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Term 1

Ms Hilary MorawskaPrincipal

NewsletterWelcome to our first newsletter of the academic year. All the staff at our academy hope that our parents, carers, and students had an enjoyable summer break, were able to rest and are ready to take on the numerous challenges ahead.Our final newsletter, of last academic year, was one of goodbyes and farewells to colleagues and our hard working Year 11s.This September finds us welcoming some new colleagues to our wonderful team of staff and I am proud of the quality of experience they bring with them.With this newsletter, you will find a brief introduction and ‘hello’ from them all, to help you put ‘a face to the name’. We wish them every happiness in their work, at our academy and we look foward to working with them.Do remember, that if you wish to contact an individual member of our staff, you can access their direct email through the ‘Hastings Academy Staff List’ page on our website. Our staff will endeavour to contact you the following day.As, hopefully, the majority of our school community was relaxing away from the office, I was pleased to fund another massively successful summer school, as part of our transition. Magnificently lead by our Eggtooth Project Partners and supported by our own staff; Miss McDonald, Mrs Crease, Mr Avery and Mrs Dunne alongside past and current students the academy introduced and worked with over 125 of our newest recruits. This was the largest cohort, yet and the feedback from our staff presented an exceptionally engaged and hard working cohort. This bodes well for a smooth and informed transition into their secorndary school career. I would like to thank Eggtooth for their continued excellent work with our students and our own staff and students for supporting this event.

The new academic term saw the staff during the inset days working together and in their teams to hone new skills, prepare their teaching and ensure the academy is ready to receive their charges.The staggered start enabled staff to welcome and frame the importance of each year’s work to each year group. We welcomed our Year 7s and gently eased them into The Hastings Academy Way. Our Year 11s face the clock ticking towards the culmination of their years at school in the Summer of 2020 and we launched the start of the GCSE’s to our Year 9s, as they commence their next phase of learning.As always, I thank you, in advance of your support for our academy and its staff as we work with you and your child to keep them safe, happy and successful.

Ms MorawskaPrincipal

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PARENT VIEW

We would ask you to take part in a confidential online survey to check how you feel we are meeting the needs of your child at The Hastings Academy.

We are constantly striving to improve and would really welcome your participation in the important exercise. Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 things about the academy, which is designed to help us improve your child’s overall experience with us. Log onto: www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk or follow our link www.thehastingsacademy.org.uk/parents/linksThank you

Free Food, FREE ‘Magic Breakfast’ for ALL Children!We are very happy to invite your child to our fantastic free breakfast provision! A delicious, healthy breakfast is available every day, offering every child great fuel for learning from 8am.

Research has shown that children who have a healthy breakfast achieve more at school – make sure your child doesn’t miss out!

It is open to all children, and it’s totally free!You don’t need to register your child, they can just turn up on the day.

PARENTPAY - Trips and Food

ParentPay has been a great success and we are now using it more and more! Not only do we use it for payment of trips but also for free trips, after school activities, leavers’ hoodies, dance hoodies, surveys, prom tickets and school dinners.

If you have still not logged in to your account, it is a really simple process. Please email j.ryder@hasla.org.uk for your log in details.

You do not need to add your bank details if this is a concern to you. If you have an item to pay for, you can contact me on the above email address and I will issue you with a PayPoint bar code that you can use in local shops that display the PayPoint sign.

Can I remind parents that you will not receive confirmation of a free trip. This is only available on payable items where you will receive a receipt of payment.

If you have any queries regarding your child’s lunch account please contact j.comer@hasla.org.uk

Julie Ryder

Graduation Photos

Due to some technical issues with our email we experienced over the summer holidays we were unable to email all parents with their child’s graduation photo. The issue is now resolved and photos will be sent out during this term.

Open Evening - 10th October

We are holding our Open Evening on Thursday 10th October, and to enable our staff to prepare the academy we will be closing the school early at 1.40pm. We will also be starting late on Friday 11th and all students should be in school at 10am.

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Summer School 2019

Over 125 new Year 7’s and 30 brilliant student helpers attended the transition Summer School. The 5 teams the students chose to be in were, Team Sport, Team Cook, Team Forest, Team Create and Team Rock/Pop. Everyone also got to try different activities in the morning and then join their own team every afternoon and all day Friday. All students were offered a continental breakfast when they arrived and students in Team Cook prepared pastries everyday for the next day’s breakfast! Team Cook – Learnt how to bake bread, made fresh pasta, meatballs, pastries and all different cakes. They also understood the importance of food hygiene, nutritional balance and worked

towards an Italian Pizza celebration at the end of the week for their parents and carers. Team Rock/Pop – Wrote original songs and developed their musicianship and performance skills over the week and then performed a pop concert for parents and carers.

