The Halley's Comment

Issue 25 - Module 4

“Our Academy values - respect, achievement, collaboration, integrity and resilience - permeate everything we do"

A message from Mr Russell, Principal

Despite being one of our shortest half-terms, this module has been jam-packed full of exciting events, developments and achievements across the Academy. This edition of The Halley's Comment will give readers a glimpse into all the ways that students have benefitted from an expansive range of high-quality, innovative and unique learning and personal development opportunities.

We were delighted by the outcome of our Challenge Partners Review, where the Academy was awarded the top accolade of "Leading" in all three inspection categories. We were also accredited with an "Area of Excellence" in our provision for students with Special Educational Needs. We are one of only a top select group of schools nationally with this level of recognition, speaking to the high quality of education and pastoral care that we provide to all students.

Other hallmark events have included our Year 11 and 13 students working incredibly hard through their second set of mock examinations, as they prepare for their final summer assessments. Our annual Careers Fair saw students meet over 40 different employers in broad ranges of industries, supporting the delivery of our Values curriculum. Our Year 12 T Level students started their work placements, whilst our Cultural Capital Day in the last week of the module, saw students across the Academy visit museums, galleries, theatres and universities across London and the South-East.

Our Academy community has continued to benefit from the ongoing investment of Leigh Academies Trust. All of the windows on the North Side of the building have been upgraded with more environmentally efficient replacements. Our ever-expanding Library stock has celebrated International Women's Day and LGBTQ+ History Month. And we will soon be unveiling our brand new Visual and Performing Arts Centre in module 5 - we cannot wait for our students to benefit from these state-of-the-art facilities.

As we break for the Easter holiday, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for all their ongoing support of the Academy. We don't take this support for granted. It plays a key role in enabling the ongoing success of our students, and I look forward to welcoming all families back to the Academy for module 5 on Monday 15th April.

Mr Russell

Principal

“Those who can imagine anything can create the impossible”

Wunmi Balogun

Small School Manager

Turing School

The shift in seasons from winter to spring, and on towards summer, signifies significant milestones for many of our Turing students. Our Year 11 cohort will shortly commence their final GCSEs, with these results supporting their future destinations. Our Year 7 students are now firmly established at the Academy and have settled to form a fantastic addition to our Turing School community. Students in Year 9 will shortly be choosing their options, with both Years 8 and 10 students readying themselves to begin the final year of their Middle Years Programme and GCSE and Vocational courses in the 2024-25 academic year.

The Turing School team has continued to provide high-quality support and care to our students, ensuring they understand our expectations, but that we will also support and champion them throughout their time here at the Academy. It was fantastic to see so many of our students representing the Academy at our recent Open Evening for prospective students, including those who carried out tours with families during our normal Academy day.

A thank you must go to the Turing team; Mrs Panton, the Deputy Head of School, Mr Rajendran, the Director of Progress, Ms Halliday, the Small School Manager, Ms Murfit, the Small School Administrator and of course the team of Turing tutors for their care and support of every child in Turing Small School. They carry out their work every day with pride. I would also like to offer thanks to our families for their continued support and communication throughout the year. The success of young people is built on a firm partnership between school and home. I would also like to inform you that Ms Smith who was one of the Small School Managers left the Academy and will be replaced by Ms Wunmi Balogun who will join the Turing Small School at the start of Module 5.

The Turing School continues to lead the way in attendance, with 7T1 and 8T1 worthy of a special mention due to their continued excellence in this area. The award card programme is a fantastic barometer of our students' commitment to their studies and involvement in wider Academy life. The Turing team continues to be incredibly proud of all that they have achieved.

I would like to conclude by also thanking you for your support and communication throughout this academic year. We rely on your openness and willingness to support us and your child during their school lives, with those firmly rooted relationships enabling each child to prosper. As always, we are here to support your child and will keep you, the families, updated as we travel through the course of this academic year.

If you would like to contact someone from Turing School at any point, please email us at turing@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mr Kamya

Head of Turing School

Easley School

As always, our Easley students continue to be a source of pride for all of us. The reports for this module demonstrate how their outstanding commitment to learning has impacted them positively and the progress they have made across the small school is worthy of celebration.

We have many things to celebrate when we reflect upon this module. Our attendance remains above national figures. Nonetheless, I would like to see an even further uplift overall in attendance as we move into the summer term. We know that attending school consistently every day is critical to our students achieving their target grades, making fantastic progress, and enjoying school life. Every day does count.

