Quay Academy Newsletter April 2025

Message from Caroline Broadhead, Principal

As we reach the end of another half term, I want to take a moment to recognise the fantastic effort our pupils have put into their learning. It has been wonderful to see their determination and enthusiasm in the classroom, with so many making great progress. It’s especially pleasing to see those “lightbulb moments” when new concepts really start to click, and their confidence continues to grow.

Our teachers have been working tirelessly to prepare pupils for the important assessments next term. Year 6 pupils are getting ready for their SATs, Year 4 children are developing their fluency for the Multiplication Tables Check, and our Year 1s are making great strides in their phonics knowledge in preparation for the Phonics Screening Check. We are incredibly proud of their commitment and resilience.

A huge thank you to all of you for the support you provide at home, whether it’s listening to your child read, helping with homework, or encouraging their learning in different ways. Your partnership with us makes a real difference to their success.

It has also been a pleasure to welcome so many of you into school for our Easter fairytale performances. The children loved sharing their work with you, and your support means so much to them. We look forward to seeing you again at our upcoming summer term events.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Easter break. We look forward to welcoming the children back for an exciting and productive summer term.

YOU SAID, WE DID

Thank you to all the parents who took the time to participate in our recent survey about the weekly bulletin. An overwhelming number of you shared that a weekly “What’s on at Quay” update would be the most helpful way to stay informed about school events and key dates. In response to your feedback, we will be introducing this update to ensure you have clear and timely communication each week.

We value your input, as strong home-school links are vital in supporting our pupils’ learning and well-being. Your feedback helps us continue to improve the ways we keep you informed and engaged with school life.

Exciting Trips this Term

Year 5 -The Magic Flute

We are incredibly proud of our Year 5 pupils who took part in the David Ross Education Trust’s special 60-minute production of The Magic Flute, in partnership with the Royal Ballet & Opera. Performing alongside professional singers and musicians from the Royal Academy of Music, they helped bring Mozart’s timeless opera to life in a truly magical way.

With 900 students from across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, our pupils played a key role in retelling the enchanting story of Prince Tamino’s quest to rescue Princess Pamina, the birdcatcher Papageno’s search for his Papagena, and the battle between the powerful Sarastro and the Queen of the Night—all guided by the mystical powers of a magic flute and bells.

This was an extraordinary opportunity for our pupils to perform at a professional level, experiencing the magic of opera first-hand while showcasing their dedication, talent, and enthusiasm. Their hard work and passion shone through in every moment of the performance, and we could not be prouder of their achievements!

Rehearsals for The Magic Flute
Running through our speaking parts.
Quay Academy’s moment to shine.

Year 5 -IntoUniversity Days

Our Year 5 pupils have had fantastic experiences at their IntoUniversity sessions, exploring the exciting possibilities that higher education can offer!

5MW and 5LD had amazing days at Christ Church with IntoUniversity, where they’ve been learning all about university life and the different career paths linked to Zoology. They even had the chance to get creative by designing their very own zoos!

These sessions have been a brilliant opportunity for our pupils to think about their futures, develop new skills, and expand their aspirations. We are so proud of their enthusiasm and engagement in these activities!

Intouniversity Centre.

Year 2 -York Grand Opera House

Our Year 1 and 2 pupils had an amazing trip to the York Grand Opera House to watch Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians—the perfect way to get excited for their new topic next term! The show brought history to life in a fun and engaging way, and the children loved every moment.

After the performance, they enjoyed a lovely picnic in the park, making the most of the sunshine and spending quality time together. We are so proud of how well they represented our school throughout the trip, showing great enthusiasm and excellent behaviour.

A huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make this wonderful experience possible—we truly appreciate your support!

Moments in the theatre
Year 2 enjoying lunch in York

DRET Sport

We had a fantastic day at the @dretsport Primary Cup! Our netball team showcased strong defensive skills, while our football team delivered some brilliant goals. We’re proud to have earned the Progress award after improving our placement by six spots from last year! We can’t wait to showcase even more sporting talent in the Dret Summer Cup!

Netball in full swing
Most improved
Celebrating a great day

A Fantastic World Book Day at Quay!

What an incredible day we had celebrating World Book Day at Quay! The school was buzzing with excitement as pupils and staff arrived in amazing costumes, bringing their favourite book characters to life.

One of the highlights of the day was our buddy reading sessions, where older children paired up with younger pupils to share stories together. It was lovely to see the joy on everyone’s faces as they read aloud, listened intently, and discussed their favorite books.

Throughout the day, we took party in engaging activities, storytelling sessions, and plenty of book-themed fun. The love of reading was at the heart of it all.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the day so special—staff, pupils, and families alike. World Book Day at Quay was truly one to remember!

Our Club Offer

Cooking Club

Our Cooking Club has been a big hit as part of our extra-curricular offer, with students enjoying the chance to develop new skills and get creative in the kitchen. We’re excited for the new clubs launching next term and look forward to seeing even more pupils get involved. We value your feedback and welcome suggestions for new clubs so we can continue to provide engaging and enjoyable activities for all!

EXCITING NEWS: ALDI GRANT SUPPORTS OUR AFTER-SCHOOL COOKING CLUB!

We’re thrilled to share that we have received a grant from Aldi in partnership with the charity Neighbourly! This generous support has enabled us to run an after-school cooking club this term, where children have been learning to make delicious and healthy meals. They’ve had a fantastic time getting hands-on in the kitchen and are excited to share their creations at home.

A huge thank you to Aldi and Neighbourly for making this possible!

YEAR 1 & 2 FAIRYTALE PERFORMANCES – A MAGICAL SUCCESS!

Our Year 1 and 2 children put on a spectacular showcase of their learning with their wonderful fairytale performances! They loved bringing these classic stories to life and did a fantastic job acting, singing, and narrating with confidence and enthusiasm.

It was a joy to see their hard work and creativity shine on stage, and we are so proud of each and every one of them. A huge thank you to all the parents and families who came to support the performances – your encouragement and applause made the experience even more special for the children.

Well done, Year 1 and 2, for a truly magical performance!

FANTASTIC EASTER EGG & BONNET CREATIONS!

We were absolutely amazed by the incredible entries for our Easter egg and Easter bonnet competitions! The creativity, effort, and attention to detail that went into each design were truly impressive. From beautifully decorated eggs to wonderfully imaginative bonnets, it was clear that a lot of thought and hard work had gone into every creation.

A huge well done to everyone who took part – you should all be very proud of your fantastic efforts. Thank you to families for your support in helping make this such a fun and festive celebration. What a wonderful way to welcome Easter!

Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 22nd April-School reopens to children.

Monday 12th-Thursday 15th May -Year 6 SATS Testing

Friday 16th May -Year 6 Flamingo Land

Monday 2nd June -Friday 13th June -Y4 Multiplication Times Table Check.

Monday 9th June-Friday 13th June -Y1 Phonics screening checks take place

Monday 9th June -class photographs.

Easter Eggs For All

A massive thank you to Yorkshire Children’s Charity, who facilitated a huge Easter egg donation from AL-KO Tech Group, Brandsburton for all our pupils. Your kindness made Easter extra special! Happy Easter, everyone!