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Parent Digest - Half Term Six

Hello to all our Parents and Carers,

As this year comes to a close, we reflect on the many ways in which our pupils have made us proud. Their successes have been many, and we are so impressed with their commitment, resilience and hard work. This year we have won:

  • Secondary academy of the year 2024 for our GCSE results
  • Maths Olympiad - first place out of the secondary academies in the Trust
  • Envision Project - 4th time winners - externally judged - again out of all secondary academies in the Trust

We have also experienced incredible success with:

  • Our production of ‘Matilda!’
  • Co-operative Academies Young Musician of The Year - Big Band winners
  • Robotics / STEM 1st Tech Cambridge Challenge
  • First Story Project sees a Year 7 published Poetry anthology 
  • DebateMate finalists in London
  • Spoken Word
  • Spelling Bee
  • Inclusion Sports

We have much to celebrate as the year comes to a close, not least our fantastic Ofsted report which cements what we know - that Co-operative Academy North Manchester is a place where young people thrive and succeed. This wouldn’t be possible without the strength and dedication of you as parents and carers, and we are continually grateful for your engagement and support. Thank you for making sure our school is a place where pupils feel safe and supported. I hope you have a lovely and restful summer. Please read on to hear about some special successes and information for 2024-25

Best Wishes

Sharon Hands - Principal

Our Robotics Team ‘InCTRL’ were invited to attend the FirstTech Challenge 2023/2024 finals as a wild card entry due to how well they had performed at the regional finals in Sheffield.  They placed 13th out of 41 teams and will return to next year's competition.

A very dedicated group of Year 8 pupils worked with Mr Mupfumbati through the Envision programme, to find a way to better the school and community - while competing with other Year 8 groups across the trust. The collective came up with the ingenious idea of pupils teaching parents - with hopes to improve homework completion rates. "After attendance, homework completion is the second most important factor that determines a pupil's grade". Their project was voted the best in the trust by a panel of judges including Co-op Academies Trust CEO, Dr Chris Tomlinson, meaning we’ve won for the 4th year in a row! 

In another first, Co-op Academies Trust held a Young Musician of the Year competition.  Pupils from every academy were invited to enter, with over 200 submissions from young people Stoke-on-Trent, the Wirral, Greater Manchester, Bradford & Leeds.  There were 40 finalists, all of whom performed magnificently.  We were delighted that our Friday Night Band won Band of the Year! 

Co-op Academy North Manchester is also the first Co-op school in the North West to receive the CyberFirst Silver award, which signifies our commitment to "Delivering good standards in cyber security education."

This recognition encompasses various aspects, such as lessons, extracurricular activities, staff professional development (CPD), assemblies, and cross-curricular links.

It was lovely to be able to see so many parents at our fabulous Open Evening at the end of June - a record turnout with so much positive feedback which made us really proud. All our tours were fully booked, and we are once again full for September. 

The Year 11 Prom was a memorable event for all the right reasons as always - it was lovely to see our outgoing Year 11 celebrating and socialising. We will miss the Class of 2024 - the class of 2025 have much to live up to but we know they can do it!! 

As it’s the final Digest of the year, we must say some really fond farewells to some staff - many of whom have been with us for some time and played a large part in our story.  We say goodbye and good luck to:

  • Miss Ali, Teacher of Maths
  • Mr Colborne, Teacher of Personal Development
  • Ms Donoghue, Teacher of English
  • Mrs Duffy, Pastoral Manager
  • Mrs Flanagan, Teaching Assistant
  • Mr Graham, Teacher of Science
  • Miss Hurst, Teacher of PE
  • Mr Jones, Teacher of English
  • Miss Lynch, Teacher of Geography
  • Miss Maidment, Teacher of ICT
  • Mr Mazza, Teacher of Science
  • Mrs Min, Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages
  • Mr Mupfumbati, Teacher of Maths
  • Mr Page, Teacher of English
  • Mrs Preston, Teacher of English
  • Miss Siddiqui, Teacher of Drama
  • Mrs Taylor, Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages
  • Mrs Welsh, Assistant Vice Principal

We have welcomed in July and September:

  • Mrs Athar. Teacher of Business & ICT
  • Mr Thacker, Teacher of Maths
  • Mr Malone, Teacher of English 
  • Ms Mondhlani, Teacher of English
  • Mr Proctor, Teacher of Geography
  • Ms Veneziale, Teacher of English
  • Ms Wright, Teacher of English 
  • Ms Ormrod, Teacher of PE
  • Ms Mather, Teacher of Drama
  • Mr McNeill, Teacher of Maths
  • Ms Goldson, Teacher of English 
  • Mr Spedding, Cover Supervisor
  • Ms Smedley, Safeguarding Officer 
  • Mr Allotey, Teacher of Maths
  • Ms Havercroft, Teacher of History
  • Miss Groves, Pastoral Manager 
  • Mr Ofonime, Site Team Assistant
  • Miss Whiteman, Teacher of PE  

Staying Safe Over the Summer

Holiday times can bring a lack of routine, more time unsupervised and the summer one - warmer weather🤞 - which can mean young people are more at risk from online abuse and dangers such as open water, traffic accidents and getting involved in anti-social behaviour. There are helpful sites, information and guidance for all parents and carers via our website and do please keep talking to your child about how to keep themselves safe outside and in online spaces. There are lots of resources available to parents, carers and pupils.

Keeping Safe Over Summer hand out

Staying safe in the Sun and Water 

Water Safety Code

Water safety

Your child is a valued and respected member of our school community and I’d like to thank you for all the work you put in at home to make sure they are in full uniform, have equipment, join clubs, help each other, open doors and just bring fun (and hard work) to school everyday.