Year 11 students' focus and commitment have been exemplary and they must continually take on the feedback from assessments and mock examinations to work forensically towards the final examinations. They participated in ‘Positively You’ workshops, which will support them further in working towards those final examinations. We hope to see all of our Year 11 students taking advantage of the extra sessions run by their teachers during Easter School, along with the daily interventions on offer after the normal Academy day.

Since the start of the academic year, Easley parents have received 7,000 ‘Praise Home’ emails for exceptional effort in lessons and demonstrating kindness to others. I am sure it is a source of pride for families when you are able to celebrate successes with your children. Over 50 completed award cards have also been handed into the Easley team in exchange for tokens for the Small School competition.

It was a pleasure to see so many parents of our Year 7 students at the Parents’ Evening in module 4. The conversations with individual subject staff focussed on progress and provided an opportunity to celebrate efforts and commitment to learning from our students. As you know there is always a bit of healthy competition across the small schools and Easley parents gave us the winning attendance figure on the night - well done to the Year 7 Easley parents and carers!

The Easley Small School team nominated four of our students to join Mr Russell for ‘Tea with the Principal’ in module 4 to celebrate their efforts, achievements and improvements. The students feedback on their experiences of the Academy and share suggestions for even further improvements. Congratulations to Louran 10E2, Chelsie 7E1, Alice 8E2 and Olexandr 7E2.

A thank you must go to the Easley team; Mr Godina, the Deputy Head of School, Ms Taylor, the Director of Progress, Ms Stratford and Ms Allen, the Small School Managers, Ms Harrington, the Small School Administrator and of course the team of Easley tutors for their care and support of every child in Easley Small School. They carry out their work every day with pride. I would also like to offer thanks to our families for their continued support and communication throughout the year. The success of young people is built on a firm partnership between school and home.

Kerisha Philbert has joined the Easley Small School team as our Safeguarding Administrator. Kerisha has a wealth of experience of working both in schools and other services. I am sure our families will welcome her warmly, as our staff team and students have done.

Kerisha has joined us as a result of Debbie Harrington's retirement. Debbie leaves us at the end of this module, having worked at the Academy for almost 18 years. Over this long period of service Debbie has been an invaluable source of support and care for all of our families, students and staff. She is a problem solver and does everything she can, every day, to ensure students can access learning and enjoy being in school. She has sewed countless pairs of trousers, glued many pairs of shoes, provided tissues, handed out school equipment and worked with all of our families in answering queries and questions. She has been the centre of the good communication we pride ourselves on in Easley. As the administrator for safeguarding, she has worked above and beyond to keep our children safe and ensure that all systems are robust. Her professionalism and commitment to the Academy has been second to none over the years. We will miss her greatly in Easley; her attention to detail, organisation, teamwork, generosity and genuine care for others has made her a fantastic colleague and friend. All of us in Easley feel privileged to have worked so closely with Debbie. I am sure you will join me in wishing Debbie a well-earned, long, happy and prosperous retirement. Thank you, Debbie.

If you would like to contact the Easley Small School then please do so by emailing easleyschool@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mrs Cronin

Head of Easley School

“You can do anything you want to, but you have to work at it”

Kerisha Philbert

Small School Administrator Easley

Child Protection Administrator

“All that is necessary is the belief that by doing our best we shall come nearer to success and that success ..... is worth attaining”

Franklin School

As we see at the end of another bustling term, it's with immense pride and gratitude that we reflect on the myriad achievements and milestones that have characterised this module. Guided by the indomitable spirit of Rosalind Franklin, whose legacy of curiosity, perseverance, and groundbreaking discovery continues to inspire us, our small school community has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to excellence in all endeavours.

From academic triumphs to athletic achievements, this term has been a testament to the dedication and passion of our students, staff, and families. Each success, no matter how big or small, contributes to the rich tapestry of experiences that define us as a small school.

This module has seen our Years 7 to 9 students beginning their Service as Action within tutor time. The creativity, empathy and enthusiasm for these charity projects has been incredible to see and we look forward to celebrating this work in the next module. It has also been a delight to hear so many positive and aspirational conversations from our students, within tutor times, following the Careers Fair and Cultural Capital Day this module.

