Heartlines 12

Newsletter Newsletter of Heartlands Academy

Sports Facilities Hit New Heights at Heartlands Academy

W

ednesday 26th June 2013 will forever be a special day for Heartlands Academy.

On this day, many years of planning, upheaval and challenging times came to an end with the official opening of the Academy’s state of the art 3G all weather pitch.

The occasion was attended by special guest, former England Cricket Captain Alec Stewart. The current Surrey coach gave an inspirational talk to the

students, encouraging them to pursue their sporting dreams whilst, at the same time, realising how invaluable a strong academic profile can be.

Heartlands Academy students Lewis Higgins, Jackir Ahmed and Rebecca Yamalimbu assisted Mr Stewart in the grand opening before an impromptu training session with the wicket keeper who scored a century on his 100th appearance for England at Old Trafford.

Mr Ewart, PE

Issue 12 Summer 2013

Mrs Jones’ Diary Summer 2013

made When this summer term began, it mer sum me reflect back to my first A term at Heartlands in April 2003. h muc so whole decade has passed and has happened. ts in Apart from the obvious improvemen this g, din buil new standards and the e summer term has seen so many mor our for ities rtun oppo varied and exciting young people.

These opportunities have been realised y due to high standards of exceptionall g alon ents stud our of r good behaviou will with the dedication of our staff. You e thes t abou read to ity rtun have the oppo ter. activities and events in the newslet ge chan or The end of this term sees a maj

for me as my P.A. Carol Townsend retires. Carol has been working at past Heartlands for 20 years and for the .

P.A my as ten years to I would like to take this opportunity has she thank Carol for all the support her given to me over the years and wish nt. all the very best in her retireme yable To the students, I wish you an enjo as f, staf the summer break and to always, much thanks for the hard work and commitment in making Heartlands the amazing place it is. you To you, as parents/carers, I thank . port sup ed tinu for your con

Mrs G Jones

Recognition and Awards for Heartlands Academy HA - one of the best in the country for student progress at GCSE

H

eartlands Academy has gained national recognition as one of the top 20% of schools for adding value to their students achievements at GCSE. Heartlands Academy qualified as one of the top 20% of schools in England for the progress made by its pupils between their Key Stage 2 results at primary school and their GCSE results at age 16.

Every school in the country has been ranked according to how much value they have added to the scores their students were expected to achieve in their 2012 GCSE results.

This is determined by the progress students in a school have made between their national test results at age 11 and 16.

Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said: “Heartlands Academy should be congratulated for their stunning performance at adding value to their students’ achievements. It is one of the best schools in the country for both outperforming expectations

2

for their students and improving their future prospects. There is plenty that other schools could learn from Heartlands Academy success.

These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team and a vindication of their belief in good teaching, high expectations, and ambition for every young person.

Successful schools like Heartlands Academy, understand the value of data, such as value added scores, in helping to ensure all young people perform to the very best of their ability. The value added measures show how schools make a difference and raise achievement above expectations.”

SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd. is an independent membership organisation that works with schools and partners to shape a world class education system. It represents almost 2,000 members in England.

The company operates with the same broad educational objectives as the former Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

Investors in People Bronze Award

H

eartlands Academy’s latest award comes in the form of the Investors in People Bronze Award. This prestigious title recognises just how well staff at Heartlands are trained and continue to develop in their careers, ensuring that students here make maximum progress. The assessor spent two days interviewing staff from all areas of the Academy, finding out about all that makes them happy in their jobs and getting some suggestions for future improvements.

Feedback was so positive that, not only did we gain the Investors in People Bronze Award, but we will be aiming for Silver within the next twelve months!

Mrs K Smith, AST ic CPD/PM

DISCOVERY CENTRE Mathematics, Science, Health & Social Care.

Maths Club Thursdays Y7

T

he Year 7 Maths Club has had an amazing term discovering Maths through their ‘cake’ theme. Learning about topics from units to ratios and finally enjoying a welldeserved treat of cakes in the end! Teachers remarked that it has boosted students’ confidence levels in their classrooms while the students commented that it was a “good learning experience” for them. We wish the students all the best for the next year and hope they continue to see their enthusiasm in Maths!

Miss Allidina, Maths.

Maths Challenge

Wednesdays G&T students Y7 and Y8

T

he Maths Challenge students have continued to meet every Wednesday as a team to solve mathematical problems. A highlight of the year has definitely been the trip in April to the Big Bang Maths and Science Fair held in the Excel Arena, London. The students learnt about cutting edge new technologies such as 3D printing, controlled state of the art robots and even participated in a live attempt to break some world records!

After the trip, they shared their experiences in two engrossing Year 7 and Year 8 assemblies. As well as all the mathematical fun and games, 30 students also participated in the National Junior Maths Challenge competition. We are pleased to announce that Gabriel Stevens received a Silver Certificate, and Shumaya Jahan and Ismaeel Aziz both received Bronze certificates. Finally, since May, the students have been working with the D&T department to design and create their own selfpropelled racing cars - an excellent example of maths in action!

Miss Zhang, Maths.

enlightening discussion of effective mathematical teaching strategies. We were proud to hear Professor Akihiko say that it was the best lesson study he had seen outside Japan! In fact, the Japanese visitors were so impressed that they invited two of our teachers to visit Tokyo to observe the Japanese system and share ideas on how to improve mathematical learning for students across the world. We are honoured to be working with such talented professionals!

Mrs Ali, Maths.

