A Message from the Principal - Wilmington Academywilmingtonacademy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FINAL-Wilmi… · was a complete success, in no small part due to the outstanding

Wilmington Academy Summer Newsletter 20191

Newsletter

Summer 2019

A Message from the PrincipalM. Gore

I am delighted to introduce the final newsletter of the academic 2018/19 season. As I review the items held within these pages, I gain an immense feeling

of pride. The vast range of opportunities and experiences made available to our students is truly breathtaking and one can see the delight and inspiration permeating through the smiles of all involved.

I would like to thank our staff for their dedication and commitment in forging new partnerships and collaborations, alongside their continued dedication to providing outstanding learning experiences for our students.

There is much to celebrate at Wilmington Academy. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we have gained high praise from a recent pre-authorisation visit concerning our implementation of the Key Stage 3 International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

At Post 16, we have secured the best academic results in the history of the academy due to our commitment to IB courses and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP).

We have many exciting plans for the future of Wilmington Academy. Firstly, the new Jupiter building will start to take shape from August, providing further ‘state-of-the-art’ learning facilities at the academy. In addition, new ideas to develop our approaches to teaching within the classroom will provide further experiential learning for our students. The key traits of the IB learner profile (including communication, collaboration, and resilience) will be a key focus on throughout lessons.

We have continually proven that Wilmington Academy is a successful provider of education within our local community and Nationally, through improving the lives and outcomes of our young people over the past decade. We are now gaining recognition on the global stage.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer break.

Chinese VisitFrom Beijing to Wilmington!

From 10th-12th July we were thrilled to host 30 students from Beijing Ligong School in China at the academy as part of their UK Immersion programme. All of our visitors were assigned a Year 7 ‘buddy’ who would accompany them in school for the duration of their visit. The programme included our visitors participating in the same lessons as their buddy and a fantastic after-school programme of sports, art projects and STEM experiments. I can say without hesitation that it was a complete success, in no small part due to the

outstanding work of our student buddies, however students across the school made them very welcome, with many making use of the Mandarin they studied last year as part of our MYP language development programme. I was inundated with student requests to be a ‘buddy’ if we run a similar project in the future, and after the positive impact this time, we are already looking at our next steps.

At the end of the project we had a wonderful closing ceremony where all Chinese students and their buddies received certificates in recognition of their hard work and many of the students were swopping contact details to keep in touch in the future.

A huge thanks must also go to all the staff who made the students welcome in their lessons, and particularly our Art, PE and Science departments for leading on the after-school projects.

The impact of the programme was huge for our students, and although Wilmington Academy and Beijing are 5049 miles apart (we checked!) this week our students bridged that gap enormously, and have had a wonderful experience I am sure they will always remember.


International Baccalaureate Results

Our first set of IB results have come through, and we are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved!

The International Baccalaureate is a prestigious worldwide education programme which emphasises developing mindset and “soft” skills alongside rigorous academics. All courses develop students’ knowledge, critical thinking, communication, and reflection. In order to be successful in these courses, students completed coursework worth at least 20% of their total mark. Many completed oral components such as oral essays or presentations.

Twenty-six students achieved the full IB Career-related Programme - 96% A-C/ 100% A-D! This meant that in addition to their two IB courses and one vocational course, the students completed 50 hours of Italian Language Development, 50 hours of Service Learning, 90 hours of Personal and Professional Skills, and completed the Reflective Project- a 3000 word research project. Seven students achieved an A on their Reflective Projects. Last year, there were only 6 As in the whole of the UK! Collectively, our students achieved 13 Grade 6s in their courses (equivalent to an A at A-Level).

The programme has prepared students effectively for the next stages of their lives and this year’s IB group have a range of plans: apprenticeships, universities, and employment. Some have even already secured places for September. We congratulate our students on their amazing results, and wish them all the best moving forward.

Student highlights:Harry EdmundsonEnglish - 6Film Studies - 6History - 5Reflective Project - B

Harvey FieldEnglish - 6History - 5Reflective Project - A

Ellie KempGlobal Politics - 6History - 5Film Studies - 4Reflective Project - A

Mitchell ColeFilm Studies - 6English - 6Reflective Project - B

Charlie BishopMath Studies - 6Design Technology - 5Reflective Project - A

Rebecca AllenFilm Studies - 6English - 5Reflective Project - B

Jess BirchEnglish - 6Biology - 4Reflective Project - A

Holly ClarkeEnglish - 6Biology - 4Reflective Project - B

Year 13 Spotlight: Jessica

Jessica has attended Wilmington Academy from Year 7, and as she transitions to life after Post 16, we look back on her time here at the Academy and also her future plans.

