Academy News

Five students from the Academy have joined ten local peers to take part in the prestigious Junior Chef Academy programme with Compass Catering at Bristol City College. Over the next 10 weeks, they will immerse themselves in professional culinary training, culminating in a special graduation event at MOD Abbeywood in early December.

As part of the final celebration, the students will prepare a banquet for stakeholders, industry experts, and their families, providing a perfect setting to showcase their newly developed skills.

The Academy’s representatives have already made a strong impression. Acting as outstanding ambassadors for Churchill, the five students demonstrated exceptional respect, professionalism and enthusiasm in the kitchen. Chef Matt Lord of Compass Catering praised their high culinary standards, noting the talent they have brought to the course.

The programme is off to a fantastic start and we look forward to seeing how the students continue to grow and shine over the coming weeks.

This week, our Year 7 students were visited by children's author Alastair Chisholm. Alastair is currently touring schools in Bristol and North Somerset to promote the importance of reading amongst young people.  

As a writer of science fiction stories, Alastair discussed his fascination with unusual inventions and how the most important inventions are the art of storytelling, with their power to change the world. 

Alastair discussed the importance of reading, immersing oneself in a different world, and using that to gain new perspectives, experiences, and ideas. He set our Year 7 students three great missions to take forward: 

1. Read lots of Sci-Fi

2. Find problems to solve

3. Create your own stories 

Alastair is known for his books 'I am Wolf', 'The Consequence Girl' and his 'Dragon Storm' series. His latest book 'Reek' has already won six awards! 

We would like to extend a massive thank you to Alastair for visiting the Academy. It was a fantastic experience and we can't wait to read more of his stories in the future!

It was a busy week for sport at the Academy as we saw plenty of Netball, Football and Rugby take place. Read how we got on below:

Year 7 & 8 Netball finished the week against Priory 

Our Year 7 and 8 Netball teams took an opportunity to play against Priory last Friday, putting into practice all the skills they have been learning at their Netball Club. The team is looking great and we can’t wait to see how they get on in an upcoming tournament at the beginning of December. 

U14 Football Win Cup Game on Penalties

Our latest U14 Football Cup game came down to the wire this week. Their game started off a struggle, sixty minutes in our Year 9 students were tied 1-1 with Holyrood School. Churchill was dominating possession but began to struggle in the final third however they managed to hold off Holyrood’s strong team to take the game to penalties.  

In a thrilling penalty shoot-out, our Year 9 boys took home the victory after Lucas scored the winning shot, finishing the game 4-3 to Churchill. Congratulations to every student who played in the cup, it’s been an excellent cup run!

Victory for our Year 8 Netball Team

Following their games against Priory last week, our Year 7 and 8 Netball teams returned this week to play Backwell School. Our Year 7 students put in a great performance, continuing to refine their netball skills for the upcoming tournament. The Player of the Match award was given to Elvie for her incredible progress. 

Our Year 8 team played a fantastic game, coming away victorious with a final score of 14-8. The Player of the Match award was given to Jess for her outstanding performance throughout the game. 

Well done everybody!

Isabelle's confidence and enthusiasm shine through in every dance lesson and rehearsal. She always gives 100% effort and demonstrates a consistent desire to make progress. 

It is clear to see that Isabelle loves performing and her passion for Performing Arts makes her a pleasure to teach. Well done!

Christmas came early at the Academy this year as students and staff got involved in our Christmas Shoebox drive. Together, students wrapped, sorted, and collected gifts, filling 55 shoeboxes to bring joy to children living in poverty.

This year, the Academy is supporting two fantastic charities, Blythswood Care and Samaritan’s Purse, both of which provide vital support to families in need.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed. Your generosity has helped make the festive season brighter for many children and families.

Congratulations to our talented Year 10 Geographers who represented the Academy at the Geographical Association Worldwide Quiz, held at Bristol University on Wednesday.

Competing against 15 other schools from across the Bristol area, our two teams placed 9th and 14th, demonstrating impressive geographical knowledge and teamwork throughout the evening.

Both teams were fantastic ambassadors for the school, showcasing their enthusiasm and passion for geography. Well done to everyone involved, a brilliant achievement!