Message from the Executive Principal, Alastair O'Connor
On behalf of the Senior Leadership Team and staff at Charnwood College, I would like to thank parents for their ongoing support this year and wish you all a wonderful summer break.
I would also like to thank all our amazing students especially those who have represented the Academy at all our events and looked after our VIPs who have visited the school. Also our Sports Leaders who have supported with primary events both at Charnwood College and at our feeder primary schools.
We have had lots to celebrate this year and with the hard work and dedication of our staff and students I am sure next year will be even better!
The first day back for students is Thursday 28th August and we look forward to welcoming our new Year 7s and 12s.
UKMT Junior Kangaroo Mathematical Challenge
Following on from the Junior Mathematical Challenge two students qualified for the next round - The Junior Kangaroo 2025.
This is a massive achievement as only a very small number of students from across the country get to take part. Jessica (Y8) and Reuben (Y7) took part in the challenge on Tuesday.
We will get the results in a couple of weeks - Fingers crossed! Here are samples of the questions asked.
TRENT BRIDGE
ENGLAND Vs ZIMBABWE TEST MATCH
On Thursday 22nd May, we took some students along to Trent Bridge to watch the first day of the Test match between England and Zimbabwe. It was an early start, and we travelled by minibus to Nottingham, arriving at the ground in time for the start of play.
The weather was mild and dry, which made for good playing conditions. After winning the toss, Zimbabwe chose to bowl first. We were seated in a stand with a good view of the pitch, and it was interesting to watch how the game unfolded throughout the day.
Some students had not seen live cricket before, so it was a good opportunity to learn more about the game. During the breaks in play, we had lunch and were able to walk around parts of the ground. Students bought souvenirs or snacks, and we bumped into a few players and managed to gain some autographs.
By the end of the day, England had made a solid start with the bat. We returned to school in the evening after a long but enjoyable day. The trip gave us a better understanding of Test cricket and a chance to experience a professional sporting event in a well-known stadium.
A Fantastic Day at the Royal Opera House!
On Tuesday 11th June, 50 lucky students from Charnwood College had an unforgettable day out in London, visiting the world-famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The main event? A performance of Carmen, the iconic opera by Georges Bizet – and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
For many students, it was their first time at an opera, and what an introduction it was. From the stunning sets and costumes to the powerful singing and dramatic storyline, Carmen had everyone completely hooked. The atmosphere inside the Royal Opera House was magical – it’s not every day you get to see such an incredible performance in such a beautiful venue.
The trip was a brilliant opportunity to experience something totally different and inspiring, and everyone came away buzzing with excitement. A big thank you to DRET Music who made this possible. We’re already wondering when we can go back!
Inspiration Awards
On the 19th June staff attended the DRET Inspiration Awards in the Sixth Form Area.
The following staff were nominated for awards:-
- Music Academy of the Year
- Exceptional Support Staff Member - Miss Rider
- Volunteer of the Year - Mr Foord (Governor)
- Volunteer of the Year - Mr Conway (Governor)
- Leader of the Year - Mrs Rowe
Out of the above nominations Miss Rider received the award for Exceptional Support Staff Member.
Congratulations to all staff that were nominated.
Celebrating Staff Long Service Awards
At Charnwood College we are delighted with our retention of staff each year and we would like to congratulate the following staff for their dedicated service.
- Mrs Harrison - 25 years
- Mr Strange - 25 years
- Mrs Grundy - 25 years
- Mrs Robbins - 25 years
- Mrs Potter - 25 years
- Miss North - 20 years
- Mrs Read - 20 years
- Mr Sharpe - 20 years
- Miss Rodriguez - 15 years
- Miss Wilson - 15 years
- Mrs Bateman - 10 years
- Mrs Aziz - 10 years
Charnwood Students Get Behind the Scenes with Orchestra of Opera North
On Friday 13th June, students from Charnwood College enjoyed an unforgettable musical experience when they headed to the Corby Cube for a special masterclass with the Orchestra of Opera North.