Having achieved 1A*, 2As, 4Bs, and 1C in her GCSE studies, Jess chose to undertake the International Baccalaureate Careers-related programme (IBCP) at Post 16, studying IB English Language and Literature, IB Biology, and BTEC Extended Certificate in Health & Social Care.

Jess chose to undertake the IBCP as she wanted to have a wealth of experiences on her CV and interesting anecdotes available to highlight during interviews. In fact, within her first month of being in the programme Jess successfully attained employment! In addition to the usual Level 3 studies, the IBCP pathway includes development of personal

and professional skills, service learning, international language and cultural awareness, and the production of a reflective project (which is similar to a undergraduate dissertation). For one of her many chosen service learning projects, Jessica helped to orchestrate a fancy dress run for students in Year 7 and 8. The event was a huge success, not just because of the £200 raised for charity, but also because of the sense of community instilled between her team and the lower years.

Beyond Wilmington Academy, Jessica hopes to study Psychology and Counselling BSc at the University of Greenwich. Continuing to develop her experience and passion for her local community in readiness for her chosen course, Jessica hopes to volunteer in the Summer as a ‘Dementia Buddy’.

We wish Jessica every success for the future: you have been an exemplary role model not only for your peers but also the community as a whole. You are going to achieve amazing feats.


Year 13 Spotlight: Harry’s Journey

As their time at the Academy draws to a close, Year 13 begin to enter the next chapter of their lives. Here we have Harry talking about his time at the Academy and his plans for the future.

Harry has fond memories of Wilmington Academy, having attended since Year 7. After successfully achieving 1A*, 5As, and 5Bs at GCSE, Harry chose to undertake the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP) Pathway in Post 16. His subject choices were: IB English Language & Literature, IB History, IB Film Studies, and BTEC National Diploma in Business.

Highlights from Harry’s Post 16 career have included participating in the Leigh Aspire Programme and international trips to Rome and Sri Lanka, where he volunteered in local communities and even helped to bathe elephants. As an IBCP student he also ran and participated in numerous community events closer to home including our annual Christmas Tea Dance.

Harry’s next chapter includes attending Exeter University to study a BA in English Literature. This is a four year course including a year of studying abroad in either Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Harry hopes his university studies will enable him to also undertake a Masters Degree in Journalism or a Graduate Diploma in Law.

One thing we know for sure is that whatever Harry chooses to do after his graduation he is going to excel: his dedication and passion for learning and helping others will be long remembered here at the Academy and in Post 16.

Year 8 Dutch Language Pilot

IB Cultural Awareness & Language Acquisition programme

From September, all Year 9 students will be taking part in a brand new IB Cultural Awareness & Language Acquisition programme designed to keep expanding their knowledge of the fascinating world we live in and its diverse cultures.

In June and July, two Year 8 classes have had a chance to take part in a pilot scheme for the programme ahead of the new academic year. They have been learning Dutch greetings, numbers and finding out about the Netherlands, its unique culture, sports, food, currency and history. Lessons have been ran by Miss Brice and supported by Miss Williams, who have a combined knowledge of seven languages between them!

Students have learnt about Fierljeppen-or pole vaulting competitions from the northern province of Friesland, as well as, adding and subtracting in Dutch.

They have also found out about Rotterdam’s unique cube flats. Amsterdam’s cycling culture, alongside learning basic greetings. Students have shown great enthusiasm and motivation in lessons, and here is some of the feedback they have shared:

“I enjoyed doing some of the guessing and true or false questions. I wish we could do more!” Lewis, Year 8

“Today I enjoyed doing another language, it is very interesting and I want to know more about their daily routines” Christina, Year 8

“I enjoyed looking around the town of Amsterdam and its buildings” Scarlett, Year 8

Year 8 students are currently responding to a survey to see what languages and topics they would like to study, which will shape next year’s programme. This will hopefully allow a ‘round the world trip’ learning journey throughout the year!

Year 13 Spotlight: Charlie

From an early age, Charlie’s passion has been construction. After achieving an amazing 2A*s, 4As, and 4 Bs in his GCSE results, Charlie opted to undertake the International Baccalaureate

Careers-related Programme (IBCP) in Post 16. His chosen subjects were: IB Design and Technology, IB Maths, and BTEC Extended Certificate in Engineering.

As Charlie’s time here at the Academy draws to a close, we look back on his achievements and look forward with him to the immense opportunities he has at his feet.

Being more of a “hands on” person, Charlie is looking to pursue an apprenticeship route into Quantity Surveying, which would allow him to build on his Level 3 studies, rather than go down a purely university route. Throughout his time at the Academy, Charlie has “thrown” himself into every opportunity; his work experience placement at a local garage gave him experience of a busy, bustling work environment. His additional studies as part of the IBCP pathway have included designing and refurbishing the Milestone Academy satellite garden, as well as raising awareness of healthy eating and healthy minds amongst the lower years.