Special mentions for this module must go to Sneha, 8F1, Dorina, 9F2, Hannah, 10F1, Mohammed, 10F1, and Aisha, 10F2. These students' commitment to learning and progress has been recognised by a Tea with the Principal. Meanwhile, whilst the Academy had its own achievement in winning the Year 10 Maths Feast within the Leigh Academy Trust, it was pleasing to see three of the four delegates within the Halley’s team coming from Franklin. Well done again to Hannah, Mohammed and Aisha who were an integral part of the winning team. All those students who have played their part in receiving praise emails home should also be recognised. In the past four modules, Franklin has attained a phenomenal 7310 praise emails; again surpassing the other small schools.

We have recently been informed that Hannah in Year 10 represented the Final of the Leigh Academy Bake Off with her creation of tasty treats, meanwhile, Isla in Year 11 was selected to play for England’s Under 16 football squad in Turkey and is due to spend time in the Netherlands over the Easter holidays representing the country.

Finally, it has been a delight to welcome so many new students to the small school and to have seen everyone settle incredibly well into the life of the Academy. It is always an anxious time starting a new school, (for both staff and students) and the transition for many of our new starters has been made so much easier with the support and guidance of some of our own Franklin students. Dorina in Year 9 has embodied the Middle Years Learner profile by proactively supporting three of our new students; acting as their guide and interpreter.

Finally, all those Year 11 students should be recognised for their commitment to learning as they approach their final examinations, which begin in module 5. Many are taking the opportunities to consolidate their learning in extra intervention sessions and have indicated that they will be attending the Easter revision sessions. As they start to prepare for the next chapter in their academic journeys, it is a reminder to all of us to carry forward in the spirit of Rosalind Franklin; fearless in the pursuit of knowledge, resilient in the face of adversity, and united in our shared vision of excellence.

If you would like to contact the Franklin Small School then please do so by emailing franklin@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mrs Parsons

Head of Franklin School

Hawking School

As the days grow longer and the warmth of spring finally comes, it is a perfect time to reflect on the enriching experiences module 4 has brought to our Hawking School community. Our students have worked hard these past few months engaging in academic pursuits.

For our Year 13 students, this module marked a significant juncture as they navigated the final stretch of their courses and began to embark on intense revision lessons in preparation for their imminent final exams, commencing as early as April for some. It's been great to witness their dedication and commitment as they gear up for these crucial assessments, laying the groundwork for their future endeavours.

One of the standout events of module 4 was our spectacular Cultural Capital Day, which saw both Years 12 and 13 students immersed in a day filled with exploration and learning. Four captivating trips were organised, offering students diverse opportunities to broaden their horizons. From delving into the rich history of the National Army Museum to exploring academic prospects at the University of Greenwich, the University of Essex, and Oxford Brookes University, each excursion was tailored to provide valuable insights into various fields.

The day was brimming with engaging activities, including taster lectures and sessions focusing on finance, allowing students to gain first-hand exposure to different disciplines and career pathways. It was heartening to witness their enthusiasm and eagerness to absorb knowledge, reinforcing our commitment to fostering holistic development beyond the confines of traditional classrooms.

As we bid farewell to module 4 and look forward to the restorative break ahead, we extend our wishes to everyone for an excellent Easter holiday. And to our Year 13 students, remember the importance of revision as you prepare for your IB and vocational exams. Your hard work and dedication will surely pay off, paving the way for your success in these significant milestones. My top tip is to revise a little and very often, plan and structure your time at home well, and make a timetable and stick to it. Your best method to succeed is to do plenty of exam practice. I will be posting past papers in the Key Stage 5 Independent classroom and teachers will also set your Easter homework. Good luck!

If you would like to contact the Hawking Small School then please do so by emailing hawking@thehalleyacademy.org.uk.

Mr Cowie

Head of Hawking School

"Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet"

Healthcare Careers Event

On the 19th February, Year 10 students attended a healthcare networking event at a local college, to learn about healthcare-related careers, engage with medical professionals and build connections. Students actively engaged with medical professionals from various specialties, demonstrating their curiosity and enthusiasm for the field with an eagerness to learn. They established meaningful connections with professionals in their areas of interest, opening doors for work experience, mentorship and future career opportunities.

Sussex University Assembly

We were delighted to have Sussex University at The Halley Academy to meet with our Year 12 students at our Values Assembly on the 21st February. This was a fantastic opportunity to inform the year group of life, options and the possibilities of life after university.

Being a highly ranked institute in the UK and world league tables and being internationally renowned for their research, teaching and outreach, it was an invaluable chance to show our students what life would be like to study at such a high calibre opportunity.

