ASA Today - Issue 52

The importance of a GOOD transition

The Route to your Future

All Saints’ Academy Careers Festival 2020, a great success.

A great start for our new Year 7 students.

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ASA TODAY

Issue 52, Term 3, 2021

The All Saints’ Academy Newspaper

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www.asachelt.org

A successful start in unprecedented times

By Mr McNiffe

Our success in preparing our students for “LIFE in all its fullness” is underpinned by Ofsted’s 2014 and 2018 inspections of the Academy:

Principal

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this edition of ASA Today.

I am delighted to have all our students back following a challenging period for us all. We started this academic year with the renewed sponsorship of Gloucester Diocese serving Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Diocese.

As a Church Academy serving the whole community, we continue to build on our excellent reputation for delivering a learning curriculum that produces excellent results in GCSE and A-Level. For four years now, we have cemented ourselves as one of the top two performing non-selective secondary schools for GCSE performance in the town of Cheltenham.

This examination success is down to the quality of our teaching staff and their dedication to providing a learning curriculum that students enjoy and want to succeed in. We, as a whole staff, know our students well and we support them by going the extra mile to help each of them to succeed, whether that is through holding extra tutorials or

•Leaders and directors have a passion and commitment for the community they serve.

•Staff hold fast to the school’s values and ethos which unite them in their drive to improve standards.

•Pupils benefit from positive relationships with staff.

•The Principal provides outstanding leadership which has led to rapid progress being made.

•There is a strong culture of respect and tolerance.

•Pupils are polite and courte-

Above: Our outstanding Year 11 Leadership Team our high quality pastoral support.

We have a deep commitment to live out our Academy Vision in all that we do: “Where every member of our extended family realise their Godgiven potential, inspired by John 10:10. Jesus said ‘I have come so you

may have LIFE in all its fullness.”

We now look ahead knowing that whatever the challenges set before us, we are confident that our work will support and guide our students to thrive and achieve great results this year.

Ofsted judge us to be a very inclusive school.

During this academic year of 2020-2021, we keep building on our established reputation and success for educational excellence to deliver a learning curriculum that is enriched through collaboration with other schools, colleges, universities, as well as links with business and industry so that all our students and families of our community can thrive and achieve their aspirations in higher education and their future careers.

Applications are now OPEN for All Saints’ Academy Sixth Form

EDITORIAL

Issue 52, Term 3, 2021

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The importance of a GOOD transition

By Miss Pettit

Head of Business Studies and Primary Liaison

These last few months we have all certainly been through unprecedented times, and this could not be truer for our newest year 7 students who have joined the Academy this September. Under normal circumstances year 6 student students would have had the opportunity to visit All Saints’ Academy for transition days full of activities, school tours and a chance to meet their fellow students and teachers. Instead, this year we saw the first “Virtual Transition Week” and it was a huge success! The event was enjoyed throughly by both staff and students alike! Students were given a range of tasks, from making their own lava lamp, competing in various sporting challenges, or dressing up and performing their own renditions of ‘Step in Time’ from the recent stage pro-

Above: Some of our year 7 `students from tutor group 7E1 with Miss Pettit duction of Mary Poppins! This gave us all the chance to maintain the interaction and communication regardless of the circumstances. This is important in ensuring pupils feel supported and prepared for the step up into secondary education. Well done year 7s – we are all incredibly proud of the hard work you have put in and to the fantastic start you have already made.

Our Teachers say:

Above: Hunnie

Above: Carlos, Amy and Charlie

Our Year 7 Students say:

“Our year 7 students have settled in well and we are all very proud of them.”

“When I arrived at All Saints’ Academy I was scared because I didn’t know anyone. Now I am safe, happy and have plenty of friends.”

Riley

Mrs Mitchell Year 7 Progress Leader

“I have enjoyed meeting new friends and all the new and challenging subjects.”

Archie

Address: Blaisdon Way Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 0WH

“At All Saints’ Academy I have been welcomed by all staff. I have made many friends and I am enjoying myself in lessons.”

Alexander

Phone: 01242 711200 Absences: 01242 711203 Email: admin@asachelt.org

“Year 7 are developing into an excellent year group. I’ve been particularly impressed with the positive attitude to learning that they show, as well as the strong desire and willingness to succeed.”

Mr Bradley Assistant Vice Principal

“I have enjoyed making new friends and meeting new people.”

Jack “I like All Saints’ Academy as there is a range of subjects and we can meet new people.”

