Principal's Fortnightly Message, 26th April 2024

Friday, 26th April 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been an excellent start to the term with lots going on, including the wonderful performance of The Wizard of Oz last week.  Well done to the entire cast and crew; we are all very proud of you.

At Northampton Academy, we have a dedicated group of Parent Voice Ambassadors. I met them last week to discuss the parent survey that was completed this year and hear their views. I want to thank them and ask that if anyone reading this would like to become a Parent Voice Ambassador, please contact our Marketing Officer, Lyn Salmons, at l.salmons@northampton-academy.org.  One thing they said was that this letter is too long. I have added year groups next to some of the headings so you know which elements of the letter are relevant to you; I hope this helps!

The first section of the letter is about attendance. Thank you for your continued support with your child's attendance. We have reset all attendance to 100% for this term (see below) to challenge students to remain as close to 100% for the remainder of this term. Remember, 90% attendance means a student misses a day of school every ten days. A day of school every ten days is a lot of lost learning. We would like all students to achieve an attendance of 95%. We will reward and recognise good attendance.

Attendance Y7 - Y13

As always, we continue to drive students' attendance so that they increase their chances of making progress and reaching the aspirational goals we know they have. 

We have a strong history of good school attendance at the Academy and continue to sit above the National average - but as in all aspects of Academy life, we strive to provide better than 'good' for all our students.

At the start of this half term, we internally reset every student's attendance to 100% and have explained this to them in assemblies this week. We are challenging students to consider the following:

• 'Attendance Streaks' - how many consecutive days can they complete during Term 3 - a whole week gains entry to prize draws.
• 'Be here to get there' - where do they want their education to take them - this increases motivation to come and engage fully with studies.
• With the new 'Reset' to 100%, how close can they be to the maximum percentage at the end of Term 3?

Finally, I would like to share with you some facts about punctuality, which have direct links to attendance, which I hope you find insightful and valuable when discussing attendance with your child:

Uniform Y7 - Y11

It has been delightful to see the students return after the Easter break, and I am impressed with the pride that they take in wearing the Northampton Academy Uniform. We believe that wearing the same uniform encourages a sense of community identity and belonging.

As a reminder, students should be wearing the following compulsory items:

• Black Polishable Shoes
• Blue Academy Blazer
• White Shirt with Collar
• Black Trousers or Knee Length Skirt
• Academy Clip-on Tie
• Black Socks

Furthermore, please can I draw your attention to the below expectations on items which should not be worn:

• Jewellery which exceeds what is permitted (a watch and one pair of stud earrings) will be confiscated. Students can collect these items from reception at the end of the day. No other jewellery should be worn at school, including facial piercings of any kind (e.g. lip, nose, tongue).

• Make-up should be minimal.
• No coloured nail varnish or acrylic nails are allowed.
• No fake eyelashes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in ensuring your child adheres to the uniform policy. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to look at our full uniform policy, which is available on our website.

Equipment checks Y7 - Y11

As partners in your child's education, we want to ensure they have all the tools necessary for success. One essential aspect is ensuring they come to school equipped with the right supplies. All students need to bring the following with them every day. 

1. Pencil case
2. Blue or black pen
3. Pencil
4. Pencil sharpener
5. Rubber
6. Ruler
7. Scientific calculator
8. DEAR book (Years 7-10)

Our equipment checks twice a term ensure that students are prepared for success in the classroom but also instil valuable habits that will serve them well throughout their academic and professional lives. Please help them ensure they have the kit ready in their bag each day. 

The Proud Table and Principal Award Nominations Y7-13

Every Friday at lunchtime, our school community gathers to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students at the Proud Table. Teachers award a special purple sticker to students whose efforts or academic standards truly impress them, and students are encouraged to bring their work to the proud table. Along with a certificate acknowledging their achievement, students also receive a piece of stationery as a token of our appreciation for their exceptional efforts. Moreover, each sticker earned translates to stamps on a reward card. These stamps are entries into our termly prize draws for Amazon vouchers and even an iPad!