Bowland Maths

W

e have continued our exciting ‘Lesson Study’ research with the University of Nottingham and Bowland Maths. On the 13th of June, 8MA3 showed off their mathematical problem solving skills whilst being observed by eighteen teachers and researchers from both Britain and Japan.

The excellent efforts of the students led to an

3

Mrs Jones’ Diary Summer 2013

made When this summer term began, it mer sum me reflect back to my first A term at Heartlands in April 2003. h muc so whole decade has passed and has happened. ts in Apart from the obvious improvemen this g, din buil new standards and the e summer term has seen so many mor our for ities rtun oppo varied and exciting young people.

These opportunities have been realised y due to high standards of exceptionall g alon ents stud our of r good behaviou will with the dedication of our staff. You e thes t abou read to ity rtun have the oppo ter. activities and events in the newslet ge chan or The end of this term sees a maj

for me as my P.A. Carol Townsend retires. Carol has been working at past Heartlands for 20 years and for the .

P.A my as ten years to I would like to take this opportunity has she thank Carol for all the support her given to me over the years and wish nt. all the very best in her retireme yable To the students, I wish you an enjo as f, staf the summer break and to always, much thanks for the hard work and commitment in making Heartlands the amazing place it is. you To you, as parents/carers, I thank . port sup ed tinu for your con

Mrs G Jones

Recognition and Awards for Heartlands Academy HA - one of the best in the country for student progress at GCSE

H

eartlands Academy has gained national recognition as one of the top 20% of schools for adding value to their students achievements at GCSE. Heartlands Academy qualified as one of the top 20% of schools in England for the progress made by its pupils between their Key Stage 2 results at primary school and their GCSE results at age 16.

Every school in the country has been ranked according to how much value they have added to the scores their students were expected to achieve in their 2012 GCSE results.

This is determined by the progress students in a school have made between their national test results at age 11 and 16.

Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said: “Heartlands Academy should be congratulated for their stunning performance at adding value to their students’ achievements. It is one of the best schools in the country for both outperforming expectations

2

for their students and improving their future prospects. There is plenty that other schools could learn from Heartlands Academy success.

These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team and a vindication of their belief in good teaching, high expectations, and ambition for every young person.

Successful schools like Heartlands Academy, understand the value of data, such as value added scores, in helping to ensure all young people perform to the very best of their ability. The value added measures show how schools make a difference and raise achievement above expectations.”

SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd. is an independent membership organisation that works with schools and partners to shape a world class education system. It represents almost 2,000 members in England.

The company operates with the same broad educational objectives as the former Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

Investors in People Bronze Award

H

eartlands Academy’s latest award comes in the form of the Investors in People Bronze Award. This prestigious title recognises just how well staff at Heartlands are trained and continue to develop in their careers, ensuring that students here make maximum progress. The assessor spent two days interviewing staff from all areas of the Academy, finding out about all that makes them happy in their jobs and getting some suggestions for future improvements.

Feedback was so positive that, not only did we gain the Investors in People Bronze Award, but we will be aiming for Silver within the next twelve months!

Mrs K Smith, AST ic CPD/PM

DISCOVERY CENTRE Mathematics, Science, Health & Social Care.

Maths Club Thursdays Y7

T

he Year 7 Maths Club has had an amazing term discovering Maths through their ‘cake’ theme. Learning about topics from units to ratios and finally enjoying a welldeserved treat of cakes in the end! Teachers remarked that it has boosted students’ confidence levels in their classrooms while the students commented that it was a “good learning experience” for them. We wish the students all the best for the next year and hope they continue to see their enthusiasm in Maths!

Miss Allidina, Maths.

Maths Challenge

Wednesdays G&T students Y7 and Y8

T

he Maths Challenge students have continued to meet every Wednesday as a team to solve mathematical problems. A highlight of the year has definitely been the trip in April to the Big Bang Maths and Science Fair held in the Excel Arena, London. The students learnt about cutting edge new technologies such as 3D printing, controlled state of the art robots and even participated in a live attempt to break some world records!

After the trip, they shared their experiences in two engrossing Year 7 and Year 8 assemblies. As well as all the mathematical fun and games, 30 students also participated in the National Junior Maths Challenge competition. We are pleased to announce that Gabriel Stevens received a Silver Certificate, and Shumaya Jahan and Ismaeel Aziz both received Bronze certificates. Finally, since May, the students have been working with the D&T department to design and create their own selfpropelled racing cars - an excellent example of maths in action!

Miss Zhang, Maths.

enlightening discussion of effective mathematical teaching strategies. We were proud to hear Professor Akihiko say that it was the best lesson study he had seen outside Japan! In fact, the Japanese visitors were so impressed that they invited two of our teachers to visit Tokyo to observe the Japanese system and share ideas on how to improve mathematical learning for students across the world. We are honoured to be working with such talented professionals!

Mrs Ali, Maths.

Bowland Maths

W

e have continued our exciting ‘Lesson Study’ research with the University of Nottingham and Bowland Maths. On the 13th of June, 8MA3 showed off their mathematical problem solving skills whilst being observed by eighteen teachers and researchers from both Britain and Japan.

The excellent efforts of the students led to an

3

exploration expression CENTRE CENTRE History, Geography, Religious Education, Sociology and Psychology

English, Modern Foreign Languages English Update

A

fter studying Coasts for their GCSE the previous term, it was now time for the GCSE Geography students to see England’s coastal landscape at its best. We took our 35 Geography students to Lyme Regis, Dorset to collect data for their Controlled Assessment data collection.

