Year 10 students showcased their culinary skills in a scotch egg practical assessment, making their own mincemeat, shaping, breadcrumbing, and presenting their creations.
The activity focused on key techniques like seasoning, binding, and presentation, with students impressing teachers with their creativity and precision.
The assessment highlighted the students' progress, leaving teachers excited for their next creation!
On Tuesday, the Academy hosted the first regional Lighthouse Schools Partnership Vocabulary Competition final, an exciting event designed to test the word knowledge of our students to the max, with three winning prizes up for grabs.
With fifteen students from the Academy, Gordano and Chew Valley School, the students gathered ready to be tested on words such as ‘conjecture’, ‘carburettor’, ‘implacable’ and ‘incongruous’, having to identify the definitions and opposing meanings (antonyms) of each word at lightning speeds.
Ailidh put in a very respectable performance representing the Academy, securing 7th place in the competition final. Kate and Edward also represented the Academy and performed very well.
A huge congratulations to Gordano School who managed to secure two of the three winning spots with their students Alex (1st) and Bethan (3rd) and Jacoby from Chew Valley School taking 2nd place.
It was a truly inspiring event and fantastic to see so many students interested in the power of words!
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Families of students in Years 10 to 13 are invited to an Apprenticeship Twilight Talk online via Microsoft Teams from 6–7pm on Tuesday 4th February.
This event is designed to help students and families understand apprenticeships as a Post-16 or Post-18 option ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (w/c 10th February).
The session will provide an introduction to apprenticeships, including:
What apprenticeships are and how they work.
Guidance on securing an apprenticeship, which is not a course but a job that requires applying for vacancies and navigating a recruitment process.
The talk will be led by Suzie McGonigal, Careers Adviser, with a guest presentation by Emma Cox, Chair of the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and UK Talent Lead – Early Careers at Müller.
How to Join:
No registration is required. Simply follow the Microsoft Teams link below at 6pm on the day to join the session.
Join here: Click here to join the MS Teams meeting
Beth Linham, a former Academy student, recently shared her Philosophy research journey, captivating students with discussions on near-death experiences, delusions, and the intriguing themes she’s exploring in her studies. The session was highly engaging, sparking plenty of questions and curiosity.
Beth's academic journey has been nothing short of inspiring. She began her studies at the University of Bristol (2020-2023), where she pursued Philosophy and Theology. Beth showcased her expertise during her final year by presenting her dissertation at Bristol’s prestigious Humanities Conference.
Building on her undergraduate success, Beth completed her Master’s degree at the University of Exeter in October 2024, focusing on mental health and psychopathology. Her passion and dedication were further recognised in September 2024 when she was offered an unconditional place for PhD study at Exeter on a fully-funded PhD scholarship.
We are excited to follow Beth’s next steps as she continues her groundbreaking research into delusions. Thank you for visiting us and speaking with our students.
The Year 11 boys travelled to Ralph Allen School in Bath this week for their County Cup match and came away with a hard-earned victory.
Holding a narrow 20-17 lead as half-time approached, the Academy produced a moment of magic to shift the momentum in their favour. Breaking from deep inside their own half, the team moved the ball through the hands and scored under the posts. The try was successfully converted, extending their lead to 27-17 and providing a crucial boost just before the break.
In the second half, the Academy turned up the intensity. They pulled clear of their opponents, adding an impressive five more tries to the scoreboard. At the final whistle, the boys had secured an emphatic 56-17 victory.
The team now awaits news of their semi-final opponents. With their current form and determination, we know they can be a match for anyone when playing at their best.
Stay tuned for updates as the team continues their County Cup journey!
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We are excited to launch the 2025 Activities Week programme. Activities Week takes place from the 7th-11th July 2025 for our students in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Activities Week is one of the cornerstones of our Personal Development Curriculum for students in Years 7-9. It allows us to introduce the students to a wide range of extracurricular activities. Each year, we provide a programme of opportunities that stretch and challenge our students, promote the development of individual and interpersonal skills, and help shape broader world attitudes and understanding.
Many of the activities are free, and where there is a cost involved, we have done what we can to keep this as low as possible.
For complete details on the exciting opportunities available to your child during Activities Week, visit our dedicated landing page here.