This wealth of experiences beyond his qualifications have enabled him to be in a position to apply for his preferred apprenticeship with Transport for London (TfL). We wish Charlie every success in the future, and although we will miss his smile first thing in the morning, we know that he have a fantastic future ahead of him!


Awards and Events

Prom 2019

On Thursday 4th July, our Year 11 students and several staff disembarked from Greenwich Pier on the ‘Jewel of London’ for the Wilmington Academy Prom. They sailed down the Thames passed some of London’s most iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and the Shard. Whilst enjoying a variety of refreshing beverages, they danced the night away.

Awards were handed out for Best Dressed, Best Hairstyle, and Best Gentleman, but special congratulations goes to Lilybelle and Josh who were named Prom King and Queen. It was a lovely celebration after all the students’ hard work this year and we look forward to results day in August.

Kent Literacy Awards

For a record-breaking five consecutive years, Wilmington Academy won a Kent Literacy Award for our World Book Week event which this year had a cultural theme: ‘Japanese Matsuri.’

Miss Drysdale, (Literacy Coordinator) and Mrs Kennedy, (Academy Librarian) attended the presentation ceremony on Wednesday 10th July at the Hempstead House Hotel, Sittingbourne, where they collected two awards: ‘Most engaging book week theme’ for the Dartford/Gravesham area AND the overall winner for the Kent Region.

Best selling children’s author Nick Butterworth was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony which showcases literacy initiatives and promotes the sharing of best practice helping to raise standards and performance in schools.

LAT AwardsOn Thursday 11th July, four members of our Wilmington Academy staff were finalists in the Leigh Academies Trust Annual Awards Ceremony at Strood Academy. LAT is one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the country and employs over 2000 staff, so to have four staff as finalists is an incredible achievement. The nominations included Lillian Drysdale for ‘Secondary Teacher of the Year’, Maxine McLean for ‘Support Staff Award for Pupil Engagement’, and Ann Kent for ‘Support Staff Award for Operational Services’.

Our librarian Debbie Kennedy was nominated for two categories, taking home the award for ‘Special Recognition.’ Mrs Kennedy has worked in the Trust for over a decade, and during her time at the academy has raised the yearly book loan from 1100 to over 12,000 for three years running. She has successfully run five World Book Day festivals, which have all been awarded Kent Literacy Awards, including four regional award wins. In addition to this, she has put the Learning Resource Centre at the heart of our academy, taking time to ensure that each individual student is supported on their journey to becoming a confident and competent reader.

Congratulations to all!


Academy Trips

Trip to SpainCantabria, Bilbao Trip 2019

For the last days of June and beginning of July, the Year 9 and Y10 Spanish students took part in an educational visit to the north of Spain. The purpose of the trip was to develop their language skills in a real-world context and to expand their understanding of the culture.

The group set off bright and early Wednesday morning and enjoyed the flight from Stansted to Bilbao. The coach then made its way over to the historic small town of Santillana del Mar where students ordered their own lunch using their Spanish skills.

For five days the group enjoyed a wide variety of activities from a visit to the “El Soplao” caves, to a cable car trip to the top of the southern wall of the stunning mountain range of “Picos de Europa” and a visit to the Guggenheim Museum. Overall, it was a successful trip; the only drawback being that the students wanted to stay for longer.

Year 12 Students Go Biology Wild!

In June, Year 12 IB Biology students travelled to Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay in order to learn and practice various ecological sampling techniques. The skills taught to them by the Wildwood staff helped them prepare and collect data for their Independent Investigations that they are carrying out as part of their course.

Students got stuck in with their work and were studying the effects the age of the woodland and how various woodland treatments affect the populations. Students returned to some childhood fun and collected insects from top soil samples to determine if different species like different types of soil conditions. They also examined the plant species to see the effects of sunlight levels on plant growth. Going forward into Year 13, students will now analyse the data they collected individually in a report for 20% of their final course.

Harry Potter

Nearly fifty members of the Wilmington Academy community spent a magical afternoon at the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, north London. The lucky Year 8 Potter fans were able to see the stories brought to life: by looking at props, experimenting with special effects and even walking on the sets used in the film. Students (and staff!) were dazzled by the attention to detail shown.

There was a chance for everyone to ride a broomstick, visit the Forbidden Forest and even ride on the Hogwarts’ Express. Mrs Govender was heard saying “I want to go to Hogwarts!” and we could not agree more emphatically. Our students were also able to re-enact favourite snippets of the films and books, to the general delight of all. There was, of course, butterbeer ice cream to round off a marvellous afternoon.

