During the Autumn Term, students have adapted to returning to ‘normal’ in terms of being back at school full time. Routines and expectations have been reinforced, students are following a full and varied curriculum, and they have the opportunity to extend their learning and enjoyment through extra-curricular activities, visits and whole school celebrations. Before Christmas, students performed in our first ‘virtual’ Culture Fest celebration, despite the restrictions due to the pandemic, as they say in showbusiness ‘the show must go on’. The performances included music, drama and spoken word. We look forward to more cultural and sporting whole school events in the New Year.
It’s not been without its difficulties, as students have a lot to catch up on and the pandemic continues to have an impact on our daily lives. Year 11 have a supportive team of teachers and careers advisors encouraging them to achieve their best in their forthcoming GCSE examinations. They have sat their first set of mock exams and will have further exams in March. The next term is pivotal in their progress and I would encourage you as parents and carers to support your child and teachers in making sure they attend interventions, revise and complete coursework at home, as well as care for their emotional and physical well-being.
Year 10 are well into their GCSE courses now and Year 9 will be making big decisions about their option choices next term. Students will need to reflect on which subjects they have strengths in and may help them in the direction they are considering as a future career path. There will be lots of support in making these next steps over the next term.
Years 7 and 8 are now enjoying a full curriculum of subjects, now able to access all practical subjects in specialist rooms and as Head of Design and Performance, I have been amazed by the level of creative work produced by our students in Art, Design and Technology and Music. Students are also back to participating in PE lessons and even competing against other schools in sports fixtures. The rewards team have been very proactive in motivating and praising our students for good effort and work, including reward points, certificates, student of the month, praise postcards and badges.
Whatever we face next term, as a school community we will continue to do our upmost to keep the wheels turning and give our students the education they deserve.
Parents Forum and Leading Parent Partnership Award
One of the actions of our school improvement plan this year is to raise parental engagement. Our relationships with parents and carers are key to making our school better and your views and feedback is valued in moving forward. We trialled a new time for our parent’s forum last half term, an afternoon meeting before the end of school, chaired by Mr. Mallett, Headteacher. We took the opportunity to invite our many parents that collect their children from school and attendance significantly improved. We understand that not all parents can make a meeting at this time, but Mr. Mallett and the senior teachers are more than happy to contact you individually.
Also, last half term the Leading Parent Partnership Group met for the first time. Any parent/carer can be involved in the working group to give feedback and ideas on how we can widen our engagement with parents, carers and the wider community. The meeting was attended by Associates and teaching staff. One action is that there will be a parent information board in the school reception which will be updated regularly with key dates and opportunities in and outside of school for parents and students. I would like to thank those parents/carers who have completed questionnaires and given their feedback.
Are you interested in Adult Education? Birmingham Adult Education can offer workshops/courses at Erdington Academy which you can do alongside your child free of charge. If you follow the link you can access the courses available: https://erdingtonfmat.wpengine.com/adult-learning-opportunities/
lf you would like to be involved in the LPPA, please contact me at j.thom@erdington.fmat.co.uk
Parent Curriculum Guide
Keep a look out for your child’s parent curriculum guide for the Spring term with details of what they will be studying in their different subjects
Dates for your diary – Spring 1
Year 11 Parents Evening – 11th January 4-7pm (KOOTH mental health drop in)
Year 9 Parents Evening – 15th February 4-7pm
Leading Parent Partnership Focus Group Meeting: Tuesday 18th January 2022
Useful Links
Show my homework: https://erdingtonfmat.wpengine.com/academy-life/show-my-homework-guides/
Parent/Carer information: https://erdingtonfmat.wpengine.com/academy-life/parent-information/
Parents Evening Appointment System: https://erdington.schoolcloud.co.uk/
MyEd School App: https://www.myedschoolapp.com/
Logging onto Office 365: https://erdingtonfmat.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Logging-into-Office-365.pdf
