Spring Term Highlights 2023 Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust

Leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out business Tilbury Douglas has been appointed to lead the construction of our new upcoming Wednesfield Technology Primary school, located near Wolverhampton, on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE).

Located on the site of the former Elder School, the construction scheme will consist of the demolition of the previous school before beginning the building of the new facilities, and will be designed to meet the Passivhaus classic standard.

Meeting local authority’s objectives to improve the air quality in schools, the Passivhaus project will have building performance at its heart, using eco-friendly technologies and sustainable, low embodied carbon materials with the aim to reduce energy usage and make use of renewable resources of power to the school. The school will also be constructed using a SIPS design, improving on the building’s fire safety and sustainability credentials. Helping to secure the future of our planet while continuing to brighten the minds of our students with a high-quality Shireland education.

Wednesfield Technology Primary has an expected opening date of September 2024.

It has been another busy term for the Trust Enrichment Team with a whole range of inspiring activities taking place at our schools. Here is just a glimpse of the exciting things we have been doing.

9 Es Excellence Plan Workshops

Our 9 Es Excellence Plan, delivered through Passport to Success, has been generating excellent attendance and interest levels from parents and families at our Trust schools. The plan includes tailored, holistic workshops around personal development, positive growth, and mindset, empowering families to support their children's education while also promoting their own growth. Workshops are currently hosted in our primary schools at the following times:

Monday: Holyhead Primary Academy, 9.00 - 10.00am

Tuesday: Tameside Primary Academy, 9.00 - 10.00am Shireland Technology Primary School, 2.00 - 3.00pm

Our workshops for Lightwoods Primary Academy and Wallbrook Primary Academy are currently hosted online, with weekly online workshops also available to all of our schools on Tuesday evenings 7:00-8:00pm.

Reading For Pleasure Family Book Quiz

In collaboration with our primary schools across the Trust, we hosted the 'Reading for Pleasure Family Book Quiz', where our primary families came together for a fun-packed virtual evening of friendly competition to test their literacy knowledge and win exciting prizes.

The event was a great success, with special guest appearances from children's authors and poets Richard O'Neill, Abi Elphinstone, SF Said, and Jennifer Killick, who shared their love of reading and storytelling with families, including the creative process behind their works.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our event, and congratulations to our winners from Shireland Technology Primary, Holyhead Primary and Wallbrook Primary. Your support for our schools is greatly appreciated and without which we would not be able to do all the wonderful things we do across the Trust.

We were thrilled to see our families and school community come together to celebrate the importance of reading and literacy. Reading for pleasure is an essential part of children's development, providing them with the tools to excel in life and the confidence to pursue their aspirations.

For more information or to sign up for Passport to Success, contact our Family Engagement Manager Mr Donaldson at ddonaldson@shirelandcat.net or visit our website: https://www.shirelandcat.org.uk/support-for-families/passport-to-success/

We celebrated Valentine's Day at Holyhead with a special lunch event for our Nursery and Reception pupils and families! Pupils showcased their culinary skills and hospitality by preparing and serving delicious, healthy dishes. They also gifted heart-shaped biscuits made by them especially for their loved ones. Our school was also thrilled to be featured on the ITV Regional News!

In addition, we had an exciting World Book Day celebration this year thanks to the Morrisons Foundation's generous donation of new books for our library. Partnering with the National Literacy Trust, the donated books had been carefully selected to include a wide range of reading for children, including topics that promote mental health, emotional well-being, and social inclusion. These books will not only support our children’s learning and development, but also make reading a fun and enjoyable experience for all.

This term, our year 3 pupils recently had a wonderful opportunity to express their concerns about the effects of climate change and pollution to Black Country MP John Spellar, who visited our school in response to letters they wrote as part of their Planet SOS themed lessons. During his visit, Mr. Spellar shared his role in the government and how parliament creates plans to address environmental concerns. He emphasized the role of future generations and answered a range of well-thought-out questions from pupils. Since the MP’s visit, pupils have been even more enthusiastic about continuing to campaign for a healthier, greener planet, and we take great pride in empowering them to make positive contributions to the world they live in.

