Dear Parents and Carers, 

As the academic year draws to a close, we're thrilled to celebrate a fantastic year of achievements, hard work, and memorable moments at Mascalls Academy.  It's been a period of growth for our students, and we couldn't be prouder of their dedication and resilience.

This year has been packed with incredible accomplishments across all areas. Our students have once again excelled in their studies, with many achieving outstanding results in exams and coursework. We've seen significant progress in all year groups, a testament to both student effort and the unwavering support of our dedicated staff. We're particularly pleased with the recent reading age assessments; it's wonderful to see the significant moves that have taken place for the majority of students as a result of their hard work throughout the academic year. 

From the football pitch to the athletics track, Mascalls Academy teams have shown incredible spirit and skill. We've celebrated numerous victories and strong performances in local and LAT competitions, bringing home several trophies and a great deal of pride! Our talented artists and performers have truly shone, and our annual art exhibition showcased creativity across various creative arts and product design. Our drama, music and dance productions have captivated audiences, demonstrating the depth of talent within our academy, and it is always great to see the many families who regularly come into the academy to see their children perform. 

Beyond the academy, our students have actively engaged in various charitable initiatives such as the Tea put on at the community centre at Christmas by Miss Shead and community projects, such as the Ashdown Forest conservation project that Year 7 and 8 students undertook with Mr. Harper this module. Their commitment to making a positive impact reflects the strong values we foster at Mascalls. 

We have had the largest number of students ever access clubs this academic year, and for a lucky few, the incredible experience of attending Wimbledon Finals Day as a reward for those who attended the most clubs throughout the year! The academic year culminated in our very own OnMas festival, a brilliant celebration of our community and talents, featuring a range of performers from all year groups, including Year 11s who came back especially to perform to the younger year groups.

A special mention goes to our Year 11 and Year 13 students who are now embarking on exciting new journeys. We're looking forward to seeing our leavers on A-Level Results Day: Thursday, 14th August 2025 and GCSE Results Day: Thursday, 21st August 2025. We wish them all the very best in their future endeavors, whether it's further education, apprenticeships, or entering the world of work. You have been a credit to Mascalls Academy, and to your families and we are confident you will achieve great things! We are also looking forward to seeing so many of our Year 11s return to us for Year 12. If there are any students who would like to speak with the Sixth Form team about joining Year 12, the team will be available on GCSE results day, and it is not too late to apply.

And a huge welcome to our new Year 7 cohort joining us from September, welcome to the Mascalls community.  Hopefully this update will offer you a taste of what the next year will bring for your children.  

A quick update for those whose children travel to and from the academy via the Starline 206 bus.  We have been in very close communication with Starline regarding the concerns raised by some parents regarding this provision.  To reassure you all, there has been significant action by Starline as a result of the discussions I ahve held with them and they have assured me that the same issues will not take place in the future.  

Message from Mr Reader - Deputy Principal 

It has been fantastic to have now completed a first full year at Mascalls Academy in my role as Deputy Principal. Having spent such a significant length of time at my previous school, one of the main priorities was to really get to know as many students and staff as possible and then to begin to identify positive changes that will enrich their experience of Mascalls. That work has been invaluable and we now have an even stronger direction of travel for 2025/26. With the new academic year in mind, our attention turns first and foremost to the safety of our students whilst they aren't in our care over the summer period and then the preparations that parents can support the students with ahead of September.

 Water safety is essential, especially with the warm weather we have experienced recently. Please take care around rivers, lakes, and the sea. There have been local reports of students from other schools and academies placing themselves in danger when swimming in the River Medway in Tonbridge and at Yalding. What starts as fun can quickly become risky, so please encourage your children to always think before they act and follow safety advice. You can find more information on Summer Water Safety from the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). For some, the support and safety that a school provides can be a big gap in pastoral support over the summer holidays. A reminder that Kooth.com is a free, safe, and anonymous mental health and wellbeing service commissioned for all young people aged 10-25 years old in Kent & Medway. Available without referral or waiting lists until 10 pm each night, 365 days per year, it provides a much-needed out-of-hours service for advice and help. See here for further details: Kooth.

At the start of the new academic year we will focus on getting the basics right. This means having the right equipment: a pencil case containing a black pen, green pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, protractor, scientific calculator, and a protective case large enough to carry their Google Chromebook. The Chromebooks are an essential ingredient and tool for learning, so please also make sure that they are fully charged ready for the day ahead.

Punctuality and attendance are a consistent expectation, and I want to thank those of you who have upheld our standards to mean that we are above the national average for attendance. Not only above the national average, but the Academy has now seen three years of consistent improvement in attendance, and we are truly thankful for your support in achieving this. These expectations will remain in place from the first school day in September, meaning that students should be on site and in Advisory by 8:25, ready for their advisory session to begin at 8:30.  Punctuality to lessons during transition time will be a further focus for the students in September.

