Week 4
I can’t believe we have already completed four weeks of the new school year! With extracurricular clubs back on and a school trip every day, the school has been a hive of activity this week. The school continues to feel incredibly calm and purposeful, with students consistently showing our values of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness across the school community. We would appreciate your support to keep standards of uniform, attendance and punctuality to school high as we continue through this term.
Our first Friends of Watling Academy (FoWA) meeting took place this week, thank you to everyone who is involved with this group. I know that there are many events planned for this year and we are looking forward to hearing more about this in the coming weeks. Thank you to our staff today who took part in the Macmillan coffee morning today, raising funds for an important cause.
Year 11 Geography fieldwork trips
Some of our Year 11 GCSE Geography students took their learning beyond the classroom this week with a field trip to Howe Park Wood, where they explored the health of local ecosystems and practiced a range of primary data collection techniques. From measuring biodiversity to assessing abiotic factors, students engaged with real-world geography in a hands-on and meaningful way. Student work directly feeds into their GCSE paper 3, geographical applications exam. Staff and visitors alike were impressed by their thoughtful questions, careful data gathering, and genuine appreciation of the fragile woodland ecosystem. Well done, Year 11 – a brilliant example of learning in action and environmental stewardship.
Year 10 Smart City Robotics trip
On Wednesday, a group of Year 10 students attended the Smart City Robotics Competition at Centre:mk as part of MK Tech Week. Students explored the exhibition which showcased new technology and STEM learning from both universities and industry experts and had the opportunity to speak to coding experts. Students took in live robot demonstrations, learning about how the robots operate and saw university teams compete in robot challenges. Students were also guided to the Smart City Experience Centre, where they took part in further demonstrations, including a tour of a self-driving bus, and attended a STEM careers talk focused around future engineering opportunities. Students left the event feeling inspired, having had a glimpse into the future of robotics and how they can be involved.
GCSE Art trips
Our Year 10 GCSE Art students had a fantastic time visiting the Tate Modern, where they explored a wide range of inspiring artworks and installations. The trip gave them the chance to experience world-renowned pieces up close, sparking new ideas and perspectives to bring back into their own projects. They particularly enjoyed seeing how different artists use materials and techniques, and the visit has left them feeling motivated and excited to experiment further in their coursework.
Volkswagen Group Visit – Year 12 Careers Session
Our Year 12 students had the fantastic opportunity to hear from the Volkswagen Group in their careers session this week. Representatives delivered an engaging session covering the business and finance side of the company, as well as sharing insights into their own career journeys within the organisation. Students learned about the wide range of opportunities available at Volkswagen, including details on apprenticeship programmes and how to apply. The session gave them a valuable outline of the skills, pathways, and progression routes in this sector, supporting them to make informed choices about their future careers. We are grateful to the Volkswagen Group for inspiring our students and helping them see the exciting possibilities within the automotive and business industries.
That’s all for this week. Wishing you a restful weekend.
Mrs Fry
Headteacher
Sports Results
- U16 Girls County Cup Football Vs Denbigh LOST 6-4
- Y7 Boys County Cup Football Vs Glebe Farm WON 13-0
- Y9 Girls Football Vs St Paul’s LOST 4-0
- Y10 Girls Football Vs St Paul’s WON 5-4
- Y11 Girls Football Vs St Paul’s LOST 4-0
- U14 Girls County Cup Football Vs Hazeley Academy DREW 3-3 Lost on penalties
- Y8 Boys County Cup Football Vs The Grange WON 5-3
Reminders:
Year 10 Learning Pathways Evening – Thursday 2nd October
Year 10 parents and carers please make sure you have registered for the Learning Pathways evening on by 3pm on Wednesday 1st October. You will find more information in the letter on ParentMail along with the booking form.
What’s happening next week?
- Monday 29th September – Week A
- Tuesday 30th September –
- Year 11 GCSE RE Trip to Cambridge Mosque
- Wednesday 1st October –
- Black History Month
- Year 11 PE Practical Mock Moderation
- Thursday 2nd October –
- School photo mop up session
- Year 10 Learning Pathways Evening
- Friday 3rd October –
- Year 9 DTP & MenACWY Vaccinations
Sports Fixtures
- Tuesday 30th September –
- Year 7 Boys Football Vs MK Academy HOME
- Year 9 Boys Football Vs MK Academy AWAY
- Year 8 Basketball Vs Lord Grey AWAY
- Year 10 Basketball Vs Stantonbury HOME
- Year 11 Basketball Vs Stantonbury HOME
- Wednesday 1st October –
- U16 Boys National Cup Vs Northampton School for Boys (NSB) AWAY
- Year 8 Boys Football Vs St Paul’s AWAY
- Thursday 2nd October –
- Year 7 Netball Vs MK Academy AWAY
- Year 10 County Cup Football Vs Aylesbury Grammar HOME