Year 7 MYP PE Trip

On Thursday 6th June, 48 Year 7 students enjoyed a day of outdoor adventurous activities at Lower Grange Farm in Maidstone. The purpose of the day was to enrich the students Physical and Health curriculum and provide the students with life changing experiences.

The students took part in Rock Climbing, Rifle Shooting, Pioneering and Indoor Caving. Many students were open-minded and overcame their fear of heights and confined spaces. It was lovely to see the students care for each other and work together with peers they would not normally work with in order to overcome these challenges.

“The day we spent with the Wildwood tutor helped me understand what coppicing is and how it affects the woodland creatures. I was surprised at how drastic the effects of the environment are on the types of species living in the area even within what appears to be a small location.” Batis, Year 12


Our Young Geographers!

The Year 10 Geographers visited the Hastings coastline this module to collect data for their GCSE exam in the summer of 2020. Students worked fantastically, measuring the width of the beach in teams as well as completing field sketches of the coastline. Students are now back at school writing up their data and working hard towards their GCSEs in Year 11. Well done Year 10 Geographers! Keep your eyes peeled for letters regarding the trip in Year 11 which also aids with their GCSE.

River Darent

Across two days in June, the Year 9 Geography students were able to develop their geographical skills by visiting three sites along the River Darent and collected data on how different characteristics of the river change along its profile. They developed their knowledge and understanding of rivers (as well as ecosystems) which is relevant to two sections in their Unit 1 exam, as well as their Unit 3 exam on geographical skills. This trip also helped students to develop their understanding of

ecosystems, in particular small scale ecosystems, which is a part of their Science curriculum - a great example of interdisciplinary learning!

It is probably safe to say that their favourite part was the final site at Horton Kirby where they got to have a little cool down before collecting their final set of data after working in the sunshine. They also got to meet about 30 cows who wanted to come and say hello at Westerham in the farmers field where the Darent begins its journey.

Geography

Plastic Education

The Geography department has been working with their students on learning the effects of plastic in our oceans. As part of the work, students had to create jellyfish using plastic and then write on the jellyfish about the effects. The students have worked really hard and have developed a great understanding of the issues.

Every year, 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enters our oceans, adding to the estimated 150 metric tonnes already found across the planet. Plastic has been discovered in 60% of bird species and 100% of turtle species, where plastic is commonly mistaken for food. But as a community, we can help to reduce the amount of plastic going into our oceans.

We can:

• Take reusable shopping bags to the supermarket;

• Take a water bottle with us to work or school;

• Buy fruit and vegetables not wrapped in plastic;

• Say no to plastic straws;• Avoid using disposable

cutlery.


Performing Arts Audition Notice

Physical Education

Rounders MatchOn Wednesday 22nd May, the Year 7 rounders team represented Wilmington Academy in a tournament. They performed with excellent etiquette and sportsmanship and tried hard to demonstrate what skills they have learnt in lessons and during Rounders Club.

They played two matches, the first game against Meopham, which they unfortunately lost 6 rounders to 4; however, they fielded excellently. They played a second match against St George’s School and drew 6.5 rounders, displaying great batting skills. Well done!

District and Trust Athletics

On the 4th July and 8th July, Wilmington Academy students competed in District and Trust Athletics. Competing against other schools both in the Trust and in the surrounding areas is always a big event on the PE calendar and the selected students have shown excellent attitude and commitment to PE over the last year.

The students conducted themselves exceptionally well and we are lucky enough to have some excellent athletes within the academy.

We are pleased to say in the District we came 8th overall for the Boys, 7th for the Girls. In the Trust, we came 3rd with the Girls and 6th with the Boys; overall, this placed us 5th. This included some stand out performances, and school records were broken in 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and Javelin.

Congratulations to all!

Year 9 Football TeamDistrict Champions!

The year 9 football team has had a very successful season culminating in winning the District schools cup competition.

They started the season very well making it into the 4th round of the Kent Cup after being narrowly beaten by a very strong Hurstmere School. However, the team continued to perform with flair, strength and resilience in the District Cup and came top of their group, comprising of Northfleet Technology College, Meopham School, Longfield Academy, and Wilmington Boys Grammar School.

This led them into the semi finals against St Georges CofE School, where they convincingly beat the opposition 2-0 in a game which gave St George’s very few opportunities to score. In the final they went up against a very strong Thamesview side that made it difficult in the first half where it was a closely contested game. However the team’s fitness levels and determination showed in the second half, with an amazing display of finishing from Henry Hearn and some great shot stopping from Lewis Wilkins. They went on to win the game 4-1 and bring home the trophy as Year 9 District Champions.