In other news, we are thrilled to announce our year 1 and 2 team won first place in our recent gymnastics tournament, with one pupil winning second overall in the category. Our year 3 and 4 team also did exceptionally well, coming in third place, with one pupil placing 3rd overall in the category. We are incredibly proud of all our pupils for their display of excellence, collaboration, and resilience. Congratulations to all!

This term, we were delighted to receive the Music Mark Award for a second consecutive year at Shireland Technology Primary! This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality music education and inspiring creativity and excellence in our students. We were also awarded the FFT National School Attendance Award for the autumn term 2022, which recognises our school’s dedication to pupil attendance, which is vital for our children’s learning and development.

We would like to thank all our staff and families for their hard work, dedication and invaluable support.

Finally, our Key Stage 2 pupils won golden tickets to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical at the Birmingham Hippodrome! Pupils showcased their wonderful imaginations and creative skills in the "Classroom Creations" competition, with actor Gareth Snook, who plays Willy Wonka in the stage production, selecting the winners. Congratulations to our talented pupils, we are so proud of you all!

We were thrilled to welcome published poet Debra Burtulis, author of "Where Do Wishes Go?" to Tameside for an interactive poetry performance and workshop with pupils. Bertulis inspired and guided pupils in exploring and developing their creative writing skills, helping them build their own writing toolboxes before sharing their works with the rest of their class. Pupils left feeling proud of their work, with Bertulis praising their enthusiasm and the richness of their writing. These opportunities are so valuable for our pupils’ development and for sharing ideas across our curriculum. We are incredibly proud of our children for producing such amazing pieces of work!

We are also delighted to share that, following our recent Ofsted visit and report, Tameside is now a GOOD school with outstanding features in personal development and early years provision. The report commended our ambitious curriculum and high expectations, which instil a love for learning among pupils and provide them with the best opportunities to thrive and succeed. The Academy’s effective pastoral support and focus on early years provision was also praised, with activities designed to help pupils deepen their knowledge and become experts in their own learning. This report is a testament to the hard work of our staff and pupils over the last five years, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank our families for their unwavering support.

Earlier this year, Soki Makaronus, a Representative and School Office member for Wolves Football Club, visited Wallbrook with a special delivery featuring 40 copies of Marcus Rashford's book, "You Are A Champion"! This inspiring and practical guide empowers children to reach their full potential and highlights the power of a positive mindset. Our pupils are sure to feel inspired to reach their highest potential and pursue their dreams to lead fulfilling lives!

As a reward for their dedication to reading practice, pupils who demonstrated the highest levels of improvement and commitment received a blind date with a book on Valentine's Day. The event was enjoyed by all, complete with the children receiving chocolates, roses and, most importantly, their new books.

Our Pupil Leadership Team also conducted interviews for students interested in becoming Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) for the Spring Term. Now in full swing, the PCSO team have completed two training sessions with our local PCSOs and are eager to put their new skills into action.

Our students recently participated in a ski trip to Milan, where they had an amazing time developing their skiing skills. Despite the unpredictable weather, students remained enthusiastic throughout the trip and even enjoyed excursion trips to San Sicario. We couldn't be more proud of their achievements, and can't wait to plan the next trip!

Year 13 ICT, Computer Science, Business, and Travel and Tourism students enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Disneyland Paris, where they designed a new ride for the theme park and developed their design skills. They also gained insight into what it takes to run a successful theme park and the impact it has on culture and tourism. We are delighted that they had such a great time and learned so much from the experience.

Lastly, we are thrilled to announce that Shireland Collegiate Academy has been awarded the 'Excellence in Pupil Development Award.' This prestigious national standard for pupil development recognises the effectiveness of our personal development provision and how we equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in our community. We would like to thank everyone in our school community who contributed to this achievement and for all hard work.

We are thrilled and honoured to receive the HSBC Smart Money Award for our comprehensive and innovative financial literacy program at Thorns. Out of over 500 schools across the UK, our Academy was recognized for helping our students develop practical life skills in money management through a range of activities, workshops, guest-speakers, and real-world scenarios. In the first twelve months alone, we have delivered sessions to around 800 students – an amazing achievement we are proud to have accomplished. The award was presented during an interactive education and awards assembly led by members of the Local Wolverhampton Market of HSBC UK.

