the redhill academy newsletter · redhill has thought carefully about this and continues to offer a...

The Redhill Academy Newsletter February 2020

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents

Curriculum Debate

You may remember that at the end of last year I said that we would be carrying out some surveys

on the curriculum we offer here at Redhill. We surveyed Year 9 students and their parents last term

and the results can be found on the school website, as well as a commentary on our current

approach to the curriculum. This can be found under Parents>Policies and Other

Information>Curriculum Rationale’. The results indicate strong support for our current policy of

studying GCSEs over a three-year period at KS4.

Many of you will have already read about Ofsted views on what they see as some problematic areas

in having a shorter KS3. Their concerns centre around a narrowing of the curriculum and some

subjects being squeezed out too early. As you will see from our curriculum consultation document,

Redhill has thought carefully about this and continues to offer a broad range of subjects at KS3,

including significant time devoted to the performing arts and the humanities.

We have decided to continue with our current options process in Year 8 this year. However, in the

light of Ofsted’s new inspection framework, we will be reviewing the situation for current Year 7

students. We are considering returning to a three-year KS3 but are very interested in your views on

this. Please email me on [email protected] with your views which will

form an important part of our decision-making process.

Holocaust Memorial Event

Earlier this month I attended Redhill’s Holocaust Memorial Event which featured a very personal and informative talk from Simon Winston, a Holocaust survivor. Organised by Miss Wilkinson and the RE Student Ambassadors, Simon’s talk was followed by a candlelit remembrance service at our Memorial Garden. During the ceremony I was struck about how crucially important it is for our students to consider these events, and how relevant their messages are today. Further information and photographs of this moving event will be featured in our next review.

Mr A Burns - Executive Principal

http://www.theredhillacademy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Curriculum-Rationale.pdf

http://www.theredhillacademy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Curriculum-Rationale.pdf

mailto:[email protected]

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The Redhill Academy Newsletter

Inter-House Engineering Challenge

On Thursday 23rd

January, we had a fantastic turnout for the Inter-House Engineering

Challenge. During this challenge, we had all 5 houses competing against each other to

complete two tasks. The first task was to make a boat that held the most marbles, using

only a single sheet of tin foil in a large tub of water. The second task was to build a chair,

using only newspaper and masking tape, to support a member of staff for 5 seconds, 2

inches above the ground. We would like to congratulate Lawrence House for winning the

overall challenge, Knight House for wining Participation and we would like to thank

everyone that took part.

Jake Flecknoe and Jake Thomas, Year 11

The House Captains

This brings the overall Inter-House Cup results as:

Photos by Chloe Fallows, Year 11

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Information for Parents & Students

Educake is an online resource that we use in science for revision and practice. It is

available to all students in Key Stages 3 and 4.

During this academic year students have completed over 200,000 questions so far. The

information generated can be used by both, students and staff, to identify gaps in

understanding and plan the next steps in learning.

Students will often be set homework through Educake but there is also the option to

self-set questions on a topic to check understanding. Educake have also recently

launched a Smart Assistant function which analyses a student’s strengths and

weaknesses to tailor the choice of questions.

With the launch of an Educake App on Android (also soon to be available on iOS) it has

become even easier to complete questions. If your child needs a reminder of their login

details or is unsure on how to self-set questions then please ask them to speak to one

of their science teachers.

Have a look at our top performers in January mentioned on page 15.

Mr D Hardy

Associate Head of Science

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5


Record success for Oxbridge

We are delighted that three of our students have been successful in gaining places at

Oxford and Cambridge this year. This is our most ever in one year and is down to the hard

work and talent of the students and the continued success of our HE+ programme with the

University of Cambridge. The three students are:

Luca Geary – Law with German Law, Magdalen College, Oxford

Caitlin McCracken, Psychological and behavioural sciences, Girton College, Cambridge

Rebecca Smith, English, Worcester College, Oxford

If you are interested in following in their footsteps in the future, please keep a look out for

our Redhill lectures and talks from the universities about the application process. With

more places than ever being offered to State school students, aiming for these top

institutions is something I would encourage all bright Redhill students to consider.