Congratulations to the following students (on the right) who were all valuable members of the team:

Dance Showcase

On Friday 29th March 2019 Wilmington Academy hosted its first ever Dance Show! The dance show consisted of dances from the Dance BTEC course and dances choreographed at Dance Club. The dancers worked really hard and performed really well, especially with it being the first time some of them had performed to an audience.

Some of the dancers choreographed their own dances. They were truly beautiful and it was fantastic to see how creative they were with their choreography.

Well done to everyone who was involved!

• Oliver (Captain)• Lewis • Jacob • Luke • Sam • Luke

• Ben • Connor • Johnnie • Brendan• Henry • Henry


Health and Social Care

Hospitality

Healthy Relationships Project On the 1st and 2nd of April 2019, 30 students from Year 9 and 10 participated in a healthy relationship project with Tender Education & Arts, in partnership with eight other organisations, to explore healthy and unhealthy behaviour in teenage relationships. Students learnt how to promote healthy relationships between young people based on equality and empathy. The workshop was very engaging and raised student’s awareness of unhealthy or abusive behaviour in their current and future relationships. Students were empowered with the skills and confidence to build positive, respectful relationships with others, and consider their attitudes and behaviour in a safe, age appropriate way. Over the two days, students were able to:

• Identify key elements of healthy and unhealthy relationships

• Recognise early warning signs of unhealthy relationships• Explore the importance of equality and respect• Understand personal boundaries and consent• Increase self-confidence and empathy for others• Increase their awareness of human rights issues, e.g. FGM• Develop awareness of where to seek or signpost support

Here are some comments from students who participated in the workshop:

“The Tender workshop experience was an amazing experience filled with very vital information. We learned about the details of abuse and subtle things that may lead to it. We also heard about real life experience and had raw conversations about the issues people are facing. It is very important for younger years to hear this because of the fast paced world we live in today. Overall, it was a fun learning opportunity that I do not regret doing.”Semilore, Year 10 “Personally, I found the workshop really helpful and I really enjoyed it. I thought that something so important like relationships and abuse, especially the support that victims have available, was really important to be taught and raise awareness on. Moreover, the workers, Mikayla and Marie, were really nice and kind and I felt safe to discuss any problems I had with them. They created a safe environment for us and we really appreciated it.” Savera, Year 10

“They got us involved and now I can actually remember some of the facts. I was also able to build my self-confidence as I had to interact and present in front of many people I didn’t know.”Grace, Year 10

Royal Opera House Trip

Year 9 and Year 10 Catering and Hospitality students took a trip to the Royal Opera House in May. Many people may be wondering; why would a student learning about catering and nutrition, be going to see a theatrical performance? The truth is that theatres are an amazing venue to see the hospitality of an establishment, especially one that accommodates over 2000 guests every night, and has three different restaurants, along with coffee shops, bars and snack areas. That means that every night they serve almost double the population of Wilmington Academy!

Our budding chefs had an opportunity to walk through one of the professional kitchens and the head chef Chris Handley explained the main ideas behind the menu: they use upcoming performances as inspiration. That means that for an Italian opera there would be Italian food on the menu.

We were greeted by smartly dressed ushers and led to the waiting areas for the performance to start. The building was stunning both inside and out. Inside the main hall one of the walls was covered with mirrors to represent the real size of the hall as it used to be. The mirrors now hide training studios, changing rooms and other facilities for the staff.

The opera ‘Tosca’ by Puccini was something that none of the students have ever seen before - a beautiful mix of music, song, and drama. This particular show was about a love triangle, where three main characters could not find peace, and of course - like every good opera - it ended in tragedy. It was not what some of the students had expected, but they all agreed they were glad to experience it. After all, the Royal Opera House is one of the top opera houses in the world.


Engineering

Year 9 Energy Quest Workshop

Careers in the Engineering sector cover a wide range of job roles, many of which have yet to be thought about! Engineering is a growth sector, not just internationally, but also globally. On Wednesday 3rd July, we had the pleasure of welcoming national charity Tomorrow’s Engineers to work with selected Year 9 students, who had the opportunity to find out more about Engineering.

One of the biggest misconceptions our facilitator Phil mentioned was that Engineering was solely thought about from a mechanical viewpoint; however, as students discovered, it is not all about building. Students were called upon to use their knowledge and skills acquired from various cross curricular subjects including Science, Maths, and Art. They thought critically, worked collaboratively, and took risks in order to design and test the technology of the future.

Year 7 Women in Engineering Talk

To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), Year 7 girls were invited to find out more about the subject and potential STEM careers from women who work in the Engineering sector. INWED is an annual day of celebration and awareness for women working in engineering and a chance to highlight the fantastic career opportunities available to students.