Ruby

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ALUMNI NEWS

Issue 52, Term 3, 2021

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A ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ time in Sixth Form

By Shana Kelly Alumni

Although it was cut short due to COVID-19, my experience at ASA Sixth Form was incredible. At the start of year 12, I was unsure of what I wanted to do in the future. After being inspired by the drama department, however, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and audition for the school musical. After discovering an instant passion for performing, I was able to change one of my A-Level options to Drama and for the first time, I had found something that I wanted to pursue forever. I was lucky enough to land the role of Eponine in Les Misérables and it was one of the most amazing experiences, developing skills of acting and singing and working alongside such talented students in the cast. As well as this, I also had the opportunity to play Mary Poppins with All Saints and although I was very nervous to take on the lead role, I had constant support and encouragement and I loved every single minute of it.

Above and right: Shana Kelly performing in Mary Poppins and recieving her A Level results As well as shows, I studied for three A-Levels in which I got A,A,A*, with the A* being in Drama. I do have to thank Miss Baynham-Williams for this incredible grade as she always believed in me and helped me in all aspects of school life. All of this prepared me for university as I chose to study Musical Theatre at the University of Portsmouth. I am

loving university, and my course is so interesting. Luckily, I have been able to have blended learning to allow for development in singing, acting, and dancing. The lecturers are all so lovely and I feel I am learning so much week by week. In addition to this, I have been offered many opportunities to be able to perform as much as I can. I am involved in the

university’s production of the musical ‘Rent’, I will be performing in a concert with the dramatic and musical society and I have many chances to audition for shows that have been written by those in the years above.

I am trying to be involved in as much as I can manage to improve my skills of performing and to have fun and make like-minded friends.

After university, I hope to perform professionally and to make everyone proud. I owe so much to Drama at ASA for developing my confidence, pushing me to be the best I can be and for helping me find my passion.

Without them I would not be as confident as I am now with getting involved at university and believing I can succeed within performing arts.

There are so many possibilities out there, anything is possible if you put your mind to it!

By Alex Kapnias Alumni

All Saints’ Academy was a great place to continue my studies into Sixth Form as I felt that, throughout secondary school, it had helped me to achieve the grades that I wanted, and fulfil my potential as a wellrounded member of the community.

My experience of Sixth Form was positive in every aspect from the subjects I had chosen to the teachers.

I enjoyed year 13 the most as becoming Head Student led me to manage many different events within school from a Hustings which I chaired with a fellow student to an ice-breaker we had planned for our year and the year below. However, I enjoyed doing charity events the most. We organised a Macmillian coffee morning to take place for our students and also organised a Yellow Minds day which supported young

people who struggle with mental health. Doing events like this further enriched my time at the academy as a student but also a person.

We talk a lot at All Saints’ about Community. This is a word that crops up and it is certainly one that I would apply to my years at the Academy. This was never more true than my time in Sixth Form where I forged strong relationships and made fantastic memories

which will stay with me for life.

I would like to thank Mrs Costello for supporting me in every aspect of sixth form from helping me achieve the grades I wanted in both Law and Sociology to the opportunities she gave me to enable me to take a significant leadership role amongst the student body. She provided guidance for me when it came to choosing a career path after sixth form, encouraging me and challenging me to pursue my goals. The Sixth Form team are all inspiring and really are passionate about making a difference in our lives. So many of us have so much to be thankful for just in terms of our achievements and the way that we have been driven to thrive by these exceptional leaders.

I had chosen to do Applied Law, Sociology and Business as my A - Level as I thought they would be a good combination which would allow me to access different career paths in the future.

However, I quickly developed an

attachment to Law and all the aspects within the subject. This allowed me to do further evaluations of the world of law and what exactly it means from the court system to different sentencing guidelines.

This had led to me choosing to do a degree apprenticeship with a law

firm in Bristol where I will be immersing myself in this challenging and highly rewarding career. All Saints’ taught me that there are so many possibilities out there to be achieved and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Above: All Saints’ Academy Hustings

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Something for everyone at All Saints’ Academy www.asachelt.org

Issue 52, Term 3, 2020

A curriculum which is second to none, ensuring variety, challenges and fun for all!

By Mr Wilkinson Assistant Vice Principal

The curriculum at All Saints’ Academy is carefully designed to stimulate, enrich, challenge and prepare our students to live their life to the fullest and achieve their God-given potential.

Academic achievement is at the heart of what we do.

Our students study a highly academic curriculum emphasising the core subjects of Maths, English and Science, supported by Religious and Ethical education and Sport.