The weather leading up to the trip did not look promising as fog was forecast all day. When we arrived after a long three hour coach ride, students who

Progress of Students

Y

ear 10 have been busy completing their controlled assessments in history, geography and leisure and tourism.

We are thrilled that the majority of historians and geographers have completed it on time.

Year 8 historians have completed a mock controlled assessment on Life in

4

had not been to the coast before were amazed by the scenery and smell!

We walked the stretch of the beach collecting primary data, such as taking photos and measuring beach height.

We broke up the day by stopping for lunch at the seaside fish and chip shop, finishing with some bubblegum flavoured ice-cream. Lewis Higgins especially enjoyed the sandy beach!

Although it was a long journey there and back the students of Heartlands

the Trenches of WW1. Congratulations to Naa Adei Kotey for attaining a Level 6a for an Outstanding essay. Year 8 Geographers, Aneeka Bashir and Adil Masaud have particularly impressed Mr Shaw. Well done! Mrs Steward has been thrilled with the consistent efforts of budding Year 7 historians Anisa Begum and Latay PennantMcIntosh, while Mr Robertson has

Academy behaved exceptionally, talking to locals and representing the Academy brilliantly. A day enjoyed by all, with a few unexpected burnt noses to top it off.

Miss Fleming, Head of Geography

been impressed with the source skills demonstrated by Amy Sam. Mrs Hussain has faced some thought provoking questions from Haleema Shereen and Haris Javed in RE and Mr Shaw would also like to praise the enthusiasm for Geography displayed

by Morgan Swapp.

Mrs Steward, Head of Humanities For KS5, see Sixth Form page10

The Welsh at Mametz Wood, by Christopher Williams

Year 10 GCSE - Lyme Regis, Dorset. Controlled Assessment Fieldtrip

T

his final term of the year has been frenetic and has seemingly flown by! In the middle of June we waved goodbye to our first ever cohort of A-Level students and our Y11s. We wish them all the best in their futures and look forward to joining with them on results day to celebrate their success.

The Debate Mate Society has gone from strength to strength, representing the Academy in regional competitions, where they competed admirably against much older students. Elections were held to decide on the Presidency of the society, Adnan Hussein, Chairperson Naa Adei Kotey, and Membership Officer Morgan Swapp, whom other students should consult if they wish to join next year.

We now also have a Literacy Club where students from across the school can come and have support with their spellings, learn to develop their vocabulary and learn how to increase their levels and grades. Literacy Club runs every Wednesday in the English SLZ. Y10 students have started their English Literature Studies by studying poems centred around the theme of conflict and students have written their own poems, either on their own or as a class.

Mr Everett, Head of English

Mrs Smith’s 10EN3 wrote this poem collaboratively from the picture of Battle of the Somme that goes with ‘Mametz Wood’.

The Battle of the Somme by 10EN3 Corpses, ashes and fire.

Faces with desire.

Blood dripping from their pale faces Onto the dry, rotten ground Where their bodies have landed.

Bang!

As a bullet chases the screams Of the wounded soldier Cries of our fallen comrades Echo through the battlefield.

Blood. A metallic taste.

Taste the sweat.

Smothering air in my mouth.

Pollution from the guns.

Taste the loathsome blood As it mingles with my breath.

The metallic smell of blood fills the air.

Sweat of soldiers, mixed with fear and guilt.

The tang of salty blood Makes the hairs of my neck Stand on end.

Blood running down my chest.

The spear slipping from the tip of my fingers.

The cold bodies pressing against my back.

Lifeless souls surrounding the air I breathe.

My head resting on a soldier's shoulder.

A soldier breathing his last breath.

His eyes dozing off forever, Never to be seen again.

A spear piercing my leg, Breaking the thin white layer Of my pale skin.

5

exploration expression CENTRE CENTRE History, Geography, Religious Education, Sociology and Psychology

English, Modern Foreign Languages English Update

A

fter studying Coasts for their GCSE the previous term, it was now time for the GCSE Geography students to see England’s coastal landscape at its best. We took our 35 Geography students to Lyme Regis, Dorset to collect data for their Controlled Assessment data collection.

The weather leading up to the trip did not look promising as fog was forecast all day. When we arrived after a long three hour coach ride, students who

Progress of Students

Y

ear 10 have been busy completing their controlled assessments in history, geography and leisure and tourism.

We are thrilled that the majority of historians and geographers have completed it on time.

Year 8 historians have completed a mock controlled assessment on Life in

4

had not been to the coast before were amazed by the scenery and smell!

We walked the stretch of the beach collecting primary data, such as taking photos and measuring beach height.

We broke up the day by stopping for lunch at the seaside fish and chip shop, finishing with some bubblegum flavoured ice-cream. Lewis Higgins especially enjoyed the sandy beach!

Although it was a long journey there and back the students of Heartlands

the Trenches of WW1. Congratulations to Naa Adei Kotey for attaining a Level 6a for an Outstanding essay. Year 8 Geographers, Aneeka Bashir and Adil Masaud have particularly impressed Mr Shaw. Well done! Mrs Steward has been thrilled with the consistent efforts of budding Year 7 historians Anisa Begum and Latay PennantMcIntosh, while Mr Robertson has

Academy behaved exceptionally, talking to locals and representing the Academy brilliantly. A day enjoyed by all, with a few unexpected burnt noses to top it off.

