Academy News

The highly anticipated M Stars Musical Theatre Competition is back, bringing together talented students of all ages as they compete for the title of ‘Superstar’ through song, dance, acting and instrumental performances.

Following a rigorous audition process, the final lineup has been announced, and excitement is building for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of entertainment.

The event will take place on 27th March at 7 pm in the Academy Hall, with tickets priced at £8. Early booking is recommended to secure your chosen seats as seating is allocated.

All proceeds will go towards the Academy’s upcoming production of Legally Blonde The Musical, set to hit the stage at the Playhouse Theatre in February 2026. Attendees can also enjoy refreshments, with contactless and card payments available.

Don’t miss this incredible talent showcase while supporting the arts in our Academy!

Tickets are available via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/m-stars-2025-tickets-1260942646399?aff=SocialMedia

Year 13 students have been delving into microbiology as they prepare for their upcoming Unit 2 Exam in May. This week, they had the privilege of learning from Mark Hichens CBiol, MSB, MSc, director of Curam Medical and an experienced microbiologist, who brought the subject to life through engaging lessons.

Mr Hichens led two sessions focusing on pathogens, food poisoning and the development of risk assessments. Drawing from real-world case studies, he provided students with a comprehensive understanding of how risk assessments are conducted in professional settings.

Students are now better equipped for their exams with these valuable insights and resources. A huge thank you to Mr Hichens for his time and effort in enriching this learning experience.

Over half-term, 51 of our students embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. After a marathon 22-hour coach journey to Sestriere, Italy, they arrived at breathtaking views of endless white slopes and clear blue skies.

Despite the cold temperatures, the sun was shining all week creating perfect conditions for skiing. Students were divided into five groups based on their experience, ranging from complete beginners to expert skiers. Regardless of their starting level, everyone made remarkable progress, gaining confidence and skills while making unforgettable memories in the mountains.

We couldn’t have asked for a better week—our students represented the Academy with pride, and we know the friendships and experiences they shared will stay with them for a lifetime.

Our next Ski Trip will take place in 2027 and will launch this October—stay tuned for more details!

This week saw a showdown between the Academy and Clevedon School across Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 in Hockey and Netball, and the Year 10 Football team faced Westfield in the Football Cup. Here’s how they got on: 

Year 7, 8 and 9 Hockey spent a sunny afternoon taking on Clevedon School

Our Year 7, 8, and 9 Hockey teams kicked off the term with an exciting afternoon of fixtures against Clevedon School. All three matches were thrilling, with both schools showing great skill and determination. 

Year 7 claimed an impressive 7-0 victory, while Year 8 fought hard but narrowly lost 1-0. Year 9 brought the Academy back with a strong 3-0 win. 

It was a fantastic afternoon in the sunshine—well done to all our teams!

Year 10 showcased their Netball skills against Clevedon School

Our Year 10 Netball team kicked off Term 4 with a match against Clevedon School. They put in a fantastic effort, demonstrating their growth since the start of the year. Despite their determination, Clevedon's strong team secured the victory. Congratulations to Frankie, who was awarded Player of the Match! 

Year 10 face off with Westfield in Football Cup 

This week, our Year 10 Football team faced Westfield School in the Football Cup. It was a great game, with both teams showcasing their impressive football skills. Goals were aplenty as each team battled to go through to the next round. 

Westfield took the edge in the final few minutes, ending the game with a final score of 4-3. Well done to all our players, it was a close game and you should be proud of your performance! 

This week, Team PE recognised the students who stood out the most during Term 3 during their Student of the Term presentation. They celebrated the development, determination, and enthusiasm shown in PE lessons.  

Seeing so many students acknowledged for their hard work was fantastic, and we congratulate everyone who received an award. Well done! 

Check out the complete list of award winners below!

Year 7: Charlie, Jude, Hector, Nathan, Will, Sienna, Aoife, Alex

Year 8: Harry, Isaac, Megan, Henry, Joey, Fergus

Year 9: James, Mila, Johny, Josh, Aiden, Emilie, Meadow, Emily 

Year 10: Enora, Cameron, Rhodri, Jasmine, Ella, Lewis, Tomos, Isabella, Megan

Year 11: Izzy, Sidney, Leo, Ruby, Evie, Isaac, Frankie, Charlie, Albert, Sam

On the final day of last term, a selected group of students attended a special event at Clifton College to celebrate the Bristol Teen Book Awards. The award, organised by Bristol and South West Children's Librarians, featured five shortlisted books that tackled a range of important themes.

After weeks of reading and discussion, the school’s book club got to cast their vote for their top choice, with Finding Phoebe—a story told from the perspective of a girl with autism—and Desi Girl Speaking, which explores mental health within a cultural community, emerging as their favourites. However, the overall winner, determined by total student votes, was the dystopian novel Electric Life by Rachel Delahaye.

The event featured four of the shortlisted authors, including Finding Phoebe author Gavin Extence, who led an inspirational creative writing workshop for students. A Q&A session with the authors provided fascinating insights into their creative processes and inspirations. Attendees were also excited to learn that a sequel to the humorous futuristic novel Apocalypse Cow is in the works.

Here’s what some of our students had to say about the event: 

‘I loved the Bristol Book Event because the authors were very interactive and happy to talk to everyone. I loved the activities they set out, especially the author workshop, giving us a chance to learn how authors think.’ - Ella 

‘I found the event amazing, all the activities were great, and the authors were great too.’ - Lily 

‘The event was a really lovely experience. Getting to talk to the authors and take part in the activities was really fun, but the winner of the competition was a disappointment!’ - Isla 

We want to say a massive thank you to Clifton College for hosting the incredible event. The experience left students feeling inspired and eager to continue exploring the world of literature.

See details below of this fantastic short list of young adult books!