News Letter Christmas 2014

December 2014
Castleford Academy
Winter Bulletin
Welcome to the Winter Edition of our half termly newsletter.
As we near to the end of a very busy first term, it is important to communicate any school developments, events or successes to keep you
well informed.
In November, we welcomed back to our school our ex Year 11 students to collect their GCSE certificates at a special celebration evening.
The event was extremely well attended and a real mark of the five fantastic years of education at Castleford Academy. The event began
with some fantastic musical performances from current students Courtney Cranton, Tate Maloney, Jack Senior and Jake Wilkinson. Ex
Students were then invited to the stage in forms to collect their GCSE certificates, followed by subject and special awards. The awards
were presented by a range of special guests including former student, Dr Samantha Dye (Wombwell Medical Centre), Brett Ferres
(England Rugby League Player) and mother of ex student, Bombardier Craig Hopson who lost his life in Afghanistan. The event was closed
by the Chair of Trustees Bill Clift MBE, JP. MEd, thanking all that attended and welcoming them to stay for a buffet and catch up with
teachers and friends. A great celebration was had and we wish them all the best for the future.
The Academy continues to look into strategies to improve all students’ reading abilities and their love for reading. All students in Years
7-10 are part of an accelerated reader program and, as a result, they are expected to read as often as possible with a target of six books
during each school year for Years 7-9. Reading is proven to enhance your writing skills, expand your vocabulary, make you more
knowledgeable as well as stimulating the brain and allowing you to relax. We appreciate the ongoing support you give us in encouraging
pupils to read.
A group of technology students who won the Land Rover 4x4 National competition have been invited to a VIP day at Land Rover, Solihull.
Declan Robinson, Mason Parker, Brittany Buttle and Ben Lewis will meet with Jaguar engineers and professionals to discuss careers and
will also have an opportunity to go on the famous Land Rover challenge.
In October the Music Department arranged a “Halloween Havoc” music concert. Over 20 performers ranging from singers to musicians
performed in front of a packed crowd. From novices to experienced performers of all year groups, the standard was impressive and the
talent was well received. The Christmas Show took place on Wednesday 10 th December.
A talented cast of Year 9-11 students took part in this year’s National Shakespeare festival. The competition involved a performance at
Wakefield Theatre as a final showcase. The students’ performance was outstanding and received plaudits from the judging panel and
school staff. Well done to all involved.
A group of Year 7 students who attended our Summer School this year and designed a board game have now had this professionally
made. The students were presented with their game and a colourful booklet outlining their journey. A real innovative design. Well done
team!
In History a group of students visited Menin Gate, Belgium as part of their History involvement. The trip was a real success and Ben Kirby,
Beth Jarvis and Jack Senior were very proud to represent Castleford Academy and the local community and lay a wreath at the Menin
Gate on Sunday 26th October as an act of remembrance of fallen heroes. A minute’s silence was also observed at Castleford Academy.
At Christmas both Miss Buckley and Mr Button leave us for pastures new. We wish them all the best for the future.
Finally, we are very proud of ex student, Jack Walton, who made it to the finals of National ITV show X Factor. Unfortunately, Jack has
now left the competition but hopefully the exposure he received and a large following will kick start a very successful future in the music
industry. We wish him all the best.
As always if you feel that any aspect of our work falls below your expectation, we would appreciate you getting in touch with us at
[email protected] so we can deal with any issues promptly.
Finally, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Castleford Academy.
George Panayiotou
Headteacher
Designed by Abigail Cryer
Epraise
This term the Academy has introduced a new rewards system to help motivate pupils by recognising positive attitudes towards
learning. School reward systems involve pupils being awarded praise points for doing something well. This might be for working really
hard on a piece of work or based on something like attendance, progress or having a positive attitude towards learning. Pupils are often
rewarded in some way based on how many points they have received with something such as a certificate or being eligible to go on a
school trip. We believe that this new rewards system can help motivate pupils further.