Taking a local focus, the facilitators from local business ConnectPlus Services talked students through the vast job roles which are covered by their project to maintain the M25 road network. From environmental considerations, designers, surveyors and construction, our guest speakers highlighted that a career in engineering is far from mundane. Speaking about their own interests and reasons for undertaking a career within the sector, Alana, Priya, and Abbey gave students more information about career pathways before fielding individual questions. A massive thank you to Alana, Priya, and Abbey for giving our students invaluable insight into potential careers.

Tomorrow’s Engineers Energy Quest Workshop

This module, Phil Edwards of Weald Technology Limited delivered Energy Quest workshops to some of our Year 9 science students. Organised through the charity, Tomorrows Engineers, the workshops are designed to help young people understand the ubiquitous role of engineering in our everyday lives as well as exploring if this might be a suitable career choice for them.

Students worked in small groups named after significant engineers: Archimedes, Edith Clarke, Leonardo Da Vinci, Henry Ford, Beatrice Shilling, Isambard Kingdom-Brunel, Elon Musk, Hattie Scott-Peterson, George Stephenson, and Nikola Tesla.

Each workshop began by asking students to consider what they think of when they hear the word ‘engineering’. In Task One, Phil explained that the population of the world is estimated to grow to over 9 billion by the year 2050 which would equate to an increased energy requirement of 50%. Current fossil fuels of oil, gas and coal will not last forever and currently over 1 billion people do not have access to electricity. Phil discussed the need for renewable energy. The U.K currently has 27% of its energy produced by renewable energy whilst for growing economies such as China, the statistic is only 11%.

In Task Two, students stepped into the shoes of an engineer, and were asked to design, build and test their own electric car, suggesting improvements along the way. Students took to this task with great gusto with the Lecture Theatre being a hive of activity with cars being tested and distances measured!

Throughout the workshops students completed “Energise Your Future” questions to help them discover what kind of engineer they could be. Sincere thanks to all who participated and helped to make these useful workshops happen.


Extra-Curricular

Save the Bees!

Our Year 9 Life Skills students were very lucky to be invited by the Bee Conservation Organisation in Hoo, to attend an event in Hoo on the 21st May. The students were able to help plant different flowers to attract bees and butterflies, as well as catch some bees and identify them.

Jagjit Singh (Year 9) was the star of the day, catching an extremely rare bee that the staff had not been able to catch before. All the students have also been very fortunate to have expert Beekeeper David Rae come into the academy and deliver many talks over the past few modules, helping our young beekeepers of the future.

There are over 270 varieties of bee in the UK, but since 1900, 13 species of bee have become extinct and a further 35 are on the endangered species list. Bees are necessary to pollinate flowers, plants and crops that support life on our planet (including humans!). Wilmington is proud to have undertaken steps to support bee conservation and has successfully run our own apiary for many years.

Horticulture, Life Skills

On the 10th July, Year 9 students celebrated finishing their Life Skills course with staff and family members. They completed Gardening, Land Based Studies and other environmental courses as part of the ASDAN programme.

They were joined by family members and September starters in our new Year 9 group to meet with Mrs Ryan and Mrs Borrell to see how the Life Skills and Horticulture Department is run.

Everyone enjoyed their time in the sunshine and we look forward to teaching the new students in September.

Painting Evenings

This term, our talented Art department ran a painting evenings for students and parents. This was a brilliant event that the students really seemed to enjoy. Elizabeth (Year 7), Tegan (Year 9), Mia (Year 10) and Josephine (Year 10) came with their parents and really challenged themselves with a complicated piece, ‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh. As you can see, the results were excellent!

Alternative Curriculum

Austrian Ski Trip

During the Easter holidays 43 of our students and six staff hit the slopes and enjoyed some thrilling alpine skiing in Austria. Students spent six days perfecting their turns and learning how to ski.

The students endured a 20 hour coach drive through France and Germany to the Austrian resort of Obertauern.

The week started off with all students being assessed by their instructors. The advanced ski group were quick to head up the mountain more or less straight away and then spent the whole week exploring the resort and the snow park. The remaining groups mastered being able to stop and turn and before long were up the mountain to try the challenging blue runs, back into the resort. As the week progressed, all the students developed and improved their technique on the wide blue runs and steeper reds with some of the more daring students even attempted a black run (not for the faint hearted!). It was an amazing experience for everyone involved.

Despite a couple of minor student injuries and several trips down the mountain to the hospital for Mr Farr and Ms Salih, (collar bone displacement and a fractured shoulder respectively) everyone enjoyed their week in the snow which was complemented by a full après-ski programme which included a pizza evening, ice cream and bowling.

