I love the summer term – it’s a time when the Academy community really comes together to celebrate what we have here at Churchill. We’ve seen that over recent weeks with our Sports Day, the Year 11 and Year 13 Balls, and the Music Festival which ran on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. At the same time, we look forward to the future as we begin the process of thinking about succession into the new academic year.

New Leaders

Academy House Captains 2018

It’s been my privilege over the last week to begin to work with the new House Captains for 2018-19. These students were selected by Heads of House from the mound of strong applications received. The House Captains have a vital role within their house, supporting the Heads of House in ensuring things run smoothly and that students are well looked after. Together, the House Captains also form the Student Leadership Team at the Academy, and will meet regularly with me in dialogue about the progress the Academy is making, things that are going well and things that we can improve. This year’s House Captains have made an excellent start, ensuring that Sports Day was the huge success it was, and running our transition events for the new Year 7 with kindness, care and calm. I look forward to the year ahead with these students.

New Year 7

This week we have had two days with the new Year 7 who start in September 2018. The Transition Day on Tuesday saw our new intake work really hard to demonstrate the Academy’s values of kindness, curiosity and determination. They impressed the staff, and the other students, with their approach to their learning and their life at Churchill. I have a very good feeling about this year group, and I am sure they will be an asset to the Academy as they join us in September.

New Sixth Formers

Our Sixth Formers enjoying the summer sunshine

On Thursday we had our induction day for our new Sixth Form students. Many of  our own Year 11 were joined by a strong group of students who have applied to join us from other schools. Students spend the day with us on an orientation programme, having initial lessons in each of their chosen subjects and learning about the expectations, people and processes of the Sixth Form. Again, the students impressed us with their “ready to learn” attitude and Mr Morgan and his team are really looking forward to welcoming them into the Sixth Form.

New Staff

It’s also been fantastic over recent weeks to welcome new staff to the Academy – some who have already started and more who will be joining us in September. We have new teachers in English, Maths, PE, Science, Geography, and History starting next year. Although we are in the midst of a well-publicised shortage of teachers nationally, I’ve been really impressed by the calibre of teaching staff applicants to join our team. I am proud to confirm Churchill is fully staffed with expert subject specialists in every department for September, and I look forward to the future with great excitement about what we can accomplish together.