The Mitchell Arts Centre played host to a truly spectacular night of music this week for the regional semi-finals of the Co-op Academies Trust Young Musician of the Year (YMOTY) competition. It was a wonderful showcase of talent, starting with a fantastic first half featuring the primary schools before moving on to the secondary academies.
Last term, a group of Year 10s completed an insightful programme of academic sessions at Stoke Sixth Form as part of the High Attainers' Programme. Over several weeks, the group attended seminars covering a wide range of academic disciplines, challenging themselves to engage with topics beyond the standard curriculum and experiencing a taste of higher education.
Three of our Year 10 students, Kaelynn, Iwo, and Amelia, spent their Easter break embarking on the trip of a lifetime to Kenya. This incredible opportunity was made possible through African Adventures and our association with the Port Vale Foundation, joining together with students from other local schools for a truly life-changing experience.
Our Year 8 Scholars, joined by two talented Year 9 students, took part in the Magistrates' Mock Trial competition recently. This was a massive commitment from the group, as the event took place at the very beginning of the break when most people had already started their Easter holidays.
Our Year 7 students headed out for an action-packed rewards trip to Ninja Warrior UK recently, and it was a fantastic way to celebrate their hard work from the previous term.
We wrapped up the spring term in style today with our Easter livestream! For the last two weeks, the Academy has been buzzing with our Easter Egg-cellence event, with prizes handed out every single day. Vouchers, lunch passes, and plenty of Easter eggs were all up for grabs, and it was brilliant to see so many students rewarded for their hard work.
What an incredible day we had for our recent Culture Day! It was fantastic to see the Academy transformed into a sea of colour as students and staff arrived in vibrant outfits representing their unique backgrounds and identities. From traditional national dress and religious garments to favourite football shirts and outfits representing Pride, the variety on display was a brilliant reflection of who we are.
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The first half of our GCSE Geographers headed out to Cotton Dell Nature Reserve today for the first of two planned visits for their river fieldwork. Getting out of the classroom and into the water is a vital part of the course, and today provided the perfect opportunity for students to collect the raw data they need for their upcoming exams.
The kitchen was buzzing recently as we held our school finals for the Co-op Culinary Competition. Our fantastic pairs of budding chefs stepped up to the plate to see who would represent the Academy in the next stage.
This week, we held our very first Family Iftar in the school canteen, and it was a truly wonderful evening. With Ramadan currently underway, we wanted to create an opportunity for our families and staff to come together and celebrate the incredible diversity that makes our Academy so special.
This month, our Student RE Leaders have been busy leading a brilliant new project called "One Change" to mark both Ramadan and Lent. It’s a rare and special occasion to have both holy seasons happening at the same time, and our leaders wanted to use this as a chance for the whole Academy to stop and reflect.
Our latest Headteacher’s Achievement Awards have been presented to two brothers who have shown truly exceptional community spirit. Jack in Year 10 and Ethan in Year 9 were recognised this week for their tireless volunteering efforts and their commitment to making a positive difference in our local area.