 

A Reminder that we are leaving ParentMail 

You should have recently received a letter with the news that we are now beginning to use the Arbor Parent App.  We’ve sent registration links and we’ve had a great response so far.  For anyone who is yet to receive a link please get in touch via  noma-enquiries@coopacademies.co.uk  to ensure we have the correct information on our system. 

From September  Arbor will fully replace the ParentMail App.  Over the summer the academy will migrate the payment functionality to Arbor. This will allow parents and carers to add credit to their child’s lunch account and purchase items such as uniforms, replacement planners and school trips. We’ve shared a help guide on our website.

School Opening Times 

We are looking forward to welcoming our pupils back to the academy in September ready for a new school year.  We do hope that you enjoy your summer break.  School will open at 8am on Thursday 5th September for Years 8, 9, 10 and 11.  Our dedicated staff will be on duty at the front and back of school to meet and greet pupils.  Pupils can arrive at school via the front using the Victoria Avenue gate or via the back using the Hinchley Road gate but will enter the school building through the Yellow Winter Garden to the rear of the building.

School Uniform 

It is really important that when pupils arrive back in September that they have their full school uniform and are fully prepared and ready to learn.  As a school, we are incredibly proud of the way our pupils present themselves and how being in full school uniform creates a strong sense of belonging to our North Manchester community. 

As we start the new academic year we would like to take this opportunity to remind pupils and their families about our school's uniform policy.  The school uniform policy can be found here https://www.northmanchester.coopacademies.co.uk/page/?title=Uniform&pid=40

Pupils are not permitted to wear leg warmers and socks that are worn must be black. 

Jewellery is not permitted to be worn in the academy and will be confiscated until the end of the school day.  Please could we kindly ask you to support us by checking if your child isn't wearing  any jewellery including facial piercings, before they leave for school in the morning.

Pupils should bring a school bag large enough to carry A4 exercise books, a pencil case with stationery and a pupil planner with them to school each day.  A school bag is an essential item as our pupils are expected to take their books / revision materials home each day and bring their PE kit with them to school.  A pupil planner is also an essential item as this allows pupils to check their timetable, record their homework, check for extra-curricular activities and monitor their weekly attendance to school.  Pupils will be issued with a new school planner in September, replacement planners can be purchased via Arbor.

Our pastoral team are available each morning as part of our morning meet and greet.  Should any pupil wish to speak to a member of staff, they should speak with their Head of Year or Pastoral Manager.  As a school we are proud of our pastoral care.  Our committed and dedicated pastoral team are available every morning to speak about any issues. 

Year 11 - Mr Kelly and Miss Kelleher are available in the Yellow Winter Garden each morning

Year 10 - Mr Norbury and Miss Morrison are available in the Yellow Winter Garden each morning

Year 9 - Mr Morrison and Miss Groves are available in the Yellow Winter Garden each morning

Year 8 - Miss Barber, Miss Stubbs and Miss Mayall are available in the Yellow Winter Garden each morning

Year 7 - Miss Rundle and Miss McCormick are available in the year 7 yard each morning

School Passes 

The school passes for the Autumn term will be issued on yellow paper. 

SEND reviewers will be in contact with parents/carers for pupils who will receive a new school Hub pass in September.  Hub passes can be collected from the SEND reviewers or from the Hub on the first day back of the new term.   

Toilet and medical passes are reviewed annually to ensure that the right passes are going to the right pupils.  For pupils who need toilet and medical passes, new medical evidence will need to be shared with the school in order to receive a new pass in September.  This ensures that pupils who require a pass will be issued with the correct pass.  It will also mean that any expired passes will not be permitted to be used. 

If you have not been contacted, then this will mean that your child will not have a school pass for the new term. Should you wish to discuss your child's pass, then please contact the school. 

In our school, the toilets remain open throughout the day.  We trust our pupils to take toilet breaks at appropriate times during the day.  Some pupils in the academy have toilet passes and medical passes.

Key Dates 

Date  Event

Wednesday 24th July 2024

Pupils finish for the Summer break 

Friday 23rd August 2024

Tuesday 27th August -  Friday 30th August 2024

Uniform collections 

Thursday 22nd August 2024

GCSE Results Day, please read the arrangements here 

Monday 2nd September 2024

INSET staff training, closed to pupils

Tuesday 3rd September 2024

INSET staff training, closed to pupils

Wednesday 4th September 2024

Start of Term - Year 7 pupils only from 8am

Thursday 5th September 2024

All pupils return to the academy

Friday 6th September 2024

Year 7 School Photography

Thursday 26th September 2024

Open Evening 

Friday 27th September 2024

INSET staff training, closed to pupils

Monday 7th October 2024

Year 11 SEND Progress Evening Drop In

Thursday 10th October 2024

Year 11 Progress Evening 4:00 - 6:00pm

Friday 18th October 2024

Pupils finish for the half-term break 

Monday 28th October 2024

Pupils return for half term 2

Monday 4th November 2024

Year 7 SEND Progress Evening Drop In

Thursday 7th November 2024

Year 7 Progress Evening 

Wednesday 13th November 

Year 11 Mock Interviews Event 

Friday 22nd November 

INSET staff training, closed to pupils

Friday 20th December 

Pupils finish for the Christmas break

   

Help for Parents & Carers

Things to do

https://loadstodo.co.uk/ has lots of ideas and links for things to do over the holidays

Free Summer activities from MCRactive

Support and advice for Manchester residents

There are various avenues of support and advice available to our residents and we would be grateful if you could share the following links/information with your employees, parents and carers who may need help, advice, and support with the cost of living.