Team Forest – Had a wonderful outdoor experience in The Hastings Academy’s own woods. They made woodland bling, learnt how to light safe fires, played lots of woodland games

and were very lucky to see some very rare dormice. They also got to hang out with Honey the beautiful therapy dog. Team Sport – What a busy week they all had. Sports they all took part in included, trampolining, football, judo, dodgeball, catch the flag and the unusual and now very popular Danish Longball! Team Create – Funnily enough ‘created’ some incredible carnival banners for the Hastings Storytelling Festival. All in all it was a fabulous week, the sun shone, many new friendships were made and all students felt ready to start The Hastings Academy as a new Year 7.

The Hastings Academy Summer School Week 2019Delivered by The Eggtooth Project

“Do something you love and try something new”

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Rachel Plank - MathsI have been teaching Maths for 13 years and I have worked in many schools across the Hastings and Eastbourne areas. Having lived in Hastings and St Leonards for 35 years, I know the area and its challenges well, and many people remember my amazing Mum and the work she did as a headteacher at All Saints Junior school in Ore. She is my inspiration! I love teaching, and my main aim is always to encourage confidence in Maths, and for students to leave my lessons saying 'I enjoyed that and I learnt something'. Outside of school life I love to travel, particularly to Zimbabwe and South Africa, and I am passionate about wildlife. As an amateur photographer, the wildlife of Southern Africa is an amazing challenge, but I also love our native wildlife too. I am excited about working at The Hastings Academy and meeting as many of you as I can.

New Staff Introductions

Bianca Eichler - EnglishI graduated from University of Southampton in 2006 with a BA (Hons) in English. After a brief interlude in the legal profession I decided to become a teacher and worked as a cover supervisor at William Parker for 18 months. I qualified in 2011 with a PGCE from University of Bath and spent the first six years of my career teaching English, Media and Drama at Uplands Community College. I then began teaching at The Hastings Academy in January 2018. I have since worked as a supply teacher in the area and I am now working with the English team.

Rebecca Picton - ScienceI’m pleased to introduce myself, as the new science teacher at The Hastings Academy. My background is environmental science, so it’s great to share my passion with the next generation. At The Hastings Academy, I hope to lead by example, learning alongside my students so that we all enjoy success in this challenging subject. I’m enjoying the energy of the students and I’ve been supported by the best people.

Rose Bunn - ICT/BusinessI am pleased to introduce myself as the new IT/Business teacher. I am an identical twin and have five children including identical twin boys who play semi-professional football. I play and sing at my local church band and am a member of my local gym. I also love socialising with family and friends and going out for a curry!

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Renata Kurek - Teaching AssistantI am a new Teaching Assistant to The Hastings Academy as well as new to the area. I hope my previous experience of working with mixed ability students and my passion for my job will help the students enjoy working with me. I am very friendly and helpful to everyone who needs my support. My focus is to help students in The Hastings Academy to be happy, safe and enjoy their learning.

Georgia Simes - Science TechnicianI am really excited to be the new Science Technician here at The Hastings Academy. I enjoy a good nap, a cup of tea, true crime podcasts and watching a bit of ‘Bake Off.’ I’m certainly looking forward to getting to know everyone in the school and working in the amazing science department with all of its excellent staff!

Nevin Purcell - EnglishI have been an English teacher for 11 years. I initially taught TEFL and spent a year teaching in Cyprus. Most recently, I worked at TSLA. I have been living in Hastings on and off for 15 years and I love this seaside town. I really enjoy reading books in the sunshine and getting involved in all the local festivities.

Helen Rose - Art & PhotographyFollowing five years working in industry for the designer Paul Smith, I completed my PGCE training and began my teaching career in London. My family and I moved to Hastings in 2001, and I have taught in the local community ever since. After a term working at Hillcrest in a temporary post I secured a teaching post at Helenswood Academy where I have been teaching Art, Textiles and Photography for the past 17 years.

I am really looking forward to joining the Art department and The Hastings Academy team permanently in October.

Vicki Corr - Student Wellbeing & Pastoral OfficeI’m originally from Scotland but I have lived in Hastings for 18 years. I live with my husband and son, as well as our 3 cats. I have many hobbies and interests such as painting, cooking, reading and watching crime programmes. I make a mean chocolate cake and won the Bake Off when I worked at Sussex Coast College. I never learnt to drive a car but have ridden a motorbike since I was 17, so I guess that makes me a seasoned biker (although it’s not much fun riding in the winter!!!).

