2022-2023

The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors have achieved their RESPECT Badge for running anti-bullying campaigns that champion diversity and inclusion and promote equal rights for the nine protected characteristics.

On Friday 23^rd June, as a school we came together and celebrated PRIDE Day 2023. Throughout the week we had assemblies focusing on PRIDE month and on the Friday we had the following activities that went on around the school:

• Guess speaker from Nottingham PRIDE
• Guess speaker talking about their coming out story
• Tutor time quiz
• Cake sale
• Music and face-paint at lunch
• Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and PRIDE group chalked the stairs in rainbow colours

On Friday 24^th May, we said goodbye to our first cohort of Year 13 BTEC Sport students. To celebrate how well they had done over the two years, we organised a trip to England Football's St Georges Park centre. Whilst we were there, students experience the following:

Hydrotherapy pool/session

Pitch based conditioning with GPS monitoring

Strength and conditioning session

As part of our careers and aspirations provision, we have been working closely with a group of students from years 7-10 over the last 6 months with a dedicated mentor - Kelvin Batey from the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust on a program called On Track to Achieve, which is a personal development workshop designed to build confidence as well as create an awareness for the wider community.

As part of the program, our students had to deliver a Social Action Project, and this is when they do something good within our local community. The students decided to plan, organise and run a sports event at Warren Primary, which is a local school. Our students really excelled themselves and delivered a session to remember. It's been incredible to watch them grow as individuals but also work together as a group and do something positive for other people.

Our students and the young pupils over at Warren Primary are a real credit to their schools!

Helping our students to prepare for their next steps in their academic or career journey is the careers and aspirations team main focus. Today we hosted 8 University and Higher Education establishments to talk to our students about life after school or college by introducing multiple possibilities and broaden their awareness about degree and higher-level qualifications.

This is the perfect way for students to choose which course or pathway is right for them. Students were able to ask questions about University, student life and the general progression towards this route.

We welcomed revision expert Claire Gadsby to Oakwood on Thursday 30^th March to work with all Year 11 and selected Year 10 students to support their preparation for their upcoming GCSE examinations. Students were taught some incredible revision techniques which they can now use in their independent study at home and in school. Claire followed her day with a teacher and a parent session so they can also use the techniques to support students in school and at home.
More information about the techniques and Radical Revision in general can be found at https://radicalrevision.co.uk/

Here are some comments from our students:

'I thought it was a lot of fun and helped. I really liked how Claire showed me new and interesting ways to revise.'

'I thought it was very helpful and outstanding! I have been saved before my exams. Thank you, Claire!'

A huge thank you to parents and guardians for supporting your child to be part of the West End Walkthrough production. It has been a busy time up in Performing Arts since January, but the students have been a joy to work with. For a number of our Year 11's we know that this is their last production at The Oakwood Academy, and I'd like to thank them for all of their contribution to the arts during their time here. I am also delighted to see students from all Year groups represented within the cast, including some students who have not previously taken part in a school production. As you can see, we have tried something slightly different this year, taking you on a journey through a number of different, well known musicals. I really hope that you enjoy the performance. Thank you again for your support!

Also, thank you to all Staff who have given up hours of their time to make the show a success!

Congratulations to all Staff and students who worked together on the cake same for Red Nose Day and managed to raise an amazing £58!
Well done to everyone!

Technology is everywhere, it powers everything. It’s even changed the way we live and the way we work. There are so many jobs and careers in Tech that never existed and Nottingham Forest is in partnership with Ideagen running a ‘Think Big’ programme, giving our students the chance to explore the Tech sector and the skills required, helping them gain insight into the industry. The Think Big activities will provide motivation and inspiration, giving our students the confidence and skills to achieve their goals and aspirations to plan for their future. Think Big ambassadors will provide resources and activities that will be built into our careers curriculum and they will have access to role models from the world of Tech and Sport to support them to ‘Think Big’ and learn about new careers.

