Dear parents and carers,
The end to another busy, yet successful term. The Senior Leadership Team have undergone some changes that offer strength and capacity, with Mr Baker and Mr King becoming substantive Assistant Headteachers, while Mrs Endicott (our outstanding SENCO) has joined the leadership team as a seconded Assistant Headteacher to drive continuous improvement of inclusion within our school. Finally, Mrs Herlihy and Mr Jahanshahi have undertaken new portfolios as interim Deputy Headteachers - two seasoned and respected leaders and academics, who will support whole school improvement.
A number of highly successful and well-planned school trips have continued our students’ enrichment opportunities outside of the classroom; each overseen by the school’s newly appointed Educational Trips and visits coordinator, Mr Clapp. A huge thank you to him, as well as the staff who planned and facilitated them.
Year 11 continue their preparation for this summer’s examination series, having completed a second set of PPEs. I’m pleased to report a general improvement from the first PPEs from term 2. As arduous as they may feel to many, academic research and personal experience suggests that the very best preparation for public examinations, is refining technique through practice opportunities such as these. I would urge all year 11 and 13 students to take full advantage of the extensive support available through after school and lunchtime intervention sessions offered on a daily basis: it’s certainly not too late to improve outcomes this summer by working even harder here and now. Additionally, Easter revision sessions are also available and should be utilised wherever possible. Keep in mind our well used phrase: ‘a short-term sacrifice for a lifetime gain.’
Finally, we must highlight some of our outstanding sporting successes, notably our sixth form basketball team who’ve made a clean sweep in their first season. You’ll read more from Mr Smith later, but we’re also delighted to announce that a new contract has been signed with our partners, Kent Panthers, so long may this ‘on court’ success, continue!
We wish you all a restful Easter break.
Mr Sutton & Miss Hodges
Co-Heads of School
Term 5 Key Dates
22nd April Year 8 Parents' Evening (3.45-7.30pm)
29th April Year 9 Immunisations
1st May Year 11/13 School Photos
Year 11 History Reward Trip
4th May Early May Bank Holiday
5th May Year 10 DoFE Silver Preparation Day
8th May Year 10 DoFE Silver Qualifying Weekend
12th May Year 12 Art Trip
13th May Year 8 Clockhouse Trip (pm)
18th May Y8 Clockhouse Trip (pm)
20th May Year 9 Immunisations
21st May Year 10 Parents' Evening (3.45-7.30pm)
22nd May House Afternoon
Sixth Form Prom
Cornwallis Academy is now closed for the Easter half term break. We will re-open to all students on Monday 20th April 2026.
Below are useful email addresses, should you need to contact someone urgently during the break:
To alert us about a safeguarding issue: safeguarding@cornwallisacademy.com
For any IT issues: helpdesk@futureschoolstrust.com
To report an absence: attendance@cornwallisacademy.com report via the Edulink app.
To contact us regarding an In Year Admission: iyca@cornwallisacademy.com
Please see the link below which includes some fantastic work from this term's class champions:
On Tuesday 24th March A Level History students visited Hampton Court Palace for a study day linked to their study of Tudor England. Students participated in a workshop examining sources regarding the Tudor history of the palace and its link to a key figure of their course: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. This was followed by a tour of the palace, exploring the spaces used by Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey to understand how court and government operated in the 16th century.
In March, three Year 12 History students participated in a project led by the Holocaust Educational Trust to learn more about the history of the Holocaust. Students attended a seminar in London where they met the families of Auschwitz survivors and listened to their experiences. This was followed by a day trip to Poland visiting Jewish cemeteries and memorials, and then Auschwitz-Birkenau. Following their visits, students will complete a ‘Next Steps’ project to become a Holocaust Ambassador for Cornwallis Academy, with the aim of sharing their experiences and knowledge with younger students.
On Saturday 14th March, we saw the new intake for their first day at Cornwallis! The year 6s came to us for a fun morning of activities to get to know the building, some of the amazing teachers, and each other.
They had a great time completing maths challenges, creating their own superheroes with the English team, and were wowed by the Harry Potter themed science experiments, and I think their favourite were the inflatables in the sports hall.
