SLT Update
This week saw Charles Read come together to commemorate those individuals who have lost their lives during conflict. We reflected particularly on the story of Lionel Abbott Pilkington who was the son of the vicar of the church in Corby Glen who sadly lost his life at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. We were joined by Reverend Buckman who explained to the pupils the history behind the momument to the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey. As a school we then observed a two minute silence which began and ended with the bugler playing the Last Post and Reveille. All students demonstrated our value of respect during this period of reflection, and a wreath was laid at the war memorial by our Head Girl and Boy. Please click on this link to view the CRA Remembrance Service. Over the past week all of our students have been working hard on their KPIs and the Year 11s with their mock exams. Many of them have really embraced our values of ambition and aspiration through revising hard and trying their best in each assessment. Thank you for supporting them with this. Have a lovely weekend.
Miss Milligan, Principal
Exclusive Invite to see The Nutcracker
A Special Performance for your schools' families this Christmas. When: 20th December 2025 | 10:00 start, Performance begins at 12:30 Where: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD We’re delighted to invite your families to a special Paul Hamlyn Christmas Treat performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday 20 December. This exclusive event is for the families of your pupils who’ve taken part in the Royal Ballet & Opera Schools Programme this year — a wonderful way to celebrate the festive season together! From 10am, they can join us for fun family activities and mini performances around the beautiful front-of-house spaces of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, before the main performance begins at 12.30pm. The atmosphere promises to be magical, festive and full of Christmas cheer. Tickets are subsidised and range from £5–£30. Please note, this performance isn’t open to the general public. Book your place here If you already have an online account with the Royal Ballet & Opera, please sign out before clicking the link. You’ll be asked to sign in or register when checking out. If you have any accessibility requirements, need a wheelchair space and companion seat, or experience any issues booking online, please email the Box Office at: boxoffice@roh.org.uk.
Communication with School
I would like to remind all parents of the expectations when communicating with staff either face to face, over the phone or via email. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the overwhelming number of parents who do communicate with our staff in a friendly and respectful manner. However, unfortunately we have had a small number of individuals who have failed to communicate respectfully. We understand that this can often be due to frustration and wanting the best for your child, however our staff have a right to feel safe and respected.
We do have an expectation that any communication sent into the school will be responded to within 48 hours. It is not always possible for a member of staff to respond sooner than that due working patterns or other commitments they have during the day. If you do not hear back within the 48 hour framework please do contact us again.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Celebrating Success
We are delighted to announce that Sam W in year 9 has been awarded Highly Commended in class 3 of the Willoughby Memorial Trust Open Art Competion 2025. He will be given a prize and certificate in a presentation on the 28th November. Well done Sam!
On Sunday 9th November, Mia P in year 7 took part in a gymnastics competition at Leicester College as a member of Oakham Artistic Gymnastic Association. We are pleased to announce she came 3rd overall in her floor routine and vault and earned herself a bronze medal. Well done Mia!
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 - Millie W for Resilience Millie has worked incredibly hard his year to improve her attendance. Mr Sellers and Mr Aram both realise how much grit and determination it has taken for Millie to change her mindset. It has been wonderful to see Millie around the academy smiling and saying a friendly hello every day. On top of this, we can see Millie's renewed commitment to her school work as she has come top 3 in Sparx Reader. What fabulous progress, Millie! Terra - Olivia C for Ambition For steadfast enthusiasm and commitment to improve her attendance and earn houseopoly cards for her tutor group. Aqua - Thomas R for Ambition For continued improvement to behaviour, a great attitude to his learning so far this year and for limiting distractions to himself.
Sparx Stars
Each week, our students at CRA, complete maths and reading for their homework on Sparx. Some students answer additional questions, further increasing their knowledge. We do this as there are online resources to help and guide students if they are struggling with a question. You might like to ask them to show you what they typically do on a weekly basis.
Our Sparx stars this week are
READER
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 17 November 2025 - 8
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 17 November 2025 - Period 5
Moments Matter, Attendance Counts
Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and wellbeing.
As we return to school and move into winter, there is inevitably an increase in illnesses. It can be tricky deciding whether to keep your child off school when they are unwell. There are government guidelines to support you in this decision.
Attendance.
From Monday 3rd November you will be able to see your child's attendance to school on the My Child At School App. We will also be launching a series of new competitions based around attendance to celebrate the resilience, ambition and aspiration many of our students demonstrate by being in every day.