The aim of the event was to “lift the lid of the bonnet” and explore how an orchestra really works – and it didn’t disappoint! From the soaring strings to the booming brass, students got to see, hear, and understand how all the different sections come together to create something truly powerful.
The musicians gave live demos and shared insights into their instruments. It was a brilliant chance to hear music up close, ask questions, and gain a new appreciation for the teamwork that goes on behind the scenes in an orchestra.
Whether students were seasoned music fans or just curious about how it all works, the day was full of eye-openers and inspiration. A big thank you to Opera North for lifting the lid and letting us peek inside!
CHARNWOOD COLLEGE ALUMNI
This term we would like to introduce you to Amy Lockwood who is an ex student of Charnwood College.
When did you attend Charnwood College? I attended from 2007 to 2014.
What were your favourite subjects? My favourite subjects were English, Business, IT, Expressive Arts and PE.
Did any of your teachers inspire you? Mrs Grundy, Miss Rodriquez, Miss Gardner and Mr Strange. All these teachers are still at Charnwood College!
Did you take part in any extra-curricular activities such as sports or musical performances? I enjoyed being part of football and basketball teams, although I wasn't the best! I also took part in school performances - although I much preferred the behind the scenes roles. Mrs Grundy will tell you I was always up in the lighting box in the Drama Studio and only on stage when I really had to be!
What did you do after leaving Charnwood College? I went straight into work after leaving school. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do if I went to University and didn't want to go 'just for the experience'. I started working at Boots Head Office in Nottingham, before moving to a local business in Loughborough, then to the Youth Sport Trust where I had two roles before moving to where I am now.
What profession did you go into? Executive Business Support/Administration and I currently work for the David Ross Education Trust.
Do you have any hobbies or interests? I enjoy keeping active by running and going to the gym as well as spending time with my niece.
Would you like to add anything else about your time at school or tell us about any of your achievements you are proud of. Just that I look back now and realise how much I enjoyed school. Although there were hard times, exams, tough lessons, difficulties with friends, school is a wonderful place to learn and grow. Enjoy it!
Thank you to Amy for sharing her experiences at school with us.
CONGRATULATIONS TO FORMER STUDENT OLIVER HALFORD
We are absolutely delighted that our former student Oliver Halford has been offered his first role in Back to the Future The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre in London and only just graduated!
We wish Oliver good luck and we will be excited to see where this opportunity takes him in the future.
NEVILL HOLT EVENTS
Charnwood Choir Shines at King’s Birthday Prom!
What a day to remember! Our amazing Charnwood College Choir had the honour of being invited to perform at the King’s Birthday Prom at the stunning Nevill Holt, as part of the Nevill Holt Music Festival.
The choir kicked things off beautifully with a performance of A Clare Benediction by John Rutter – a peaceful and moving song, made even more special with live accompaniment from the incredible Orchestra of the Opera North.
After their big moment, students got to chill out on the lawn, enjoying more fantastic music, including performances by Malcolm Arnold. But the day wasn’t over yet! Our talented singers also treated the crowd to a few more tunes of their own, including Lovely Day, Fly Me to the Moon, and a special performance by the older boys choir of I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
It was a truly fabulous day, filled with sunshine, song, and smiles. Our students did us proud and represented Charnwood in real style!
Back to Nevill Holt – An Unforgettable Musical Experience!
On Thursday 19th June, ten lucky students had the amazing opportunity to return to the beautiful setting of Nevill Holt to take part in something truly special. They joined forces with 48 talented musicians from across the David Ross Education Trust (DRET) to perform in a concert led by none other than the extraordinary Gavin Bryars – yes, the world-renowned composer!
Together, the group performed two of Gavin’s most iconic works: Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet and The Sinking of the Titanic. These powerful pieces gave students a chance to experience something completely different and really push their musical boundaries.
