SLT Update
GCSE exams have begun in earnest this week and I would like to congratulate all the Year 11 students for the fantastic attitude they have shown in how they have approached them, demonstrating real ambition and aspiration to do the best that they can. Our exam invigilators have been full of praise for the mature attitude they are showing each day. We are very proud of them. It is getting to the time of year when shops will begin to have their annual sale on uniform items. Please can I remind you of the following expectations:
- Black blazer with academy emblem
- CRA pleated long skirt (only available from the academy)
- Black trousers - these can be straight, slim fitting or bootcut. Tight fitting, denim, leggings, jeggings or trousers that show the ankle are not acceptable.
- White long sleeved shirt with collar. This can be purchased from any provider.
- CRA blue jumper (optional - purchased from Nationwide School Uniform - Vale Rd, Spilsby, Lincs, PE23 5HE. Tel: 01790 754522 Email: sales@nsuniforms.co.uk)
- School tie: CRA House colour tie
- Shoes must be all black, flat, polishable and formal in style. They must provide adequate support and protection. Trainers, skate shoes, canvas shoes or boots are not allowed. Any sports branded trainer is not allowed (for example Nike, Adidas etc). Any canvas shoe such as Vans are also not allowed.
- Socks and tights must be black.
A number of students are currently not bringing a DRET school bag and have instead reverted to bringing no bag, or a tote style handbag. If your child does not have a DRET bag please purchase one from the school office. We expect all pupils to have one after May half term.
- Regarding jewellery please can you remind your child of the following:
- No more than one small stud in the lobe of an ear may be worn. No tragus piercings
- No ear stretchers are acceptable. Putting ‘spacers’ in or plasters over piercing is not acceptable. If you have a piercing – nose, eyebrow, lip etc. the stud must be removed.
- No more than two small finger rings are allowed.
- No other jewellery or piercings anywhere on the face are permitted. Plastic wristbands should not be worn.
Hair should be a natural colour and not in an extreme style. False eyelashes, false nails, acrylic nails or painted nails, unless clear are not permitted. School uniform plays a really important role in creating a sense of identity and we appreciate your help in maintaining our high standards. I hope that you enjoy your weekend.
Miss Milligan, Principal
Open Evening
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 - Ashton Y for Aspiration We often talk about 'having a go' even if we don't know the answer to a question. It is a really important skill that does wonders for building character. Ashton demonstrates this ability by the bucketload, and I am really proud that he is never fazed by being asked a question that he isn't totally confident about. He will always, always have a go at an answer whether this is written or spoken. By doing this Ashton is prepared to make himself vulnerable in the short term, which is a brave thing to do. However, in the longer term he is absolutely setting himself up for the best success possible. Bravo Ashton! Terra - Gracie-Mae G for Resilience Taking responsibility for her own education, using her lunch breaks to progress in her learning and for being such a dedicated student. Aqua - Francesca W for Confidence For continued determination to do well in her exams, with clear goals of post 16 plans, going above and beyond in her 10 hours art exam.
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 18 May 2026 - 11
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 18 May 2026 - Period 5
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
🌱 Agrifood Sector Insight Webinar Date: 21st May Time: 6:00 – 7:00pm Explore careers within one of our region’s key industries, from food production to innovation and sustainability. Sector Insights: Agrifood Webinar with Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub - Pathway CTM 💻 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
House Gladiators Returns We are extremely excited for the return of our very own House Version of Gladiators next week. As seen on TV, students and staff will go head-to-head in Duel, Powerball, and the Gauntlet Run. The competition will be taking place at lunchtime on Wednesday. There is plenty of opportunity to represent your house in this competition, with students participating in all three events. Register your interest with heads of house and tutors as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
House Rounders Unfortunately, the wet weather prevented House Rounders from taking place this week, with the competition now rescheduled to take place on Tuesday (19th May) next week. If you are selected to represent your house in this event, please ensure you bring your trainers. The competition is open to all students in years 7 to 10, plus any staff who would like to take part!
Table Tennis
Here at Charles read Academy we were thrilled to hear of the wonderful successes of some of our alumni. Last weekend three of ex-students represented their country in the ITTF World Team table tennis championship finals. We were really proud to see that Connor Green and Ella Pashley formerly of Charles Read were representing England in the England men and England women competitions respectively. In addition to that we were thrilled to see that Danielle Kelly was representing Wales. It is clear that our table tennis scholar programme is producing some fantastic sportsmen and women. We currently have some excellent scholars who again are representing Great Britain and England internationally and nationally on a regular bases as well as the boys holding the National Schools Championship finals held at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton on Sunday 26 May. Our squad was dominant, not dropping a single individual match throughout the competition. Charles Read Academy defeated Marling School of Stroud 8-0 in the quarter-finals and Reading School 8-0 in the semi-finals before overcoming London Academy 6-0 in the final to once again lift the prestigious Leach-Carrington Cup. The winning squad consisted of Abraham Sellado, Theo Kniep, Harrison Hill, Ryan Holland and Adam Watson, whose performances demonstrated the confidence, resilience and ambition that sit at the heart of the academy’s values. We are very proud of the students and the dedication they show to their sport and balance that with their studies
Ex Students Representing England
England competitors said, "We're quite a young team, so it was really good for the others to play against Germany at the European and experience that- we;ll have more belief this time. We've done really well in the last few tournaments, qualifying for the Euros and then causing an upset, so hopefully we can keep that going."
Ex Students representing Wales
Danielle Said " To represent Wales at such a big event is amazing- I'm really proud to be Welsh and try to keep those roots."
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:
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