SLT Update
The tutor group attendance challenge is now in full swing with the first four tutor groups achieving challenge cards to work towards rewards for their group. The research is really clear that the more a child is in school the greater their chances of achieving grade 4s and above at GCSE, and we know that this holds true at Charles Read. We are hoping that this extra incentive will encourage pupils even more to attend every day. Aqua 7 won the Tutor Group of the Week for the tenth week in a row, which we believe is a record, and recorded an attendance of 97% and as a result they will be enjoying a reward to recognise this achievement. The resilience these pupils are demonstrating in coming in everyday is something that will set them up for success in later life.
I hope that you have a lovely weekend.
Miss Milligan, Principal
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 to 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.
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 - Harry S for Aspiration Harry brings positivity with him wherever he goes and is a joy to teach and have in Caeli House. However, it is how Harry faces adversity that demonstrates his true character. He was a wonderful support to his friend this week but was still worried that he could have done more. This aspiration to be the best version of himself is so admirable. Miss Parker and I are so proud of the young man you are becoming, and we want you to be confident knowing that you are a great role model to your fellow students. Thank you so much, Harry! Terra - Matilda S for Aspiration Demonstrating a quiet aspiration to succeed. Works hard and maintains a commitment to doing the right thing worth celebrating. Aqua - Francesca W for Resilience Francesca is continually working on being in school, and aspiring towards her post 16 plans, building her resilience and courage every day to approach any obstacles put in her way with confidence and strength to overcome them.
Out of School Successes
Every week we are going to celebrate our students successes in activities they participate in out of school. If you would like to tell us about your childs successes, please complete the form using this link and then forward any photographs to gfulcher@charlesreadacademy.co.uk.
Ella S from aqua 7 has passed her karate grading, red & black belt 6th chevron. She has 1 more chevron to gain on this belt then she will work towards her grey belt and then black belt. Well done Ella.
Harrison in Terra 7 started Archery in August and has achieved his progress award from the GNAS and his 10, 15, 20 and 25metre distance award and he has also shot his first club competition getting his Portsmouth and Vagas on indoor badges in January. Well done Harrison.
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
MATHS
Academic Progress
Sparx Reader for KS4 We have noticed that our year 10s and 11s are the most reluctant to complete their Sparx reader homework. This is disappointing as they are the ones who will benefit the most. Somewhere between 50 and 75% of each year group at CRA have reading ages far below chronological. That means that their reading levels are lower than we would expect for someone of their age. GCSE materials are written to be at chronological reading level. The reading age required to access a GCSE paper is around 15 years. This is across all papers – science, maths, history, sport etc. What that means is, even if you know the content of your course really well, you’ll still need to be able to read at a high level to fully understand the questions on the exam paper to know what knowledge to write down. Reading level only improves if you practise reading. Research suggests that to improve your reading level you should read for about 20 minutes a day in a book that is just slightly higher than your current reading level. Sparx reader is designed to do exactly that. It gives you a book at the right level to boost your skills and asks you the kinds of questions that help to develop comprehension ability. To hit your SRP goal should take around 5 to 10 minutes a day. Please work with your child to ensure that they are completing their Sparx reader. It is for their benefit.
Spaced Repetition Last week I gave the golden rules of revision. This week we begin on the most important revision strategies. We start with the absolute most important strategy – spaced repetition. Spaced repetition means that you look at the same information multiple times, but you space out when you look at them. Repeating the same thing 10 times in a row will help, but you’ll still forget relatively quickly. Research has identified something call the forgetting curve. A simple version by a researcher called Ebbinghaus is shown below:
What this shows us is that, no matter how many times we repeat something in the moment, generally it will be mostly forgotten 3 days later. Spaced repetition focuses on interrupting the forgetting curve. On the graph you see the information being reviewed the day after it was first learned. If that is the only review, the forgetting process slows down and now the information is likely to remain familiar for 7 days – a 4 day increase. The gap between the review moments then grows. The information is reviewed on day 1, 3, 6, 10 etc. The ever growing gap means that the forgetting curve is always interrupted at roughly the same point – when the information is still familiar enough to be easily recalled. Working in this way ensures long term memory and allows you to systematically work through information, introducing new ideas into the revision cycle during the gaps. As an interesting side note, the Do Nows that we do at the start of each lesson are part of how we interrupt the forgetting curve in lessons.
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 26 January 2026 - 9
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 26 January 2026 - Period 3
Why We Do What We Do
Everyday at break and lunch time, we are offering a student services facility which will be operating in the school canteen area. Students will be able to purchase stationery items, collect items that have been purchased through MCAS , request replacement timetables and new prep books. This will be manned by the office staff.
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.
House Winter Games – Basketball
The eagerly anticipated House Winter Games kicks off next week as house teams go head-to-head in the first sport of the competition, Basketball. The House Winter Games is a brand-new initiative aimed at driving participation through a variety of team sports and raising excitement around the Winter Olympic Games which start in couple of weeks’ time. The House Winter Games will consist of up to 8 competitions across term 3 and term 4. House teams will be battling it out for points, with the house with the highest points after the final event being crowned champions. This term will see house teams compete in Basketball, Table Tennis and Kurling. If you are interested in representing your house team in any of these events, please register your interest with your heads of house.
House ‘Flags of the World Quiz’ – Results
Congratulations to both Zack T (Aqua 11) and Zach R (Aqua 11) who both scored an impressive 50 out of 50 in this year’s House Flags of the World Quiz, securing 70 points for their house. Both boys showcased excellent flag knowledge to score higher than anyone else who took part across the academy. The competition received over 70 entries from staff and students. Well done to Jack T (Terra 10) and Oscar M (Caeli 11) who both finished joint runners up with a score of 47/50. House points have been added to the totaliser.
House New Year Cup – End of Week Update
Its been another action-packed week of House New Year Cup entries with a further 1,200km added to our overall distance total since last week’s update. The latest influx of entries has taken us over the half way point of our 6,962km virtual tour with a distance covered so far of 3,999km. It has been a huge community effort so far with over 620 entries sent in. Terra are still way out in front with a house distance of 2100.4km, followed by Aqua, who are trying their very best to keep up with the pace, in second place with a total distance of 1450.37km. Caeli are still trailing in third with a total house distance of 448.28km.. We are only 500km off reaching our next destination, Miami which was the longest leg between destinations (Houston to Miami). Once we reach Miami, we only have two more stadiums to visit before completing the challenge – the problem is that we only have 3 more weeks to go!! If you are out and about this weekend, please make sure you send in you distances - It is not too late to enter and we would like many more of you to get involved and play your part for your house. Send in your screenshots to housechampionship@charlesreadacademy.co.uk This is open to all students, staff and family members.
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." • Prostock-studio - "Group of happy teen high school students studying outdoors" • bbbar - "Acronym of AAB for Above and Beyond" • ink drop - "Well done note with blurred bokeh lights in the background" • Gerisima - "Christmas star decoration of golden confetti stars against white" • CrazyCloud - "curriculum" • Natalia Bratslavsky - "Student services sign at San Diego State University" • 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"