The new online rewards system works by pupils being awarded ‘E-points’. ‘E-points’ are awarded by teachers through stickers with each
sticker having a code on the front. Once awarded this code can then be entered online by the pupil logging into their ‘Epraise’ account at
www.epraise.co.uk and entering their unique code. Once entered the ‘E-point’ is then automatically added to their points total. There
are various milestones to be achieved such as bronze, silver and gold awards. When one of these milestones has being achieved by
reaching a certain number of points, this achievement will then be recognised by a certificate.
Pupils have access to a variety of information when logged into their ‘Epraise’ account. This ranges from their current points total, to
which subjects they have achieved the most points in and for what reason they achieved them. Pupils can then identify which subject
they haven’t been achieving points in and reflect on how they can improve.
‘Epraise’ can also be accessed at home so that parents can be involved in their child’s education and help support their learning. This
package can inform parents on how their child is doing at school as well as parents being able to see their child’s progress towards their
achievement milestones.
Mr L Holmes
Head of P.E. and Associate to Senior Leadership Team
Year 11 Mock Exam Results Day
On Thursday 15th January 2015, we will be holding our Year 11 GCSE Mock Results Day.
What is it? This is the day Year 11 students receive their GCSE Mock Results based on the
mock exams they took in December. Students can see where they are NOW, after
receiving their Mock GCSE Results. This allows students to see what they can study Post
16 with the grades they are currently achieving. The results day is successful in inspiring
those pupils who have done well to keep working hard. It also shocks students who have
failed to get their predicted grades into doing something about it immediately - before it
is too late. If you would like further guidance on how best to support your child in
preparing for their summer GCSE exams, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Mrs J Cross
Assistant Headteacher (Achievement)
Forthcoming Events
Friday 19th December—non-uniform day
(school closes for Christmas holiday at
12.20pm).
Monday 5th January—School open for all
year groups.
Thursday 15th January—Year 11 Mock
Exam Results Day
Thursday 22nd January—Year 11 Parents’
Evening
Thursday 12th February—Post 16 Open
Evening
More Able and Talented
The Academy has a statutory responsibility to keep a register of pupils who are either “More Able” or “Talented”. “More Able” usually
means the Top 10% of pupils from each year group in their combined English, Maths and Science KS2 results. “Talented” are pupils
who are nominated in one of 5 subjects (Drama, Music, Technology, Art or PE) as currently showing a talent in that area. Pupils can be
added to the More Able and Talented register at any time in their 5 years at the Academy. The register is used by the Academy to
monitor and track these pupils and to ensure that they achieve the highest grades they can.
The Academy has taken the decision to make the register larger in order to target more pupils and achieve more of the highest grades.
This means that we will be identifying the Top 20% from each year group. These pupils have the potential to reach extremely high
levels of achievement. Letters will be sent out in the next few weeks and pupils will be invited to attend an assembly.
It is important to note that if you are not on the register, you are still quite able to reach an A/A* or Distinction and the Academy will
do everything in its power to push every pupil to achieve their full potential. Castleford Academy works hard to push, stretch,
challenge, intervene and support every pupil to achieve their full potential and the Academy has been celebrated in the past for
achieving this with pupils of all backgrounds and abilities. In fact, many of our pupils overachieve their target grades.
Mr S Prinsep
Assistant Headteacher (The Learner)
End of Term Arrangements
Our last day at school before the Christmas break is Friday 19th December 2014 which will be a non-uniform day to raise money for
good causes. Full details about the arrangements for the day were sent in a letter which can be viewed on the website. We will be
finishing at 12.20pm on that day. Pupils will be able to get a school lunch before they leave if they wish. Please make arrangements for
your child to get home safely. School will reopen for all pupils after the Christmas break on Monday 5th January 2015.
