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Churchill Academy & Sixth Form

Academy News

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  • Our Annual Spring Concert 2026 Review

    Published 02/04/26

    The Spring Concert last night was a vibrant celebration of the Academy’s musical talent, bringing together an eclectic mix of styles and genres, highlighting the huge variety of music making that goes on at the Academy.

    The evening opened with the orchestra delivering a powerful performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, followed by one of Brahms’ lively Hungarian Dances. These well-loved classics set an impressive tone and highlighted the ensemble’s skill and energy.

    The concert then offered a special opportunity to hear some of our outstanding young soloists. Luna captivated the audience with a beautifully expressive performance of Debussy, creating a moment of stillness in the hall. Ella brought humour and charm to a Mozart aria, sung confidently in Italian, while Jamie demonstrated the versatility of the tenor horn with a performance that was both engaging and accomplished.

    In contrast, the second half shifted towards rock and pop, reflecting the academy’s modern musical influences. Year 11 band “Yunk” delivered a spirited rendition of Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis, while the Year 13 Performing Arts class impressed with a lively extract from the musical Mean Girls.

    The evening concluded on a high note, with Soul Band and orchestra joining forces for a dynamic arrangement of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic What’s Going On. It was a fitting finale that left the audience uplifted and sent everyone into the Easter holidays on a truly memorable note.

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  • Easter Egg Competition Celebrates Creativity and Meaning

    Published 02/04/26

    This year’s Easter Egg Competition was a fantastic showcase of creativity, with students producing incredible designs centred on the powerful themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and atonement. The effort and thought put into each entry made it truly inspiring to see such a wide range of ideas and artistic expression.

    Judging the competition was not easy, as there were so many impressive submissions. 

    Taking first place was Sophia, whose design stood out for its originality and impact. In joint second place were Lottie and Joseph, both of whom created thoughtful and beautifully executed pieces. Third place was awarded to Elvie and Holly for their creative and meaningful designs.

    Congratulations to all of our winners, and well done to everyone who took part. The competition was a wonderful celebration of talent, creativity, and reflection.

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  • Our Dance Star of the Week is Holly

    Published 02/04/26

    Holly is a valued member of the Year 7 Dance Club. She puts her full effort into every lesson and always has a smile on her face. Well done Holly!

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  • Rising Athletics Star: Olive

    Published 02/04/26

    Olive has been named Female Athlete of the Year for the U17 team at North Somerset Athletics Club, in recognition of her outstanding cross-country season. Throughout the year, she demonstrated remarkable consistency, determination and resilience, delivering strong performances across a range of competitions. 

    This well deserved award highlights not only her success over the season but also her dedication and promising future in sport. Well done Olive!

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  • Academy Sports Rundown: 2nd April 2026

    Published 02/04/26

    It’s been an exciting week of sports; ITV News even made an appearance at the Academy. Read below to see how we got on: 

    Year 7 Progress to the Hockey Tournament Finals

    Our Year 7 Hockey team had an unbelievable afternoon of Hockey, playing in this week’s round of the local Hockey Tournament.  The team brought home a well earned victory and secured a spot in the finals. Good luck! 

    Year 9 Host the Girls Football Tournament

    The Academy was proud to host the Girls Football tournament this week which saw seven schools (90 students!) come together for an afternoon of football in the sunshine.  We had great participation from our non club players, as well as our regular football team. The Academy didn’t bring home the win, but it was a fantastic afternoon nonetheless!

    The Joys of State School Cricket: ITV News

    We were proud to be filmed this week for an upcoming piece by ITV on state school Cricket teams. Our U15 & U13 girls & boys squads were both filmed for the piece, giving all the students a chance to showcase their Cricket skills. 

    It was a great morning and we can’t wait to see the results on ITV soon!

    U15 IPL Cricket Success 

    Our U15 Boys Cricket team recently got a chance to play at the Centre of Excellence and they brought home the win too.  Well done! 

     

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  • Year 9: Dream Job Competition Winners

    Published 02/04/26

    Our Year 9 students entered the Dream Job competition, which involved finding out about different careers and the roles, responsibilities, qualifications and skills needed for them. They then had to create a job advert for their dream career! 

    Entries were creative, colourful and wide-ranging. We were pleased to see that the BBC Bitesize visit earlier this year, which included an interview with Bristol Airport, has inspired some students to dream about careers in the aviation sector. Others are dreaming of taking an apprenticeship pathway to their favourite career. 