Ms S Sharp

Trust Director of Post -16

Rebecca says “I feel honoured to have received an offer from Oxford, something I never thought I had in me. I believe I achieved this through my own hard work, yet it is the special application support and the HE+ sessions in school that inspired me to apply and equipped me with the skills for interviews, my admissions test and writing my personal statement”.

Luca comments “I have been

supported with mock interviews

and mentoring, which ensured I

was prepared, both intellectually

and emotionally, for the long and

gruelling process”.

Caitlin adds “I would like to thank

all my teachers for their help and

support - if it wasn’t for HE+ I

wouldn’t have considered myself a

Cambridge candidate”.

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Raise your voice!

Being a part of Sister Act 2020 was a memorable, motivating experience. Every member of

the cast (from Deloris to the altar boys) was involved, no matter how big or small the role

was. The teachers had made a fair and well-thought-out cast with roles ranging from

gangsters to disco dancers to nuns aplenty! Every night was sold out and our audiences

were greatly responsive, giving fabulous reviews. Our very own headteacher, Mr

Matthews, commented on the professionalism of the performers, musicians and designers,

technical, stage and front of house crew. It really was, Fabulous, baby!

By Kinsy Andrusyk, Evan Fretwell, Cleo Herbert, Andreea Robitu & Evie Shah Year 9 cast members

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Year 9 students deliver Primary School Dance Workshops

Year 9 students who have opted for GCSE Dance are currently working towards their bronze Arts Award qualification. Part of their qualification involves sharing their skills with others. After practicing with their peers at Redhill, the students travelled to local primary schools to deliver the Dance workshops they had been planning. In the morning students visited Arnold Mill Primary School where they led a workshop on Music and Dance and another workshop using the stimulus of rivers to students in Year 5 and 6. In the afternoon Redhill visited Robert Mellors where they delivered a workshop on phobias and another workshop on motivation again to Year 5 and 6 students. The Redhill students were a credit to the academy with their professionalism, organisation and enthusiasm. A fantastic experience. Miss R Dunn Curriculum Area Leader - Dance

We raised an amazing £1,042.35 for BBC Children in Need through non-school uniform donations and cake sales.

A big thankyou to everybody.

9


Review By Emily Walker, Year 9

I went to the Curve Theatre in Leicester to watch the show “West Side Story” by Leonard

Bernstein with my Year 9 GCSE Dance class.

Most of the music was very lively and upbeat including songs like “America” and “Gee,

Officer Krupke”. However, some were quite contrasting and emotional for example,

“Tomorrow” and “A Boy Like That; I Have Love”. All of the music was played by a live,

very impressive orchestra.

The costumes were very good at showing each side of the characters. The Puerto

Ricans (the Sharks) wore plain one-coloured outfits which may be to show their lack of

money compared to the Americans, as they (the Jets) wore quite bold, loud and bright

colours with multiple patterns.

For the lighting, there were four spotlights filling the middle of the stage at all times

except for certain duet or solo moments where they used extra spotlights from the back

of the audience to make those characters stand out. Sometimes, to set the scene, there

would be blue lights in the background to show a depressing mood.

The set design was very dynamic. There were props such as a metal gate/barrier that

could fold up into a cage, benches and a pile of waste at the back to show it was a

deprived, urban area. I found it very unusual yet unique how the actors themselves

would set up the set and props in character making it like a routine. I feel them doing that

added to the character development.

I liked how much emotion and dramatic effects went into the performance, it got me very

emotional at the end. However, my favourite part was the song “Gee, Officer Krupke” as

it lifted the mood from all the drama going on and made everyone laugh.

Overall, I would recommend it and say prepare to be a bit emotional.

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Year 11s at Poetry Live Event

On Wednesday 22nd

January, 120 of our Year 11 students attended the Poetry Live

event at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. We had front row seats and enjoyed

performances from a range of poets that we study for GCSE including Carol Ann Duffy,

Simon Armitage (the current Poet Laureate) and John Agard. The much anticipated

John Agard received a rapturous welcome from the 2000 Year 11 students in

attendance.

Miss A Gascoigne

Trust director of English

Playwright, poet, short story and children's writer John Agard

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Redhill Review Article – Dan Clayton Seminars

On Friday 24th January, 165 A-Level students from Redhill Academy and four other

schools in The Redhill Trust were lucky enough to spend a day with Dan Clayton. As

an AQA examiner, English Language educational consultant and author of the

English Language Oxford University Press textbook, Dan was able to share his

invaluable insights with Year 12 and 13 students ahead of their A- Level exams.