The year 6s had a great day. I am very much looking forward to seeing them all in September to start their exciting secondary school journey.
Many thanks to all involved for making the day so special.
Our Year 13 students recently attended the Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair at Mote Park, an event which focuses on apprenticeship opportunities across a wide range of industries.
The visit provided an excellent opportunity for students to engage directly with a variety of high-profile and local employers, including Amazon, the British Army, the NHS, Southern Water, and Kent Fire & Rescue Service. Students were able to explore apprenticeship pathways across sectors such as construction, finance, healthcare, media, and public services.
Students had the chance to speak to employers, ask questions, and gain valuable insights into apprenticeship routes, entry requirements, and career progression opportunities. It was particularly encouraging to see students engaging confidently with employers and exploring different apprenticeship options.
On Thursday 5th March, Cornwallis Academy celebrated World Book Day. Students were able to celebrate this occasion by participating in a plethora of enjoyable activities.
During form, we held a ‘Masked Reader’ event, where staff recorded themselves reading an extract from a favourite book whilst in disguise. This was a whole school activity and was thoroughly enjoyed by our students.
The library then hosted a book version of ‘Traitors’ during lessons 1 and 2. Students were nominated by English teachers and, after the activity was completed, students were able to enjoy juice, cakes, doughnuts, and biscuits.
All students were invited to participate in designing their own bookmarks, inspired by their favourite author. Prizes were awarded to those students who submitted the most creative designs.
As always, the day was thoroughly enjoyed by all at Cornwallis Academy and we have successfully promoted a further love of reading, whilst also prompting discussion of the English Literature amongst our students.
The English Department was delighted to take over 80 Year 10 students to watch a performance of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at the Wimbledon Theatre in London as part of their GCSE preparation. The production brought the text to life, deepening students’ understanding and appreciation of this classic novel. Following the performance, students participated in a lively Q&A session with the cast, gaining valuable insights into the play and its characters.
Our students were a credit to the school throughout the trip. They behaved impeccably and were warmly commended by the theatre team for their maturity. Both staff and students thoroughly enjoyed this memorable and enriching experience.
During the last week of term we held our annual RAG Week, a week full of dressing up in silly outfits, selling treats, Bingo and entertaining the school! Sixth Formers planned different themes for fancy dress every day and the rest of the school community enjoyed seeing who would turn up every morning… they especially enjoyed the wildlife, including bumble bees and dinosaurs! Our chosen charity this year is MIND as mental health is such a huge societal issue that affects everyone in some way. The whole school joined in on Thursday with a non-uniform day and enjoyed a musical extravaganza at lunch time along with a tasty Krispy Kreme doughnut!
Dear Parents and Carers,
The rewards for which their teachers nominated them are testimony to the students' hard work and dedication throughout Year 7.
The Year group thoroughly enjoyed participating in the recent House afternoon, which gave them a chance to work with students from other year groups, and experience new challenges and problem solving activities.
The students have now made their choices for Enrichment Week, which takes place during the last week of Term 6. It's wonderful to see their enthusiasm for what promises to be a fantastic week of sporting activities, outdoor opportunities such as fishing, and multiple school trips.
We wish all our students and their families a happy and relaxing Easter holiday, and look forward to seeing them back in school on Monday April 20th.
SMILE AWARD WINNERS
Successful Award
Olivia B
Annabelle C
Molly W
Amber H
Aidan L
Motivation Award
Megan W
Joe K
Phoebe N
Maya P
Connor S
Inspired Award
Romilly B
Emilie C
Violet DS
Robyn P
Poppy P
Learning Award
Calum B
George H
Oscar W
Arthur W
Logan D
Excited and Engaged Award
Keira G
Nancy R
James E
Catalaiya H
Tutee of the Term Award
Oscar W
Skye C
Arthur W
Wren S
Miles B
Brooke C
Paige B
Mckenzie C
Frankie G
Toby C
Emily G
Idunnu O
Florence A
Tabitha E
Bobby B
Keston F
Bonnie M
Cody T
Student Support Manager Award
Alex C
George F
Head of Year Award
Arabella S
Mark M
Headteacher Award
Wren S
Kind regards,
Mr Spurling & Miss Perry
Dear Parents and Carers,
Happy Easter to our Year 8 Community.
