11 March 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
The spring term has got off to an impressive start with students settling back into the habits and routines that we have coined the “Erdington Way” well.
Spring is often associated with new birth or transformation, and for the Academy community it is an opportunity as we hit just over the mid-point of the academic year to reflect on our habits so that we continually grow.
Good habits learnt or developed at school, such as organisation, time management, and effective student techniques not only lead to academic success but also reduce stress and anxiety and therefore improve our overall well-being and set students up for future opportunities.
As a parent, habitually asking your son or daughter questions about what they are learning at school and our checking the Academy communication regularly can really help drive those questions.
The main communication system we use is the My Child at School App (MCAS). The app is how we post important letters and or notices and where you can see important information about your child’s timetable and attendance to name just a few. We recommend that you check the app daily to ensure nothing is missed.
We are always looking for ways we can use the system to enhance communication with our stakeholders. I would like to thank the parents and carers of Year 9, who have helped us launch a new aspect of MCAS to enable the collection of the Year 9 KS4 Preferences.
To support parents and carers keep up to date with the curriculum your child is following, we publish Home Learning Collaboration documents each term. These documents can be found here. These are a great starting place for KS3 students who wish to start to prepare for the summer assessment window and for KS4 students who are getting ready for their mocks or actual exam season. If you are not already using these as a reference point to talk to your child about their learning, this would be a great habit to start.
Last week the nation celebrated World Book Day. Developing strong reading habits is crucial for students, as it enhances transferable skills, such as vocabulary, communication, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, ultimately boosting academic performance and helping to develop and deepen our view of the world. During form time, students develop their fluency of reading by reading a novel together. A good habit to develop is to talk to your child about what they are reading or to encourage them to engage with the Reading Canon and achieve their Character colours. For more information about the importance of reading and reading “The Erdington Way” please click here.
I hope you enjoy the spring term and enjoy reflecting on the habits being developed at the Academy and reflecting on how these habits can be refined and enhanced. Remember, we are only as good as our habits – they are the ceiling to our effectiveness.
Yours sincerely
Ms Cross
Head of Academy