Miss Fleming, Head of Geography

been impressed with the source skills demonstrated by Amy Sam. Mrs Hussain has faced some thought provoking questions from Haleema Shereen and Haris Javed in RE and Mr Shaw would also like to praise the enthusiasm for Geography displayed

by Morgan Swapp.

Mrs Steward, Head of Humanities For KS5, see Sixth Form page10

The Welsh at Mametz Wood, by Christopher Williams

Year 10 GCSE - Lyme Regis, Dorset. Controlled Assessment Fieldtrip

T

his final term of the year has been frenetic and has seemingly flown by! In the middle of June we waved goodbye to our first ever cohort of A-Level students and our Y11s. We wish them all the best in their futures and look forward to joining with them on results day to celebrate their success.

The Debate Mate Society has gone from strength to strength, representing the Academy in regional competitions, where they competed admirably against much older students. Elections were held to decide on the Presidency of the society, Adnan Hussein, Chairperson Naa Adei Kotey, and Membership Officer Morgan Swapp, whom other students should consult if they wish to join next year.

We now also have a Literacy Club where students from across the school can come and have support with their spellings, learn to develop their vocabulary and learn how to increase their levels and grades. Literacy Club runs every Wednesday in the English SLZ. Y10 students have started their English Literature Studies by studying poems centred around the theme of conflict and students have written their own poems, either on their own or as a class.

Mr Everett, Head of English

Mrs Smith’s 10EN3 wrote this poem collaboratively from the picture of Battle of the Somme that goes with ‘Mametz Wood’.

The Battle of the Somme by 10EN3 Corpses, ashes and fire.

Faces with desire.

Blood dripping from their pale faces Onto the dry, rotten ground Where their bodies have landed.

Bang!

As a bullet chases the screams Of the wounded soldier Cries of our fallen comrades Echo through the battlefield.

Blood. A metallic taste.

Taste the sweat.

Smothering air in my mouth.

Pollution from the guns.

Taste the loathsome blood As it mingles with my breath.

The metallic smell of blood fills the air.

Sweat of soldiers, mixed with fear and guilt.

The tang of salty blood Makes the hairs of my neck Stand on end.

Blood running down my chest.

The spear slipping from the tip of my fingers.

The cold bodies pressing against my back.

Lifeless souls surrounding the air I breathe.

My head resting on a soldier's shoulder.

A soldier breathing his last breath.

His eyes dozing off forever, Never to be seen again.

A spear piercing my leg, Breaking the thin white layer Of my pale skin.

5

T

The E-ACT Games - National Athletics Event

L

his term, some of the Academy’s ast month saw the biggest event so far in the E-ACT games. budding cricketers interested in Heartlands Academy’s PE team organised and managed the officiating, attended a Junior Cricket national athletics event for twenty academies at the Alexander Umpires course. A total of thirteen boys Stadium. Over 1,500 students from across the country competed were selected and the training was provided in the event. The day was a huge success, not only from a logistical

by Edgbaston Cricket Ground and delivered point of view but also because several of our students took their by former England opening batsman John place on the winners rostrum and made it a truly memorable day.

Jameson and David Bird.

As well as competitors, Heartlands provided Trailblazers from The boys applied themselves exceptionally Y9,who did a fantastic well and enjoyed it immensely. job running individual The training lasted a total of 10 weeks events. The Academy staff and consisted of both theory and practical and students should be sessions which concluded with an exceptionally proud of examination. what they achieved…Team Special thanks to Mrs Jones, Principal for Heartlands… authorising funding and to the LRC who gave Sunil Vyakaranam, Director of Sport the students generous use of their rooms for the theory sessions. in a day Mr Forrester, PE participate to d n u ro tG lts. The ton Cricke good resu s a h b it g w d E d te to a oys went lso had a ll particip and Y8 b ls. They a he boys a T o 7 . o Y K h n c M e s S v r 8 e le E land’s oth son n and Eng with five le Robert ta il g is u n k q lo a a a P h t f S e o y b of crick sim Akram aptained r, PE reats: Wa am was c g te t e g k c in Mr Foreste n ri c r e win rm fo meet two chance to art.

Alec Stew

Cricket Training @ ECG

6

.

Graduation 2013

Junior Cricket Umpires

O

ur first ever Graduation Ceremony in the new building was a memorable occasion. Alumi Casey Bailey and Rumana Akthtar captivated the audience with their narratives of their life journeys thus far. Casey and Rumana were so different when they first came to Heartlands; one was a bright student who hadn’t quite learnt to fully appreciated the value of a good education and could sometimes be a little disruptive, while the other was an intelligent, hard working student who always gave her best. Today, they are both successful professionals who have attributed their success to the good grounding they received whilst at Heartlands. We have had guest speakers in the past who have achieved so much in their field, but somehow

none of these have been as inspriational as Casey and Rumana. They are living proof that “Heartlands students can!”

Mr Christie, KS4 Phase Manager

Y11 Prom

A

s in previous years, students in year 11 donned their finest outfits and enjoyed a fantastic Prom at the elegant and flamboyant Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham City centre.

The evening began with a bang as year 11 students made their grand entrances in style. Students started to arrive in an impressive array of sports cars and limos. They were then greeted by staff and blinding flashing lights from the camera crew. The ladies looked absolutely stunning in a host of wonderful dresses and gowns, while the gentlemen were not to be outdone in their suits and dinner jackets as they all made their grand entrance on the red carpet. Every single student made a wonderful effort on the night, and they certainly looked the part. It gave all the staff who attended the Prom great pleasure to see the year 11 students at their finest.