Prizes will include:
- X Box controllers
- Skin care products
- Food items
- Non uniform days
This will be alongside our In it To Win Competition that pupils gain entry to every week that they are in for 100% of the days
You should not go to school with a fever or other high temperature, but you can attend if you have mild symptoms like a runny nose or slight cough, if you feel well enough to go. Although there are no longer specific rules for COVID-19 in schools, you should stay home if you are unwell.
When to stay home
- • High temperature: If you have a fever or a high temperature, you should stay at home.
- • Feeling unwell: If you are generally feeling unwell, it is best to stay home.
When you can go to school
- • Mild symptoms: You can go to school if you only have mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or a slight cough, and you feel well enough to attend.
Why this advice has changed
- • There is a low risk of COVID-19 to children and young people.
- • There are high vaccination rates in the population, which helps to reduce the risk.
At Charles Read Academy we follow the guidance from the NHS and Public Health England on whether your child should be in school.
This covers all the usual childhood illnesses. For more information click on the links below:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19
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.
I’m a Teacher Get Me Out of Here 2025 – Student SIGN UP I’m a Teacher Get Me Out of Here house competition returns to CRA on Wednesday 26th November and we are extremely excited to be able to once again include students in this competition. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the animal encounters challenge and one of the eating trials (All information relating to these events are within the online form). Animals UK will be leading and delivering the animal handling challenge, providing a range of different species for students to encounter. Please note that the competition will be taking place in the hall during lunchtime and that if you child has a fear of animals to inform Mr Webb as soon as possible. This year we have also included an attendance reward for all students who achieve 100% attendance or improve their weekly attendance from Monday 17th November to Friday 21st November. All students who meet this criteria will be entered into a draw for a mystery animal encounter. If you wish for your child to be in with a chance of taking part you must complete the consent form sent out on MCAS by Friday 21st November.
CRA Race Across the Channel – Rowvember Challenge Rowvember is well underway across the trust as students and staff take to the rowing machines to contribute to their respective academy’s overall distance. As part of Rowvember CRA have created their own virtual challenge; Race Across the Channel which is an house competition aimed at increasing participation on the rowers across the month. Aqua students have dominated this week and as of today are just under 4,000m short of reaching Calais, a 34,000m effort from Dover. Terra are closing behind in 2nd place followed by Caeli in 3rd. Please note that these are student scores only and staff scores are added to the overall house totals for the month, separate to the racer across the channel challenge. Totals to include staff will be revealed after this challenge is complete.
House Indoor Rowing As part of Rowvember and in preparation for the DRET Rowing Cup coming up soon, there will be a house indoor rowing event held in the main hall on Wednesday 19th November. The competition will see students and staff represent their house teams in a number of head-to-head sprint races and team relay races on the big screen. Each house will be allocated a virtual boat on the screen in the main hall, linked to their respective rowing machines so spectators can see how the action unfolds. Each house team needs a minimum of two boys and girls in each year group, plus a member of staff!
CRA Santa Run – SIGN UP NOW We are excited to share details and once again be taking part in the annual trust-wide Santa Fun Run on Tuesday 16th December. This will take place during Period 1. Students and staff wishing to take part in this year’s event have just under two weeks to raise money which will go towards the DRET Inspiration Fund. The Santa Fun is a 20-minute run or walk around our very own ‘Christmas themed’ route on the school field. Students have been sent home with a sponsorship form with a deadline to hand forms and money raised back into the office on Wednesday 26th November. Any forms and money handed in after this date will still be able to participate but will not receive any of the items.
The Sporting Post.
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 latest term dates for 2025-2026
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" • Taljat - "Covent Garden is a historic district in central London, known for its rich cultural heritage, markets, landmarks, shopping, dining, and entertainment." • A Stockphoto - "Wood block symbol telephone, address,mail and mobile phone.The concept of communication through technology advancement." • Munawar OP - "Assorted gold silver and bronze medals for awards and achievements concept" • Pixels Hunter - "Two smiling coffee mugs with speech bubbles above them symbolizing communication and cheerful conversation on orange background." • bbbar - "Acronym of AAB for Above and Beyond" • Gerisima - "Christmas star decoration of golden confetti stars against white" • Naypong Studio - "Sports Equipment on white background" • tatomm - "close up of calendar on the yellow table background, planning for business meeting or travel planning concept"