BT Employability Day

We were thrilled that our students had the unique chance to participate in free employability sessions with the BT Group at their London Office for their Employability Day on the 21st February. Led by career experts and company employees, these "Get Work Ready" events provided hands-on activities and resources to prepare students for the world of work. Participants were able to explore their individual strengths, learn essential skills for the digital workplace, and gain confidence in a professional setting.

Woolwich Works Creative Digital Exhibition Visit

Year 10 GCSE Art students attended the Creative and Digital Event at Woolwich Works on the 7th March. The aim of this trip was for students to learn new skills and gain inspiration for their coursework. Students took part in a number of activities and workshops including; lino printing, virtual reality, gaming, set design, green screen presenting, BAFTAs young creators workshop and Access VFX (Access VFX create animation software for Marvel). They engaged with the exhibitors and discussed their experiences and learned about the different creative pathways available. Our students were truly inspired by the broad range of careers that a creative subject can lead to.

Service as Action

As part of the Middle Years Programme, all Years 7 to 9 students engage throughout the year in Service as Action. This is the opportunity for our students to understand how they can play a role in their communities, inside and outside of the Academy, through their direct and indirect actions.

During their tutor periods, our Year 7 students have been analysing food waste and are producing posters to highlight the roles and responsibilities we all have collectively in combating food waste.

Meanwhile, our Year 8 students have begun their First Give Projects. This has involved the Year 8 students learning more about their local communities and the issues which are relevant to them. In tutor periods, our students are currently picking the charities which they will be working with in the next module, in their quest to win the prize of a £1,000 donation for the winning charity. This chosen charity will be decided in the final presentation during module 6.

Maths Feast

Four Year 10 students from The Halley Academy attended the first ever Leigh Academies Trust Maths Feast competition on the 13th March where they competed in a series of rounds that involved tackling various mathematical problems, puzzles and challenges.

Aisha, Mohamed, Hannah and Mikel represented The Halley Academy against 15 other secondary academies. Our students displayed great communication skills, team work, problem solving and creativity throughout the competition. We were delighted to announce that our team won the 2024 Maths Feast competition! The trophy will take pride of place in our trophy display cabinet in the Main Reception.

Positively You

On the 20th March, all Year 11 and 13 students attended workshops to prepare them for their forthcoming exams in the summer. The workshops were facilitated by Positively You, an external company that is one of the leading providers of educational workshops that inspire empowered learning. The main focus of the workshops was exam myths and how to navigate them in the examination setting. The feedback from the students was positive and they will go on to apply the skills gained during the workshops in their exams.

Museum of The Order of Saint John

A select group of Year 8 students went to visit the Museum of the Order of Saint John in the heart of London on the 20th March. Taking a walk through London's historic and cobbled streets, students found themselves transported into Tudor England and entering one of the country's oldest buildings. Students explored crypts, Great Halls and the St John Chapel, home to Knights Templars from around the world.

The Year 8 students digested a wealth of information along their tour, which they then turned into a group presentation. Students demonstrated their fantastic presenting, speaking and listening skills during their visit, and continued this great work on Cultural Capital Day in a workshop hosted by the Speakers Trust.

Year 12 Parents' Evening

The Year 12 Parents' Evening on the 21st March, their first of Key Stage 5, had a great turnout, providing a vital chance for parents/carers and teachers to meet for the first time to discuss the academic progress made so far on their new courses. Many of our Year 12 students had results back for those on vocational courses and the evening was a great chance to celebrate their successes too.

The Halley Academy Careers Fair

This module we held our Halley Academy Careers Fair on the 25th March, where we welcomed over 40 representatives from a wide range of industries, universities, and apprenticeship providers to showcase their industry and speak to our students.

Industries represented included law, healthcare, engineering, insurance, finance, armed forces, police, architecture, and many more. We had several universities in attendance, including the University of Greenwich, University of Kent, University of Newcastle, University of Sussex, and Birkbeck University. The event was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore diverse career paths, gain first hand insights from professionals, and make valuable connections for their futures.

There was a great atmosphere in the hall as students walked among the stands and asked insightful questions. The event was a testament to the power of connecting students with real-world opportunities and inspiring them to envision their future careers. We extend our thanks to all those who helped make this event such a valuable experience for our students.

Visual Arts Spotlight

There have been a number of exciting curriculum developments in our Visual Arts department, as we look forward to opening our brand new Performing and Visual Arts Centre after the Easter holidays.

Throughout modules 3 and 4, Key Stage 3 students acquired knowledge of their new homework booklets. Year 7 Art students created extremely impressive three-dimensional food sculptures using recycled materials.

