We would like to congratulate all of our students on their recent examination success. Results this year are among the best the Academy has ever seen with 81% of students achieving a pass grade in either English literature or language, 72% achieving pass grades in maths, nearly 70% of students attaining pass grades in both English and Maths, and 72% of students attaining pass grades in two or more Sciences.
There have also been some exceptional individual performances with a significant number of our students attaining grades equivalent to A/A* or above (the new grade 9) in all or nearly all of their subjects. This performance has been against a background of new and significantly tougher exams. Well done to all.Your hard work and resilience have paid off.
PHOTOS – CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Today saw the day our Y13 students had been waiting for. After 2 years of hard work, dedication and resilience, they collected their A level results and we couldn’t be more proud of them. They have worked relentlessly at these challenging qualifications and are now going of follow their dreams. Many are going to Universities such as Cambridge, Durham, Manchester and Newcastle to study wide ranging subjects such as Law, Nursing, Games Design and Town Planning. Others are taking on apprenticeships and employment. Several of our students are attending prestigious Performing Arts Institutions, for example Laine Theatre of Arts. We would like to say a huge congratulations to each and every one of you and wish you much success in your future. Well done.
PHOTOS – CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Last week, Mr McConway and Ms Emmerson took a group of ten of our Year 11 students to Uganda on an International Inspiration trip. Our young leaders were collaborating with a group of Ugandan students to share cultural experiences, plan and develop a sports festival, and to visit a range of primary schools to observe the education system and the way that people live. They also went on safari and experienced a range of Ugandan traditions.
Our students had an incredible time and we are so proud of the mature way they represented the school. They learnt so much from their experiences, and we strongly feel that this will be a trip that they will remember and value always, and one that has helped to shape them into even more thoughtful and kind individuals. They made such mature comments about what they had learnt and how grateful they feel for their education. What a fantastic, enlightening and empowering way to end a school year.
CLICK ON TABS TO SEE PHOTOS FROM EACH DAY OF THE TRIP
Alex Brown Year 8 attended the Great Britain National final yesterday, which he
previously qualified for, representing the North. Top 8 in GB, which is
great achievement.
Alex tumbled well yesterday, but so did everyone else and there was nothing
in it, Alex came 7th with 75 points and the first place obtained 77 points.
We are very proud of him and to achieve top 8 out of the whole country is
amazing.
CLICK ON VIDEO TO VIEW
Last week, Mr Mead and I had the pleasure of taking a group of year 9 girls on the Innovation Trail that is part of the Great Exhibition of the North. The trail is intended as a showcase of designers, engineers, businesses and many others who are from Northern England and are, or were, outstanding and extraordinary in their fields. We certainly saw many innovative ideas from the past and present at our various stops.
Starting at the Old Post Office, now owned by NBS, a company who provide software to the construction industry, where we were able to use computers and tablets to explore both the Old Post Office itself and a number of building that NBS software had been used to design. The girls were particularly skilled at software to design their own buildings, impressing me and the member of NBS staff talking to us.
Our next stop was to Ryder Architecture, Cooper studios for Horse to Hyperloop: the Evolution of Design. The building itself was beautifully restored keeping a number of its original features such as a ladies viewing platform for the horse auctions that took place when the building first opened. The students designed their own vehicles to place in a pod that was soon whizzing round the room in a model of the Hyperloop. It is estimated that in the future we will be able to travel from Newcastle to Liverpool in 35 minutes rather than 3 hours as it currently takes on a train.
We continued our journey to the Lit and Phil then the mining institute next door to it. We learnt a little about the history of Swan and his light bulb then saw a new, longer lasting, much more efficient lightbulb that used graphene for its filament. The girls were very impressed by the gallery library, exploring the different sections and observing some of the unusual artefacts the Lit and Phil have had donated to them over the years. The Lego display, of places, people and inventions from the North, at the Mining Institute captivated us all. There were a number of things that we hadn’t realised were created in the North such as Meccano and crosswords. Our students then recorded a message to the future, stating what changes they would make to save the future. The recording machine printed a soundwave of the recording with its own unique number, which could be used on Instagram to hear the recording played back.
Upstairs in the Mining Institute we investigated an exhibition created to promote civil engineering. We were very impressed by software that projected an image of contour lines on mounds of sand. The idea behind it being that engineers can shape sand to represent the topography of an area they are going to build on to ensure the building would be viable. When the students wiggled their fingers under the sensor rain was projected onto the sand, filling low lying places indicating if any buildings were liable to flooding.