As always Patsy Taylor, (Sixth Form Pastoral Assistant) and her team of staff did not fail to deliver; the ballroom was beautifully decorated to match the red carpet theme. The team at the Hyatt did us proud, not just for the perfect location for the Prom but also the tasty buffet and their excellent customer service.

On arrival staff and students were treated to a champagne flute of fruit cocktail, followed by a professional photo shoot by Larry Heath (Reprographics Technician / Academy Photographer) – a lasting memory of the evening. The DJ on the evening was Harvey from Birmingham Crew DJs. The dance floor was busy all evening as Harvey played a mixture of tunes, all selected by the students.

Many thanks and appreciation goes to all the staff who attended and supported the event from start to finish ensuring its success and making it a memorable experience for all. It must be mentioned that students’ behaviour on the night was exemplary, from the arrival of the first limo, through to the very end of the evening. Next year’s Year 11 will have a tough act to follow.

Mr Levy, Y11 Learning Manager

7

T

The E-ACT Games - National Athletics Event

L

his term, some of the Academy’s ast month saw the biggest event so far in the E-ACT games. budding cricketers interested in Heartlands Academy’s PE team organised and managed the officiating, attended a Junior Cricket national athletics event for twenty academies at the Alexander Umpires course. A total of thirteen boys Stadium. Over 1,500 students from across the country competed were selected and the training was provided in the event. The day was a huge success, not only from a logistical

by Edgbaston Cricket Ground and delivered point of view but also because several of our students took their by former England opening batsman John place on the winners rostrum and made it a truly memorable day.

Jameson and David Bird.

As well as competitors, Heartlands provided Trailblazers from The boys applied themselves exceptionally Y9,who did a fantastic well and enjoyed it immensely. job running individual The training lasted a total of 10 weeks events. The Academy staff and consisted of both theory and practical and students should be sessions which concluded with an exceptionally proud of examination. what they achieved…Team Special thanks to Mrs Jones, Principal for Heartlands… authorising funding and to the LRC who gave Sunil Vyakaranam, Director of Sport the students generous use of their rooms for the theory sessions. in a day Mr Forrester, PE participate to d n u ro tG lts. The ton Cricke good resu s a h b it g w d E d te to a oys went lso had a ll particip and Y8 b ls. They a he boys a T o 7 . o Y K h n c M e s S v r 8 e le E land’s oth son n and Eng with five le Robert ta il g is u n k q lo a a a P h t f S e o y b of crick sim Akram aptained r, PE reats: Wa am was c g te t e g k c in Mr Foreste n ri c r e win rm fo meet two chance to art.

Alec Stew

Cricket Training @ ECG

6

.

Graduation 2013

Junior Cricket Umpires

O

ur first ever Graduation Ceremony in the new building was a memorable occasion. Alumi Casey Bailey and Rumana Akthtar captivated the audience with their narratives of their life journeys thus far. Casey and Rumana were so different when they first came to Heartlands; one was a bright student who hadn’t quite learnt to fully appreciated the value of a good education and could sometimes be a little disruptive, while the other was an intelligent, hard working student who always gave her best. Today, they are both successful professionals who have attributed their success to the good grounding they received whilst at Heartlands. We have had guest speakers in the past who have achieved so much in their field, but somehow

none of these have been as inspriational as Casey and Rumana. They are living proof that “Heartlands students can!”

Mr Christie, KS4 Phase Manager

Y11 Prom

A

s in previous years, students in year 11 donned their finest outfits and enjoyed a fantastic Prom at the elegant and flamboyant Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham City centre.

The evening began with a bang as year 11 students made their grand entrances in style. Students started to arrive in an impressive array of sports cars and limos. They were then greeted by staff and blinding flashing lights from the camera crew. The ladies looked absolutely stunning in a host of wonderful dresses and gowns, while the gentlemen were not to be outdone in their suits and dinner jackets as they all made their grand entrance on the red carpet. Every single student made a wonderful effort on the night, and they certainly looked the part. It gave all the staff who attended the Prom great pleasure to see the year 11 students at their finest.

As always Patsy Taylor, (Sixth Form Pastoral Assistant) and her team of staff did not fail to deliver; the ballroom was beautifully decorated to match the red carpet theme. The team at the Hyatt did us proud, not just for the perfect location for the Prom but also the tasty buffet and their excellent customer service.

On arrival staff and students were treated to a champagne flute of fruit cocktail, followed by a professional photo shoot by Larry Heath (Reprographics Technician / Academy Photographer) – a lasting memory of the evening. The DJ on the evening was Harvey from Birmingham Crew DJs. The dance floor was busy all evening as Harvey played a mixture of tunes, all selected by the students.

Many thanks and appreciation goes to all the staff who attended and supported the event from start to finish ensuring its success and making it a memorable experience for all. It must be mentioned that students’ behaviour on the night was exemplary, from the arrival of the first limo, through to the very end of the evening. Next year’s Year 11 will have a tough act to follow.

