Academy Update March 2016

March 2016

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ACADEMYUPDATE WELCOME TO ACADEMY UPDATE We have now entered the second half of the school year, and this provides a useful point to review our achievements and look forward to the rest of the year. We focus continually on high academic achievement, but we also work hard to ensure our students continue to develop as balanced individuals who have much to offer our community.

To this end we have been pleased to welcome a visiting Imam through our developing links with the British Muslim Foundation in Manchester. The acrostic displays (see below) in both the School and College sites remind us of our shared values and the importance of caring and tolerant behaviours and attitudes, reflected in the Academy's Code of Conduct expectation to 'respect others and the environment'.

The Code of Conduct is central to our expectations and we continually re-emphasise this with our students. Why not ask your child what they understand by our Code of Conduct, we feel confident they will be able to explain our common expectations.

2014 - 2015

OFSTED INSPECTION On 2nd March we had a team from Ofsted visit the Academy. We were really pleased with how it went as it confirms that we are making the rapid progress necessary on our journey towards being an outstanding school.

Once we have the specific findings we will share these with you. ■

This spring edition of Academy Update is filled with stories of student achievement. This includes excellence in sports and performing arts together with academic success with several of our Sixth Form students offered places at some of the UK's top universities including Oxford. We want all students to aim high and we will continue to provide and develop the means for them to do so.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Peter Kingdom Headteacher – The School James Whittaker Headteacher – The College

YEAR 7, 8 AND 9 PERFORMANCE EVENING Students in Years 7 to 9 came back after half term with a bang on Tuesday February 23rd with a stunning set of pieces in our annual Performance Evening. With over 40 participants in the Bexton Road Hall, there was a wonderful selection of dance, drama and music on display. In addition to work created in extra-curricular dance and drama clubs, we were also treated to some great Year 9 Instrumental pieces, some 007 from Junior Choir and a preview of upcoming competition work from the junior dance company Fusion. ■

AMAZING

OPPORTUNITIES

February half term was anything but a relaxing break for a number of our students and teachers with over 70 students from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 taking part in the annual Academy skiing trip, and 25 Sixth Formers spending a week in New York.

NEW YORK CITY Pancakes with bacon, Hershey’s, Times Square, smoking manholes, yellow taxi, 5 boroughs, bridges, subway, the list goes on. New York City, the city that never sleeps. The 2016 trip was fantastic and students did not let the -26o temperatures interrupt their exploration of one of the best cities in the world. Highlights included visits to the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, School of Rock on Broadway, Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan and 5th Avenue for some shopping. We returned weary and full of cultural experience, eager to go again. ■ Matt Street – Year 13.

SKI TRIP This year's ski trip was to the Italian resort of Folgarida in the Dolomites. 76 students from years 8,9 and 10 had an amazing time.

The conditions were great, with lots of fresh snow falling before we arrived and in the first few days of the trip. The fresh snow meant that the more experienced skiers got to do some off piste skiing with their instructors and the less experienced skiers benefited from a softer landing every time they fell! The evening entertainment saw students winning a Go-Pro, teachers arm wrestling and bush tucker challenges. ■

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION On 9th February a team of Year 9 students attended a Rotary Club public speaking competition at All Hallows School in Macclesfield.

Our team of Matthew Flint, Sofia Chowdry and Myles Reeve were placed second overall, a fantastic achievement. Myles tells us a bit more about the event.

We were asked to propose an idea or subject that we as a group agreed on. In our case we chose to talk about education and its case around the world. We would meet up as a team on Wednesdays and plan at a club called ‘Discussion Club’ that Miss Smart set up.

The competition was attended by a number of schools and a cross section of year groups with even a Sixth Form College team taking part.

Matthew started by introducing each of us and our presentation. Then I talked for six minutes and tried to keep the audience awake with all of this being scored and timed. Once I had finished, I was asked by the Questioner on the spot – “what would you do to help education around the world if you were Bill Gates?” I answered by saying “I would get us to a conference room with plenty of tea and biscuits then discuss from then on.”

Afterwards, Sofia said thank you to all the members there and everyone

responsible for organising the event.

Matthew finished our presentation by closing the subject.

All in all it was great fun and inspiring to hear speeches from other schools.

I even came back with a certificate for outstanding speaker. ■

OPERATING THEATRE LIVE On 21st January we hosted Operating Theatre Live. This was a unique day arranged for students on The Scholars Programme, through which we recognize exceptional talent. Over 60 students from across the Academy attended and the main hall was transformed into an operating theatre.

Teacher Ryan Walker tells us a bit more about the day “We wanted to provide a unique opportunity for our most dedicated and ambitious students to have the chance to experience at first hand what it is like to work in the medical profession.” Students were provided with scientific knowledge together with practical tasks using real surgical equipment. The overall aim of the day was to enable students to gain an early insight into a professional career.

NATIONAL MATHS EXCELLENCE Two Sixth Form students at Knutsford Academy are celebrating after competing in the UK Maths Challenge Senior event for students aged 16 to 18, organised by the UK Maths Trust.

The competition saw A Level Maths students Alex Price, and Rorie Armstrong both 17 progress through the competition to be placed in the Gold Level with the top 3000 out of 83,000. Rorie then received an additional ‘Merit’ award for being in the top 25% of this group.

The day was a huge success, with great feedback from the students. We even made the front page of the following week's Knutsford Guardian. ■

NEXT STEP SUCCESS Year 13 have been busy not just with their studies but also preparing for what they want to do when they leave the Academy in the summer.

Many have been attending university open days and interviews across the UK. We are really pleased that so many of our students have been

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

offered places, with a number at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, including Eleanor Davies (right) who has an offer from Oxford University to read French and German. ■

Rorie, who is planning to study maths at university, explains more “I really enjoy these maths challenges as they help improve and develop my skills as a mathematician and test my ability. They have also helped in me being offered a number of university places including one at UCL. The questions themselves are very puzzling as they test you on a variety of topics so you never know what to expect." ■

99% of A students cademy have bee who applied universit n offered a y place a gainst a nationa l average of 87%

SPORTING EXCELLENCE

TENNIS When not busy studying, or performing a lead role in the Academy’s We Will Rock You, Lenny Turner finds time to support and coach youngsters at Knutsford Tennis Club, where he was recently awarded 'Junior of the Year' for his efforts. ■

GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONS

SWIMMING

The Academy's Gymnastics Team won the Schools North West Championship in January, and will compete in the National Finals in March.

Dan Hulme's (Year 9) swimming achievements have continued at a pace this year. At the Cheshire Championships he amassed an amazing 11 medals including 4 Golds. Dan will now be competing in the North West Finals in May. ■

The team L to R are Maya Ashcroft (Year 7), Millie Marshall, Louis Thomas (both Year 9) and Milana Marsden Taylor (Year 7). ■

ICE SKATING Amy Morris in Year 7 recently won the Basic Novice B at the National Ice Skating Finals in Sheffield, and is now third in the national rankings. Since winning the event Amy has been selected to represent Great Britain at a competition in Luxembourg. ■

KEY DATES FOR THE DIARY 16th March

DofE Presentation Evening

23rd March

Beswick Music Festival

4th to 15th April

Academy closed for Easter Holidays

21st April

Festival of Dance

27th April

Fashion Show

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