To compliment this, most of our students study subjects that contribute to the English Baccalaureate: History, Geography, Computing and Modern Foreign Languages at GCSE level. We also offer a wide ranging selection of arts and vocational subjects to inspire our students to pursue their passions and career ambitions in fields such as engineering, film and media, construction, hair and beauty and within the health and social care industries.

All Saints’ Academy was awarded the Cyber First Bronze Award this term, and pupils are excited about the opportunities to participate in a range of activities that will be available from the CyberFirst organisation. Two teams have entered the Year 8 Girls Competition and Year 11 and Sixth form computer science students will be benefiting from a mentoring programme designed to get young people involved in cyber security work.

Cheltenham is at the heart of the cyber security industry in this country and there will be a huge amount of career opportunities available to young people over the coming years. We are proud to offer Computer Science at both GCSE and A level at All Saints’ Academy and we will be working closely with the community to share our cyber knowledge and expertise.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Science team have seen our students produce an outstanding level of work across all year groups. Students are working hard in Biology, Chemistry and Physics to understand the theoretical and mathematical skills involved in our subject. Practical aspects will return soon so students can apply their knowledge to real life experiments. The world today has not stopped us. As Einstein famously said ‘the important thing, is to never stop questioning.’

Mr Chapman Head of Science

Cheltenham Town Football Club Development Programme Study - Train - Play All Saints’ Academy Sixth Form work in partnership with Cheltenham Town Football Club.

The development programme is open to students aged 16 - 18.

The course is run over 5 days a week where players benefit from up to 10 hours of additional football a week and play their fixtures in the English Football League Community and Education Football Alliance League or the AoC College League.

I am incredibly proud of how hard the staff and students have worked in Art and DT lessons this term. Especially the exam classes who have risen to the challenging of working in classrooms without sinks and specialist equipment! The staff have worked hard to adapt lessons to suit the room changes- keeping them exciting and engaging and students’ outcomes have continued to be excellent.

Mrs Bayliss Head of Art and Design

All Saints’ Academy is a proud member of The Cheltenham Educational Partnership (CEP).

CEP is an equal partnership of secondary schools (from both the maintained and Independent sectors) and local organisations and charities.

The values of the Partnership are collaboration and co-operation. The driving ambition of the Partnership is to expand the horizons of young people in Cheltenham and to help them realise their full potential..

In English we have been really impressed with what our students have achieved so far this year. Year 7 have been enthusiastic and imaginative in their creative writing and have whole heartedly engaged with the study of the play whilst year 8 have been putting their detective skills to good use exploring the texts of Sherlock Holmes; they have been particularly engaged with finding out about what life was like in the 1900s. Year 9 started their GCSE curriculum with a bang!

They made light work of unseen poetry and produced some really outstanding assessments. Years 10, 11 and Sixth Form got straight in at the deep end preparing for mocks and did they prepare? Absolutely! Some of their results were truly amazing! In a normal year we would be so proud of all they have achieved and with the additional pressures of the pandemic we are even more overwhelmed by the dedication the students have shown and the quality of their work.

Mr Sheppee Assistant Vice Principal

The teachers here are always very supportive.They reassure our wellbeing is top priority and are always alongside us if we get lost. In the student’s eyes, the path is always clear for them.

I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been offered throughout my time. It has given me a wide number of experiences that I can surely say has changed my life for the better and made me excel to my full potential.

I enjoy the atmosphere and sense of community, knowing there’s someone for you with the right support system, no matter what.

I would recommend the Performing Arts department. The department is always fast paced but fun and helps students express themselves and enjoy their time at the Academy.

Mrs Battershill Head of English

Suzzette Student Leadship Team

Seamus Student Leadership Team

At All Saints’ Academy the facilities are excellent - everything from the ICT to the 3G pitch to the indoor sports facilities.

Magnificent!

I represented my year group at football, and also had the opportunity to play for older year groups which was a great experience.

Tom Chamberlain CTFC All Saints’ Academy Alumni

The Maths team continue to be amazed at the level of engagement in Mathematics by ASA students. We have recently introduced Hegarty Maths as an online learning platform for distance and independent learning and students have already been working through the videos and exercises to supplement their learning. Year 7 have begun a mini project on analysing how much water their family uses in the shower each week with a view to considering how we might take a more sustainable approach in our daily lives. We have also been hugely impressed by the quality of some of the written work done across all levels. Keep it up everyone!

