SLT Update
It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of another half term and for once the weather appears to be on our side as we head into a week's break. It was great today to award Caeli 9 with a non-uniform day due to them achieving 12 attendance challenge cards in the attendance tutor competition. The fact that this coincided with such lovely weather made this a particularly good reward for them. After half term pupils in Years 7-10 will be undertaking their assessments. Information on how to revise has already been sent home this academic year and your child's teachers will have been speaking to them about what to revise. Please talk to your child about how they like to revise and support them with this so they can perform to the best of their ability. I hope that you have a lovely half term and we look forward to welcoming the pupils back on June 1st.
Miss Milligan, Principal
Why We Do What We Do & Table Talk
This week we have joined these two topics together. Please have a discussion about energy drinks over the dinner table and how they impact the body.
Energy drinks are banned from school. We do this because of the negative impact they have on students' health, well-being and ability to work effectively. Please see the image below detailing some facts about them.
Painting Opportunity for Your Student
Bourne United Charities are currently organising a painting competition based on the landscapes and scenery of Bourne, and would love to invite your children to take part. The competition is aimed at encouraging creativity and celebrating our local area through art. They are reaching out to local schools, youth groups, Scouts, Guides, and community organisations to see if there may be interest in participating. I have attached posters and information explaining the event, including details on how to take part, categories, and submission dates.
Above and Beyond
Every week a certificate is issued for a deserving student who demonstrates CRA values. Please see below this weeks students and the reason they have been awarded.
Caeli - Lily-Mae D for Aspiration Lily joined us at the start of this year and I regularly get feedback from her teachers about what a superstar she is! She puts 100% effort into every lesson. Lily will be the first to admit that she does not find perfect behaviour the easiest aspect of being at school but she does a wonderful job of doing everything she can to regulate herself so she always gets 100% out of her learning. Keep on being you, Lily! Terra - Alfie J for Ambition Exceptional work in Science, demonstrating continued hard work and effort to improve in his subject knowledge. Aqua - Logan W for Resilience Continuing to embrace his learning even with his leg in plaster, working hard to improve himself on a daily basis, but most recently really building great character with his attitude to learning across his subjects.
Times Tables
At the end of all lessons students stand behind their chairs in silence to prepare for themselves for the next lesson. From September, on a weekly rota, Years 7 and 8 will be reciting their timetables to help embed them in their long term memory.
Week beginning 1 June 2026 - 12
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 1 June 2026 - Period 1
Careers events update
We are pleased to share with families four careers webinars designed especially for parents and students to engage with together. Wind energy, agrifood and the visitor economy are all vital and growing sectors of the Lincolnshire economy. These seminars will provide valuable insights into how to enter and thrive in these industries, Mr Aram, Strategic Lead for Ambition & Aspiration
💻 Digital & AI Sector Insight Webinar Date: 4th June Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm Discover the fast-growing world of digital careers, AI, and the exciting opportunities available locally and nationally. Sector Insights: Digital and AI with Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub - Pathway CTM 🌍 Visitor Economy Sector Insight Webinar Date: 11th June Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm Learn about careers in tourism, hospitality, and events—an important and diverse sector within our area. Sector Insights: Visitor Economy with Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub - Pathway CTM An engaging session highlighting careers within the renewable energy sector, particularly offshore wind. Greater Lincolnshire World Wind Day Assembly - Pathway CTM 🌬️ World Wind Day Parent Webinar Date: 15th June Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm A dedicated session for parents to understand the opportunities available in the wind energy sector and how to support young people into these careers. Greater Lincolnshire World Wind Day Parent Webinar - Pathway CTM These sessions are a great way to help students:
- Gain real insight into different industries
- Understand career pathways and opportunities
- Hear directly from employers and sector professionals
Attendance.
Celebrating Good Attendance Attendance figures being communicated through weekly whole school assemblies. Competitions between tutor groups and between houses to have the best attendance through our Houseopoly game Tutor attendance weekly competition in which groups are awarded cards to place on their challenge board. Each completed board results in a prize. By awarding certificates to individual children who have 100% for each term. Individual attendance challenge cards which result in rewards when targets have been met. A Year 11 Buddy system which rewards students who reach their targets with their buddy. By awarding academy certificates to individual children who get 100% attendance for the whole academic year (September to July). Celebrating and rewarding the success of those who have gained the most improved attendance throughout the academic year. Regular communication through MCAS congratulating parents and students on their individual and/or form group attendance success.
If your child is absent from school, please ensure you contact school daily either by email/MCAS or by telephoning the attendance line 01476 550333 ext 502. It is vital we are notified everyday of any absence for safeguarding reasons, unless previously authorised. A reason for illness will always be requested, this is to observe attendance patterns and outbreaks of illness amongst students.
Please do not hesitate to contact myself tsandison@charlesreadacademy.co.uk ext 502 to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.
CRA - Lets work together to make every day count!
Leave of absence request
A Principal can only authorise a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. We will take into account the Government guidance when considering what the exceptional circumstances are- all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be able to take your child out of school in exceptional circumstances, providing an application is made in advance by the parent/carer, this request complies with Government guidance and the leave is deemed to be ‘exceptional’ by the Principal.
