SLT Update
It has been wonderful to welcome our Year 7 cohort of 2026 into the Academy this week and we have been so impressed with how they have approached the two days. We are very excited to have such wonderful children joining our CRA Family. Our current students, especially our Year 7s, have been excellent ambassadors and have made them feel very welcome. It was also lovely to welcome so many parents to the Transition Evening and we are looking forward to working with them over the next five years.
I also had the privilege of watching some of our pupils perform at the DRET Summer Cup on Wednesday and would like to say a huge congratulations to all of the participants. They represented CRA beautifully and really lived our values throughout the day. Next week we are holding our Year 5 Open Evening on Wednesday 8th July and are very much looking forward to showing prospective families all of the educational and co-curricular opportunities the school can offer their children. I hope that you have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Milligan, Principal
Open Evening
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.
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 - Philip K for Ambition For your brilliant performance in hurdles at the summer cup, in which you achieved a bronze medal and for your fantastic behaviour and use of CRA values throughout the day. Terra - Reegan D for Respect For your outstanding performance in table tennis at the summer cup in which you achieved 1st place! Your attitude, behaviour and use of all CRA values was outstanding throughout the day as well as being kind and supportive to everyone. Aqua - Mia P for Respect For showing excellent resilience in your 1500m race at the summer cup as well as your outstanding attitude, behaviour and use of all CRA values throughout the day. You were extremely helpful, kind and supportive of your peers. You are a real role model!
Why We Do What We Do
In school, we talk to people all the time—friends, teachers, classmates, and even people we don’t know well. But sometimes:
Conversations go wrong People feel left out Things get misunderstood Or situations escalate into conflict
CRA VOICE gives us a simple, clear way to communicate better. It’s about: Thinking before we speak Treating others properly Taking responsibility Working together positively
This isn’t just about rules—it’s about building a school where everyone feels safe, included, and respected.
If we all use CRA VOICE, here’s what will happen:
- Better Friendships People feel heard, respected, and included
- Less Drama and Conflict Problems are solved calmly instead of escalating
- A Safer School Everyone feels more comfortable being themselves
- Stronger Teamwork Group work becomes easier and more productive
- More Confidence You’ll feel more comfortable speaking and sharing ideas
- A Positive School Culture Kindness, respect, and support become the norm
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 22 June 2026 - 8
Accelerated Reading
Week beginning 22 June 2026 - Period 4
Bushcraft
Bushcraft cooking Nettle crisps
You will need: Some nettle leaves Oil for frying Salt Pick the leaves from near to the top of the nettle, but not the very top Wear gloves, they will sting! Wash the leaves in cold water and pat dry to remove as much moisture as possible Remove any stalks Heat up about 3cm of oil in a saucepan and drop in a few nettle leaves at a time and fry until they are crisp. Dry the leaves on kitchen roll to remove the oil be careful they will be very brittle finally sprinkle with salt and enjoy!
Table Talk
The UK government is pushing landmark legislation to ban under 16s from accessing major social media platforms. This includes tik tok, instagram, snapchat and facebook by Spring 2027. We suggest that you have a conversation with your children to get their views on this and explain to them the reasoning behind this suggestion .
Attendance.
Celebrating Good Attendance Attendance figures being communicated through weekly whole school assemblies. Competitions between tutor groups and between houses to have the best attendance through our Houseopoly game Tutor attendance weekly competition in which groups are awarded cards to place on their challenge board. Each completed board results in a prize. By awarding certificates to individual children who have 100% for each term. Individual attendance challenge cards which result in rewards when targets have been met. A Year 11 Buddy system which rewards students who reach their targets with their buddy. By awarding academy certificates to individual children who get 100% attendance for the whole academic year (September to July). Celebrating and rewarding the success of those who have gained the most improved attendance throughout the academic year. Regular communication through MCAS congratulating parents and students on their individual and/or form group attendance success.
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
CRA Sports Day 2026 – Tuesday 7th July
CRA Sports Day 2026 takes place on Tuesday, next week. All students are able to attend CRA in their full CRA PE Kit. Sports Day promises to be an action-packed day with over 10 events taking place throughout the day, including tug of war in addition to the traditional track & field events. This year also features a Rounders competition on the day, taking place during period 3!
You will have the opportunity to keep up to date with results as the day unfolds, through a live link (QR CODE) which will be sent to all parents on Monday.
Students must ensure they bring plenty of fluids and snacks throughout the day. Break time service is normal however the canteen at lunch will only be offering baguettes which have been pre ordered. If you haven’t pre ordered lunch you must bring a packed lunch for the day.
There will also be an ice cream van in attendance from 1pm. Students who wish to access the ice cream van must bring in their own money - we recommend £3.
House Lip Sync Battle Results
On Monday the whole school gathered in the hall to watch the eagerly anticipated House Lip Sync Battle. Students and staff represented their house teams across three brilliant performances, in our most participated House Lip Sync Battle ever! Participants displayed all of our values to perform on stage in front of the school. Well done to everyone who represented Aqua, Caeli and Terra in the show and the rehearsals building up to the event. Overall results will be revealed during the House Champions reveal assembly soon!
Aqua win World Cup Score Predictions
Congratulations to Aqua house who have won the World Cup score predictions competition. We are delighted to share the news that one of our new year 7 students, joining CRA in September was crowned overall winner of the competition after accumulating the highest points total across all of the World Cup group games. Participants made score predictions for all 72 group games, earning 5 points for every correct score and 2 points if they didn’t predict the correct scoreline but predicted the correct result. It was a one-two finish for Aqua with Flynn topping the leaderboard by just one point to Louie in second place. Here is the top 10 positions from the competitions.
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 below latest term dates.
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 - "Close up top view customer hand choose smiley face on wood cube, Service rating, satisfaction concept." • Brad Pict - "Upcoming events" • MiguelAngel - "Smiley faces painted on pink stickers, highlighting a sad face on a green sticker.,Concept of feeling different, not fitting into society." • Leigh Prather - "Five star rating - shiny golden stars" • Rachel - "military combat" • mtkang - "online support concepts, message on keyboard key" • Daisy Daisy - "Mother Having Serious Conversation With Teenage Daughter At Home" • PerfectPhoto - "Rainbow colored sticker representing lgbtq pride and diversity" • Seikh - "2026 fifa world cup international soccer ball" • Naypong Studio - "Sports Equipment on white background" • zhangyang135769 - "stadium" • CharmB - "Back to School"