As if that wasn’t enough, the students also got to enjoy a breathtaking performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending – a beautiful piece that left everyone in awe – as well as a fun and uplifting performance by the DRET Staff Choir.
It was a day packed with inspiration, collaboration, and unforgettable music. A huge well done to all the students involved – what a brilliant experience to be a part of!
GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK
Geographers are curious people who attempt to make sense of the natural world in relation to humans. Geographical enquiry is the process of testing these geographical ideas and theories, analysing results, drawing conclusions and evaluating the process. The skills developed through geographical enquiry is what makes geographers some of the most employable graduates. Our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students have been developing their geographical enquiry skills; which saw a busy start of the term for the Geography Team and students.
The GCSE students visited the Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire to undertake their physical geography enquiry, which will make up part of their GCSE Paper 3: Geographical Applications. Students investigated how similar the Ash Brook was in comparison to the Bradshaw Model; therefore, undertook data collection for river width, depth, velocity and a pebble analysis. One student commented “taking the actual measurements helped me understand the positive and negative things about our methods and it helped us remember what we were doing so we can write about it confidently in our exam”.
The second GCSE trip took students to Coventry, investigating the impact of regeneration in two different areas. Students performed environmental quality surveys alongside service tallys, noise meters, mood meters and noting transport links. One student said “We got to know the impacts of regeneration across two different areas. It was really useful because I feel like I can apply it to my learning in class and in my exam”.
Year 7 students have been applying their enquiry skills to campus, they performed an environmental quality survey at school, assessing different areas. Students said “We measured the temperature, the sound levels and then we rated the vegetation and levels of shade on a scale of 1-5. It was a really interesting lesson and we had lots of fun”
The Year 8 students undertook an urban sustainability survey local to school. Students were investigating how sustainable housing estates are in Loughborough, drawing on prior learning from this year’s Sustainability and Urbanisation topics.
One year 8 student said “it was really fun to go out of school and look at geography in the real world. I can compare the results to my own home”.
Additionally, the Year 9 students investigated the river health of the Black Brook as a tributary of the River Soar. Students collected data from environmental quality surveys and analysed this against field sketches, and secondary data taken from the River’s Trust and Dr Lipp’s sewage map.
Year 9 students commented on applying their learning to the real world saying “The fieldwork was exciting. We learnt about the health of the River Soar. The River Soar is unhealthy which makes me concerned and want to do better to help the planet.”
NEW CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
We are delighted to announce that our new Chair of Governors is the Rev Tim Day.
Tim joined Charnwood College's Academy Scrutiny Committee in June 2023 and has a passion to see all pupils develop in their school life to the best of their ability and in a wide and diverse range of subjects. Tim is also passionate about the role the local church can play in the local community by offering support and the use of the church building for community groups.
Tim is a Church of England Minister in the Parish of Thorpe Acre with Dishley and has previously been a Governor in a number of schools in Leicester.
Our new Vice Chair of Governors is Thomas Conway
Thomas became a Governor on 23 February 2024 as he was looking to try something new and give back to the local community.
Thomas currently studies Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nottingham and is an Officer in the Army Reserve.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Matthew Frost, our outgoing Chair, and Steven Corbett, our outgoing Vice Chair for all their hard work over the last few years supporting Charnwood College.
Details of all our Governors can be found on the Charnwood College website.
We would be very grateful if you could support us with any of the following:-
We are always looking for unwanted items of Charnwood College uniform to sell in our Pre-Loved Sales which take place throughout the year. If you have any good quality items please could you drop them off to the reception during term time - thank you.
SCIENCE NEWS
Year 12 Student achieves Copper Award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge
A group of Year 12 Chemistry students recently took part in the prestigious Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, a nationally recognised competition designed to push students beyond the A-level syllabus and test their problem-solving skills in unfamiliar contexts.