Match Report – Tuesday 14th January
Clevedon 1, Churchill 5
The Academy Chess Club dominated Clevedon in the Southwest Regional Quarter Final of the National Chess Knockout competition, securing an impressive 5-1 victory. The team— Gigi, Tom, Bryn, Adam, Isaac and Edward —delivered a stellar performance.
Bryn, Adam, Isaac, and Edward all showcased their skill with excellent games, while Gigi and Tom demonstrated their class on the top two boards, outplaying Clevedon’s strongest players. This win propels Academy into the semi-final, scheduled for February, with the draw yet to be announced.
Our next challenge is a four-board tournament at Bristol Grammar on Monday 27th January. With 50 teams entered, the Academy is fielding three teams—stay tuned for a full report on how they perform!
For those inspired by the team’s success, Chess Club runs every Tuesday lunchtime in W6, led by Mr. Skeen. All players are welcome to come along and improve their game.
Frankie has continuously shown a true passion for dance, making the most of every opportunity offered to her this year. She always impresses us with her strong work ethic, enthusiasm and high level of dance skills.
Frankie has begun her BTEC course, providing a high standard of work so far - we cannot wait to see what she can achieve. Well done Frankie!
Our Year 9 students took a significant step toward their futures this week as part of our annual Careers to Curriculum Day. Designed to help Year 9 students prepare for their upcoming GCSE choices, the day offered a hands-on look at various career options and pathways.
With nine career pathways to choose from, students had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of career choices. Each pathway was packed with engaging activities to give students a taste of the possibilities ahead.
Students who chose creative pathways tried their hand at journalism, fashion design, and media marketing, while others explored trades by plumbing a sink and learning how a bike is constructed and how to maintain it—learning valuable life skills.
The digital technology pathway allowed students to dive into game testing and code-cracking. Those passionate about environmental roles, travel, and tourism tackled conservation challenges and disaster management.
In the healthcare-focused pathway, students explored NHS careers, practised dentistry and midwifery, and debated real-world medical ethics. Meanwhile, the social sciences pathway introduced students to criminology, sociology, and political campaigning, even simulating a courtroom session.
The day also featured a special visit from Matt Lord, Regional Executive Chef for Compass Catering, as well as Chef Ashley from a Michelin Starred restaurant. Students attending Chef Matt Lord’s workshop with Compass, who provided all the ingredients, made a pizzetta and chose their own fillings from pepperoni, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil. The session with Chef Ashley involved an insight into what working in a Michelin-starred restaurant is really like (very different to the TV portrayal!), as well as lots of practical advice about pathways into a huge range of different chefing careers. Students then tried their hand at food marketing, creating social media campaigns to sell pancake stacks (which they all enjoyed feasting on afterwards!). Chef Matt Lord gave great pathway insight into the catering world and all the opportunities the catering profession provides. The workshops were an invaluable opportunity for the students, who left feeling more inspired.
The day allowed musical students to explore music theatre and technology, experimenting with roles as directors, producers, and performers while producing their own music.
We hope our students left the day inspired and informed, better understanding the exciting possibilities ahead. A huge thank you goes to Matt Lord, Compass Catering and everyone who contributed to making the day such a valuable experience.
This week in Food Technology, our Year 10 students showcased their culinary skills by making profiteroles and chocolate éclairs.
From crafting perfectly piped choux pastry to mastering the art of filling and decorating, the students demonstrated both creativity and technical skills. The results were incredibly impressive and we are sure they were equally as delicious!
Well done to Year 10 for their hard work and enthusiasm in the kitchen. We’re excited to see what they’ll create next!
Cerys has reached an incredible milestone by earning her Gold Award in Guides, the highest honour a Guide can achieve. Through dedication and hard work, she completed all six theme awards, showcasing her commitment and determination.
As she moves forward, Cerys is embarking on new adventures with Rangers while stepping into a leadership role as a young leader with Brownies. Congratulations to Cerys on this outstanding achievement and best wishes for her exciting future in Guiding!
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This week’s dance star is Cecelia, she is always conscientious and motivated in every lesson and continually impresses us with her determination to succeed.
Cecelia makes the most of every opportunity offered to her and has a bright future ahead of her. Well done!