Year 8 Sporting Events – Football and Netball
Once again, this term, our Year 8s have experienced a variety of Sporting events, which have given them the opportunity to showcase their talents alongside their teamwork skills. They have done brilliantly and represented our Year Group with outstanding success. Our Year 8 Girls’ Netball Team and Football Team have continued to improve and represent Cornwallis Academy amazingly and our Year 8 Football Scholarship Team went unbeaten this term with a win and a draw.
Be FAB Day! – Fantastic Attitude and Behaviour
What a great way to end Term 4 with our first ever individual Year Group Reward Day – Be FAB Day!
The idea behind this celebration was that as we have so many fantastic and amazing students in our Year Group, who consistently show every day that they uphold the SMILE Values, we have found it really difficult to select 2 students each week for our Students of the Week. Therefore, we wanted to praise as many of our FAB students as we possibly could. They certainly proved us right as we had over 140 students (75%) of our Year Group awarded FAB Status. This meant that on Wednesday 1st April 2026, they were allowed to wear their own clothes for the day and got the afternoon off schoolwork and instead, had a cinema experience in our Lecture Theatre.
Year 8 University of Kent Trip
On Tuesday 10th March 2026, 35 of our Year 8s visited the University of Kent to experience ‘Uni Life’. We teamed up with the University’s Student Ambassadors for the day as they talked us through their experiences and gave us a tour of the campus. On the day, the students had to work in teams on designing what they thought would be the best student accommodation. This was a great test of their imagination, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills.
The Lead Lecturer and Ambassadors were really impressed with how the Year 8s represented Cornwallis Academy and by the innovative designs and models they made. Their behaviour and representation of our school and community was exemplary throughout.
Year 8 Attendance and Achievement Update
Well Done to all our Tutor Groups for their continued efforts in attending everyday – even when feeling slightly poorly. At the time of writing this, our winning Tutor Group is 8SC followed very closely by 8CE, 8RQ/LH and 8JM – Who will take the top spot at the end of the Term?
A very close lead for 8CE (1913) over 8FJ (1912) in the House Point League – Well Done to everyone in Mrs Eloff’s and Miss Johnson’s Tutor Group so far for contributing to these high numbers.
SMILE AWARD WINNERS
Successful Award
Liam B
Alice L
Holly O
Tyler W
Millie H
Motivation Award
Paris B
Theo O
Evainne-Ava W
Billy F
Amelia T
Inspired Award
Katie K
Tyler M
Maryann T
Layla S
Max L
Learning Award
Ted T
Daniel E
Keira B
Cadence W
Mollie N
Excited and Engaged Award
Luke E
Ethan H
Emily A
Lexie M
Oliver G
Tutee of the Term Award
Ruby P
James P
Anto Fi
Ophelia M
Dominykas V
Sophie P
Isabelle S
Marley Raye D
Lucas P
Shqiponje K
Evan T
Erin A
Lily-May H
Andris I
Lukas B
Lacey S
Student Support Manager Award
Katie K
Sonny B
Head of Year Award
Frankie B
Scott M
Headteacher Award
Emily B
Mr G Robinson – Head of Year 8 and Teacher of Science – grobinson@cornwallisacademy.com
Miss G Edwards – Year 8 Student Support Manager – gedwards@cornwallisacademy.com
Dear Parents and Carers,
This term has been shorter than most but has been full of learning and enjoyment. Year 9 have been well behaved in lessons and studying hard; working towards the KS4 curriculum they are soon to begin. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes regarding the GCSE options. We have looked at the subject choices and are doing our best to support them in the correct subjects where they will succeed and achieve good grades.
Year 9 have learnt about a range of activities during form time, studying PSHE and attending assemblies. We have looked at topics such as violence against women and girls, how the media portrays sex and relationships, Child exploitation and what is sexism. These are all topics which could affect our students, and we have focused on how to help our friends and peers if any difficult situations arise.