IB Visual Arts

Year 13 students curated their final exhibition as part of their IB Visual Arts. Students developed their own themes linking to their overarching theme of ‘Human Condition’. The body of work focuses on three disciplines; two dimensional, three dimensional and digital media. This work contributes to 40% of their final IB grade. Students wrote a rationale and an exhibition text for each piece to contextualise their ideas and they worked hard to bring this all together. We are looking forward to exhibiting further works in our new Visual Arts centre which is due to open after Easter.

Year 9 Community Project

This academic year, Year 9 students will be completing the final year of their Middle Years Programme (MYP). A key element of the curriculum involves actively engaging in service learning. In Year 9, students complete their service learning through opportunities within the curriculum as well as through the MYP Community Project. This is a very exciting opportunity for students to utilise the attributes of an MYP learner to increase their global awareness and become independent learners. Students are given the ownership to choose a community that is of personal interest and address a need within their chosen community.

Students receive tailored Community Project sessions delivered by their tutor through a variety of form time sessions. The Community Project is formally assessed in a similar way to the MYP subjects via four criteria, which culminates in an overall MYP grade out of seven. This Community Project grade will appear on their final Year 9 report and their achievements will be recognised in a celebration event at the end of module 6.

Cultural Capital Day

The second Cultural Capital Day of this academic year was as exciting as all previous events and this time included students in all years from 7 to 13.

Year 7 visited museums linked to their Art, History, Geography and Values curriculums, with the additional visit to the Globe Theatre for a workshop on all things Shakespearean.

The selection of activities for students in Years 8 and 9 included sporting, outdoor experiences at the Bewl Outdoor Centre in Kent, as well as the option of a trip to the famous London Dungeons to explore some of London's most famous historical moments. Other trips linked to their curriculum included a visit to the Ragged School Museum in East London and onsite workshops hosted by the Speaker's Trust and Voices for Equality.

Year 10 took part in their annual GAV (Growing Against Violence) workshop, led by community specialists and delivered in collaboration with our Police Liaison Officer, P.C. McNabb. These vital workshops provided context for the Values curriculum and reminds teachers and their students of legal and statutory guidance around keeping pupils safe inside and outside of school.

Years 11, 12, and 13 students experienced a day linked to their futures, exploring universities, taking part in exam workshops, and learning essential first-aid skills during face-to-face workshops led by The British Red Cross.

STEM Club

STEM club this module has been largely taken up with preparing entries for the Ceres Reimagine Competition. As well as this, we completed one session on CPR, using the RevivR program devised by the British Heart Foundation. Every participant had the chance to try CPR on a manikin, and also learned about defibrillators and how they work.

All of our students successfully completed the training and received a certificate. If you would like to complete the training at home (you will need a cushion), scan this code for free online training.

Girls in STEM Speakers

On the 19th March, Arin Ososanya, a community engagement manager and UX designer at Next Tech Girls, delivered a masterclass on UX/UI design to our Girls in Stem (GiSTEM) group, in addition to sharing her experiences of navigating the corporate world as a woman. The girls were also visited by Roberta Bullingham, a female surgeon who works in general surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, to provide insight and information in a career in surgery and medicine.

Cyber Forensics Challenge

On the 26th March, sixty Year 9 students took part in a another successful day of STEM related challenges with the SmallPeice Trust. 40 Year 9 students were luck enough to take part in an engaging Cyber Forensics Challenge. During the all-day workshoiop, studnets used their skills to crack the though codes in order to solve a forensic police case. Students had to work closely as a team, with excellent communication skills, to solve the case before the clock ran out.

Greenpower Racing Club

Our car, The Halley Comet, is nearly ready to hit the track so we decided to raise the funds for our very first race entry. We held a team meeting to come up with some fundraising ideas, and decided to go with an Easter raffle. Two weeks of ticket sales later, and our raffle has raised £136, enough for our first race entry!

Other exciting news - we have now received our new racing suits and pit crew uniforms, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to wear them for a photoshoot.

EcoSchools

The EcoSchools committee is continuing to grow, and we are now having regular meetings. We will be implementing new projects over the next two modules in preparation for our Green Flag application: further details will follow soon.

On Friday 22nd March we were visited by Gero from 360 Recycling, a company that deals with the refuse from The Halley Academy, and Gero (who is himself an alumnus) visited to talk about what happens to our waste when it leaves the site. Many thanks to Gero for giving such a fascinating insight into recycling and waste treatment.

Page updated

Report abuse