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Chelsea Palmer - Student Support & Behaviour LeadI have been working with challenging behaviour and mental health for 6 years. This is my first job in a school and I am really excited to be a part of The Hastings Academy. I live in the lovely village of Battle, and I really enjoy spending time in the countryside with my horses.

Anne Stanley - Academy Business ManagerI am absolutely delighted to be joining such a great team at The Hastings Academy. I’ve previously worked for Children’s Services at East Sussex County Council and in various School Business Management roles including Operations Manager at Ark Helenswood Academy. I have also worked as an Area Head of HR for Marks and Spencer and therefore have a strong commitment to employee welfare and relations. Everything I do as Academy Business Manager will be focussed on supporting you to support the students. I am determined not to be desk bound and to take an active role in all areas of the academy as required, so please feel free to grab me and say hello any time. If I am at my desk then my door is always open and I look forward to working with you all.

Marjorie Hedges - Alternative Provision & Personal Development ManagerMy professional career commenced in the Corporate world as a Human Resources Manager, this was after a period of time in the Armed Forces. I have spent the last 16 years in Africa establishing a non-profit company which provides work readiness training to unemployed youth. The Company is thriving but I missed the UK and am very happy to be home. I still provide voluntary leadership to my Company in Africa. My personal time is spent with my family, especially my grandchildren (who I spoil rotten).

Angela Russell - Student Support ManagerI am one of the new Student Support Managers at the academy and look forward to supporting and encouraging our students throughout the next academic year.

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GCSE Results

It is with great pride that The Hastings Academy can announce the receipt of its most successful set of results in the academy’s history. The results, which continue to validate and highlight the wholesale commitment of our staff, parents, carers and students to provide the opportunities for our students to thrive and achieve, in their studies, thus enabling them to secure the next phase in their learning. This dedication to our students has evidenced an improvement in outcomes, from last year, in our Grade 4+ English (increase to 64%) and Maths (increase to 61%), which as a combined figure has risen to 50%. An increase in outcomes has also been evidenced in 13 subjects, with some outstanding results in Photography, Drama, Business & Finance, BTEC Sport and Music, whilst our Triple Scientists achieved 100% for each discipline.

There are some significant individual student achievements and we rightly praise and applaud them and many congratulations are extended to Orson Coupland who achieved on average three grades above his predicted scores; Blair Hirst who achieved six grades nines and Richard Stone who achieved four grade nines.

In summary, these excellent results reflect the tremendous effort and determination of our students and staffs endeavour to strive for continued improvement and success and we are rightly proud of them. Ms Morawska

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IMPORTANT DATES

19.09.19 16:00-17:00 Year 10 Parent Consultation Evening26.09.19 16:00-17:00 Year 9 Parent Consultation Evening

October 03.10.19 16:00-17:00 Year 8 Parent Consultation Evening10.10.19 Early Closure 1:40pm Open Evening11.10.19 Late Start Students to be in school for 10:00am14.10.19 9.30am Open Morning15.10.19 9.30am Open Morning16.10.19 9.30am Open Morning17.10.19 9.30am Open Morning25.10.19 End of Term

Term 2 November 04.11.19 Start of Term 213.11.19 18:00 – 19:00 Parent Forum Meeting14.11.19 16:00-17:00 Year 7 Parent Consultation Evening27.11.19 TBC Awards Evening for Year 11 (Leavers 2019)

December 20.12.19 End of Term

Parent forum meetingsWe would like to welcome you to our Parent Forum Meetings. These are held once a term from 6pm until 7pm.

This is an informal meeting, over a cup of tea and biscuit, for parents to hear what is happening in the school and also a chance to bring their thoughts and ideas to the Forum.

If you would like to attached please email a.bourne@hasla.org.uk.

Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening Thursday 12th September

Our Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening, held on 12th September was another resounding success.Many thanks to every parent, carer and student who attended, this most important of meetings. We had an 85% attendance, and where parents/carers were unable to attend our diligent Year 11s attended independently to discuss their learning with staff. Feedback from our parents/carers was very positive, especially about the depth of detail and care our staff presented about their child. We have our Year 10s on 19th September and each year group thereafter.We do hope that the attendance is just as positive, for every meeting betrween staff, students and parents/carers which does help to make a difference to the outcomes.

Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening

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Energise South Community

Year 9 students working in dt and food

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Teacher Training Inset days

In preparation for the new academy year our teachers and support staff were all engaged in various training activities on September 2nd, 3rd and 4th alongside colleagues from The St Leonards Academy and The Burgess Hill Academy. This will strengthen our collaborative work within the Trust and strengthen teaching and learning in the classroom.