Academy Newsletter Edition 6, July 2012
Welcome from the Academy Principal, Mr R Gilbert Dear Parents/Carers, This is the last newsletter of what I can only describe as a very eventful year. Clearly it is very difficult to summarise the outstanding achievements that we have had this year, but I feel that in my time as Principal of Yate International Academy, this year has been one of the most successful. Some of these key achievements are described in the points below:1. We have seen the new build develop into a reality and we were very pleased to have the keys handed over to us, from the contractors Willmott Dixon, on Monday 9th July 2012. By the time you receive this newsletter, all students in Years 7-10 will have had the opportunity to become familiar with the internal arrangements of the new build; however, I am sure that there will be an element of settling in when all students return back for the new academic year in September. 2. We have seen the successful integration of the Woodlands Primary Phase into the Academy during the last academic year. This development has given the whole community a sense of purpose in terms of education provision for our children. I have been privileged to have many opportunities to work alongside our Primary Phase colleagues during the year and seeing the good work that goes on. I would like to pay tribute to my Primary Phase colleagues for their commitment, dedication and hard work this year. This integration and change is never an easy one but I must say that all staff, pupils, students and parents/carers have embraced this with real vigour and enthusiasm. I look forward to developing this further in the years ahead. 3. In April 2012 we had a very successful Ofsted inspection and you will have received a copy of the report in early May. The validation of the outcomes again gives me great confidence in our ability at Yate International Academy . My personal aim is to now take the whole of the 4-19 All Through Academy into a period of outstanding provision. By the time we are re-inspected I am sure that we will be able to achieve that goal. 4. We have seen growth in pupil and student numbers in all areas. Our Sixth Form broke into a three figure number, for the first time in the Academy‘s history at the beginning of this academic year and the quality of that provision is developing well. We look forward to a number of our Year 11 students returning to the Federation Sixth Form and providing them with the next stage of their education. In September we have the highest number of students entering Year 7 for the last ten years. Also, in the Primary Phase, the numbers coming into Reception for September 2012 are at capacity. Both of these elements show the confidence that you all place in what we are providing for your children and I am very pleased to see that. It is usual at the end of the academic year that a number of staff will leave and move on to pursue other avenues. A full list of staff leaving the secondary phase is included in this newsletter. However, in this editorial, I would like to pay tribute to four colleagues in particular who have all decided to put down their chalk sticks and whiteboard pens and retire: Mr A Lord, Mrs S Lord, Mrs A Hughes and Mr M Walter. I have known these colleagues for a considerable number of years and have the highest respect for each of them. Between the four of them they have taught at King Edmunds Community School and Yate International Academy for a total of 116 years! This is service record to be proud of. I am sure that you would wish them well in their retirement and I really hope that they keep in touch with us and let us know how they are getting on with their future plans. I personally wish them well and would like to pass on my huge thanks to them for their dedication and commitment in their collective 116 years of service.