The challenge is known for its difficulty, and simply participating is a mark of academic ambition. Among our students, Liepa achieved a Copper Award, demonstrating strong understanding and determination in tackling the paper’s complex questions. This is a commendable achievement and reflects both her hard work and potential in the subject.
All students who took part should be proud of their efforts, having taken on a tough academic challenge with confidence and curiosity. Their involvement highlights the vibrant and ambitious spirit of our Chemistry programme.
Congratulations to Liepa and the rest of the Year 12 participants!
Brass Players Shine in End of Year Celebration!
On Tuesday 24th June, the sound of brass filled the air as students from Charnwood College and three local primary schools came together for a fantastic end-of-year performance. After months of hard work in their brass lessons, the students had the chance to show off everything they’ve learned – and they certainly didn’t disappoint!
Led by Charnwood College’s brilliant brass teacher, Hannah Matthews, the young musicians played with confidence and enthusiasm. It was a real celebration of talent, teamwork, and the joy of making music together.
A huge thank you goes to the Leicestershire Music and Cultural Trust for funding the brass lessons – not just for this group of students, but also for the next group who are all set to begin their own musical journeys. We can’t wait to see (and hear!) what the future holds. Well done, everyone!
Exciting Changes to the School Day and Curriculum for 2025–26
We are pleased to share an important update about changes to the school day and curriculum that will take effect from the start of the next academic year. As part of our ongoing commitment to improving outcomes and enriching the learning experience for all our students, we will be moving from our current structure of five 1-hour lessons per day to six 50-minute lessons.
This adjustment will create a 30-period week and allows us to maximise learning time while offering even greater flexibility and depth within our curriculum.
At Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9), this change means we can continue to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, with even more opportunities for students to engage in a wide range of subjects and enrichment activities. We believe this is vital for sparking curiosity, developing a love of learning, and helping students discover new interests and talents.
For Key Stage 4 (GCSE) and Key Stage 5 (A Level) students, the new structure provides the space to deepen learning in core subjects, particularly English and maths, and to offer enhanced provision in the sciences, including the opportunity for more students to study separate sciences. This change is designed to strengthen our academic offer and better prepare students for further study, training, or employment.
We are also pleased to confirm that the Year 9 options process is now complete, and we are delighted to report that over 90% of students have secured their top three subject choices. This outcome reflects the careful planning that went into building a curriculum that is both broad and responsive to students’ interests and aspirations. Thank you to all parents and carers who supported students through this important stage of their journey.
We’re confident that these changes will not only improve outcomes but also provide a more enriching and inspiring experience for all students.
CULTURE DAY
On Friday 20th June we held our second annual Culture Day. All students took part and were encouraged to wear a colour that represents their culture or cultural dress, and they really delivered, the fashion was on point.
We were thrilled to celebrate the day and the diverse backgrounds and culture of our student body. Activities ranged from Mandarin or Japanese lessons to a virtual tour of Le Louvre. Students were enthusiastic and the real highlight was the final celebration where we shared the Japanese biscuits Year 9 had made with Ms Anderson and Mrs Sharpe and the whole of Year 7 blew us away with a bhangra dance choreographed by Mrs Rodriguez.
The day was a celebration of our students and what makes Charnwood College, Charnwood College. Mr Greenwood, who organised the event, was personally ecstatic with how our students learned about each other and shared what makes them unique.
Paris Music Tour – A Trip to Remember!
Bonjour from Paris!
In June, 48 lucky students jetted off to the City of Light for an unforgettable music tour – and what an experience it was! Paris swept us off our feet with its beauty, charm, and of course, croissants.
Our talented performers took the stage at two amazing venues – first, in the open air at the Parc Kiosque du Square Jean Cherioux, where we played for a local crowd who were all smiles and applause. Then, we stepped into the beautiful Église Sainte-Marguerite, a stunning church that made our music sound even more magical. Performing in such incredible settings was a real highlight – something we’ll all remember for a long time.