Thanks to the students for behaving impeccably throughout the trip and also to the staff that supported the trip: Mr Farr, Ms Salih, Miss Cardiff, Miss Stevens, and Mr Staunton.


Careers Education

Year 12s Getting CV Ready

The last few modules of the academic year focused on helping Year 12s to become “employment ready”. For this, they began to go through a full selection and recruitment process involving real-life local and national employers. The first session involved receiving CV advice and guidance from Daniel Goodwin, the Education Business Manager for Pearson Whiffin Recruitment.

The session started off by helping students to understand the purpose of a CV, its format, and “insider” tips to making the most of a CV, including potential social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Students were encouraged to bring along their own CVs in order to receive personal feedback from Daniel and were able to receive 1:1 support in making the most of their qualifications, attributes, and experiences.

A huge thank you to Daniel and Pearson Whiffin whom we have worked with for many years; students are always highly appreciative of the sessions and definitely walk out with more confidence entering the final stages of their schooling!

“I found the session really interesting and helpful. I am now more confident with how to set out a professional CV and will definitely be ensuring I proof read mine before sending it out to potential employers.” Benjy, Year 12

Year 8 Careers University Trip April 2019

To go or not to go…….

Our year 8 students have experienced a day in the life of an undergraduate whilst looking at careers and how university could be an aspiration for them.

Alongside their individual careers interviews, 185 students attended the University of Kent (Canterbury campus) for a day that involved a campus tour, insights into what lectures are like, living away from home, the subjects students can study, as well as the careers they can lead too.

Students were literally wowed at the sheer size of the campus with the library almost the size of our school buildings. Students worked in groups with the Ambassadors and asked really thought provoking questions. Many considering what steps they have to work towards now to enable them to go to university.

Students shared their quotes with us from the day - all showing a better understanding of what a university is and how it may influence their future ambitions and dreams. These were just some of the comments from our students:

‘It made me understand more about life at university’ Sam Costin

‘ It made me think about university in a different way’ Aniket Bhanushali

‘A great experience’ Mia Arnould

‘ It was very fun!’ Olivia Ling

‘ It made me think about my future’ Lottie Young

Year 6

Transition Day

On Thursday 4th July, our incoming Year 7 students descended on the academy for their Year 6 Transition Day. They spent the day completing challenges in Science, Humanities, and Numeracy. They also completed ‘Getting to Know You’ activities and reviewed important information for September. They were also joined by Student Ambassadors from our current Year 7 cohort who were on hand to answer any questions that they had.

One student even said, ‘I wish I could go into the future and start Wilmington today!’ We are excited to have our new Year 7s joining us in September and hope that everyone has a lovely Summer.


Bath & Bristol Trip

The annual three day Bath and Bristol trip began with an early departure for our current Year 7 students. As they made their way down to Somerset, students (and some teachers) happily sang along to the sounds of ‘The Greatest Showman’.

The first attraction visited was the Roman Baths, where students took part in workshops looking into the history of the area, followed by a tour and - for the braver members of the group - a tasting of the spring water.

On their second day in Somerset, they made their way over to Bristol to experience the hands-on experiments at Bristol’s Science Museum in the exhibition named ‘We are Curious’. Students were wowed by the planetarium where they sat back and travelled through space learning about the sheer scale of the universe.

A sunny walk along the canal brought the group to the SS Great Britain Ship and Museum. Students got the opportunity to explore the decks of the 19th century passenger ship and experience how it would have felt to be a passenger on the first steamship to sail across the Atlantic Ocean.

Finally, on their way home, they stopped at Wookey Hole Caves. Students were given a guided tour of the caves with stories told of the legend of the ‘Wookey Hole Witch’. The trip came to an end after a spot of Friday evening traffic and another coach sing-along.

The group were impeccably behaved, well mannered and polite and were a pleasure to have on the trip.

Year 7

STEM Jupiter Student Achievement

Health and Social Care Day at Maidstone Hospital

On the 28th of March 2019 Ms Vanhorne and Ms Hearn took 10 years 12 and 13 students to Maidstone Hospital where they hosted a Health and Social Care Day. Students had the opportunity to get advice and support from senior staff who started their career working as a junior staff or an apprentice in the NHS. They were exposed to information and taster sessions on a wide range of careers available in the NHS. They also learnt about different routes into the NHS including apprenticeships and post-graduate entries.

Students were engaged in a lot of practical activities throughout the faculty. They had the opportunity to visit a number of health and social care specialist stands and speak to students, apprentices and specialists in different fields. The students found talking to the professionals about their experiences, challenges and things they enjoy about their job roles very interesting. The students asked lots of questions at the stands and collected booklets on the various opportunities available. Overall students found the day informative it also helped some Year 13 students to make their final decision about what they would like to pursue at University.

