Wallis Newsletter 19th December 2023 small school - big heart - strong community

Message from the Executive Principal, Alastair O'Connor

Governors, Senior Leaders and all staff at Barnes Wallis Academy want to wish you a wonderful Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

We would, however, like to take the opportunity to celebrate with you achievements from across the term and highlight key information.

Thursday 7th December

One of our highlights of the term was in our prize giving evening, celebrating with students and parents subject achievements in both progress and attainment. It was wonderful to be joined by so many Year 11 students from last year, and once again celebrate their own individual success stories and our best ever results.

Senior Leaders at BWA enjoying the evening.

Below are some of our current year 11 students. The Academy has ensured that it is supporting all current year 11 students with a full GCSE intervention programme. Students that attend, on average, gain one and half grades higher in their final exams than those that don't. We attach a timetable below of what is being offered in the new year, and we will write to all our year 11 students individually ensuring that they take up this wonderful opportunity of support.

During morning sessions all year 11's will have access to core interventions 8.30-9.05 am. All students in (Option A) courses will have an additional session after school on a Monday, with Tuesday offering Maths and Wednesday English. On a Friday (Option B) subjects will straddle across either Friday lunchtime or after school. All after school sessions will run between 3- 4 pm.
Barnes Wallis is well known as a 'small school' with a 'big heart' and the strong work in the community has certainly been a real thread running through this term. Some highlights have been student representation at the remembrance service, as well as students supporting the local Rotary club. The Academies 'Interact club' is is also in full swing, raising money for the charity 'Children on the Edge' as well as our wonderful community groups that run during period 6 enrichment, with groups of students either attending the local care home and/or the local church.
Barnes Wallis Students supporting the Rotary Club
Supporting the Rotary Club
Interact club is back up and running @Barnes_Wallis_ raising money for Children on the Edge charity
Period 6 Enrichment group that support our local community through litter picking.
Wonderful to see Barnes Wallis Academy students, Will and Jude Holmes carol singing at the local care home.

One of our key programmes at Barnes Wallis is our link with the RAF base via the JET group. A small group of Year 8 and Year 10 students are regular visitors engaging in a range of team building activities and careers work.

Students fully engaged in JET presentations
Students at Barnes Wallis presenting their ideas back to panel members.
Enthusiastically preparing food for the Jet troops.

LTA Tennis Youth Leadership day

An amazing time had at the LTA Tennis Youth Leadership day. The coaches commented on how brilliant our students were.

'Rowvember' was a huge success again this year, with students competing for their house in a rowing interhouse competition. Congratulations to Hurricane who were clear winners with over 100, 000 meters rowed.

DRET Rowing Competition at Grantham Leisure in November.

Emily Gatens again became a DRET All Star Rower in November at the DRET rowing event in Grantham. She qualified for this prestigious honour for the second year running at Barnes Wallis Academy. She managed to beat off fierce competition in her category to become the top rower. Emily put in an amazing effort in her four minute all out row. She will now represent the DRET All Stars rowing team in future competitions. A big well down and we are exceptionally proud of you, Emily.

Air Play

Congratulations to Emily who was recently presented with the AirPlay Young Persons Award. Emily was announced as the overall winner across a competitive 160 nominations congratulations đź‘Źđź‘Źđź‘Ź.

We would like to thank our Local Governing Body for all their hard work and contributing to discussions on the Academy's strategic priorities and targets. We are actively looking for members of our community to join us in this important and rewarding work. If you are interested please email Governorservices@dret.co.uk.

We are continuing to drive for improved attendance both Nationally, across Lincolnshire and within Barnes Wallis Academy. We are aware that our attendance in still below pre-pandemic levels and know that those students that attend achieve better in final exams as well as forming stronger friendship groups. We are very proud to have an attendance team and we are here to help. We hope you will support us in our target of 95% attendance and that you will agree that 'Every Lesson Counts!'