But it wasn’t all rehearsals and performances – we also made the most of being in one of the world’s most famous cities! We saw the Eiffel Tower, cruised along the River Seine and enjoyed some much-needed downtime together playing table tennis and frisbee.
More than anything, it was a chance to bond as a group, make new memories, and experience the joy of sharing music in a whole new place. Huge thanks to our amazing teachers and tour organisers who made it all happen.
YEAR 11 PROM
26th June | Cropston Pumping Station
On the evening of 26th June, the picturesque Cropston Pumping Station played host to an unforgettable celebration — the Year 11 Prom. With the historic venue as a stunning backdrop, students arrived dressed to impress, marking the end of their GCSE journey in true style.
The arrivals were spectacle in themselves, with students pulling up in everything from classic cars to a horse — proving that this cohort knows how to make an entrance! Glamorous dresses, sharp suits, and wide smiles set the tone for a magical evening.
Inside, the venue was beautifully decorated and buzzing with excitement. A fabulous buffet of food was served, keeping everyone fueled for a night of dancing. The dancefloor was full from the first song to the last, as students celebrated together one last time before heading off on their next adventures.
The night also featured a range of fun awards, adding to the laughter and spirit of the evening. From “Best Dressed” to “Most Likely to Become Prime Minister,” the awards were a light-hearted highlight that recognised the unique personalities in the year group.
A massive thank you must go to all the staff who helped organise, set up, and pack away the event — and most importantly, who ensured the students had a safe, fun, and unforgettable night. Their hard work and dedication behind the scenes made all the difference, and it was truly appreciated by everyone involved.
It was a night full of joy, style, and celebration — the perfect way to say goodbye to our Year 11s.
STAFF LEAVING US THIS YEAR
We would like to say thank you and good luck to all the staff leaving us this year.
- Miss Brewin (Support)
- Mr Daryam (Maths)
- Miss French (PE)
- Mr Killick (Maths)
- Miss Littlewood (Humanities)
- Mrs McNamee (Support)
- Miss O'Brien (Humanities)
- Miss Rider (Sport)
- Mrs Sharpe (Science)
- Mr Walton (Humanities)
- Mrs Warren (Support)
We would like to take a moment to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Christine McNamee on her retirement.
Her dedication and hard work over the last 19 years has been truly inspiring, and she will be greatly missed.
Wishing her all the best in this new chapter. May it be filled with joy, relaxation, and wonderful adventures.
From all at Charnwood College
We would also like to welcome the following members of staff to Charnwood College and look forward to working with them next year.
- Mr Ayres (Head of Maths)
- Miss Arrowsmith-Bates (Humanities)
- Mr Bland (Music)
- Miss Gale (PE)
- Mr Gillard (Head of Geography)
- Miss Godrich (English)
- Miss Gregory (Humanities)
- Miss Ingram (Science)
Our Heads of Year will also be changing as follows:
- Year 7 - Miss Gregory
- Year 8 - Miss Wilson
- Year 9 - Miss Arrowsmith-Bates
- Year 10 - Mr Heward
- Year 11 - Miss Anderson
Dates for the diary
- Thursday 14th August - A Level Results Day - 8 a.m.
- Thursday 21st August - GCSE Results Day - 10 a.m.
- Monday 25th August - Bank Holiday
- Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th - Teacher Training Days
- Thursday 28th August - Students return to school
- Wednesday 3rd September - GCSE Launch Evening
- Wednesday 10th September - Excellence Evening
- Wednesday 17th September - Year 6 Open Evening
- Week commencing 22nd September - Year 6 Open Mornings
Follow us on @CharnwoodCol
Safeguarding during the Summer Break
When the Academy is closed 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.
Please go to our website www.charnwoodcollege.org for the relevant contact information if you have any welfare concerns.
In an emergency, call 999.
For any other queries, please contact us via cip@dret.co.uk.
If you have a general enquiry during the summer break please contact the office on office@charnwoodcollege.org There is limited access so it may take a few days to respond.