As we complete week 2 of term, it has been wonderful to see our clubs, fixtures and trips back into full swing. Students have been working hard to settle back into the routines of the school day, building on the positive start made to this academic year.
Being a positive member of the Whitehouse community is important to all of us at Watling Academy, and I have spoken to students this week about making sure that they are demonstrating our values of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness within our community, as well as at school. As we continue through the cold months of winter, there continues to be an increased traffic presence around the school. If you are driving to the Academy, please take account of our local community and park with care and consideration of others, and where possible, avoid leaving car engines running for extended periods of time. Our car park continues to be incredibly busy, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day – please take note of other road users and pedestrians and remember our drop off bays at the front of the school should not be used for parking or waiting. Thank you.
We are making final preparations for our Year 9 Options Evening which takes place next week, the booklets containing all the option details were handed to our Year 9 students today for them to look though ahead of next week. GCSE options are an exciting time for students, as they are able to make the first significant decisions about their curriculum from Year 10 and teachers enjoy the process of talking to students about the subjects they love in more detail. I’d encourage all students to use the expertise on offer to help them make their decisions in the coming weeks.
There have been trips and fixtures taking place this week, and it has been great to see the school so busy after the winter break.
Our Year 11 Drama GCSE students had the opportunity to watch the highly acclaimed production of “Stranger Things” at the Phoenix Theatre in London. This outing was not just a chance to enjoy a captivating performance but also an important part of their preparation for the live theatre review section of their written exam in May. The experience provided our students with invaluable insights into a professional theatre production, performance techniques, and the interpretation of characters and themes, all of which will be essential for their upcoming exams. It’s inspiring to see our students so engaged and enthusiastic about their studies, and we look forward to seeing the impact this experience will have on their academic and creative growth.
On Wednesday some of our Year 11 students had the privilege of visiting Oxford University. They enjoyed an exclusive tour of Trinity College, engaging with undergraduates in fields such as Medicine and History. The students honed their debating and critical thinking skills in a taught session and attended an insightful seminar on entry requirements, applications, and student life at Oxford. The experience was topped off with a lunch in the grand dining hall.
Also on Thursday evening, we held our Year 11 Shared learning Evening. Mr Brown opened the evening talking to students and their families about the ‘final push’ towards the GCSE exams and Mrs Taylor (Head of English), Mrs Wall (Head of Maths) and Mrs Gallagher (Head of Science) then shared information about preparing for exams in English, Maths and Science. Teachers from all GCSE subjects were on hand to share information with students about how best to prepare and revise for their Mock exams in a few weeks. We know how important it is to ensure that both students and their families have the right information to maximise the time between now and exams, as sitting GCSEs and A Levels requires support from the whole household. Thank you to everyone who attended this important event and the dedication that our families show in supporting our students to do their very best.
Our Sixth Form project is continuing with some pace and I’d like to remind all Year 11 families that applications for Watling Academy Sixth Form close on Monday 20th January.
We have had a positive start to the term and I’d like to thank parents and carers who have supported our uniform expectations and ensured that our students have arrived to school. During this term, we will be introducing new ways to celebrate and reward our students and I am looking forward to sharing these with you in the coming weeks.
Mrs Fry
What’s happening next week?
Key events upcoming:
- Monday 20th January: Y11 Sixth Form Application Closing date
- Monday 20th January: Y8 Battlefields Trip Information Evening
- Monday 20th January: FOWA Meeting
- Wednesday 22nd January: Year 10 Girls Football Moderation
- Thursday 23rd January: Year 9 Options Evening
- Thursday 23rd January: Year 11 Netball Mock Moderation
Sports Fixtures:
- Tuesday 21st January: Y7 and Y8 Basketball Vs Stantonbury
- Tuesday 21st January:Y7, U14 and U16 Girls Badminton Vs Webber
- Wednesday 22nd January: Y9 and Y10 Basketball Vs Stantonbury
- Thursday 23rd January: Y7 and Y8 Indoor Cricket Competition
Updated dates for the diary…
Events in our Community
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