Newsletters

SWA E-Newsletter #178

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E-NEWSLETTER  •  ISSUE 178

A Message from Principal, Mr Martin

This half-term seems to have gone by incredibly quickly and before we know it, the exam season will be in full swing.

GCSE exam elements have begun with food and PE conducting their practicals this week. The students involved were totally focused on the task at hand and I look forward to their results. It was great to welcome and share with family their child’s culinary creations. I would like to thank both departments for all their hard work in preparing our students and calming their nerves.

The black heritage programme, organised by Mrs Brown and Dr Haynes, and delivered by Sharon De Leonardis has had yet more media coverage with another segment on Friday night Three Counties Radio. It included an interview with two students, who were both incredibly eloquent and authentic, as well as our very own Mrs Brown, who explained how the idea came about and the impact of the programme so far. Sharon has been so impressed with our students that she is planning to invite them to speak at an upcoming event in Bedford - more details to follow.

The rehearsals for Oliver are in full swing and our performing arts students are busy learning their lines and choreography. We are hoping to go all out this year with a full set of costumes and staging. As I'm sure you can imagine, this does take some investment, so over the coming weeks we will be looking for support in raising funds to invest in our school productions and purchase equipment which will enable us to take our productions to the next level. 

In sport, we have had some excellent results recently. The Year 10 boys rugby team won the Northampton Saints Sevens Championship at Perse School, in Cambridge this week. The girls U18 rugby team beat Oundle School 24-19, in a really close match which went right to the final whistle. Our 2nd VII also performed well last week with an impressive 60-12 result against Impington Village College. The district handball final ended up being a playoff between our A team and our B team. And finally, we would like to congratulate James Taylor in Y13 who played in goal for England U18s at the weekend.

I wish you all a restful half-term and look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 26th February.

Messages From Heads of Year 

 

Year 11, Mr R Nicholl

 

As we approach the end of a quick but busy half term, we have another chance to reflect on all of the learning and progress that has taken place. Many subjects are coming to the end of their programme of study and students are beginning to finalise coursework/components and make specific adjustments to gain additional marks. Once the mock examinations have taken place (week beginning 26th February), we will have another opportunity to review and fill any gaps in learning. Many subjects will use the time after the February mocks to go over topics/components that were studied in Year 10 and at the start of Year 11. Students will also continue to develop their exam techniques and experience more exam-style questions. 

We understand that the recent parents' evening is an essential part of a puzzle that will support your child’s progress in specific subjects. We hope that you were able to come away from the meetings with targeted strategies that can be utilised from now until the GCSE examinations. With this in mind, we recommend that all students should make the most of the intervention opportunities that are open to them. They can speak to their subject teachers directly to find out when / where the interventions take place. 

It has been great to see the food technology students share their practical work (coursework) with their parents. We have been so impressed by the standard of cooking and the display of their food – certainly some budding chefs among the cohort! 

As you are aware, we will be creating a yearbook for the students so that they can look back at their time at the school. We have a photography company coming in on 13/03/2024 to take individual and form photos so that we can add them to the yearbook.

We have been communicating with a company called Hear 2 Listen. We have the opportunity to work with them to develop a range of skills that will not only support them for the exam period but will also develop essential life skills. They will be coming in to deliver workshops to our students on the following dates – 12th, 15th and 25th March. More details to follow. 

We are currently in the process of communicating with the prom committee. Miss Duguid has been meeting with the prom committee to ensure that it is an event that the students will remember. We are operating a waiting list as there is a maximum capacity at the venue. Please contact the school if you would like your child to be added to the list. Further correspondence has been communicated this week (12/02/24), please refer to this for more information. 

We know that the Year 11 students have worked hard to fill the gaps from their last set of mocks. We hope that a range of revision strategies have been implemented to show progress from the last set of mocks. Students should check their timetables on Edulink and make sure they are prepared for the first week back.

The year team would like to let our students know that we are here to support them throughout the mock period – form tutors will continue to guide and support them during registration. We would also like to wish our students all the very best for the February mocks.

Year 12, Mr C Tonking

We are pleased to announce that all the places for our Higher Education Convention at London ExCel on Tuesday 19th March have been filled. We appreciate the timely responses from students and parents and believe that it will be a valuable and informative event. However, for those who missed the opportunity to sign up, there may be some openings in case any student cancels. Those who filled in the consent form but failed to pay the deposit will be given priority.

The next half term is going to be an important one for Year 12 with Predict 2 reports coming out on 14th March. This will be followed by our first online Parents Review Evening held on Tuesday 26th March. We will send details and instructions closer to the time.

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HIGH SHERIFF VISIT

Samuel Whitbread and BEST Staff recently had the honour of providing a tour of our premises to the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. During his visit, the High Sheriff met with Year 10 students who had completed the Brilliant Club scholarship program, and he was also given a detailed tour of our PE department. This was a wonderful experience for all involved, and we are eagerly anticipating his return in the future.