Mr Levy, Y11 Learning Manager

7

imagination CENTRE Art, Drama, Music

innovation CENTRE ICT, Business Studies, Design Technology, ASDAN Rotary Club DT Awards Resistant Materials

Arts Awards Evening

T

he Imagination Centre held its first annual Arts Awards Evening on the 9th July. The evening consisted of performances from across the whole range of styles within Performing Arts. There were performances from dhol drummers,

A Level Art Exhibition

T

he Art department held its first exhibition evening to celebrate the success of the A level Art students. The students have worked incredibly hard and have produced some fantastic pieces of work so it was really nice for them to have the opportunity to show it to their family members and friends. The exhibition was a celebration of the diverse artistic styles of the group and there were pieces ranging from video installation to sculpture. The work was exhibited in three areas and looked really impressive. Visitors particularly enjoyed looking through the students’ sketchbooks as these gave a real insight into their projects and thought processes. Whilst all the

8

dancers and mask performers and the wind band. Awards were presented to students from Key Stage 3 for Outstanding Achievement in Art, Drama and Music. The final awards of the evening were the Head of Department special awards and these were presented by the Governor responsible for Performing

Arts, Cynthia Spence. Mrs Salter from D&T made excellent cupcakes and strawberries and cream were served prior to the event where those attending were able to walk down the red carpet and view examples of Key Stage 3 art work.

Mr Henshaw, Head of Drama work was brilliant, there were certain pieces that stood out and captured people’s attention. Govan Rashid’s large portraits are exceptional and the dramatic scale of them made a massive impact on the viewers.

Equally striking, is the work of Fajana Haque who explores the theme of decay to produce large scale pieces about how objects change over time.

Naheeda Begum’s video installation is a very mature piece that was also popular with those who attended. The evening was a lovely experience for the students and they are particularly grateful to Mrs Salter who organised the refreshments and allowed them to eat far too many cup cakes. !

Miss Bibby Head of Art

T

he Design and Technology Department have finished this year on a real high.

Ten students from Y10 and Y11 were entered for the Rotary Club Design and Technology Awards. There was stiff competition, as they were up against students from thirty other schools in the area, including the likes of King Edwards and Warwick School. Despite the competition, four of our students went through to the final judging process and Heartlands Academy came away from the awards ceremony victorious, thanks to the students’ hard work and creativity.

This success is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication that both students and teachers put into their studies, as well as the fabulous facilities available that enable students to be creative and inspirational with their design work.

Well done to everyone for a fantastic year, and once again putting Heartlands Academy on the map!

Mrs Salter Head of DT Heartlands Academy Finalists: Javid Zahidi, Year 11 (pictured top) won first prize in the category of Young Persons Award for Ideas.

Faheem Ali, Year 11 (pictured bottom) won second prize in the category of Young Persons Award for Design and Craftsmanship Daanish Hussain ,Year 11 recieved a Certificate of Merit for his design work.

Rawa Ali Year, 10 recieved a Certificate of Merit for his design work.

9

imagination CENTRE Art, Drama, Music

innovation CENTRE ICT, Business Studies, Design Technology, ASDAN Rotary Club DT Awards Resistant Materials

Arts Awards Evening

T

he Imagination Centre held its first annual Arts Awards Evening on the 9th July. The evening consisted of performances from across the whole range of styles within Performing Arts. There were performances from dhol drummers,

A Level Art Exhibition

T

he Art department held its first exhibition evening to celebrate the success of the A level Art students. The students have worked incredibly hard and have produced some fantastic pieces of work so it was really nice for them to have the opportunity to show it to their family members and friends. The exhibition was a celebration of the diverse artistic styles of the group and there were pieces ranging from video installation to sculpture. The work was exhibited in three areas and looked really impressive. Visitors particularly enjoyed looking through the students’ sketchbooks as these gave a real insight into their projects and thought processes. Whilst all the

8

dancers and mask performers and the wind band. Awards were presented to students from Key Stage 3 for Outstanding Achievement in Art, Drama and Music. The final awards of the evening were the Head of Department special awards and these were presented by the Governor responsible for Performing

Arts, Cynthia Spence. Mrs Salter from D&T made excellent cupcakes and strawberries and cream were served prior to the event where those attending were able to walk down the red carpet and view examples of Key Stage 3 art work.

Mr Henshaw, Head of Drama work was brilliant, there were certain pieces that stood out and captured people’s attention. Govan Rashid’s large portraits are exceptional and the dramatic scale of them made a massive impact on the viewers.

Equally striking, is the work of Fajana Haque who explores the theme of decay to produce large scale pieces about how objects change over time.

Naheeda Begum’s video installation is a very mature piece that was also popular with those who attended. The evening was a lovely experience for the students and they are particularly grateful to Mrs Salter who organised the refreshments and allowed them to eat far too many cup cakes. !

Miss Bibby Head of Art

T

he Design and Technology Department have finished this year on a real high.

Ten students from Y10 and Y11 were entered for the Rotary Club Design and Technology Awards. There was stiff competition, as they were up against students from thirty other schools in the area, including the likes of King Edwards and Warwick School. Despite the competition, four of our students went through to the final judging process and Heartlands Academy came away from the awards ceremony victorious, thanks to the students’ hard work and creativity.

This success is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication that both students and teachers put into their studies, as well as the fabulous facilities available that enable students to be creative and inspirational with their design work.

Well done to everyone for a fantastic year, and once again putting Heartlands Academy on the map!

Mrs Salter Head of DT Heartlands Academy Finalists: Javid Zahidi, Year 11 (pictured top) won first prize in the category of Young Persons Award for Ideas.

Faheem Ali, Year 11 (pictured bottom) won second prize in the category of Young Persons Award for Design and Craftsmanship Daanish Hussain ,Year 11 recieved a Certificate of Merit for his design work.

Rawa Ali Year, 10 recieved a Certificate of Merit for his design work.