We celebrated comic relief last week with activities at lunch time and a whole school non uniform day. We have another non-uniform day on the 2nd of April which will raise money for ‘mind’ another charity we have been supporting in and around school this year.
Many of the year group have participated in sporting fixtures this term, I am extremely proud to report that our year 9 netball team have achieved two wins in a row and have been improving showing positive teamwork.
Tomorrow we have guests coming into school to talk to some of the year group, they will be running an assembly and conducting a workshop about the potential of becoming a future doctor.
Many of our year group have been selected and submitted work into art bytes, a national art competition. The work produced was outstanding and three students have been put through to the final, massive congratulations to Rubie O, Evie C and Scarlett L.
As a year team we have been selecting students for our end of term awards assembly. Those who have gone over and above and shown maturity in lessons and around the school. With such a large year group of lovely students it is always a difficult task. Well done to the following children.
SMILE AWARD WINNERS
Successful Award
Lacey D
Fletcher E
Maizie H
Leo P
Amelia P
Motivation Award
Olivia A
Robbie H
Oscar B
Maisie T
Daisy U
Inspired Award
Henry M
Asten M
Connor S
Jake T
Ollie G
Learning Award
Lisa O
James T
Noel S
Kaelan S
Elliott V
Excited and Engaged Award
Jessica W
Gavin P
Katie D
Chloe D
Frankie G
Tutee of the Term Award
Amber W
Charlie B
Alex B
Freya S
Robbie H
Ava D
Natasha S
Tom F
Evie C
Tommy H
Allan C
Sofia W
Savanna D
Bertie W
Roman B
Matilda M
Lara C
Miller D
Student Support Manager Award
Maja C
James H
Oscar R
Jess G
Head of Year Award
Beau B
Michaela M
Headteacher Award
George B
Mrs Clark-Keen
Head of Year 9
Dear Year 10 Parents and Carers,
It has been fantastic to see the year group continue to thrive and grow as we pass the halfway point of Year 10 and begin preparing for the final two terms of the academic year.
In the first two weeks of next term, students will sit their Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) for the first time. These will take place in the sports hall. All students have been informed of the strict examination protocols and expectations that must be followed during this period.
These PPEs provide valuable experience of formal examination conditions. They also allow us to assess students’ current progress, identify strengths, and highlight areas where further support may be needed as they move towards their final GCSE examinations.
In preparation for the PPEs, students should:
Begin structured revision well in advance (e.g. create a revision timetable)
Bring a clear, see-through pencil case to all examinations
Wear full school uniform at all times
Maintain excellent punctuality and attendance throughout the examination period
Place all mobile phones, electronic devices, and watches in their school bags before the school day begins
If your child is unwell on the day of an examination, please inform the school as soon as possible using the usual absence reporting procedures.
Year 10 Work Experience (Monday 6th July – Friday 17th July)
A reminder that all Work Experience forms must be returned to school by Friday 24th April, which is the end of the first week back in Term 5.
Students are responsible for organising their own placements. They may arrange to shadow a parent/carer, family member, or family friend to gain valuable insight into the world of work.
Key deadlines:
Friday 24th April 2026 – Deadline for all forms (Placement Checklist Form and Parent Permission Form)
Friday 17th July 2026 – Deadline for submission of completed Work Experience Diary to Form Tutors via Teams
If you are experiencing any difficulty securing a placement, please contact the school and we will be happy to support you.
Key dates
Year 10 Pre Public Exams (PPEs) – Monday 20th April – Friday 1st May 2025
Year 10 Parents evening – Thursday 21st May 2025
Year 10 Work Experience – Monday 6th July – Friday 17th July 2025
A copy of the Year 10 PPE timetable is included below for your reference and has also been shared with students.
In addition, we encourage you to view the following short video outlining the examination procedures, which has been shared with students in a recent assembly.
https://youtu.be/SFhmWQazIAk?si=WJzYENopsdwX-4WV
I would like to wish all Year 10 students and families a restful and joyful Easter Break. We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 20th April.
