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.
Parental Survey
We would really appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey below.
Second Hand Uniform
We would like to start a second hand uniform store to help parents navigate the cost of living crisis many people are currently experiencing. Therefore if you have any good quality ties, blazers, skirts, trousers and school shoes that no longer fit your child please either drop them in at reception or send them in with your child. Once we have enough stock we will provide information for how parents can access this.
My Child At School
This is a reminder and request to all parents/carers to download this app so you can receive all vital information and details about your child. We use this app to send all communications for example - school closures, bus delays, events happening , trips. This app is also used to make purchases such as lunch money, trip payments, bus passes and uniform. As we are now a cashless office as much as possible, we appreciate when you make payments using this method. In addition, this app displays student behaviour , achievements and end of term reports.
To set this up , please download the My Child At School on your device and you can then self set up using your email address that is registered with us and the school ID code 11582. If you already have a child registered on this app, you can add the sibling to it.
If you are having difficulties with installing the app, please contact the school office for support.
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.
Aqua - Joana P for CRA Aspiration
For showing a strong sense of aspirations in all your studies, you are owning your options and approaching them with a real taste of ambition, wanting to do well and challenge yourself.
Terra - George S for CRA Resilience
For helping out teachers and overcoming challenges to be your best self!
Caeli - Callum H for CRA Aspiration
For a super start to your time at CRA. Putting yourself forward for tutor group leader and leading by example in everything you do. You are a model student, enthusiastic, engaged in lessons and unfailingly polite with excellent manners. It's no surprise you have over 200 positive points and zero negatives already!
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
MATHS
READER
Top 3 this week
All Time Leaderboard
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 3 November 2025 - 7
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 3 November 2025 - Period 3
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.
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.
House Football Results
It has been an action-packed week of house football at CRA this week as students across each year group went head-to-head. Six competitions took place across the week including boys competitions in years 7 to 11 and a all-girls competition. Results and points from the 18 matches that took place have been accumulated together where it is currently Caeli who are in the lead. Both Caeli and Aqua were crowned winners in three of the six categories however Caeli secured one more win than Aqua across the individual games.
Overall Points Total (Table)
- Caeli = 23 Points (7 x wins, 2 draws & 3 losses)
- Aqua = 20 Points (6 x wins, 2 x draws & 4 losses)
- Terra = 8 Points (2 x wins, 2 x draws & 8 losses)
Overall results as follows:
Year 7 Boys
- Match 1 – Caeli 1 v 0 Terra
- Match 2 – Aqua 0 v 1 Terra
- Match 3 – Caeli 1 v 0 Aqua
- Overall Winners - Caeli
Year 8 Boys
- Match 1 – Caeli 1 v 0 Terra
- Match 2 – Aqua 0 v 0 Terra
- Match 3 – Caeli 2 v 0 Aqua
- Overall Winners - Caeli
Year 9 Boys
- Match 1 – Caeli 1 v 0 Terra
- Match 2 – Caeli 3 v 0 Aqua
- Match 3 – Terra 0 v 1 Aqua
- Overall Winners - Caeli
Year 10 Boys
- Match 1 – Caeli 0 v 0 Terra
- Match 2 – Caeli 0 v 0 Aqua
- Match 3 – Terra 0 v 1 Aqua
- Overall Winners - Aqua
Year 11 Boys
- Match 1 – Aqua 2 v 0 Terra
- Match 2 – Caeli 0 v 3 Terra
- Match 3 – Aqua 3 v 0 Caeli
- Overall Winners - Aqua
Girls (All Years)
- Match 1 – Aqua 2 v 0 Caeli
- Match 2 – Caeli 1 v 0 Terra
- Match 3 – Aqua 3 v 0 Terra
- Overall Winners – Aqua
With the staff round of matches scheduled to take place after half term, Aqua still have a chance of being crowned champions.
CRA Masked Singer
It has been an exciting final week of term at CRA, featuring our very own version of the Masked Singer. Throughout the week we have been releasing videos of staff singing, whilst hiding their identity behind their costume. Following the release of each video students, staff and family members have been attempting to identify the member of staff behind the mask. Characters have included ‘Squirrel’, ‘Tiger’, ‘Penguin’ and ‘Duck’.
The final video of the competition (Penguin) is currently live, so there is still time to get involved. Register your guess by 7.00pm tonight by completing the online form sent out on MCAS to all parents and student emails.
Thank you to all the staff who took part in the singing for this competition, showcasing all of our CRA values. Full results will be released after half term.
The house with the most correct guesses will be crowned champions and the highest participation across the week will be awarded bonus points.
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" • A Stockphoto - "Wood block symbol telephone, address,mail and mobile phone.The concept of communication through technology advancement." • Markus Mainka - "Gruppe Menschen halten Feedback Business Konzept Kundendienst Se" • Pixels Hunter - "Two smiling coffee mugs with speech bubbles above them symbolizing communication and cheerful conversation on orange background." • smile35 - "School clothes for boy and girl on hanger." • sitthiphong - "Close up of hand holding smartphone and screen applications with unlocking mobile phones.,Concept of technological safety." • PX Media - "Help, support, advice, guidance signpost." • bbbar - "Acronym of AAB for Above and Beyond" • Gerisima - "Christmas star decoration of golden confetti stars against white" • Inspiraciones - "rules and values.,dichotomy between two concepts represented with arrows indicating different paths." • Cagkan - "Black sign frame with the word BLACK HISTORY MONTH surrounded with black air balloons. Annual celebration." • 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"