Mrs E Wells
Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Safety)
Key Stage 3
Well done to Year 7 who have almost completed their first term at Castleford Academy! On the whole they have settled very well into
life at the Academy; they are making the most of the extra-curricular opportunities available to them and they are beginning to adopt
good routines for their home learning. Over 50 Year 7 pupils have been regularly attending Boosters in the Learning Centre every
Wednesday to improve their literacy and numeracy skills as well as many pupils attending music and sports activities after school. There
will be an increased number of Year 8 and Year 9 pupils invited to Booster sessions in the new year. After-school Booster sessions will be
continuing in January within the Learning Centre until 3:30pm:

Year 7 – Wednesday

Year 8 – Tuesday

Year 9 – Thursday
The homework club for Key Stage 3 pupils is gaining popularity as more pupils are taking advantage of the specialist support available
whilst completing their homework tasks in school. Here is a reminder of the following support available for all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9:

If your son/daughter prefers to have some support in completing their work/homework then S53 is available until 4.00pm
Monday to Friday with support staff.

For independent work which may include homework or consolidating their learning, the Library and the Learning Centre are open
until 4.00pm Monday to Thursday. The Library is also open until 3.30pm each Friday.
Mrs E Briggs
Assistant Headteacher (KS3 Progress)
Growth Mindset
The staff at Castleford Academy have had INSET training on how to develop growth mindset in students and themselves. Mindset is a
simple idea that can develop achievement and success as studied by the founder Carol Dweck at Stanford University. The principle is
clear that people have one of two mindsets.
A fixed mindset promotes a belief that intelligence and talent are fixed traits that cannot be developed as you either ‘have it’ or you don’t.
This can be a very negative outlook for students as it limits their progress as they often find it difficult to admit that they have made
mistakes or don’t get a concept in front of their peers. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic skills can be developed
by hard work, dedication and effort and that brains and talent are just the starting point to build upon. A growth mindset states that with
persistence, and getting it wrong a few times, pupils will learn new skills and develop as learners. This view creates a change in culture
that Castleford Academy wish to promote. This culture of a growth mindset impacts upon motivation, productivity and most of all
students giving their all with maximum effort to improve.
Growth mindset promotes students taking risks and persevering with tasks that are difficult. In the Academy students will notice a lot
more struggle tasks where they may find ideas and concepts difficult at first. However, we are trying to promote the learning journey
where students embrace challenges, persist if they face setbacks and continue giving maximum effort to work out problems. This allows
the students to push themselves and realise that talent is not fixed but can be developed.
Mr Richard Guest
Assistant Headteacher (Teaching and Learning)
Lexia Reading Scheme – Year 7
Year 7 have been working on the exciting, award winning software
program that provides individual, targeted practice. All parents
will receive the guidance explaining how to access the program
from home. To gain the most benefit from this program they
should be aiming to log-in four times each week for a 20 minute
session and preferably five times! In January your child will receive a report explaining the progress they have made and how
long they have spent on Lexia. If you are having problems accessing Lexia Reading from home please do not hesitate to contact me.
Lexia Reading Scheme – Year 8 and Year 9
Pupils in Year 8 have just received their log-ins for Lexia and Year 9
will also gain access to the successful reading scheme in January.
Lexia Reading has helped thousands of pupils across the UK to
develop reading skills and therefore this will enable Year 8 and
Year 9 make greater progress in their academic subjects. More
information to follow in the new year.
Mrs E Briggs
Assistant Headteacher (KS3 Progress)
Spelling Strategies
During January students across the academy will be
taking part in spelling strategies month. In all subjects
pupils will be encouraged to explore a range of
techniques to assist them with the spelling of subject
specific keywords as well as commonly misspelt words.
Spelling is a focus for all subjects as changes to
examination requirements now means
marks are awarded for Spelling,
Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG). At
present students have monthly cross
curricular spelling tests in form time; in
order to support your child in learning spellings there is
a spelling strategies information leaflet on the school
website.