Punctuality to lessons will be partly addressed in a revised behaviour policy from September that will include a more centralised approach to sanctions such as detentions and a student conduct card that they will be expected to carry with them at all times. I think we would all agree that acknowledgement and reward is the greatest influence over students being happy, and so we are delighted that it has been a record-breaking year for achievement at Mascalls with so many Bromcom points, golden tickets, reward trips, and moments of celebration. We are already looking at a new MasStars series of awards for next year and some new Leigh Academy Mascalls branded badges for students to work towards.

Uniforms and School shoes – please can students come back to school with appropriate school uniform and school shoes. Guidance can be found on the Academy website, particularly for those purchasing the new branded blazers or PE kit. Parents will note an additional point around the length of socks not being above the ankles on the uniform policy from September.

Thank you to all parents and carers for all of your support throughout this academic year, we look forward to seeing you in September! 

Mrs Brooks - Principal 

Mr Reader - Deputy Principal 

OnMas Festival 2025 

What an incredible day we had at our annual OnMas festival last Friday, the culmination of a year's worth of extracurricular dedication from our students! It was a true testament to the diverse talents and vibrant spirit within our school community, with students from every year group taking part.

The festival showcased a fantastic array of performances, from singing, dancing, and acting that captivated the audience, to a stunning art display created by our talented art students. Beyond the stage, there were lots of other activities that brought students together. Students navigated an inflatable assault course, participated in energetic team skipping challenges, and even tried their hand at a bottle flipping challenge, where Mrs. Collingwood impressively outshone Mrs. Brooks and Mr. Reader!

Popular attractions included goal shoot competitions and brilliant face painting by our sixth formers. All students received their special festival wristbands and enthusiastically cheered on their peers. A particular highlight was Jeremy, who "brought the house down" with a brilliant rendition of N Sync 'Bye Bye Bye', receiving high-fives from the Year 7s as if he'd just stepped off the Pyramid Stage!

Our students also demonstrated their fantastic community spirit. Year 10 students Kayla and Zara ran a successful fundraising stand for the Hospice in the Weald, raising over £170 for this incredible local charity that has provided invaluable support to many of our staff and students' families,  We were especially proud to welcome Mrs. Browning from the Hospice in the Weald, who shared some truly heartwarming feedback about our students' conduct:

"...I was blown away by the politeness and standard of conduct that all pupils showed us throughout the festival. All the children were so polite - some even asking what the Hospice did, some telling us 'to keep the change for Charity!!' - no one was cheeky, they were just amazing!

I also noticed how respectful the students were to one and another and the teachers. I don't ever recall it being like that when I was there (many years ago), but the way the teachers and students interact with one another, was just really nice to see.

From a Mum's point of view, I can see why my daughters absolute love coming to school (they might not always show it!!) but Mascalls has helped p, her confidence (seeing her dance in front of all those people, this last year - no chance!!) and Friday showed me just how the teachers made this possible. So thank you!"

We couldn't be prouder of our students for their incredible talent, enthusiasm, and exemplary behavior throughout the OnMas festival. It was a truly memorable day that highlighted the very best of Mascalls Academy! 

Sports Day 2025

Sports day this year was an absolute triumph. In the build up we have had students in their PE lessons competing against other colleges to secure bonus points for sports day. On the day we had all students taking part in a sport themed lesson where students were able to gain points for their college when they were not competing in sports events. This saw a huge 1475 points issued across the three colleges. In the morning students competed in either team or individual events such as long jump, basketball and Javelin. Unfortunately due to the bad weather we had to postpone the year 7 and 8 events, however these were able to take place on Thursday morning. In the afternoon on Tuesday, when thankfully the weather brightened up, we were able to welcome the entire school, all students and staff, to the field to celebrate and compete. Students competed for points in their college in 300M 200M, 100M and the most competitive 4X100M relay. With points added up from PE lessons, Sports themed lessons and competition points the final results were in. 

1st - Shackleton 

2nd - Luther King

3rd - Earhart 

I would like to thank all staff for their support on the day and to our fantastic students for their sportsmanship and encouragement of each other. It was a brilliant day for all involved. 

Mr Charman - Head of PE

Mascalls Academy Production 2025

Oliver! 

Mascalls Academy's recent production of Oliver! was a resounding success, captivating audiences and showcasing the incredible collaborative spirit within the school.  The set was incredible and it was a fully immersive performance with students performing among the audience.

A true highlight was seeing our older cast members, like Rafferty, Jeremy, and Etienne, mentor the younger performers. This was especially evident with Ben, our wonderful Oliver. Despite it being his very first performance, Ben's confidence and brilliant portrayal absolutely wowed the audience, a testament to his talent and the way that the team supported him.  