Mr Eglin Head of Mathematics and Computing

The eco-committee has reconvened to carry on the excellent work that they had started before the lockdown, and they have made an immediate impact in terms of the provision of recycling facilities for this year. The recycling bins have now been moved into the year group areas in response to the zoned layout of the school and red ‘plastic only’ wheelie bins have been introduced into all of the outside spaces to make it easy for everyone to contribute towards our aim of reducing plastic waste across the Academy.

The committee has also carried out an environmental review of the Academy and has identified three key areas to focus upon which will be waste, energy and biodiversity. As an academy we will have a whole school drive to focus on these areas and under the student leadership we will be following the Eco Schools framework with the goal of working towards the prestigious Green Flag accreditation.

Year 7 have also been focussing on sustainability with a STEM focus, looking at how to use technology to live smarter.The project explores how to protect and clean our oceans, how to save money and resources through the monitoring of water use at home, and the design of small flexible living spaces known as microflats. Sustainability is the key issue for this generation and will shape their lives and career opportunities, and the students of All Saints Academy will be well prepared to deal with the challenges that exist around climate change and environmental damage.

Mr Sheppee Assistant Vice Principal

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Issue 52, Term 3, 2021

SPIRITUALITY www.asachelt.org

Harvest

By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain

“I was hungry and you gave me food…” (Matthew 25:35)

Harvest is a celebration of God’s magnificent creation, which is meant for all to enjoy. This year as part of our Harvest Celebrations our focus was on sharing God’s bounty with those struggling locally at present to provide enough food for their families. The pandemic has added to a problem which already

existed. Our Academy values of love and service for others were at the heart of this effort.

Each Tutor Group was invited to donate food items for the local foodbank. There was an incredibly generous response from both students and staff. Five shopping trollies piled high with the donations were loaded onto the minibus by the Year 11 Student Leadership Team.

Mr J Burn, Site Manager, and I delivered the items to Springbank Foodbank on Thursday 15th October, where they were very gratefully received. Well done to all who contributed.

Above: Year 11 Leadership Team with All Saints’ Academy Harvest donations.

By Mrs Spence Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) Once again, we were unable to come together as an Academy due to present circumstances and we had to depend on technology to deliver our End of Term Service. It was recorded in advance and was watched by the whole Academy at 10.15am on the last day of term. The service included readings from scripture beginning with the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah foretelling the birth of Jesus, the further scripture passages were taken from Luke’s Gospel and told

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Remembrance

Above: The Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Sergeant Suzzette and Cadet Jack our Service of Remembrance,

By Mrs Spence but as with many events this Roman Catholic Lay Chaplain year our plans had to be amended. So instead the service was recorded in advance in the “This is my command: Love Chapel and was watched simuleach other as I have loved you. taneously throughout the AcadThe greatest love a person can emy on the 11th. The service show is to lay down his life for began with the Academy Prayer his friends. (John 15:12-13) led by Mr D McNiffe and the opening prayer was said Amie, Remembrance is a time to then a brief reminder of why pause and remember those Remembrance Day is comwho have gone before us and memorated by myself which show how much we value the was followed by the Poem ‘In sacrifice of those who gave Flanders’ Field’ read by Captheir lives in service to our tain E Carmichael (retired). country in war and conflict. Our scripture reading was from Usually the whole Academy as- Matthew’s Gospel (5:1-12), sembles in the Sports Hall for read by Bartosz, which spoke about the qualities needed to

truly live out the word of God and that even in sadness, grief and hardship we have hope because of Jesus. The silence was introduced by one of our cadets, Jack and after the silence was kept, wreaths were laid at the foot of the cross by Mr D McNiffe and the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Sergeant Suzzette. Revd S. Walker gave a short reflection on how we can honour those who gave their lives to keep us safe by contributing to a more just and loving world. Olivia, accompanied by Mr Crann gave a beautiful and moving rendition of ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’. Our service came to a close with prayers offered by Stephanie, Suzzette, Jack, Mr D McNiffe and Marnie and the final blessing was given by Revd E Carmichael. All the students who participated in the service were from the 6th Form. Although we were not physically in the same space, the Academy community very successfully joined together in a reverend and fitting manner for our annual Remembrance Service, by the wonders of technology.

Christmas Service

of the visit by the angel to Mary, the birth of Jesus and the good news being given to the shepherds. We had two musical pieces, ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ and a solo of O Holy Night and a drama piece entitled ‘Twas the Christmas in Lockdown’ which summed up some of the events of this

Above: Reece Performing O Holy Night

year and how love and kindness were shown despite the pandemic. We listened to an extract from ‘The Grinch who stole Christmas’ and this was referenced in the reflection given by me, that Christmas is about so much more than the presents, decorations and festive food, it’s all about being together, showing love, sharing joy and remembering that first Christmas, when the Son of God came to be one of us, a light to guide and show us a new way of love for God the Father and service to one another. The service concluded with prayers for our needs and the needs of the world and a final blessing was given.

