Academy News

One of our talented Year 7 students has firmly placed himself on our “one to watch” list. Jacob recently starred in The Christmas Schooner with the Winterbourne Musical Theatre Group, performed at the Winterbourne Community and District Association Theatre (WADCA Bristol) from the 26th to 29th of November. The show played to full houses throughout its run and earned glowing reviews.

The Academy couldn’t be prouder of Jacob’s impressive performances, and we’re excited to see where his growing talent takes him next.

Jacob’s director also shared a review praising his standout role. Take a look below!

“The Christmas Schooner” is based on the true story of a family who owned one of the Schooner boats that were used to transport Christmas trees across Lake Michigan to poor families in Chicago during the late 19th century, in order to maintain Christmas tradition and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Jacob played one of the leading roles in the production, that of Karl Stossel the 12 year old son, a character central to the story. The role involved solo singing and duets with the actors playing Karl’s mother Alma and grandfather Gustav. There was significant comedy dialogue, and also some dramatic and reflective acting scenes. Jacob came up trumps in all scenes, learning his dialogue and singing lines in exceptionally quick time, and held his own working with a large cast of experienced adult actors, delivering an excellent and consistent performance across the week. Jacob received a huge ovation from audiences every night, which was very well deserved.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Churchill Academy & Sixth Form for the quality and professional attitude of your students, and the support given by their families. I look forward to more collaborations for our next production of “Kipps” in May 26.

• Maggie Williams

Lacey has been working extremely hard in her Street Dance lessons, demonstrating a high level of skill and enthusiasm. 

The Dance department looks forward to seeing what Lacey continues to achieve as she progresses in her Dance journey.

Our inter-house vocabulary competition came to a close this week, as we saw eight students battle it out in the grand final to be crowned the Vocabulary House Champion 2025. 

The finalists had already progressed through two rigorous rounds, with the whole school participating during tutor time. It was great to see the effort all of our students put into the competition this year. 

During the final, our students were put through their paces with definitions being sought of words ranging from 'exuberant' to 'facetious', giving us a thrilling final round. 

Big congratulations to our three winners:

1st Place: Joey (Year 9)

2nd Place: Eden (Year 8)

3rd Place: Sophie (Year 10)

We would also like to thank the entire English department for organising a competition that promotes the importance of developing young people's vocabulary, something we care very much about at the Academy. 

Mrs Chadwick and her tutor group have been getting into the festive spirit with some Christmas crafts during tutor time. 

One of her tutees, Holly, gave the group a masterclass on Christmas Gonks to display in their Christmas window, and even provided materials for the tutor group's creations. 

It is fantastic to see our students getting creative and spreading festive cheer!

This year’s Churchill Academy & Sixth Form Christmas Concerts were nothing short of magical. From the moment families and guests arrived at the Academy, transformed with twinkling lights, Christmas trees, snow-kissed decorations, and even a cheerful visit from Santa, the stage was set for an evening that truly captured the spirit of the season.

The warmth and excitement in the room were unmistakable as our student hosts welcomed everyone with humour, festive sparkle, and an infectious energy that carried throughout the entire evening. What followed was a joyful celebration of the arts, showcasing the incredible dedication, teamwork, and talent of our students across Music and Performing Arts.

Although the two nights featured a wide variety of ensembles and performers, what stood out above all was the shared sense of community. 

From the youngest performers to the most seasoned musicians, students supported one another beautifully, cheering each other on, celebrating every moment, and filling the space with genuine camaraderie. As harmonies soared, instruments shone, and the smiles of performers lit up the stage brighter than the fairy lights behind them, the audience was treated to a wonderful reminder of the power of young people working together.

The Academy itself added to the festive atmosphere, adorned with beautifully crafted decorations, festive treats and even a light sprinkle of snow. Parents, carers, families, and members of our local community filled the hall, their applause and encouragement creating a feeling of togetherness that made the evening truly special.

One of the night’s most heart-warming moments came when the audience was invited to join in singing with our brilliant Junior Choirs, a joyful reminder that Christmas is about connection. Voices of all ages blended together, filling the hall with warmth, nostalgia, and festive cheer.

As the concerts drew to a close, our hosts shared heartfelt thanks to the Music Department, the Performing Arts Faculty, our dedicated staff team, and the wider community whose enthusiasm and support make events like this possible. Their gratitude, however, was loudest when directed to the students themselves, whose commitment and creativity brought the entire evening to life.

With snow still drifting and Santa waving his final goodbyes, the night ended exactly as it began - with laughter, music, and a shared celebration of everything that makes Churchill such a vibrant and special place.

From all of us at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form:

Merry Christmas, and thank you for helping us make this concert a wonderful celebration of our community.

On Thursday evening, Churchill Dance students took to the stage to celebrate their hard work over the past few months. The Years 10, 11 and 12 BTEC Dance students showcased their coursework pieces to a packed audience. They recreated professional repertoire such as 'Revelations' by Alvin Ailey and 'Dust' By Akram Khan, as well as performing work they had choreographed themselves, showing originality and creativity alongside their impressive technical skills.

Our fantastic Year 7 and 8 Dance clubs brought a sense of joy and fun with their upbeat performances, and our Year 9 Dance Company stunned the audience with a creative, thought-provoking piece.

A huge congratulations to all students involved; you all made the Dance Department very proud.