SOCIOLOGY TRIP TO THE OLD BAILEY

The sociology department took a group of 44 A-level students for a tour of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey Crown Court. This was an invaluable opportunity for our students to discover first-hand the history and workings of the British criminal justice system and to apply their knowledge of sociological theory and ideas to action. The tour was headed by a leading crime correspondent who shared his inside stories and knowledge drawing from 30 years of experience as a crime journalist for a national newspaper. Our students heard about the incredible fees barristers can charge as well as some of the infamous cases heard in the Royal Courts of Justice including the "Wagatha Christie" dispute.

Students then had the opportunity to sit in an open court at the Old Bailey and observe a real court case in action including the current widely reported case of Marten and Gordon. This was a fascinating and eye-opening opportunity for our students and led to many interesting conversations about the causes of crime, the role of the criminal justice system and the demographics of victims, perpetrators and the judiciary.

READING AMBASSADORS READING CHALLENGE 

The SWA 2024 Reading Challenge has commenced, thanks to the efforts of our Year 10 Reading Ambassadors who have curated this event to promote reading among the masses.

The challenge seeks to broaden your reading horizons and stimulate your imagination with a diverse collection of 30 captivating books. The reading material includes gripping fiction, enlightening non-fiction, dyslexia-friendly titles, graphic novels, and verse novels, catering to every reader, whether you are a seasoned bookworm or just beginning to explore the world of literature. Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery, immerse ourselves in new worlds, and celebrate the joy of reading together.

If you would like to participate in this challenge, please visit the library for further details. You can also use the Wakelet link below for more information about the 2024 Reading Challenge.

https://wakelet.com/wake/d5-WZdvAXULktL1IXaCSB


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OLIVER THE SUMMER MUSICAL

After the success of the Treasure Island pantomime, Performing Arts students are currently rehearsing for the summer musical, Oliver.

Rehearsals are going smoothly, and the talented cast are gearing up to make this the most impressive musical yet! Mark your calendars for Wednesday 10th July, Thursday 11th July, and Friday 12th July, as this will be a fantastic evening out!

SPRING CONCERT

Get ready to step into spring with our upcoming concert on March 20th! From percussion to choir, we've got all the musical magic covered. Don't miss out, get your tickets today using the link below -

http://ticketsource.co.uk/swaconcert 

DANCE SHOWCASE

The spring Dance Showcase is back! Join us on the 27th of March 2024 & witness awe-inspiring performances by our talented students - it's a date you won't want to miss!

Get your tickets today using the link below - 

http://ticketsource.co.uk/swaconcert 

LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH 

In honour of LGBT+ History Month, the library has curated a collection of books that are currently being promoted. These books offer a unique insight into the history and culture of the LGBT+ community and are worth exploring. To access the collection via Wakelet, please use the link below. 

https://wakelet.com/wake/alwsd33qkQZ6jT9uy2cJy

READING NEWSLETTER - SPRING TERM 2 

The Reading Newsletter for Spring Term 2 has just been released, packed with amazing book recommendations from Mrs Sinclair, Mrs Anderson, and Mrs Corbishley. Don't miss out on the chance to discover some fantastic reads. Click on the link below to access this edition of the newsletter.

https://www.samuelwhitbread.org.uk/page/?title=SWA+Reading+News&pid=281

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ATTENDANCE REMINDERS

Reporting an Absence  / Appointments -  Students in Year 9, 10 and 11

Morning Registration

Please report absences from morning registration by using one of the following methods, preferably before 8.20 am:

Telephone the school on 01462 629900 (option 1) or 01462 628041 and follow the instructions for 'reporting a student absence' or  via the Edulink website or Edulink App by selecting the absence reporting icon    

This will ensure absences are recorded correctly and promptly.

Please do not send notifications directly to tutors, teaching staff, Pastoral teams or via the school contact link on our website as this can delay the reporting process and as a result absence calls may be sent out unnecessarily.

Please be aware that the software used to contact you if your child is absent and we are unaware of the reason, will alert the person who is listed as Contact 1 on your child’s records. The external number that you will be called from is 0114 303 4042 (Sheffield area code).

Leaving during the school day

If your child needs to leave during the school day, please could you provide them with a note on the day.  This note can be shown to teaching staff/reception and it will enable them to sign out,  if they have a note, you will not need to email, telephone or report via Edulink.  

If you have any medical appointment slips/letters that you are happy to share with us, they can be handed in at reception at the time of signing out or you can send them to me via email (amartin@bestacademies.org.uk) if that is easier.  
 

Term Dates

Term dates are published on our website and may differ from those published by Central Bedfordshire.

 

Please feel free to contact the attendance office, 01462 628041 if you require any further information.


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Samuel Whitbread Academy E-Newsletter
 
You are receiving this because you are a Student, 
Parent, Carer, Governor or Member of Staff at SWA. 
 
Samuel Whitbread Academy
Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5QS
Tel: 01462 629900  •  Fax: 01462 629901
Email: swa-info@bestacademies.org.uk