If you take a leave of absence without our permission or if your child fails to return by the agreed date if permission was granted, then this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and noted in your child’s record. You might also be issued with a fixed penalty notice for this absence. If your child has not returned within 10 days of the expected date of return then, after consultation with the Local Authority, we may take your child off our school roll.
As examples, the following reasons are not considered to be exceptional circumstances:
- availability of cheap holidays
- periods overlapping with beginning or end of term
- visits to family
- renewing passports
Requests for leave of absence will only be considered if made in writing. Please ensure you use the leave of absence request form to do this.
To request a leave of absence, please use this form.
House News
Aqua Gladiators Champions It was an exciting end of term at CRA, as students and staff went head-to-head in the return of House Gladiators. As seen on TV, students and staff represented their respective house teams in our very own versions of Powerball and Duel. The competition was action packed and competitive throughout as teams attempted to secure as many house points as possible across both events. The house with the highest points total at the end of the competition were crowned Gladiator champions. Congratulations to Aqua who accumulated the most points to claim victory, ahead of Caeli who finished in 2nd place. Terra put in a good performance themselves but had to settle for 3rd place, narrowly missing out on 2nd.
CRA House Fantasy Premier League The final weekend of the Premier League season is upon us. Who will be crowned 2026 CRA Fantasy Premier League champion? It is currently a Terra one-two at the top of the table, with father and son duo Chris and George separated by just one single point! Andy, representing Caeli is just 20 points behind in 3rd place hoping for a big points haul in the final game week to catapult himself to the top of the league table. We can’t wait to see how the action unfolds and which manager will come out on top! The Games master is currently sitting in 7th place and has his sights on Zachary who sits just one point above in 6th place.
Good luck to all managers and keep an eye out for information on how to join next seasons competition!
Term 6 House Competitions As we enter half term, the final straight of the academic year is just around the corner and we have some exciting house competitions to take place in the final few weeks. We have a host of house activities planned at the start of term in our Road to World Cup competition followed by the return of Bottle Rockets, Lip Sync Battle and Sports Day. A further 2,500+ house points are on offer across the term, which could prove decisive in the race of the 2026 CRA House Championship.
Road to World Cup competition information will be sent out at the beginning of term, with a guess the score to all World Cup group games. A link to the online form will be sent to all student email address as well as to parents via MCAS. The competition will be open to all students, staff and wider family members.
The Sporting Post.
We are delighted to invite you to the biggest sporting event of the year, the DRET Summer Cup! This year, our annual event will take place on Wednesday 1st July and brings our 11 secondary and 25 primary academies together to compete across 7 sports, and 9 competitions, with the aim to be crowned champions!
We’ll be joined by an incredible line-up of elite athletes, making this a truly unmissable event. It promises to be a spectacular celebration of sporting excellence across the Trust, and we’d love you to be part of it by coming along to support the Charles Read Academy team on the day. Refreshments can be purchased in the leisure centre cafeteria, with other light refreshments available. This year the Tennis will be off site, at the fantastic venue of Grantham Tennis Centre, Gonerby Road, NG31 8HU between 11:30 – 14:30. To enable us to reserve car parking and speed up registration on the day, please RSVP by pressing ctrl, and clicking on this invite by 30th June 2026, and completing the form. We hope to see you there.
PE kit reminder - 2025/2026
The standard PE kit is as follows:
- CRA House PE top (compulsory)
- CRA PE shorts or skorts (compulsory)
- CRA PE Hoodie (compulsory)
- Black socks. These can be purchased from any provider.
- PE track pants / leggings / skins - optional - must be plain navy or black. These can be worn under the CRA PE top, shorts or skorts. These items should have no logos/writing/labels. These can be purchased from any provider.
Sports trainers- These can be purchased from any provider. No fashion trainers.
Girls will take part in hockey and boys will take part in rugby during PE lessons. Gumshields and shinpads are recommended for their safety.
Shinpads will also be needed for girls' and boys' football.
Moulded football boots are also recommended as students can wear these on the 3G artificial surface and grass field.
Please can all students be collected from the BACK of the school when being picked up from after school clubs and fixtures.
Term Dates
Please see the below latest term dates.
A list of diary events can also be found on the CRA Website by clicking here
Credits:
Created with images by sosiukin - "upcoming evente word written on wood block. upcoming evente text on table, concept" • John Mearman - "Two Energy Drinks Cans Isolated against White Background" • Brad Pict - "Upcoming events" • Vitalii Vodolazskyi - "Brain made of colored pieces with the inscription ADHD." • oatawa - "Gold Vintage Fireworks and bokeh in New Year eve and copy space.,Abstract background holiday." • Bina - "A digital rendering showcases a brightly lit marquee sign displaying prom 2026 in large illuminated letters against a beige backdrop high quality professional detailed modern elegant" • Leigh Prather - "Five star rating - shiny golden stars" • Naypong Studio - "Sports Equipment on white background" • CharmB - "Back to School"