    It was a hard decision, but our Careers Adviser, Ms McGonigal, felt the following winners pipped the others to the post. Prizes included Amazon vouchers and chocolates! 

    1st place - Chace - Veterinary Surgeon

    Eye-catching design, obvious passion for the subject and demonstrates deeper research, above and beyond the brief.

    2nd place - Tansy - Textile Designer

    Beautiful artwork that relates directly to the career, with a simple but effective design.

    3rd - Charlie - Airline Pilot

    Great design idea to make the airline pilot advert into a giant boarding pass, complete with company logo and barcode!

    4th Place - Amelie - Police Officer 

    Excellent level of detail with a great focus on the character traits required.

    5th Place  - James - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

    Fantastic drawing of an aeroplane with labelled parts relevant to the job.

     

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  • Year 12 Students Day at the HE+ Conference

    Published 02/04/26

    Thirteen of our Year 12 students attended the HE+ conference at Kings of Wessex Academy last Wednesday, taking part in the prestigious programme designed to support applicants aiming for highly competitive university courses. The HE+ scheme, run by Cambridge University, helps students develop the skills and confidence needed for success in applications to top institutions. 

    As part of the conference, students presented posters they had prepared in advance, delivering their ideas in small group settings. This activity allowed them to build their presentation skills while engaging in academic discussion with peers. In addition, they participated in a workshop focused on strengthening university applications and preparing for potential entrance exams they may encounter.

    The programme will continue with a residential course at Cambridge University in July, offering students a valuable opportunity to further immerse themselves in academic life and preparation for higher education.

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  • Windsor House Ends Term 4 with Successful Charity Bake Sale

    Published 02/04/26

    Windsor House council brought Term 4 to a close with a fantastic bake sale, combining delicious treats with a meaningful cause. Throughout the week, students dedicated their time to baking and preparing a wide variety of goodies, ready to share with the Academy. 

    From cakes to biscuits, the selection proved to be a hit, with many praising both the quality and variety on offer.

    More importantly, the bake sale supported a worthy cause. Windsor House has chosen to support the Alzheimer’s Society this year, and the event successfully raised an impressive £120.19 for the charity.

    Well done to everyone involved for their hard work and generosity!

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  • Level 3 Food Science Students Visit Yeo Valley

    Published 02/04/26

    On 26th March, our Level 3 Food Science students had the opportunity to visit Yeo Valley for a highly informative and engaging trip. The visit provided valuable insight into the role of microorganisms in food production, with a particular focus on products such as yoghurt and kefir.

    During the tour, students explored the processes involved in manufacturing food products, including key considerations around hygiene, safety and risk assessment. They were able to observe real-world applications of concepts studied in the classroom, deepening their understanding of large scale food production.

    An important aspect of the visit was experiencing industry-standard safety procedures firsthand. Students were required to wear two different sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering specific areas of the factory, highlighting the strict protocols followed to maintain product safety and quality.

    We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Emer Keene and the team at Yeo Valley for organising and delivering such an insightful experience. Their time and expertise provided students with a valuable perspective on the food industry.

    The knowledge gained from this trip will play an important role in supporting students as they prepare for the externally assessed Unit 2 component of their course.

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  • Rising Rowing Star Amy Shines for City of Bristol Rowing Club

    Published 27/03/26

    Amy continues to make waves at the City of Bristol Rowing Club. She recently competed in the world’s largest women’s rowing event, taking on the iconic Boat Race course alongside Olympians!

    Amy’s squad has qualified for the regional finals next month, representing Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucester, Somerset, and Wales at national level. They are also expected to compete at the British Championships for the third consecutive year, cementing their reputation as one of the country’s top crews. 

    We are wishing you the best of luck in both competitions, well done Amy!

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  • Our Dance Star of the Week is Scarlett

    Published 27/03/26

    Scarlett is an exemplary member of our Year 10 BTEC Dance class. She works extremely hard in each and every lesson, asking for feedback regularly to ensure she reaches her potential.

    Scarlett is always positive and enthusiastic, a pleasure to teach. Well done!

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  • Sixth Form Students Shine at LSP University Challenge

    Published 26/03/26

    A huge well done to our Sixth Form students who showcased their wit and academic flair at the LSP University Challenge hosted by Backwell School.

    Competing against teams from across the Trust, they tackled questions ranging from particle physics to classical literature, demonstrating impressive quick thinking and teamwork under pressure.

    It was a great afternoon for all, well done!

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