CRA Newsletter 20.03.26

SLT Update

 

It has been another busy week at Charles Read with a non uniform day being held today in support of Comic Relief and we would like to thank everyone for their generous donations.  We also had a visit to the school by Joe Fishburn of BBC Gladiator's fame on Thursday who gave an assembly on how adversity is his superpower.  Our Under 13s girls hockey team came 2nd at the Spring Cup, narrowly missing out on gold on penalties.  A fantastic result for a team from the smallest secondary school in the Trust!     I hope you have a lovely weekend and that the sun continues to shine.

 

Miss Milligan, Principal

Meet the Staff

Each week we will introduce you to each department . This week we have the Senior Leadership Team.

Mrs Jones I have been in the teaching profession for over 30 years and have worked with DRET for 7 years. I was originally Principal at Charles Read Academy and then Executive Principal of CRA and King Edward VI at Spilsby and then at Lodge Park Academy in Corby. My passion and drive to work in education comes from wanting all children to have a positive educational experience, where they are offered myriad opportunities to find out what they enjoy and what they are good at, where they experience excellent teaching day in day out no matter where they live or what their background is, and is to help students understand that they have a choice to shape their life positively rather than leaving it to chance.

Mrs Milligan

I have worked within the David Ross Education Trust for the past four years as Vice Principal for Behaviour and Attendance at Lodge Park Academy in Corby and prior to that as Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at KEVI in Spilsby.  Before joining DRET I was Head of History and Politics at the King's School in Grantham.  Outside of teaching I am a season ticket holder for Lincoln City who I watch with my Dad and my daughter, we are very much enjoying this season so far!  My other big passions are reading, running and travelling to other countries to explore their cultures.  

Mrs Cooper

 

I have been in the teaching profession for 17 years and have worked for DRET and Charles Read Academy for 5 years. I am Assistant Principal for Teaching & Learning, Head of Humanities and Subject Lead for Geography and Travel & Tourism.  I have a love of learning and a passion for the great outdoors. I enjoy working with young people, helping them to discover their interests, talents and skills which will go on to shape their future.

 

School Visitor

On Thursday we welcomed Joe Fishburn to Charles Read Academy who gave an assembly on how adversity is his superpower.  We were also joined by Years 4, 5 and 6 from Corby Glen Primary School.  Joe shared his story of how losing his mum aged two and being raised by his Gran set him up on the journey that he has been on, which has led him to win a bronze medal at the European Championships and win the second series of the BBC programme Gladiators.  After the assembly he posed for photos with children from the primary school and then met with some pupils from Charles Read to discuss the messages from his assembly further.  We found out his favourite event on Gladiators was Powerball and that he found Bionic the scariest Gladiator.  

Year 11

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding Prom on 19th June 2026. Further information to follow next week.

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 - Aaron K for Ambition For showing continuous improvement across the year, he keeps going from strength to strength, improving in all his subjects and working hard in every lesson. Keep it up Aaron! Terra - Ellie M-J for Ambition Continued focus and drive to achieve in her GCSE. Exceptional skill and passion demonstrated in food practical exam and a quiet determination to succeed shown in her learning and mock results. Aqua - Toby W for Ambition Toby works fantastically hard every lesson, he asks great questions which prompts thinking of his peers as well as providing scholarly answers. He is a CRA role model.

Thinking Ahead – My Future, My Choice

Each week we will show you examples of the various careers linked to the subject you are studying. This week’s career idea is jobs related to Music.

Mr Rees - Careers' Support

Voluntary Police Cadets

The Volunteer Police Cadets is a nationally recognised, police uniformed youth group, open to teenagers from all backgrounds aged between 13 and 18. It aims to promote a practical understanding of policing, to encourage the spirit of adventure and good citizenship and to inspire young people to participate positively in their communities.     In Lincolnshire our cadets are supported by police officers, police staff, and adult volunteers who give their time to share their knowledge and expertise of policing and their local communities.     Cadet sessions are run every Wednesday evening during school term times at the following police stations across Lincolnshire: Lincoln, Boston, Bourne, Spalding, Grantham and Skegness.    Please find enclosed a leaflet to promote our upcoming recruitment campaign which opens April 1st and closes on May 13th, 2026.  

Attendance.

As a parent, I can help by:

• Contacting the school when your child will be absent.

• Booking doctors and dentist appointments outside of school hours.

• Supporting your child to attend as often as possible by reminding them on the importance of school attendance

• Ensuring your child arrives at school by 8:45am each morning.

• Encourage their child to look to the future and have aspirations

• Ask the school for help if their child is experiencing difficulties

• Inform the school of any change in circumstances that may impact on their child’s attendance

• Support the school; take every opportunity to get involved in their child’s education, form a positive relationship with school and acknowledge the importance of children receiving the same messages from both school and home

• Encourage routine at home, for example, bed times, homework, preparing school bag and uniform the evening before

• Not keep their child away from school to go shopping, to help at home or to look after other members of the family

• Avoid taking their child on holiday during term-time. Where this is unavoidable, send a written leave request to the Principal in advance of booking the holiday.

As a school, we will help by:

• Following up on every absence ensuring that no absence goes un-noted.

• Acknowledging and reward good attendance and punctuality.

• Reminding parents and students about the importance of attendance and how it is measured against attainment.

• Letting parents know if we have concerns regarding their child’s attendance and punctuality.

• Form positive relationships with pupils and parents

• Contribute to a whole school approach which reinforces good school attendance; with good teaching and learning experiences that encourage all pupils to attend and to achieve

• Comply with the Registration Regulations, England, 2006 and other attendance related legislation

• Implement systems to report, record and monitor the attendance of all pupils, including those who are educated off-site

• Analyse attendance data to identify causes and patterns of absence

• Contribute to the evaluation of school strategies and interventions

• Work with other agencies to improve attendance and support pupils and their families

• Document interventions used to a standard required by the Local Authority should legal proceedings be instigated

As a student, I can help by:

• Attending school every day, on time, to give you the very best chance of success.

• Participate in the inter-house competitions for attendance and punctuality.

• Inform an adult in school if there is a problem which is impacting your attendance.

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.

Holiday Warning Letter

The Sporting Post.

CRA Easter Sports Camp 2026   We are extremely excited to be delivering an Easter Sports Camp for all primary school aged children over the Easter holidays.   This is a two-day sports camp and open to all primary school children of all abilities aged 4 to 11.   Children who attend will have the opportunity to take part in two fun filled days across a wide range of sports.   Spaces are limited and will book up fast – please complete the form using the QR Code as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. This year we have included a sibling ‘savings’ offer at a slightly reduced rate.   CHARLES READ ACADEMY - 2026 EASTER SPORTS CAMP – Fill out form

End of Year Sports Newsletter

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.