We cannot overstate the importance of praising children for their accomplishments. It not only boosts their confidence but also reinforces their commitment to success. So, please take the time to praise and encourage your child's achievements at school. Your support plays a crucial role in their journey to success.

We also want to highlight our Principal's Award, where teachers nominate outstanding students every week.  Every nominated student receives a personalised certificate on Monday mornings, detailing exactly why their teacher is proud of them. It's another way we strive to recognise and celebrate the great work our students are doing every single day.

Year 10

Firstly, well done to those Year 10s in BTEC Business and Sport for completing your first PSA.  Well done to you all!

Year 10 will have EOY (End of Year) Assessments starting on June 3rd, the week we return after the May half term. Students have received a copy of the support and guidance booklet, which details all subjects and revision expected.  These are also available on our website.

After the assessments, some students in Year 10 will have been identified for early intervention, which is designed to support those students in the transition into Year 11 for particular subjects.  Not all students will be invited; if your child is chosen, a letter will be sent home detailing these sessions.

Year 11

Over the half term, many students were on site completing various interventions; well done to Year 11. Interventions will also be offered to Year 11 students for the May Half Term – please make a note in your diaries. This will be the final push to support students with our bespoke offer.

New Period 6 intervention timetables have been issued to students with their lanyards, which continues to be very successful. Please discuss the importance of these intervention sessions with your child in these last few weeks to support their determination to succeed.

Year 11 timetables for the summer examinations have been sent home via email and given physical copies. Alongside this, Year 11 will have an assembly on the exam rules and regulations, as well as top tips sessions and period zero.  This assembly will be sent home to all parents; this will be important to watch to best support your child and the school.

South Africa Trip

Over the Easter break, 15 lucky STEM students went on a two-week trip to South Africa. The trip was fully funded by the UK government's Turing scheme, which provides funding for international education and training opportunities.

Read more about this trip and view a photo gallery here: 
https://www.northampton-academy.org/news/latest-news/articleid/1617/artmid/551/preview/true

Sixth Form

Year 12 have just completed a very successful work experience week and have now made a great start to the term. Remember that their mock exams are W/C: May 20th and June 3rd. Students should regularly revise and ensure they are not working more than 10 hours per week to ensure they are prepared for their studies. 

Year 12 students also visited Oxford University this week and heard from previous applicants about the application process, making the most out of open days, and how to engage in academic discussions, which will prepare them for any interview. They were also encouraged to get involved in the' X behind the Y project', which is an independent research project they do that an Oxford University academic looks over and gives feedback on. This is also really good for personal statements and university applications. 

Year 13 mock exams begin in less than three weeks, and they should regularly attend their after-school intervention. Year 13 Prom is also on June 27th, so we urge students to purchase their tickets for £30 soon.

Careers

A very busy yet successful time for careers last half-term, with Years 7,9,10 all receiving their careers character lessons with an external speaker for each year group. The finale saw the whole school careers fair, where every year group could attend and talk about their career ambitions with over 40 providers we had in - the buzz in the room was fantastic from start to finish. Year 8 will receive their careers-related character lessons this half-term, with a guest speaker from the University of Northampton planned for May 2nd. Year 12s have just returned from their work experience placements, and there was pleasing feedback from many providers who were overwhelmed with the work ethic and attitude of our students - with some even being offered part-time jobs.  As always, we will conclude with some labour market information - with the focus this week being "The Current State of Skill Mismatches' The Current State of Skill Mismatches – LMI For All  

Character Enrichment

Term 3 brings about some changes to the offer for all students, and I would like to highlight three new opportunities being provided this term:

As always, students can see the complete offer via the school website, on display screens around the school or by visiting the 'What's On table' every Wednesday at lunchtime.

Kind regards,
Owen Jones

Associate Principal