Dear Parents/Carer,
As we near the end of what has been an unusual half term, I would like to thank students, parents, carers and the whole community for the way in which they have tackled the challenges of this last few months in dealing with Coronavirus and the many issues it creates. I have been delighted by the way in which our students have adapted to the changes that we have had to make in school, and I would also like to thank you as parents and carers for supporting us during this time.
Over this first half term, our largest ever Year 7 intake have made a fantastic start to their secondary school career, building new friendships, developing their Form Group teams, involving themselves in new experiences and clubs, developing new skills and settling into life as secondary school students.
We have been delighted with the way in which our new Year 7 students have adapted to their new school and surroundings and they have subsequently won numerous awards in recognition of their success and achievements both in and out of lessons throughout this term. Students have shown great dedication and passion for learning, which has been recognised through the awarding of high levels of rewards points and numerous ‘Super Seven’ and ‘Headteacher’s Recognition’ Awards, awarded to students for outstanding effort, progress and achievement displayed both in the classroom and at home.
Year 7 students have also contributed well to our wider school community throughout this first half term, taking part in a range of academy extra-curricular clubs, ranging from sports, arts, music and drama, so far and record numbers attending our Year 7 running club. Our Year 7 students have also embraced our offer of free instrumental lessons, taking the opportunity to join our Workington Academy ‘School of Rock’ and developing their guitar, drumming, piano / keyboard, saxophone and singing skills and talents.
Our Year 7 students have also been involved in being fantastic student ambassadors as part of our Virtual Transition Events for Year 6 students, who will be joining us next September.
Year 8 and year 9 have been focusing on the theme of Kindness this term with a range of activities and assemblies based around this during form time. We are currently in the process of writing to elderly people in our community to provide support and spread joy to others. They have also spent lots of time getting to know each other and learning about each other again following the time we spent apart during lockdown and school closure. They have all been extremely resilient! We would like to celebrate the mature and responsible attitudes of many of our year 8 and 9 students who have returned to school and settled seamlessly. Some students have been recognised this week by their form tutors and have received achievement certificates in recognition of their efforts this term.
The year 9 radio club have been fortunate enough to receive their new equipment (which was bought with money raised during lockdown) and they are preparing to broadcast live over the airwaves. The group have managed to still meet each week to plan for the future which has proven to be hugely successful. Pupils from both year groups have joined the after-school running club, which has been very well attended. They are currently giving Mr Holiday a ‘run for his money’ as he is trying to keep up with the super-fit and super-eager members of the club. The music department have also introduced a ‘DJ Club’ for year 9 which will commence after half -term. Students will be given the fantastic opportunity to master the decks and produce their own music. We are looking forward to sharing this with you in due course.
Year 10 and 11 students have settled in with the new ways of learning at the Academy this half term. Both year groups have been focusing on the GCSE mindset curriculum during their form time periods to help equip them with the skills that they need to successfully tackle their GCSEs. This term the students have been focussing on organisation skills, goal setting and developing a growth mindset. This has been well received by the students and we will be building on this after half term and also focusing on mental health awareness and mindfulness as progress assessments and trial exams begin.
Year 10 students have shown resilience as they have started on the GCSE curriculum. There has been many positive comments and feedback from staff regarding their mature attitude and the responsibility they have shown towards their learning. In the weeks following the half term break students will complete end of unit tests to measure their progress.
The year 11 students have been consolidating their learning from the year 10 curriculum and have begun their preparations for the up and coming trial exams which will begin on Monday 2nd November until Friday 13th November. It is really important that the students balance their leisure time and study time during half term, so that they are refreshed and ready to take on the trial exams. In order to support students we have provided excellent revision guides that will cover all of their core subjects that will help them prepare during the half term break. To further support students after the half term break additional period 6 revision lessons will commence, a schedule will follow.
Students in year 11 have been looking at their next steps and post 16 pathways. Some of our students have signed up to Projx work awareness scheme. This is an online delivery tool that will give students an insight into the way businesses are now working and gives them the opportunity to develop a range of skills and explore different interests. We congratulate these students who have really taken responsibility of their own learning.
We are delighted to announce that the West Coast Sixth Form has launched this September, welcoming students to both our Workington and Whitehaven campuses. The number of students that have joined us have exceeded our expectations, as has their ability to adjust to sixth form study after such a prolonged period out of education.
We have appointed our head girl and head boy, Holly Hunter and Alex Nicholson who will lead a team of student leaders in order to develop the new West Coast Sixth Form further and work with the student councils at both campuses.
Students are already busy considering their next steps. Year 13 are completing applications to university and both year groups are exploring virtual masterclasses and the Dream Placement scheme to ensure that they make an informed decision for life after sixth form. Year 12 students have also had the opportunity to meet representatives from UCLAN, highlighting the opportunities at the Westlakes campus in Whitehaven and outlining the medicine related courses that they offer there as well as their wider offer at the main Preston campus.
We acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many of us in different ways and for some families we understand that school holidays can present many challenges. If you are in need of any additional help and support, including access to food during half-term, please refer to the following website, which details an array of advice and support information; https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/additionalsupport.asp Furthermore, information in specific relation to local foodbanks can be found here; https://www.thefoodbank.org.uk/
Finally, I am aware that there have been a number of Covid-19 cases locally. I would like to encourage our whole community to follow all of the relevant guidance and keep themselves safe during the half term break. If a student does test positive during half term, please email head@workingtonacademy.org to let me know, so that I can take the relevant action.
Please follow our academy social media feeds for regular updates on all of the fantastic things happening in the academy.
I wish you all a restful and safe half term.
Yours faithfully
Mr D Bird
Headteacher