The show's magic stemmed from the sheer number of students involved, both on and off stage. Performers and backstage crew from every year group became an extraordinary team. Their dedication and hard work shone through in every scene, every costume change, and every lighting cue. It was truly inspiring to witness such a diverse group of students come together so cohesively.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for their outstanding efforts. Their talent brought joy to two sold-out evening performances and delighted local primary school students who came to see matinee performances.  Congratulations to all involved and thank you for such a brilliant celebration of the arts to end the academic year! 

'In the making': A Sixth Form Showcase 

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent Art and Design Technology showcase, highlighting the incredible work 'In the making' by our talented students. This inspiring exhibition has truly brought our reception area to life, transforming it into a vibrant celebration of creativity and expression. Parents and visitors alike have been captivated by the projects and artistic expressions displayed throughout.  Please do feel free to visit to see the art work displayed in reception.

Wimbledon Rewards Trip

On Sunday 13th July, Mr Cornwell and Miss Smith took a group of students to Wimbledon Finals Day.  The students involved had the highest attendance at clubs this academic year, and were awarded the tickets by Mr Toal.  

The day started off with watching the Gentlemen’s Wheelchair Final on Court One won by Tokito Oda of Japan, followed by the Boy’s Singles Final won by Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria.  There was then time to explore the Museum and Stalls, and in keeping with tradition, many strawberries and cream were eaten whilst watching Sinner and Alcaraz battle it out for the Gentlemen’s Singles Final on the big screen.

It was a great day for all involved, and no doubt a trip our pupils will never forget. We look forward to rewarding our pupils with similar experiences next year.

History WW1 Trip to Detling

On Wednesday 16th July, still buzzing from the positivity of Sports Day, the History Department brought over 75 students to Detling Showground for a special First World War experience run by Andy and his team. The Centre for Experimental Military Archaeology has recreated a set of WWI trenches in painstaking detail, and it was with a lot of excitement that students got stuck into their carousel of sessions and activities held in the atmospheric forest environment.

Reinforcing their studies of the First World War as a truly 'global' war, students took part in sessions on the Home Front, the development of medicine throughout the conflict, and even volunteered to be 'Tommy' and dress up in authentic soldiers' clothing. As we'd expected from the quality provision of our previous visits, there were eye-opening facts and statistics delivered masterfully by the experts. Students heard about topics as diverse as lice, women's football, charities that donated cigarettes to soldiers, wound irrigation, and shaving in the trenches. Our Year 8s made us proud as they listened attentively and participated well, asking fantastic questions. One of the most heartbreaking stories was that of Charlotte, a mother-of-five and munitions factory employee who died of TNT poisoning, but there were plenty of other excruciating and shocking aspects to choose from in the guides' descriptions of day-to-day life in a time of conflict. These greatly enhanced students' appreciation of the 'global' nature of the First World War.

As usual, the highlight of the trip was walking through the recreation of the trenches guided by the delightfully cheerful Craig, who horrified students with tales of rats' droppings, latrines, and gas attacks. Students loved exploring this area, as well as trying out the light railway used to transport material as well as injured soldiers.

This particular event was our third visit at the site, and the students proved themselves to be mature, confident, and very invested. We wanted to thank the students for their excellent uniform, behaviour and inquisitiveness, and the staff who participated in the trip too: Mrs Morton, Ms Smith, Dr Pollack, and the inimitable Mr Matthews, who once again masterminded the logistics behind it. We also wanted to thank all those behind the scenes at Mascalls who have helped facilitate the running of trips like this - this was our 4th trip this academic year, and it would be impossible without all of the assistance received. We believe strongly that extracurricular events like this can really bring History to life, and that they are an essential companion to what takes place in the classroom. Finally, we look forward to the next academic year and more exciting History trips: if students were unable to attend a trip this time around, then watch this space as more opportunities will come up!

Dates for the diary:

Thursday 14th August - A Level Results Day - Collection from 9am

Thursday 21st August -  GCSE Results Day - Collection from 9am

Monday 1st September - Year 7 & 12 Students Return (Week 1 Timetable)

Tuesday 2nd September- All Year Groups Return (Week 1 Timetable)

Wednesday 10th September - Year 7 & 8 Information Evening 

Thursday 11th September - Year 9 & 10 Information Evening 

Tuesday 16th September - Year 11 Information Evening

Wednesday 17th September - Year 12 & 13 Information Evening

Friday 19th September - School Photographs for Years 7,9,11,12 and 13

Wednesday 1st October - Open Evening  4-7pm

Tuesday 7th October, Thursday 9th October and Wednesday 15th October - Open Mornings' 9:10 am-11:00 am

Friday 17th October - Last day of term

Monday 3rd November - Students Return (Week 2 Timetable)