock their academic and personal potential.

Toilet Permission

We encourage students to access toilets before and after school, during social times and; where possible avoiding toilet use during lessons.You are able to track your child's toilet use during lessons by looking at Class Charts and “Toilet Permission”. We track the amount of time our students have accessed toilets during lessons and if every toilet visit is 5 minutes long, since September students lost a significant amount of lesson time.This has significantly dropped since October half term, which we are really pleased about - thank you for your support in discouraging in-lesson toilet use with your child.As I am sure you appreciate lost learning directly relates to student progress and we welcome your continued support in tracking your child's toilet use via Class Charts and encouraging your child to access the toilets away from lessons.

Mobile Phones

We have a “Gate to Gate” expectation with regard to mobile phones, students must ensure they are switched off and placed in their school bag, at the school gate before entering the school site.They must remain switched off and in their bags until they leave the school site and are outside of the school gate before using them; this also applies to all after-school activities.

If you need to contact your child for any reason, this must be done via school reception.

22 March 2024

If you do need to report a child absence, do so using the Studybugs app.

If it is an illness-related absence, you will also be sent NHS advice as to whether your child should still attend school (or you can check here)

Absence from school equals lost learning; lost learning directly impacts what your child will achieve in their GCSE examinations, which will impact upon their future. It soon adds up and makes a difference. We need to work together to ensure our young people attend because it will ultimately affect their future success.As you are aware, we use ‘Studybugs’to report absence.The app will send you NHS advice on whether your child should still come to school if they are feeling ill.

Please check your child's Class Charts asTutors are celebrating and supporting improved and perfect attendance with positive points. Our “Rewards Shop” will soon be available and your child will be able to exchange their points for rewards of their choice.

Newsletter

22 March 2024

Innovative Learning Methods in Our Teacher Training Programme

Could you be part of the future of education?: Our teacher training programme is at the forefront of educational innovation, blending the latest teaching methodologies with advanced technology.This programme equips you with unique skills, setting you apart as a modern educator. It's an ideal career shift for parents seeking to reinvent themselves in a dynamic field. Embrace the future of teaching with our innovative teacher training programme.

If you are interested in becoming a teacher then visit our website to learn more about how we're redefining teacher training.

https://www.windsoracademytrust.org.uk/our-people/professional-learning/teacher-training/

Or contact us directly at teachertraining@windsoracademytrust.org.uk