9

Commumity and Business Partnerships

NEWS FROM THE SIXTH FORM End of Term Barbecue

F

riday 5th July saw the leavers’ barbecue for Year 13. After the hard work and stress involved in completing their A Level exams and BTEC assignments, it was time to say goodbye. We wish our students a relaxing summer break before we meet again in August for results day and the start of the next, exciting chapter in their lives.

We hope that once they are settled in university life they can find the time to come back and share their experiences with the new Year 12s.

Mr King Head of Sixth Form

Culture show

T

he Culture Show was an enriching event produced

by Rahimeen Abbas and Idman Hussein - sixth formers at the Heartlands Academy. The show took place on the 2nd of July in the Academy’s main hall, and incorporated a wealth of students from a variety of year groups, alongside members of staff, who were all very keen to showcase their culture. The reasoning behind this Culture Show was to celebrate the diverse range of cultures and ethnicities of the Academy whilst also raising money for Save The Children. Another aim was to demonstrate to younger students that if they have an idea, they should take the initiative and act on it, instead of relying on teachers. An essential part

10

of the show’s success was the way in which it was delivered.

It was hosted

by Salma Cali in Year 13, and included numerous acts as well as a vibrant (and hilarious!) fashion show. To curb the appetite of the audience, cultural food was provided at the end of the evening. Approximately £380 was raised for Save The Children. The show received glowing reports throughout the whole Academy. Thank you to all who participated and supported this wonderful evening. .

Idman and Rahimeen

A Level Coursework

Y

ear 12 have been preparing for their first A2 units, which include coursework for history and data collection in Birmingham city centre for geography. The History students are excited to have been given the opportunity to focus on topics/countries of their own personal interest, which means that they are studying China, India, America, Russia, France, the Middle East, Witches in Tudor England, the Ottoman Empire and Spain.

Mrs Stewart Head of Humanities

If you would like information about: • primary school transition

• Heartlands Academy events • parenting support programmes • community partnership work

contact:

Mrs Rachel Buckingham Community Director

Heartlands Academy No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QR 0121 464 5530 r.buckingham@heartlands-academy.org.uk

Deloitte Partnership Project

H

eartlands Academy values its business partnership with Deloitte as it provides opportunities for students to gain knowledge of the world of work and understand employers’ expectations.

Deloitte successfully prepares students for the world of work and informs Heartlands staff of the skills students require to be employable in the 21st century. This valuable knowledge has enabled Heartlands Academy to tailor a creative curriculum which includes developing students’ soft skills which historically have been difficult to measure.

The project provided by Deloitte through the CBI requires students to sign up to after school business enterprise classes one day a week for a period of twenty weeks. During this time, Deloitte provides professional enterprise training.

Devised by Mark Simpson - an Assistant Director in Deloitte Corporate Finance, the project required the students to role play as financial consultants bidding to provide advice on income generation and cost reduction at “XYZ” Academy.

Students were required to produce a proposal document which was later presented to a panel. Deloitte delivered a series of interactive training sessions, providing students with the foundation from which to develop these skills and apply them during the project.

Rachel Buckingham, the Community Director at Heartlands Academy, led the school team and said: “The programme has been invaluable for their personal development. It has also supported my knowledge of the employability qualities and skills required in the private sector. The students were overwhelmed by the presentation day and want to continue working with Deloitte. They are so proud of their achievements.”

Mrs Jones, the Academy Principal, was really impressed when the students arrived back at the academy; “they were extremely high on adrenalin!”

All of the students received a certificate for their personal record of achievement (ROA) as well as valuable knowledge of skills required to seek employment within a professional organisation.

Rachel Buckinham, Community Director Deloitte Enterprise Students 2013 Ahmed Osman, 10 VAH Faisal Hoque, 10 SLD Samuer Ahmed, 10 HUS Ahmed Mustafa, 10 HNA Abdirahman Mohamoud, 10 HUS

Heartlands Academy and Deloitte would like to congratulate the students that took part and successfully completed their project proposals and presentations.

We would like to especially congratulate Syann Beaumont, Ayeisha Siniara and Gabrialle Mills who came up with the overall winning project idea. All three students received personal vouchers and a trophy. Well done!

Adeel Shahzad, 10 HMS Amin Hussain, 10 SLD Abdihafid Abdirahman, 10 HNA Syann Beaumont, 10 HEM Ayeisha Siniara, 10 ROB Gabrielle Mills, 10 ROB

11

Commumity and Business Partnerships

NEWS FROM THE SIXTH FORM End of Term Barbecue

F

riday 5th July saw the leavers’ barbecue for Year 13. After the hard work and stress involved in completing their A Level exams and BTEC assignments, it was time to say goodbye. We wish our students a relaxing summer break before we meet again in August for results day and the start of the next, exciting chapter in their lives.

We hope that once they are settled in university life they can find the time to come back and share their experiences with the new Year 12s.

Mr King Head of Sixth Form

Culture show

T

he Culture Show was an enriching event produced

by Rahimeen Abbas and Idman Hussein - sixth formers at the Heartlands Academy. The show took place on the 2nd of July in the Academy’s main hall, and incorporated a wealth of students from a variety of year groups, alongside members of staff, who were all very keen to showcase their culture. The reasoning behind this Culture Show was to celebrate the diverse range of cultures and ethnicities of the Academy whilst also raising money for Save The Children. Another aim was to demonstrate to younger students that if they have an idea, they should take the initiative and act on it, instead of relying on teachers. An essential part

10

of the show’s success was the way in which it was delivered.