Mrs A Wainwright
(Literacy Coordinator)
Student Council
Our Student Council has always been formed through elections in order to highlight the importance of democracy in our society and one
of the many British Values that we celebrate at the Academy. This year, we decided to try and make it as realistic and as close to the real
thing as possible. After an assembly in September informing the pupils of the importance of democracy, applications were made by
pupils to run for the role of Student Council Representative. 150 pupils applied and campaigned in a wide range of ways to be elected
(Manifestos, speeches, flyers, video).
After an intense Election Fortnight, the Academy held a “general election” on Thursday 27 th November and all staff and pupils voted.
The Council are a key part of Student Voice at the Academy and will contribute to many decisions and assist in giving us the “pupil eye
view” of how the Academy is run. Last year, for example, the Student Council helped redesign the planner, improve teaching and
learning across the school and raised money for a wide variety of charities.
Castleford Academy’s Student Council Representatives are:
Lower School Council: Lily Scott, Josh Goldie, Keara Bennett, Grace Tankard, Kyle Cranswick and Max Kirkbright, Jack Crosswaite,
Sophie Tanser, Alice Merry, Tom Dooley, Kenan Wilkes and Elisha Clayton.
Upper School Council: Davin Crossley, Lewis Hepworth, Dominic Owen, Anna Bailey, Douglas Martin, Josh Ward, Marlene Tomasini,
Phoebe Early, Sam Whalley, Holly Richardson, Caprice Bellwood, Connor Astbury, Leanne Wood, Jack Haithwaite, Amy Foster,
Becky Wallbank, Lauren Pointon.
Congratulations to them and a huge thank you to all those pupils who ran for office. It was a really close election and you helped make it
a real event.
Mr S Prinsep
Assistant Headteacher (The Learner)
GCSE Presentation Evening 2014
Over 300 guests attended the GCSE Presentation evening for
the class of 2014 on Thursday 13th November. Former
Castleford Academy students were presented with their GCSE
exam certificates and were also presented awards for special
achievements. Amongst the winners were Maisie Thornton
who won a special Achievement award for achieving 8A*, 2A’s
and a B. It was an absolute pleasure to celebrate the
achievements of last year’s students as they really worked hard
and deserved to be rewarded. We are now setting our sights on
this year’s results so that they are even better! A full list of
winners can be found on our website.
Mrs J Cross
Assistant Headteacher (Achievement)
Year 7 Christmas Card Competition
Pupils from Year 7 were invited to design a Christmas Card on
behalf of the Academy. Well done to all of the Year 7 who
submitted a design for the Castleford Academy Christmas Card, we
had almost 100 entries and following much deliberation, the
winning design was submitted by Abigail Cryer (this can be seen on
the front of the newsletter). The runners up were Madison
Atkinson, Jessica Davies, Kiera Parker, Lily Parker and Kieran Smith.
Well done to all those who took part.
Thank you to the Art department for running the competition and
supporting pupils with their design ideas.
Mrs Cook
Deputy Headteacher
British Values
There has been a lot in the media recently about British Values and the government requiring them to be taught in schools and
academies across the country. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain that at Castleford Academy we believe we have
been teaching British Values for a long time. The values identified by the Department for Education are Democracy, The Rule of Law,
Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of different faith and beliefs.
All of the above are covered every single day at Castleford Academy. They are covered in a wide variety of lessons and we have a
curriculum map ensuring they are visited and revisited many times. The Academy also covers these areas outside of lessons through
extra-curricular activities, the wide variety of after-school clubs, sports teams and performing arts events and through the Academy’s
rules that pupils follow every day and the way they speak to (and are spoken to by) staff. Pupils will also receive a full programme of
assemblies over the coming year. It is also important to note that the values identified above are not exhaustive. There are many
other British Values that we believe we uphold through the Academy and that you probably promote at home too.
Mr S Prinsep
Assistant Headteacher (The Learner)
Castleford Academy
Ferrybridge Road, Castleford, West Yorkshire WF10 4JQ
T: 01977 605060 F: 01977 605070 E: [email protected] W: www.castlefordacademy.com Twitter: @CastlefordAcad
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