Week 10
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On Monday 11th November, we held our reflective minute’s silence to mark Remembrance. This year, we were incredibly lucky to have an excellent rendition of The Last Post played to all students by Mrs Harper, to start our observation. Thank you to Mrs Harper and Mr Parks for marking this important moment in such a poignant way.
During this week, Year 8 had a visit to Whipsnade Zoo, and despite some pleading about introducing a new pet to the Academy, I’m pleased to report that all the Penguins remained at Whipsnade! Year 8 also had a careers and STEM focused enrichment day this week which, alongside other activities, enabled them to talk to local employers. Our GCSE Art students have completed a full day practical mock exam this week, to help them prepare for their assessments that will take place in the summer – well done to all involved.
As one of the fastest growing schools in the country, recruitment of staff is a big part of life at Watling Academy, particularly during the Autumn term, to prepare for the coming September. Having started with only one, Mr Bacon, we now have 226 members of staff at Watling Academy and this number is growing all the time. Since September, we have advertised 31 different roles, including teaching and associate staff posts, to support our growth! I am always incredibly proud to show candidates around our school and during this week, it was a genuine pleasure to introduce them to our students who proudly represent their school. In the last few weeks, we are delighted to have made some key appointments to support the growth of Watling Academy, including our first Head of Social Sciences who will oversee the introduction of Psychology to our curriculum for Year 12 students next year, alongside the continued development of Sociology and Health and Social Care which is already offered for GCSE.
November is National Careers Development month, and here at Watling Academy there are many events planned to support all students with their careers education. Our website features a dedicated Careers page where students and parents can access information about career provision at Watling Academy, including labour market information and careers guidance information. Furthermore, our curriculum subject pages offer insights into how each subject relates to potential career paths, alongside details of what students will be learning.
We would like to ask for support from any members of our community who could help to facilitate Work Experience placements of our students. Our Year 10 students will be embarking on their first work experience journey later this year:
- 10M – Monday 19th May – 23rd May 2025
- 10K – Monday 30th June – 4th July 2025
This is an incredible opportunity for local businesses to play a pivotal role in shaping the future workforce, while also giving students a glimpse into the real world of work. By offering placements, you can help these bright minds develop aspirations, gain invaluable skills, and kickstart their career journey. If your workplace is interested in hosting one or more of our eager students for work experience, please contact opportunity@watling.academy.
Whilst I appreciate that this bulletin gives me the opportunity to share the stand out achievements and activities of each week, I also want to recognise the students who demonstrate our values of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness day in and day out. This week, I have reviewed the House Points achieved by Tutor group so far this year and am delighted to share the groups who top the leaderboard:
- Year 7: 7CGS (Miss Griffiths)
- Year 8M: 8MSNR (Miss Naylor)
- Year 8K: 8KJSE (Mrs Staincliffe)
- Year 9M: 9MARD (Mr Rathod)
- Year 9K: 9KKN (Mrs Khan)
- Year 10M: 10MJHE (Mrs Hardie)
- Year 10K: 10KDGN (Mr Green)
- Year 11: 11BBS (Mrs Brooks)
A massive well done and thank you.
Wishing you all a restful weekend.
Mrs H Fry
What’s happening next week?
Key events upcoming:
- Monday 18th November: FOWA Meeting 6-7pm
- Monday 18th & Tuesday 19th November: Year 11 Geography Fieldwork Trip
- Tuesday 19th November: Year 11 NEA Food Assessment
- Tuesday 19th November: MK College STEM Trip
- Thursday 21st November: Year 11 Subject Consultations
- Sports fixtures:
- Tuesday 19th November: Year 7, U14s and U16s Badminton vs Brooklands
- Wednesday 20th November: Milton Keynes Schools Cross-Country Championships