Students were given advice regarding how to analyse texts from a variety of time

periods, understanding the developing speech of young children and were offered

up-to-date theories and research into how language changes over time.

It was a fantastic, well attended day; thank you to all involved!

Miss K Wiseman

Associate Head of English

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Master Chef Club

Master Chef Club has been running Tuesdays after school since the start of term. So far, students have made dishes such as 'Stuffed chicken breast with a tomato salsa' and 'Spinach and ricotta ravioli'. The club aims to build students’ confidence in knife skills, meat preparation, pasta making, sauces, pastry, desserts and presentation. Next , we will do 'Chocolate Eclairs'.

Students involved are:

Year 7: Ellie Eatherington

Year 9: Eve Shaw and Jordan Brewitt

Year 10: Sam Carpenter, Kody Hudson, Karis-Cyanne McFarlane and Seyi Oyebanjo

Year 11: Tehya Johnson

Miss R Shepherd Teacher of D&T

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Year 7 Sportshall Athletics

On Monday 20th January a team of six girls and six boys from Year 7 competed in the

district Sportshall Athletics final at Carlton le Willows Academy. Over the course of the

evening there were some great athletic performances in a variety of running, throwing

and jumping events. The girls (Amiee White, Libby Buckby, Lydia Robertson, Maya

Romaniuk, Nieve Gilbert and Darcy Greensmith) came 3rd

overall. The boys (Darnell

Stewart, Justin Aifesehi Edoghogho, Diego Perez Martinez, Joshua Allen, Ethan Jack

and Joe Hunter) came 2nd

overall. All of the students involved were a credit to the

academy showing great teamwork, motivation and resilience throughout all of the

events they competed in. Well done Year 7!

Miss J Davis

Teacher of PE

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Achievements

Dance - Year 9

For consistent high-level written work in GCSE Dance:

Billie-Jo Kerr-Gilbert and Emily Walker

Dance - Year 10

For Outstanding results in GCSE Dance theory test:

Amie Donovan and Alexa Holmes

Health and Social Care - Year 9

For achieving Distinction* in the previous 2 end of topic tests:

Milly Cox, Summer Edwards, Bethany Leach, Kassy Lowe, Isobel Salisbury and

Maddi Todd


For fabulous effort with their coursework:

Aliyah Ireland and Jessica Lawrence


For fabulous effort with their coursework:

Charley Fellows and Cyril Lee

Business - Year 9 For amazing scores in end of topic tests. They have either achieved or exceeded

their MAG:

Billy Boden, Jacob Jones, Jay Jones, Ruben Krishnakumar, Olivia Lowe, Sophie

Orange, Jaspreet Rathore, Matilda Riley, Joel Severn, Josh Stead, Ben Sulley and

C.J White

Computer Science - Year 7

For excellent performance in end of unit test:

Jake Clayton-Relph, Lawson Dovey, Aya Fekir, Samuel Fretwell, Marley Hind,

Lillian Neylon, Zac Rogers, Molly Rosley-Hunt, Denice Saldivar, Eva Salmeron,

Maja Slezak, Summer Yates and Shane Zhao

Computer Science - Year 10

For excellent performance in test:

Paul Hurst, Sofia Olivero and Thomas Raine

15


Achievements

Maths - Year 9

For great work:

Sydney-Lea Beeby and Stanley Mcguigan-Lockley

Maths - Year 10

For great work:

Caitlin Clarke and Alex Linford

Maths - Year 12

For getting 100% in their Year 12 assessment:

Kyle Finch and Charlie Williams

English - Year 7

For excellent continued effort in English, particularly with regard to insightful comments about Romeo and Juliet: Liam Johnson English - Year 10 For consistent effort and a positive approach in English: Isla Elliott

For improved confidence and effort in English: Billy Stevenson English - Year 11 For improved responses to exam style questions and contributions in lessons: Harlem Mo

For positive attitude and determination to improve: Ellie Stone Science - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4

For using ‘Educake Science’ in January and answering 66% and more of the questions correctly: Year Name

