Year 9: From Final KS3 Adventures to New Horizons

It has been a busy time for Year 9 as they end their final months in KS3, but that has not slowed our students down from participating in a range of fun activities.

A number of students have worked with our Author in Residence, Seth Burkett, to help not only write, but design the cover and come up with a marketing strategy for a new book. This book has highlighted the talent that students within the academy have and has been the best-selling book they have written to date.

All Year 9s got the chance to try out some fun team building activities with the army. A combination of physical ability with logic was needed to ensure success, followed by a talk about careers within the army. Finding out the army would pay them to study and train seemed to catch the interest of several students, as well as finding out just how many different roles there are available to them. Students studying the CARPE classics programme had fun going to Greece and seeing what they have studied come to life. Walking around the Acropolis and sampling authentic Greek food, Year 9 lucky students said it was a trip to remember.

Celebration Evening was a chance to congratulate those who excel at going above and beyond, in both House Tutor groups and in different subjects. It was a fantastic evening with a selection of Year 9 students getting their time to shine for all the hard work they have been putting in.

Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students have been successful at both their practise walk and their real assessment. They have certainly proved they can handle all weathers, being soaked for the first walk and a heatwave for the second. The feedback we have received from the company was our students were some of the politest out of the schools they have worked with, which we are incredibly proud of, well done to them!

It isn’t just in school activities our students have been working at, but some outside opportunities too. Grace, Charlie and Zara were specially invited to support the Woman’s Regatta with Dorney Boat club for the day, helping prep the boats and supporting the races. They said they had a great time but worked so hard they didn’t even have time for pictures!

Sydney got invited to represent Berkshire at the English School’s competitions in Birmingham. A passionate runner, Sydney managed to come fifth overall which is an amazing achievement - congratulations Sydney.

Amy-Lee had an excellent opportunity to showcase her artwork in London at an independent art gallery. At Bypass Gallery in Dalston, her work is being shown as a part of look at 4^th wave feminism in today’s world. The opening party was a roaring success, and the artwork is able to be seen until 25 July.

We have ended the year with students receiving their option choices for next year for the start of their GCSE journey. It is a big step these students are embarking on, and we thank all parents and carers for the support they have shown during the options process. I wish them all happy summers and look forward to welcoming them back as KS4.