The Think Big programme recently 'kicked-off' with a KS4 assembly, delivered by our Nottingham Forest ambassadors promoting Ideagen, Technology and the careers available at the City Ground, in a way they have never seen before. Our students will be able to visit Ideagen and experience tours of the office, meet with other Think Big ambassadors and complete challenges including App Development. Other workshops will include a mix of themes including Nottingham, Sport & Tech, including the diversity of roles within the Tech industry. Students will get to explore what it's really like to work in Sport and Tech by discovering how people ‘think big’ through a Virtual Reality City Ground visit. Some students will also visit the world famous City Ground in person, receiving a stadium tour and actually see Nottingham Forest play, experiencing how Tech is used and implemented at a Premier League football club. Students will explore goal line technology, video assistance referees (VAR) and become more aware about the importance of Tech during a game.

The Think Big programme will also make apprenticeship opportunities visible and Ideagen will potentially offer apprenticeship placements to some of our Year 11 students.

In February half term, Mr McNeill, Miss MacNaughton, Mr Dennison, Mr Riley, Miss Grey and Mr Nelson took 64 students to Barcelona. The week was actioned packed with:

• Tour of Camp Nou
• Tour of the Olympic Stadium
• Football on the local beach
• Coaching session by RCD Espanyol
• Bowling
• Tree climbing

In February 2023, our students on our BTEC Level 3 Sport course had a trip down to Wembley to visit University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). The university is based at Wembley Football stadium where they run over 20 courses based around sport. UCFB presented to our students in November 2022 and we had the opportunity to go and have a tour of their facilities. A few of our students have applied and been offered places onto courses at UCFB and are looking forward to attending in September 2023.

A group of Year 9 and 10 students visited the Holocaust memorial museum in Laxton. Their trip was filled with education on the journey and process of the horrific genocide of 6 million Jewish people which culminated in a speech by Eva Clarke, Holocaust survivor. Students were reflective and empathetic in the stories they heard and finished their day laying a memorial stone for the lives lost during the Holocaust.

This year we are marking and observing Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27^th January. We are providing links and access to several resources from this highly effective website to encourage students and their families to reflect on the events but also stories of hope and reconciliation which arose in those dark days of the Second World War and genocides in the 20^th century.

As a school, teachers in lessons across our curriculum will be delivering a reflection slide which has a particular subject focus for example PE with a focus on how Sport has helped reconcile and rebuild communities after the genocide in Rwanda, and Art with a focus on how Holocaust survivors expressed their feelings and thoughts through the medium of Art. We have had assemblies and tutor activities prepared and delivered by the World Studies team. 6^th form students will hold a service at the front of school lighting candles in memory of those who have suffered or been killed during genocides past and present.

Maybe tonight you and your family could also light a candle and reflect or even look online for some of the stories and testimonies from survivors. For example https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-64385677 on the BBC.

On Wednesday 11^th January, eight students from Year 10 attended their latest session of the Ambition Nottingham programme at the University of Nottingham. The day was an interactive taster day of the subjects which can be studied at University including Physics learning about galaxies, History and Maths to other specialist subjects like Medicine, Psychology and Sports Rehabilitation where we tried out and used several techniques used by sports rehabilitators. The students were able to enjoy two different sessions, experience lecture type sessions and in the afternoon reflect on the different courses which are offered at University as well as visiting and seeing the facilities at the University.

Our Year 7 pupils visited the Derby Open centre on the 11^th January. The aim of the visit was to go through a faith trail and experience different beliefs and cultures, as this is linked with SACRE (local curriculum) requirement for what we teach our students about different places of worship in Year 7. In particular, pupils visited a Mosque and Gurdwara where they took part in various activities. The pupils also took part in an Asian marriage workshop which was full of energy through music and dance. As well as, taking part in henna tattoo which created an amazing atmosphere. It was an amazing day where our students represented the academy very well and were praised by the staff at the Open Centre.

On Tuesday, the 10^th January, the DT Department held the DT House Event with the Egg Challenge. Students competed to design and make a parachute and container that could help protect an egg that was dropped from the C Block balcony. There were some outstanding examples of teamwork and making skills. Special congratulations to Robus House who won the challenge with their teamwork, how well they managed to protect the egg and how accurate their aim was.

Well done to all that entered and great to see so much talent and enthusiasm here at Oakwood.

The Oakwood Academy was incredibly proud to have hosted Oakwood's Got Talent showcase on 21/12/2022, an amazing mixture of talent and skills were performed, proving what an incredibly diverse and talented array of we students we have at our school.