Are you eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)? You may be able to receive free school meals for your child if you receive one of the following benefits: income support; income-based job-seeker's allowance; Income-related employment and support allowance; support under part VI of the immigration and asylum act 1999; the granted element of pension credit; child tax credit (providing you’re not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16190); working tax credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit; universal credit

Applications are made online via Lincolnshire County Council Apply for free school meals

https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/school-pupil-support/apply-free-school-meals

The New Group Reading Test (NGRT)

The NGRT is a standardised, adaptive, termly assessment to measure reading skills against the national average. At Barnes Wallis Academy we strive for all students to make good progress in their reading and to be ready for a wide range of real world texts, whether literary or transactional, as well as the rigour of GCSE examinations and higher levels of learning. We use NGRT tests in Year 7, 8 and 9 to identify where student intervention may be needed, and then to monitor progress in a student's reading ability. Reading Tests are taken by students as part of a normal timetabled lesson in September, December, March and June.

Tests provide a Standard Age Score (SAS), a reading age, GCSE indicators and progress measures. Tests offer practical guidance for next steps in a student's reading experience.

Barnes Wallis use a series of Interventions for Developing Readers. If a student's SAS is between 85 - 89 on the NGRT they would access more focused support during their weekly Accelerated Reader lessons.

If a student's SAS is below 85 they may access further targeted intervention. Depending on the area of need this may be Word Wasp - a spelling and reading programme, Read Write Inc. Fresh Start, which is a phonics and comprehension based programme, reading comprehension intervention or 1:1 paired reading.

E-SAFETY

“Inappropriate” means different things to different people. What’s acceptable for one age group, for example, may be unsuitable for a younger audience. Online, young people can chance upon inappropriate content in various way – from pop-up ads to TikTok videos, live streams etc.

The increasingly young age at which children become active in the digital world heightens the risk of them innocently running into something that they find disturbing or terrifying.

Trusted adults around children need to be able to help children be aware of what to do if they’re exposed to age-inappropriate content.

The NSPCC provides a wide variety of information in relation to online safety. To access the information please see the below.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

DRET Christmas Carol Concert

BWA students alongside 6 other DRET schools came together for an afternoon of music, readings and celebration in the run up to Christmas. BWA students (and staff ) braved the cold at the beautiful St Botolph's Church (Boston Stump).

It really is "The most wonderful time of the year"

The annual DRET Santa run was held at Barnes Wallis academy on December 15th.

The event saw over 40 runners take part with many students deciding to run in fancy dress. There was even a dinosaur out on the course! Each runner attempted to run as many laps as possible of the school field in the quickest time possible whilst raising money for charity. A special mention must go to Zander Wilten in Year Eight who was the Barnes Wallis highest fund raiser, raising a total of ÂŁ126.00. The fastest runner was Aidan Eadsforth in Year Nine who completed ten laps and crossed the finish line in the fastest time. Louie Williams in Year Nine was also awarded for best effort and showing great determination in trying to achieve his best time. The most enthusiastic student award was given to Hallee Copeland in Year Eleven showing that you should never give up and despite a long run she always had a smile on her face. Finally the best dressed student went to Dylan Bonner in Year 8 whose Santa costume made everyone smile.

A big thank you to all the participants and all the efforts and support from family and friends in raising money for charity.

Dates for the Diary

  • 3th January - Teacher Training Day
  • 4th January - Students return
  • 24th January- Year 11 Parents Evening
  • 26th January- Performance conference
  • 29th January- Intermediate Maths Challenge and DRET Netball Invitational
  • 12th- 16th February- Half term

Safeguarding over the Christmas break

The academy is now closed for Christmas but there is always someone who can help you.

If you are concerned that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, you should contact your local authority safeguarding partnership directly.

In an emergency, call 999. If you have any welfare concerns, you can contact us at 'DRET Listening' via the Academies website.

For any other queries, please contact us via cip@dret.co.uk.