In other news, one of our very own students, Mariah, was recognized and presented with the Royal Commissioner Commendation Award from St John Ambulance for her invaluable contributions to the health services through her work with St John Ambulance Cadets and Dudley Groups Hospitals. She even played a key role in launching Dudley Group’s paediatric virtual ward – the first of its kind in the UK. Congratulations Mariah, your resilience and positive attitude is a credit to our school.

We celebrated World Book Day at WBCA with a full week of book and writing-related activities and had a special visit from Young Adult author Danielle Jawando, who delivered creative writing workshops for our students and kindly hosted a signing session of her books for students, which are also now available in our library. Students also tried their hand at poetry, took part in competitions and craft sessions, with year 7 and 8 students dressing up as their favourite book characters and year 9 and 10 designing their own World Book Day themed t-shirts. It was an exciting and fulfilling week for everyone involved, promoting reading for pleasure and providing more opportunities for our students to express their creativity.A group of our year 9 and 10 students also enjoyed a visit to Wednesbury Library for a ‘Careers with Words’ event hosted by Writing West Midlands. They were given the opportunity to connect with people who work in a range of writing related jobs, from authors, editors and publishers to poets, content creators, bookshop owners and librarians.

We were also proud to celebrate student Alissa’s achievement of having her article published in the Halesowen News, which talked about the upcoming Shireland CBSO Academy, which is scheduled to open in September 2023. The article was written as part of The Young Reporter Scheme, which provides students aged 14-18 the opportunity to gain valuable writing and journalism experience, with the opportunity to have their work published in the local news. We are proud of Alissa's achievement and excited to see the opportunities that The Young Reporter Scheme can offer to our students.

UTC was delighted to welcome Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Professor Mark Radford, who visited our students to discuss the exciting range of career opportunities available within the NHS.

Students were engaged and asked thought-provoking questions about the diverse roles available within healthcare and the skills required to succeed in these positions. Professor Radford shared his personal experiences and offered valuable insights into the dynamic and ever-changing world of health and medicine.

As an experienced professional in various medical fields, including anaesthetics, critical care, and emergency medicine, Professor Radford is a respected figure in the healthcare community. He is also a visiting professor at Birmingham City University, where he conducts research on topics such as risk modelling, clinical decision-making, and sociological issues in healthcare.

We believe this visit will inspire many of our students to pursue their career aspirations in healthcare and medicine, contributing positively to the well-being of communities across the country.

Shireland CBSO Academy welcomed West Midlands Mayor Andy Street for an exclusive tour of the Academy ahead of its opening in September. During his visit, the Mayor toured the Academy's facilities, met with staff and representatives from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) to learn about the school's comprehensive music curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities. The partnership with the CBSO will offer young people from Sandwell and the wider West Midlands the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or take vocal lessons with expert guidance from the CBSO's professional musicians. The building design has had input from acoustic specialists to ensure the delivery of superior music learning and performing experiences.

At First Steps, our children have been fully engaged in the theme of 'Frozen', where they've enjoyed various exciting activities such as melting ice, creating their own arctic worlds, and taking frosty winter walks around the school!

In February, we had a fantastic time celebrating the Lunar New Year with traditional foods and engaging in sensory activities such as noodle play and the ‘find the golden coin’ challenge.

We've also made progress in building stronger parent partnerships by creating a pantry for our families and nursery staff to donate items such as old clothing, books and tinned goods. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been contributing and greatly appreciate the continued support from our families and community in making our nursery a better place for everyone.

Our Wednesday bilingual singer sessions have also been a big success and are delighted to offer this extracurricular activity.

Our Pre-schoolers have been practicing their independence skills by putting on their coats, hats, and gloves, and we're very proud of their progress. Keep up the good work!

Lastly, during 'World Week', the children learned about the importance of recycling and taking care of the planet. They also participated in 'Science Week' with exciting experimental activities such as mentos and coke, vinegar and baking soda, and colour mixing.

At Tinywoods, our children have been exploring colours and rainbows through our latest theme of ‘Looking Through My Window’.

They have had an amazing time conducting experiments using skittles to observe how colours can run and mix together and were amazed at how colours can be blended to make new shades. The children also crafted their very own rainbows using felt tip pens, paint and kitchen roll!

It has been incredible to see how much our children have learned and explored with this topic, and we are excited to see what other wonderful things they create and come up with as they continue to learn and grow.