Academy News

The weather held out, albeit a little on the frosty side, so we were back to a very busy week in sports at the Academy. Here’s how we got on:

Netball 

Our KS5 girls team competed in a tournament this week. It was a closely fought match, and the girls put in a stellar performance, but the other team claimed the win. Not defeated by the loss, the girls have turned their focus to improving their netball drills for the next tournament! 

The Year 8 North Somerset Netball tournament provided a platform for our talented young netballers to showcase their skills and teamwork. Both the purple and green teams demonstrated significant improvement throughout the season, culminating in a strong performance at the tournament.

The purple team secured a commendable third-place finish in their pool, while the green team exhibited remarkable growth and development as a cohesive unit. The team's dedication and hard work were evident in every match, and their positive attitude was inspiring.

Football 

Year 8 progressed in the Somerset Cup tournament this week, securing a solid 5-2 victory against St Katherine’s School!

Year 11 boys were involved in an end-to-end football cup tie this week, losing out 3-2 to Oldfield in a close run game. Congratulations to Will, who was named Player of the Match!

Our Year 7 Windsor students gathered this week to share some of the work they are most proud of since joining the Academy. 

Students brought along sturdy bird boxes, challenging algebra work, colourful artwork, creative writing and more. We had lots of fabulous work on display for us all to see! 

It was great to hear the students talking about the work they had created. It goes to show that hard work does pay off. Well done, Windsor! 

Our Christmas Concert was a resounding success, wowing the packed audience at The Playhouse. The students brought energy, humour and their high level of musicianship for all to share and kick start our Christmas preparations.

Orchestra grabbed our attention immediately as they opened the concert with Tchaikovsky’s Trepak from The Nutcracker and a Christmas Medley, superbly arranged by Toby.  

Concert Band enthralled us with their energetic playing throughout The Incredibles (Giacchino), and clearly also enjoyed the Guns ‘n’ Roses classic Welcome to the Jungle.

This year’s Junior Young Musician winner and runner-up, Joey and Senuli, showed off their musical prowess, captivating the audience with their huge musical talent.

The KS3 Choir performed ABBA’s I Have a Dream before introducing us to an unknown but enticing song written by Britain’s most successful singer/songwriter, Gary Barlow, entitled Don’t Know What I’m Looking For. The Senior Choir were exquisite in their performance of What I Was Made For, from the movie Barbie, by Billie Eilish and Happy Together. 

Brass Group, String Group and our Woodwind Group both delighted us with some classic film scores, pop songs, show songs and Christmas tunes before we were treated to a sneak preview of the forthcoming production of We Will Rock You.

The second half of the programme opened with some classic songs performed by our brilliant Soul Band, including Mr Big Stuff, before our Guitar Group rocked the place with an AC/DC Medley and Van Halen’s Jump - this group is a fantastic addition to the huge range of ensembles at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form and is very much open to new members, as indeed are all of our groups. 

The final item was our now infamous Junior Choir. This choir of Year 7 and

8 students told the Christmas story in their own way, singing songs which they had themselves composed. The massed choir of around 200 students is always a spine tingling moment and most definitely one of the highlights of the whole school year. Simply put, it was a stunning conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

We are incredibly proud of all of our students who performed and expect great things from them in the future, particularly in the music and performing arts fields. Congratulations to all of our performers.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our audience for their unwavering support and appreciation of the arts. We firmly believe that events like these have the power to bring our community together and inspire a love for music and performing arts.

We eagerly anticipate seeing everyone again next year!

One of our Year 11 students, Tommy, recently wrote to Sir David Attenborough regarding his interest in dolphin behaviours, particularly their treatment of other animals. He enquired whether a documentary on dolphins' aggressive nature has been made or if it is likely to become the subject of an upcoming documentary. 

Sir David responded in a wonderful handwritten letter to Tommy informing him that he had not ever made a documentary on this topic, noting that at the grand age of 98, he isn't likely to be going underwater swimming anytime soon either! 

It was such a special moment for Tommy to receive this letter and we’re so grateful to Sir David for taking the time to respond. 

Take a read of both Tommy’s and Sir David’s letters below.

On Friday during break time, Windsor House Council held a charity bake sale. Windsor students enthusiastically took to their kitchens to whip up an array of delicious treats, including brownies, flapjacks, biscuits, cakes, and more. The sheer enthusiasm and effort of the students impressed everyone.

The bake sale was in support of Joseph's Smile, a charity that holds special meaning for one of our Windsor students. Joseph's Smile helps children access life-saving or life-changing medical treatment or equipment not currently provided by the NHS.

Students showed their support not only through baking but also by indulging in the incredible variety of goods, contributing to a remarkable total of £184.39! This outstanding achievement showcases the generosity and spirit of all of our students! 

Congratulations to Windsor House on this fantastic event! 

For more information about Joseph's Smile and the vital work they do, click here: https://josephssmile.org/