The showcase was split into two separate performance slots and judges examined each act and gave their verdicts.

For session one, the winners were:

• Third place: Layla
• Second place: Precious, Estera and Peyton
• Third place: Bethany

For session two, the winners were:

• Third place: Keanu
• Second place: Isis
• Third place: Estera

We are so proud of all contestants in this performance and wish all of them a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A select group of Year 7 and 8 students from The Oakwood Academy had a fantastic time on 20/12/2022 as they were fortunate enough to have seen an outstanding performance of the pantomime, Dick Whittington. Students behaved impeccably and thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Thank you to all students and staff who donated to our appeal allowing us to contribute a large amount of food and household essentials plus a cheque for £325. Your donations will go directly to support our families in our community.

A trip of 90 excited students left Oakwood Academy on cold, frosty morning of December 9^th , to travel down to the magical world of Harry Potter on the outskirts of London. Once there we were lucky to experience the sights and sounds of the actual set of Harry Potter; Goblins in Gringotts bank, Dragons in the Dungeons and freaky spiders in the Forbidden forest! Onto Platform 9 ¾ and experiencing the train ride to Hogwarts and next was Butterbeer with lunch and into the Dursely's house! Our final stage of the tour was the incredible props section and then onto seeing the breath- taking model of Hogwarts castle - lots of photos were taken and batteries drained (and a few teachers energy levels were 'drained' too!) But it was most definitely worth it to hear the gasps and the wide eyes of our Year 7 and 8 Students, who were (quite literally), transported into the wizarding world of Harry Potter for three hours!

Congratulations to Certus House for winning the Maths House Challenge of 2022. It was a very tricky competition with all students working very hard to represent their Houses but the scores came in with Certus in first place, Animus second and Virtus and Robus joint third.

On the 22^nd November, Year 8 students had the opportunity to visit the National Civil War centre in Newark. Newark was very important during the English Civil War, and the museum brought the experience to life with interactive displays and even a little bit of acting.

Students had the chance to dress up in the armour of the Roundheads and Cavaliers and shoot a canon at the model town. The main exhibition told us great details about Newark in the Civil War, including lots of artefacts recovered from all over England.

The students also worked with museum curators in two specialised sessions. We took on the role of Civil War soldiers, training in musketeering and pike drills, ending in a battle to test our training. We also acted out the trial of King Charles I, hearing from the witnesses and the judges, before carrying out his execution.

The students were a credit to the school, showcasing their knowledge from their history lessons and taking part in the activities with enthusiasm and maturity.

On Tuesday 22^nd November Mrs Watson and Mr McNeill took eight students to Rotherham to be trained as an Anti-Bullying Ambassador known as the Diana Award. All students were successful on the day and achieved their first badge of five. Our students are now designated Anti-Bullying Ambassadors for The Oakwood Academy and will continue the support what already goes on around the school.

The Oakwood Academy pays tribute to the brave men and women who gave their lives in times of conflict for Remembrance Day.

It's the first year we have had a Year 12 and 13 Sport cohort based at The Oakwood Academy. This activity was rewarded to the BTEC Level 3 Sports students for their hard work, determination and being successful in the first term. This was a great was to continue/reward the students' commitment to the course and their overall grades.

The focus of the event was to develop pupil awareness of themselves as leaders and to enable them to use their leadership skills to make effective change in their communities. They heard from some fantastic leaders such as Rugby World Cup winner and Sportswoman of the year Maggie Alphonsi and Will Hussey from The Art of Brilliance.

The theme of the conference was based around the UN Sustainability Goals. Pupils had a tour round Nottingham Trent University campus, bespoke leadership training and accessed workshops from specialists based on 'No Poverty' and 'Climate Action'.

To celebrate Black History Month, we arranged several activities in the final week across assemblies, curriculum time and DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). On Friday 14^th October, our canteen changed the menu to African and Caribbean themed food, and there were workshops from The Pantasy Steel Band and Mr Grieg in Food Technology. Students were able to play the steel drums whilst learning the background about the instrument, and experience the cooking and tasting of foods from Africa and the Caribbean in Mr Grieg's lessons.