Questions completed in Jan-

uary

Percentage of questions an-

swered correctly

7 Indy Cowley 258 66%

8 Tom Hunter 488 81%

9 Ella Sweeney 201 79%

10 Ramiz Akhtar 511 79%

11 Jaden Mighten 1095 84%

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School Calendar

Autumn Term

Monday 2 September to

Friday 20 December

Half Term Week

Monday 21 October to

Friday 1 November

Spring Term

Monday 6 January to

Friday 3 April

Half Term Week

Monday 17 February to

Friday 21 February

Summer Term

Monday 20 April to

Friday 24 July *

Half Term Week

Monday 25 May to

Friday 29 May

Please be aware that some event or trip information in this calendar may be subject to

change.

Additional trip information that is not listed in this calendar will be sent home to parents

throughout the year.

* Please note the change to the May bank holiday from Monday 4th May to

Friday 8th

May to commemorate the anniversary of VE day.

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School Calendar

February

Week 1

Monday 24 Feb

Tuesday 25 Feb 4.00pm Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Wednesday 26 Feb 7.00pm Dance Evening

Thursday 27 Feb Year 11 Dance Mock Exam (all day)

6:30pm Information evening Ski-trip to Italy, for parents + students

Friday 28 Feb

March

Week 2

Monday 2 Mar Year 11 Mock Exams 2 (until 13.3.20)

National Careers Week (until 6.3.20)

Tuesday 3 Mar Trip: Year 8 Geography, National History Museum, London

Wednesday 4 Mar Year 8 Boys and Girls, and Year 9 Girls only Human

Papillomavirum (HPV)

Thursday 5 Mar World Book Day

7.00pm Year 8 GCSE Pathways Evening

Friday 6 Mar

Week 1

Monday 9 Mar Year 11 Mock Exams 2 continue (until 13.3.20)

1:30pm Redhill Trust Book Award Ceremony

Tuesday 10 Mar

Wednesday 11 Mar 12.30pm Inter-House Dance-Off

Thursday 12 Mar Trip: Year 10 Theatre trip ‘A Monster Calls’, Sheffield

Friday 13 Mar

Week 2

Monday 16 Mar Year 11 MFL Mock Speaking 2 (until 20.3.20)

Career Talks, lunchtime, (until 20.3.20)

3.45pm Year 11 Drama Performance Evening

Tuesday 17 Mar 3.45pm Year 11 Drama Performance Evening

Wednesday 18 Mar 4.00pm Year 8 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 19 Mar Trip: Year 12 Biology trip to Twycross Zoo

Friday 20 Mar Year 11 Dance Final Practical Exam (all day)

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School Calendar

March

Week 1

Monday 23 Mar Year 10 Exams (until 3.4.20)

The Grand Tree Planting, Learning- + Student Support (all day)

Tuesday 24 Mar

Wednesday 25 Mar Trip: Year 11 Geography revision Day, Nottingham

Year 11 Drama Exam (all day)

Inter-House KS3 Bench Ball – Tutor time

7.00pm Presentation Evening

Thursday 26 Mar Year 11 Drama Exam (all day)

The Grand Tree Planting, Learning- + Student Support (all day)

6:30pm-7:15pm Info-evening for Italy Skiing Trip, for parents and

students

Friday 27 Mar Year 8 GCSE Pathway Deadline

Saturday 28 Mar Trip: Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Training Day 1

Week 2

Monday 30 Mar Year 10 Exams continue (until 3.4.20)

Inter-House Creative Writing launch

6:00pm Year 13 Drama practical Exam

Tuesday 31 Mar Trip: Year 9 Drama trip ‘Private Peaceful’ to Nottingham

Playhouse

APRIL

Wednesday 1 Apr Year 11 Progress Report 3 issued

Trust Dance Moderation (tbc)

Trip: Year 8 English trip ‘Private Peaceful’ at Nottingham

Playhouse

3.15pm Inter-House Easter Egg Hunt

Thursday 2 Apr

Friday 3 Apr Trip: Redhill Trust 2020 Ski Trip (until 11.04.2020)

Trip: Trust Year 12 Residential trip to London

Year 13 full reports issued

END OF SPRING TERM

School re-opens on Monday 20 April 2020.

the redhill academy newsletter · redhill has thought carefully about this and continues to offer a...

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