Week 31
We’ve reached the end of another fantastic week at Watling Academy, and we’re now fast approaching the end of the half term. It has been a particularly busy few days as our Year 11 students continue with their GCSE examinations, including the first full-cohort papers. Their attitude, focus, and determination have been exceptional, and we are incredibly proud of the maturity they have shown throughout this important period. Thank you to families for your continued support, and to our wider school community for being mindful of the exams taking place around the school.
Looking ahead, our Year 10 students will be heading out on work experience next week. We wish them every success and hope they find the opportunity both valuable and inspiring as they take their first steps into the world of work.
Mrs Anderson
Headteacher
Here are some more of this week’s highlights.
Year 12 Students Celebrate Graduation from The Brilliant Club Scholars Programme
Fourteen of our Year 12 students have successfully completed a Scholars Programme through The Brilliant Club after four months of undergraduate‑level study, working closely with a PhD researcher to explore the three pillars of sustainability and ultimately produce a rigorous 2,500‑word academic essay. Every student achieved a 2:1 grade or higher, a testament to their commitment and hard work alongside already demanding programmes of study within school. They graduated on Tuesday 11th May at Birkbeck, University of London, where Janelle delivered a thoughtful reflection on her experience, connecting her learning to her ambition to become a doctor and highlighting how medicine, public health and drug development can be approached more sustainably. Congratulations to all of the students involved!
International Mother Earth Day
Started in 2009 by the United Nations General Assembly, International Mother Earth Day is observed every year on 22nd April to raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change and other threats to biodiversity, and call for more sustainable ways of living. Here at Watling, our Eco-Committee organised a house competition where form groups were challenged to design a poster to be displayed on their door to highlight Mother Earth Day and the importance of caring for our environment. There were some fantastic entries, which conveyed key messages in a bright and engaging way. Congratulations to 7UTN and 8KCGS in joint third place winning 10 house points each, 7CNO (Marshall) in second place for 20 house points and to 8KBRN (Turing) who won first prize of 30 house points and a sweet treat – well done to you all!
Eco-Committee Code of Conduct
Addressing the environmental challenges of today is a responsibility shared by people around the world and our school values link perfectly to considering those challenges and their impact on our community at Watling. Our student Eco-Committee are dedicated to learning more about environmental issues, taking action to be more sustainable and educating and encouraging others to do the same. They have recently developed a Code of Conduct to help students make more sustainable choices, small actions that together can make a big difference. We hope that all our students will follow their example and treat our environment with respect, responsibility and kindness.
Year 10 Careers Programme with Network Rail
A group of Year 10 students has begun an exciting six-week careers programme with Network Rail at their head office in Central Milton Keynes. The programme is designed to give students insight into the wide range of opportunities, roles and pathways within the organisation and inspire them to consider a career in STEM. Delivered by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff in their purpose-built STEM Lab, students will take part in a range of interactive, STEM-based activities to further their understanding and connect their learning to real careers in the rail industry.
Reminders
Lost Property Collection – Wednesday 20th May
Lost property will be available in the canteen afterschool on Wednesday 20th May for students to look through and claim. Any items left after this date will be donated or disposed of as appropriate.
Friends of Watling Academy Doughnut Sale – Thursday 21st May
A gentle reminder that the Friends of Watling Academy (FOWA) are holding a doughnut sale on Thursday 21st May to raise funds to support the school and students. Pre-orders will be available for students to collect at 3:15pm from the canteen area. Students will also be able to purchase single original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts for £1.50 cash on the day.
Sports Results
- Tuesday 12th May -
- U15 Cricket Vs Denbigh LOST
- U13 Cricket Vs Denbigh WON
- Wednesday 13th May –
- Y7 Cricket Vs Denbigh POSTPONED
- Y7 & 8 Pickleball Tournament at Kents Hill Park POSTPONED
- Thursday 14th May –
- Y10 & 11 Pickleball Tournament at Kents Hill Park POSTPONED
What’s happening next week?
- Monday 18th May – Week B
- Year 10 work experience – all week
- Year 11 GCSE Exams AM: Chemistry, Combined Science: Chemistry
- Year 11 GCSE Exams PM: Mandarin, Media Studies, Urdu
- Year 8 Battlefields Trip Information Meeting
- Tuesday 19th May –
- Year 11 GCSE Exams AM: English Lit
- Year 11 GCSE Exams PM: Arabic, Computer Science
- Wednesday 20th May –
- Year 11 GCSE Exams AM: French
- Year 11 GCSE Exams PM: RE
- Lost property collection afterschool
- Thursday 21st May –
- Year 11 GCSE Exams AM: English Language
- Year 11 GCSE Exams PM: Business Studies, Health & Social Care, ICT
- FoWA Doughnut Sale afterschool
- Year 9 MEP China trip meeting
- Friday 22nd May –
- Last day of term
- Year 11 ONLY finish at 12pm
- Year 11 GCSE Exams AM: Home Languages (Arabic, Italian, Turkish), PE
Sports Fixtures
- Tuesday 19th May –
- Year 7 Cricket Vs MK Academy AWAY
- Year 9 Rounders Tournament at Ousedale AWAY
- Thursday 21st May –
- U13 Cricket Vs Lord Grey AWAY
