Dear Parents/Carers,

Thank you for your continued support as we have had an excellent start to the academic year. Your involvement is crucial in creating a thriving educational environment for our students, and we appreciate your partnership.

This week, we launched our clubs programme, which includes a variety of activities taking place during lunchtime as well as after school. I am pleased to report that we have had a fantastic uptake for these activities, reflecting our students’ eagerness to engage in extracurricular pursuits. These clubs not only provide opportunities for personal growth and skill development but also serve as a wonderful platform for students to make new friends and build relationships. I encourage all students to take advantage of these enriching experiences. Additionally, our Year 11 intervention programme continues after school, and I want to commend the remarkable attendance we have witnessed. Well done to all our Year 11 students for their dedication and hard work during this crucial period of their education!

On Tuesday, we held our Year 11 expectations evening. It was excellent to see the Main Hall filled with parents and carers as we gathered to discuss the next steps for the academic year. The collaboration between home and school is vital, and we are grateful to all who attended. Your engagement is invaluable to the success of our students, and we hope the information shared helped clarify the expectations and opportunities for Year 11 pupils as they approach their examinations.

Furthermore, on Thursday, we hosted a “Meet the Tutor” event, providing Year 7 parents and carers with the opportunity to meet their child’s form tutor. This initiative underscores our commitment to parental engagement, and we sincerely hope you found the event both informative and beneficial. Establishing strong communication with you is essential as we work collectively to support your child’s educational journey.

Looking ahead to next week, we are excited to hold our Year 10 expectations evening on Tuesday from 6pm to 7pm. This gathering will focus on the key pathways as our pupils embark on their GCSE studies, providing essential information that will guide them on their academic journey. On Thursday evening, we will also have a Year 13 expectations evening taking place from 5pm to 6pm, ensuring that both parents and students are well-equipped for the challenges of the year ahead. These events are designed to foster a strong home-school connection, crucial for the successful navigation of these pivotal educational stages.

In recent weeks, we have received a number of complaints from local residents regarding parking that obstructs driveways and entrances to their homes. We kindly request that you park safely and respectfully, taking the needs of our neighbours into account. Our academy’s entrance can become very busy at drop-off and pick-up times, so if possible, I suggest considering dropping your child off a short distance away from the academy. Your cooperation in this matter contributes significantly to our relationship with the local community and helps maintain a positive environment around the academy.

Thank you once again for your continued support. We are grateful for your partnership and commitment to your child’s education. We look forward to welcoming all pupils back to the academy on Monday at 8am. Please remember that the main gate closes promptly at 8:30.

Regards,

Jon Richardson

Principal

Strood Academy

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY 

ATTENDANCE

As we enter the new academic year, we have come together as a community to reflect on all we have achieved so far. This includes:

• Introducing and embedding routines for students such as morning line ups and the assembly protocol

• Promoting students' extra curricular interests and hobbies through a range of lunchtime and after school clubs and activities

• Further improving communication with parents and carers through events such as face-to-face Parents Evenings and Parent Voice Forums

We are immensely proud of the progress we have made so far, and while acknowledging that we are still at the very beginning of our Vision 2028 journey, we are looking forward to the successes we will continue to achieve along the way. We look forward to our second year of Vision 2028 and cannot wait to celebrate all we will achieve.