Dear Parents,

This week at Strood Academy has been a whirlwind of activity, marked by both the culmination of hard work and the exciting anticipation of new beginnings.

Firstly, we held our final assembly for our Year 11 students. It's hard to believe that these crucial examinations are upon us! The Main Hall will soon transform into the designated exam room, a testament to the dedication and focus of our Year 11 cohort. Additionally, Mr. Fatania led informative college assemblies, providing valuable guidance on how we can best support both Year 11 and Year 13 students during this important period.

On Thursday, we were thrilled to welcome Fiona Vietch and Kate Barry from Medway Local Authority. They conducted their annual review of our safeguarding processes, procedures, and systems. The feedback was truly exceptional, reflecting the dedication of the entire academy community to the well-being of our students. This is a tremendous accomplishment that deserves our collective pride.

Looking ahead to the future, we hosted a warm welcome event for our incoming Year 7 cohort joining us in September. Hundreds of eager students and parents filled the Main Hall, enjoying their first introduction to the Strood Academy family. We are both delighted and privileged to welcome 270 new pupils in September. To ensure a smooth transition, we are hosting weekly transition sessions alongside open mornings in June and July.

Continuing the focus on supporting our Year 11 students, we are hosting a final information evening for parents and pupils on Friday after school. This event will provide valuable information and address any questions you may have regarding the upcoming examinations.

Furthermore, our Year 11 and Year 13 students have continued their examinations this week, tackling subjects like 3D, photography, IT, finance, politics, law, and sport. Once again, they have demonstrated exceptional focus and dedication in their academic pursuits.

Finally, in next week's bulletin, I will be sharing the next steps regarding the implementation of our revised communication strategy, which takes into account your invaluable feedback from the recent survey. We are excited to launch this strategy and keep you informed in a more comprehensive and timely manner.

As the mid-point of the term approaches, we encourage all families to enjoy the upcoming bank holiday weekend. We look forward to welcoming the students back to the Academy at 8:30 am.

Regards,

Jon Richardson

Principal, Strood Academy

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY 

ATTENDANCE

Since the new 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

• Focusing on combating 'Culture Killers' such as poor uniform standards and use of foul and inappropriate language

• Implementing a standardised homework policy across the academy

• 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.