It was hosted

by Salma Cali in Year 13, and included numerous acts as well as a vibrant (and hilarious!) fashion show. To curb the appetite of the audience, cultural food was provided at the end of the evening. Approximately £380 was raised for Save The Children. The show received glowing reports throughout the whole Academy. Thank you to all who participated and supported this wonderful evening. .

Idman and Rahimeen

A Level Coursework

Y

ear 12 have been preparing for their first A2 units, which include coursework for history and data collection in Birmingham city centre for geography. The History students are excited to have been given the opportunity to focus on topics/countries of their own personal interest, which means that they are studying China, India, America, Russia, France, the Middle East, Witches in Tudor England, the Ottoman Empire and Spain.

Mrs Stewart Head of Humanities

If you would like information about: • primary school transition

• Heartlands Academy events • parenting support programmes • community partnership work

contact:

Mrs Rachel Buckingham Community Director

Heartlands Academy No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QR 0121 464 5530 r.buckingham@heartlands-academy.org.uk

Deloitte Partnership Project

H

eartlands Academy values its business partnership with Deloitte as it provides opportunities for students to gain knowledge of the world of work and understand employers’ expectations.

Deloitte successfully prepares students for the world of work and informs Heartlands staff of the skills students require to be employable in the 21st century. This valuable knowledge has enabled Heartlands Academy to tailor a creative curriculum which includes developing students’ soft skills which historically have been difficult to measure.

The project provided by Deloitte through the CBI requires students to sign up to after school business enterprise classes one day a week for a period of twenty weeks. During this time, Deloitte provides professional enterprise training.

Devised by Mark Simpson - an Assistant Director in Deloitte Corporate Finance, the project required the students to role play as financial consultants bidding to provide advice on income generation and cost reduction at “XYZ” Academy.

Students were required to produce a proposal document which was later presented to a panel. Deloitte delivered a series of interactive training sessions, providing students with the foundation from which to develop these skills and apply them during the project.

Rachel Buckingham, the Community Director at Heartlands Academy, led the school team and said: “The programme has been invaluable for their personal development. It has also supported my knowledge of the employability qualities and skills required in the private sector. The students were overwhelmed by the presentation day and want to continue working with Deloitte. They are so proud of their achievements.”

Mrs Jones, the Academy Principal, was really impressed when the students arrived back at the academy; “they were extremely high on adrenalin!”

All of the students received a certificate for their personal record of achievement (ROA) as well as valuable knowledge of skills required to seek employment within a professional organisation.

Rachel Buckinham, Community Director Deloitte Enterprise Students 2013 Ahmed Osman, 10 VAH Faisal Hoque, 10 SLD Samuer Ahmed, 10 HUS Ahmed Mustafa, 10 HNA Abdirahman Mohamoud, 10 HUS

Heartlands Academy and Deloitte would like to congratulate the students that took part and successfully completed their project proposals and presentations.

We would like to especially congratulate Syann Beaumont, Ayeisha Siniara and Gabrialle Mills who came up with the overall winning project idea. All three students received personal vouchers and a trophy. Well done!

Adeel Shahzad, 10 HMS Amin Hussain, 10 SLD Abdihafid Abdirahman, 10 HNA Syann Beaumont, 10 HEM Ayeisha Siniara, 10 ROB Gabrielle Mills, 10 ROB

11

Opening Times Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm NEW Late Opening for Sixth Form Students Mon - Thu: until 7pm

E Library Service

Heartlands Academy is offering all students and staff a new E Library service. No Fees, automatic returns and no lost books. See the LRC for more information or simply log in to the following website and start borrowing:

http://heartlandslrc.lib.overdrive.com/

Calendar 2013/14 Autumn Term Teacher Days

Monday 2 + Tuesday 3 September (closed to students) Term Starts Wednesday 3 September

(for students) Half Term

Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November

Teacher day Thursday 14 November

(closed to students) Term Ends Friday 20 December

Spring Term Term Starts Monday 6 January

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PARENTS Parents are asked not to use the staff car park as a drop-off point for students as it causes dangerous congestion.

Thank you.

Year 11 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 6 February Half Term

Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February

Teacher day Monday 24 February

(closed to students) Sixth Form Parents’ Evening

Thursday 6 March Year 9 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 27 March

11-18 • Specialisms in Sport and Mathematics Heartlands Academy, No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QR Tel: 0121 464 3931 • Principal: Mrs G Jones

www.heartlands-academy.org.uk

Term Ends Friday 11April

Other Important Dates August 15th - A level results day.

Results can be collected from 9:30am in the Sixth Form Centre.

August 22nd - GCSE results day.

Results can be collected from 9:30am in the main Academy building.

G N I N E V 2013

ESeptember N E P O sday 17 7:00pm th

Tue

m-

5:00p

“Students are able to learn exceptionally well because there is a positive climate for learning across the whole academy...“

Follow us on TWITTER @Heartlands_Acad 12

August 22nd - Year 12 enrolment Taking place in the main Academy building.

Academy Uniform Academy Uniform can be purchased from: Gogna School-wear and Sport Ltd, 67/69 Rookery Road, Handworth, Birmingham B21 9QU. Tel: 0121 523 5572.

Heartlands Academy Uniform selling days are: Tuesday 23rd July - Thursday 25th July 10:00am - 2:00pm.

© July 2013 Heartlands Academy, No 10 Great Francis Street, Birmingham B7 4QR