Above: Courteney, Mr Hornibrook annd Kayne with their snow globe themed hamper donated to YMCA Cheltenham and Springbank Communty Centre; Top: some of our Year 7 students performing.

Issue 52, Term 3, 2021

NEWS www.asachelt.org

Duke of Edinburgh

By Mr Kerr

Business Studies Teacher D of E Leader

A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents.

A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement, respected by employers.

The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.

14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community or environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about

Above: Students taking part in D of E. being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, teamworking, communication and drive,

enhancing CVs and University and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills that Award holders bring to their businesses.

This year we are running a Bronze Group in Year 10, a Silver Award group in Year 10, whilst some of our academy’s finest role models in Sixth Form are taking on the Gold Award.

All groups have been busy volunteering, learning new skills and getting physically fit as well as preparing for their expeditions in the summer. The Covis-19 restriction haven’t restricted our pupils from completing their activities as many of them have been completed virtually allowing for social distancing. Just this week, 5 people in both Gold and Bronze groups have been able to sign off their activi-

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ties and will be awarded with a Certificate of Achievement for each of the sections that they complete.

This summer, if Covid restrictions allow, we are aiming for the Bronze Group to plan and complete a two day expedition with an overnight camping stay, they will be active for 6 hours a day and will be walking for at least 3 hours per day. The Silver Group will take on a 3 day, 2 night expedition in the Forest of Dean and will be walking for at least 3.5 hours per day to get to their campsites. Finally the Gold team will take on the mammoth task of a 4 day, 3 night expedition in wild country terrain walking for a minimum of 4 hours a day. The Gold group will also plan a shared activity in a residential setting for 5 days and 4 nights in order to complete their award.

If you are in Year 9 and this sounds like something that you are interested in getting involved with then please see me, as the Duke of Edinburgh Manager, to register your interest for next year. You can also contact Mr Kerr at rkerr@asachelt.org. Miss Scott-Johnson, Mr Carmichael, Mr Chilman and Mr Rollason are all part of the D of E team and we look forward to a challenging year ahead!

The Route to your Future

By Mrs Cain

Head of Sixth Form and Assistant Vice Principal

This term, we hosted our inaugural Careers Festial at All Saints’ Academy. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students in Year 11 to meet a range of people from a range of different backgrounds.This fantastic event ran from 30th November to the 4th December and was also made available to other schools in the local area.

We were incresibly fortunate to have involvement from an incredible range of businesses including local firms such as Spirax Sarco and GE Aviation. These engineering giants have been longterm supporters of the Academy and have offered their involvement in a number of events over the years so it was great to see them back again.

We were also very excited to have presentations from universities such as Oxford Univerity, University of Southampton, University of Cardiff, and our colleagues at the University of Gloucestershire about the benefits of a university education and opportunities that university

life has to offer. These sessions were truly aspirational and it was fantastic to see our Year 11 students engaging with the concept of Higher Education. These sessions were so inspirational and enabled our students to see how accessible a university education can be, and how rewarding, just in terms of their future careers.

Another highlight was a talk given by a Forensic Psychologist who works in Her Majesty’s Prison Service, exploring a rich and rewarding career in a highly unusual and fascinating sphere of police investigation. Year 11 found this talk hugely engaging and many of them were keen to find out more.

Other talks from representatives within the NHS, the Armed Forces, and key areas of commerce were equally successful. A number of students were taken with a talk from Laura Dugdale who has an impressive career in the fashion industry, representing brands such as Marks & Spencer and Superdry.

Law is one of our most popular options at A Level and so we were delighted to welcome two trainee solicitors from Charles Russell Speechlys who gave an

enthralling talk about their experiences as young lawyers!

We found ourselves well and truly bitten by the Careers bug and we have many more exciting events planned for the future. We can’t wait

to have more of these events run live and face-to-face as well as these virtusal sessions as we move into 2021.

It is great to see our students responding so well to these highly aspirational careers oppor-

tunities. A number of our students have been inspired to develop these relationships through a mentoring program offered by a number of these incredible employers.

Above: A selection of All Saints’ Academy Careers Festival supporters.

To join our Sixth Form!

Apply Now www.asachelt.org

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@asachelt

01242 711200

All Saints’ Academy, Blaisdon Way, Cheltenham. GL51 0WH