Key Dates 2019

Thursday 15th August 2019A Level Results

Thursday 22nd August 2019GCSE Results

Monday 2nd September 2019Year 7 and Year 12 students return

Tuesday 3rd September 2019Start of Module 1 Whole academy returns

Friday 18th October 2019End of Module 1

Monday 4th November 2019Start of Module 2

Friday 20th December 2019End of Module 2

Monday 6th January 2020Start of Module 3

Outstanding Sports Performer Hollie, Year 10, Jupiter Hollie was awarded the Jack Petchey Award for her commitment and performance in Judo. It is an outstanding achievement for Hollie to get and represents her commitment to sport both inside and outside of school.


College Spotlight

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this, my final spotlight as the Head of College for Jupiter. I started my career at Wilmington Academy in 2008, and after roles in the Business Faculty, Post-16, and as an Assistant Principal, it was an honour and a privilege to build Wilmington’s third college; Jupiter.

Our motto, “Don’t just fly - soar!” has been reflected in the accomplishments of our students, from sporting prowess, to artistic excellence, and academic endeavours. Yet it has been the quiet altruism and kindness of our students that will stay with me the most. I am so proud of our students with their quiet determination to apply themselves fully to all that they do.

Our talented SSMs and tutors have worked tirelessly this year to ensure the best outcomes for our students. Sadly, we are also saying goodbye to Mrs Ward, who has been the college Assistant Principal since the inception of Jupiter in 2016, after four years as the Director of Literacy. Her passion and integrity made a vital contribution to the academy’s success, and we wish her all the best for the future. Jupiter’s ethos, compassion and kindness has truly impacted our global community and this has been driven by Mrs Ward. I am privileged to have had Mrs Ward by my side and would like to publicly thank her.

From September, Mrs Goodall will become the new Head of College, along with Mr Farr and Mrs Govender as Assistant Principals. I wish them every success as they take Jupiter forward.

As I move onto my first headship, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wilmington Academy and its community of staff, students and parents for 11 amazing years. I wish everyone all the best for the future.

As another academic year draws to a close, we have much to reflect on and celebrate. Our most recent event was the visit of 30 students from Beijing Ligong School in China, and the way our students represented the academy is a huge source of pride to me as Head of Apollo College. Speaking to one of our project links, who has worked with many schools, she had nothing but positive comments about our students, their engagement with the project, but also importantly, that they clearly cared for our visitors and wanted them to enjoy their stay. Well done to all concerned.

At the beginning of this article I have included a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most famous and influential figures of the Twentieth Century. His words have huge relevance for our students, as often one of the barriers they face to learning is the belief that they cannot achieve.

We know that at Wilmington Academy, if our students’ believe they can achieve and engage with their learning, there is nothing to stop them producing an impressive set of results. I would like to thank all of our parents who continue to encourage their sons and daughters in their education; it makes such a difference to the progress they make. This is supported by the Department of Education who state: “very high parental interest is associated with better exam results, than for children whose parents show no interest. Children with very interested parents progressed 15-17% more in mathematics and reading between ages 11-16.” Again, thank you for all your support.

I would like to wish you all a refreshing, relaxing summer break and look forward to achieving even more in 2019-20!

Our Year 11 students coped admirably with their GCSE & BTEC examinations taken this season. They experienced the newly reformed qualifications which meant they have tackled more written examinations than students in the preceding years. I am sure that you would wish to join me in thanking all the staff who devoted their personal and family time to provide additional support to our students and of course, well done to the students who have worked so hard. We look forward to our results days in August.

Once the examinations were over, there was barely a moment to rest before Module 6 which has included a large number of trips, visits, sporting events, the Summer Showcase and reward trips, many of which are detailed throughout this newsletter.

The end of the academic year is a time to reflect, take stock of the past year and plan for the year ahead. To help you take stock and prepare for the year ahead, take time to reflect on this year’s questions.

The Year BehindWhat went well? What surprised you? What did this year teach you? What needs to be left behind?

The Year AheadWhere do you need to go next? How will you evolve in the year ahead? What are your top goals? How will you navigate uncertainty? What’s your mantra for next year? I would like to thank parents and carers for your support throughout this year. It is our partnership that enables every student to succeed and without your support that would not be possible.

I wish you all a happy, safe and restful summer holidays, let’s hope the lovely weather stays with us.

Apollo UpdateP. Devlin, Head of Apollo

Minerva Update C. Hassett Head of Minerva

Jupiter UpdateR. Roberts Head of Jupiter

Documents

A Message from the Principal - Wilmington Academywilmingtonacademy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FINAL-Wilmi… · was a complete success, in no small part due to the outstanding