Dear Parents and Carers,

We are now over the half way mark for the academic year and I would like to express my sincere thanks to all parents who completed our parent survey last module. It was incredibly encouraging to read that almost 90% of our parents would recommend Mascalls Academy to another parent, 90% feel their child is progressing well and over 90% feel that their child is happy and feels safe at school. These figures place us as the highest non-selective secondary school within Leigh Academies Trust for parental feedback, and we are immensely proud and grateful for your positive responses.

Of course, there are always areas where we can improve, and this is the crucial part of the survey process.  Myself and my team are very reflective and work hard to do the very best for your children.  Your feedback regarding how informed you feel about your child's learning is an area we are actively addressing. To enhance your understanding of our curriculum, please visit the following link on our website, which details the curriculum for each subject area and provides an overview of what is covered in each module: https://mascallsacademy.org.uk/curriculum/subjects/ there are some subject areas which are being updated due to some tweaks in the curriculum planning which happens throughout the academic year.

Another important area of feedback focused on reports and information shared regarding your child's progress. While a couple of parents expressed a preference for written reports instead of data reports, this is not a feasible option unfortunately. Written reports are no longer common practice in the vast majority of secondary schools across the Uk and haven't been at Mascalls for many years due to the volume required for each student and subject and the limited information that would be contained if they were to be written due to time constraints during the academic year.  

At Mascalls Academy, we have maintained face-to-face parent evenings, unlike many other local schools who have reverted to shorter online meetings. We believe this offers a valuable opportunity for parents to physically meet teachers and engage in constructive dialogue about their child's progress. We feel that our teachers' time is best utilised in these direct interactions rather than writing individual reports.  However, we value your feedback and are committed to reflecting on the layout and content of our current reporting methods and will adapt our current format in response to feedback recieved.

Finally, some Year 7 parents mentioned challenges with communication and contacting teachers. Please remember that all communication should be directed to the relevant College email address, which can be found on our website via this link https://mascallsacademy.org.uk/contact-us/.   This ensures your message reaches the appropriate staff member. If you prefer to contact us by phone, please call our main reception number and ask to be put through to the College Office Administrator, who will be happy to assist you.  We do still have some challenges with outlook email addresses and hotmail accounts as well as some others which get moved into SPAM folders on occasions by our Gmail filters so this can cause some delays, I will remind all staff to check the SPAM folders regularly also and this will hopefully alleviate this issue.  

If you have any concerns regarding communication and have no received a response, please email our enquiries address (enquiries@mascallsacademy.org.uk), and we will ensure your message is passed on and addressed by the relevant staff member.  Many other parents offered us really positive feedback regarding communication and the 'going the extra' mile was a phrase that was used by many.  All of the positive comments will be shared with staff and we are very thankful for the time taken to complete the survey.

Thank you once again for your continued support and feedback.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Brooks 

Ski Trip 2025

We are delighted to share the highlights of our recent half-term ski trip to the picturesque resort of Flachau, Austria. A cohort of 49 enthusiastic students, accompanied by dedicated members of staff, embarked on an overnight coach journey, arriving to a breathtaking scene of freshly fallen snow.

Following a warm welcome and the efficient distribution of ski equipment, our students participated in a brief assessment on the nursery slopes. This allowed them to effectively group them according to their skiing proficiency, ensuring a tailored experience for all.

Each day was filled with hours spent on the slopes, where students honed their skills on the slopes. Even after a full day of skiing evening activities then continued, these included an entertaining introduction to the sport of curling and a captivating floodlit ski show.  We were exceptionally fortunate to have experienced truly superb snow conditions throughout our stay, complemented by the brilliance of mostly blue skies and warm sunshine. 

We had a wonderful time, creating lasting memories for all. We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Toall, Mr. Hatherill, Mrs. Shepelev, Mr. Smart, and Miss Mitchell for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and care, which ensured the smooth running and overall success of this unforgettable adventures.  They did all look slightly more tired than the rest of us when they returned back to work on Monday morning! 

Dates for the diary:

Tuesday 4th March - Rising Stars Concert 6-8pm

Wednesday 5th March - World Book Day

Thursday 13th March - Year 7 Parents' Evening 4-7pm

Tuesday 18th March -  Music Showcase Year 10-13  6-8pm

Thursday 27th March - Page Turners Book Awards @ Weald of Kent

Thursday 3rd April - Year 13 Parents' Evening 4-7pm

Friday 4th April - Last Day of Term

Tuesday 22nd April - Students return on a Week 1 Timetable