Our final stop was the Discovery Museum, where in addition to exploring the science zone, we were given a talk about the history of the infamous Stephenson’s Rocket. We learnt how the steam engine worked, adaptations that took place during its working life and about the Rainhill Trials.
All of the students were very polite, actively engaged with all of the activities and were a complete pleasure to be with. The exhibition is on until 9th September and well worth a visit. All of the displays we saw, as well as many others are free.
Mrs Robson
CATS PERFORMANCE PHOTOS – CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Get Safe Online – The UK’s leading awareness resource helping protect people, finances, devices and businesses from fraud, abuse and other issues encounted online – is warning the public about buying online for prom night.
Parents and prom-goers are being warned to be on their guard when ordering items online, as many have found disappointment in the past, and many will no doubt do so again this year.
Their warning concerns dresses and limousines – two of the items most commonly ordered online. Every year, they witness an increase in complaints about dress purchases, where the high price of prom dresses and accessories in retail stores is likely to drive teenagers to search for cheaper alternatives online. The dresses delivered from some websites are often very different from those advertised, with complaints received by Trading Standards relating to incorrect garments being received, poor quality materials, or dresses arriving after the event has taken place, despite being ordered in ample time. In some cases, the goods advertised do not exist at all … a case of pure fraud. Many such websites, despite appearing to be UK-based, are based in the Far East, meaning that you have virtually no rights in the event of one of the above issues.
For further details visit www.getsafeonline.org and select ‘News’.
In May we took 11 of our Year 12 Science students to visit the Large HADRON Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The LHC consists of a 27-kilometre ring of superconducting magnets with a number of accelerating structures to boost the energy of the particles along the way.
During their visit the students received a lecture on the work of CERN from one of the Engineers working on the LHC before one of the particle Physicists took them for a tour. During the tour the students visited the Synchrocyclotron, the first accelerator built at CERN (pictured). The 600 MeV Synchrocyclotron (SC), built in 1957, provided beams for CERN’s first experiments in particle and nuclear physics. In 1964, this machine started to concentrate on nuclear physics alone, leaving particle physics to the newer and much more powerful Proton Synchrotron (PS).
After this the students visited the ATLAS experiment. ATLAS is one of two general-purpose detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It investigates a wide range of physics, from the search for the Higgs boson to extra dimensions and particles that could make up dark matter. Although it has the same scientific goals as the CMS experiment, it uses different technical solutions and a different magnet-system design.
After their tour the students were able to have a look around the Microcosm, the CERN visitors centre and experience a more hands on approach to the work that was carried out.
During the trip the students also got the chance to explore the historic old town of Geneva including the Reformation Wall, the Cathedral of St. Pierre, and the L’ancien arsenal (pictured).
The trip ended with a quick pop over the border to France and a trip up the Mont-Salève cable car before a nice walk.
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
One of our Y12 students, Daniel Wales, has had his first taste of sport’s journalism success with his first article being published in Newcastle United’s Fanzine, True Faith. (issue 138)
We would like to congratulate Daniel on his publication and wish him success as he continues to write and pursue a sports journalism career.
DANIELS ARTICLE BELOW
We are pleased to announce Sophie Ovington of year 9 as the winner of the Short Story Writing Competition launched as part of our World Book Day celebrations.
Sophie’s story centred on the theme of a family photograph, and raised lots of intriguing questionsabout a daughter who reminisces over the image, her memories leading her to question her family’s true identity.
An enticing and mysterious plot combined with some excellent description gave Sophie’s entry the edge.
Congratulations to all who took the time and effort to participate in the competition. It was a
pleasure to read such imaginative short stories.
Read Sophie’s story below.
READ SOPHIE’S SHORT STORY ‘THE FAMILY PORTRAIT’
We’ve been speaking to school leavers just like you about the choices you face.
Should you go to uni? Will not having a degree hold you back?
Will you progress as quickly, and go as far, if you go straight into work?
These are big decisions and it’s important to make the right choice for you.
To support you with your decision making, we’re excited to be hosting an insight evening at Northumbria University Business School on 19th March 2018, 6-8pm.
This event is open to students, teachers and parents exploring the world of work.
During this event, you’ll learn about EY, the wide variety of programmes we have on offer as well as the five key skills we think you’ll need to succeed in the future workplace. You’ll also gain the opportunity to meet some of our current apprentices.
Unfortunately due to an office refurbishment we have had to hold this event off site but we will still be covering all apprenticeship options for students after A Level, as well as demonstrating our fantastic partnership with Northumbria University.
Visit our website now and register to attend.