SMILE AWARD WINNERS
Huge congratulations to the following students below who have won an award for this term. Awards include those students who have demonstrated our school ethos for S.M.I.L.E (Successful, Motivated, Inspired, Learning, Excited & Engaged) our also our pastoral award winners too. Well done to all 😊
Successful Award
Noah W
Cody H
Leo N
Will C
Dominic B
Motivation Award
Jazmin B
Isabelle E
Kieran B
Leo N
Florence H
Inspired Award
Amber S
Imogen L
Vinnie E
Kaius O
Ethan C
Learning Award
Luke W
Mia G
Lilly M
Daniel H
Ziyad A H
Excited and Engaged Award
Noah M
Daniel H
Kacey G
Preston L
Emilia D
Tutee of the Term Award
Lexi M
Betty K
Evelyn B
Gavin T
Beth B S
Bradley H
Alina P
Leon M
Olive K
George J
Lillie L
Evan H
Yusef G
Tillie R K
Student Support Manager Award
Ruby S
Taha K
Head of Year Award
Melina T
Tolu W
Headteacher Award
Layla H
Dear families,
As we approach the final term before the Summer GCSE examinations, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the progress of our Year 11 students and highlight key priorities moving forward.
Firstly, I would like to commend many of our students for their hard work and commitment this year. This final term is crucial, and the effort students put in now will have a significant impact on their final outcomes. We strongly encourage all students to maintain a consistent revision routine by attending the sessions on offer at lunchtime and after school as well as the allocated lessons in the Easter break.
Exam Preparation
Students should now be fully engaged in structured revision. This includes reviewing past papers, practising exam techniques, and focusing on areas of weakness. We recommend that students create a realistic revision timetable and balance their subjects carefully. Staff are available to support students, so we encourage them to seek help whenever needed.
Attendance
Attendance is more important than ever at this stage. Every lesson counts in the lead-up to exams, and even small gaps in learning can have an impact on performance. We ask for your support in ensuring that your child attends school every day, arrives on time, and avoids unnecessary absences.
Punctuality
Arriving on time to school and lessons ensures students are settled and ready to learn from the very start. Late arrival can lead to missed instructions, increased stress, and disruption to learning.
Uniform and Readiness to Learn
Maintaining high standards of uniform continues to be important. It helps foster a focused and professional environment where students are prepared for learning. Being properly equipped each day also ensures students can make the most of every lesson.
Year 11 End of Year Prom
We are holding a Year 11 prom on Friday 19th June 2026, to celebrate your son/daughter completing their GCSE examinations and the start of a new chapter. You will have now received a letter outlining the details of the event and you will also see them listed below.
Details of the Year 11 Prom:
Theme: Hollywood Red Carpet
Date: Friday 19th June 2026
Location: Tudor Park Country Club, Ashford Road, Maidstone, ME14 4NQ
Time: 6.30pm-10:45pm
Cost: £45 per person (Paid in 3 instalments)
IMPORTANT - Any students wishing to attend must return their permission slip by Thursday 2nd April, and ensure that the deposit of £20 has been paid in full on Parent Pay.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Harding (bharding@cornwallisacademy.com).
As a school, we are committed to supporting every student to achieve their best possible outcomes. With continued effort, strong attendance, and positive habits, we are confident that our Year 11 students can approach their GCSE exams with confidence.
Thank you for your continued support during this important time.
We hope you all have a great Easter break.
The Year 11 team
Dear families,
The Sixth Form community has had a productive and successful term 4. We are proud of all of our Year 13s who have applied to university and have had multiple offers. We are now focused on the last push towards examinations for all students to ensure they are able to pursue their next steps in whatever they choose to do. Our EPQ cohort have completed their end of course presentations in an impressive and mature way and should be proud of their achievement in completing this extra qualification.
Our Basketball team continue their winning streak and have won the U17s and U19s Kent Finals and now are hoping for a clean sweep with the National Final. It is an integral time now for both year 12 and year 13 in terms of examinations and thinking about their future, year 12 are also currently organising their work experience for the summer term so we look forward to visiting them in their work environments.
We wish all of our community a very Happy Easter break.
Sixth Form Team