On Wednesday the 14th December the academy welcomed parents, carers and the general public to enjoy our Performing Arts Winter Celebration Concert, showcasing our talented singers and musicians.
The event featured the Steel Pans Band, the Choir and individual performances of seasonal classics.
On Tuesday 6th December pupils performed to the residents of Nazareth House Care Home in Prestwich.
Pupils performed Christmas carols and shared Christmas cards made by our Peer Mentor Groups.
Watch some of the performance here
On Thursday 9th November 2022 we invited pupils in year 11 to take part in a mock interview supported by 20 local employers and further educational providers.
As part of the academy’s extensive CEIAG offer for pupils, the mock interview process aims to give pupils the opportunity to prepare for the post-16 interview in an environment in which they feel comfortable.
In preparation for the event, pupils were asked to complete an application form that was assigned to one of the employers and further educational staff who conducted their interview.
The mock interviews help pupils to learn how to answer difficult questions, develop interview strategies, improve their communication skills and reduce the stress and anxiety that pupils may feel or develop as they receive their invites for any upcoming interviews.
The event was an extremely successful one, with pupils given feedback on their interview and provided with a range of guidance allowing them to feel confident and prepared for their post-16 journey. The employers who facilitated the event commented that pupils were ‘passionate and engaged with the process and showed a great level of maturity in how they prepared and presented on the day’
A Year 11 pupil commented:
‘it was really good, I learnt how to speak at an interview, the right body language, what I need to improve on and I feel well prepared for my interview coming up at college’.
A Year 11 pupil commented:
‘I felt really nervous when I was going into the interview but I felt really good when I came out. I was very proud of myself and as a result I now feel ready for my interviews thinking about the feedback I was given’.
On Wednesday 30th November, a group of pupils from Years 7 & 8 attended a trip to Manchester’s Opera house to watch the 70th anniversary production of Agatha Christie’s, The Mousetrap.
The performance was amazing and was the first time that some of our pupils had attended a production of this kind.
Milkas, a Year 8 pupil said: “It was like a mysterious movie. The actor who played the Policeman was amazing. I would love to go on another theatre trip”
Faithfulness, a Year 7 pupil said: “There were some funny moments. I thought the murderer would be the weird guy but it really surprised me in the end”
Shola, a Year 8 pupil said: “The Mousetrap was really good, much better than I expected. I really thought there would have been a mouse in the story!. We’re never allowed to tell anyone WHO DONE IT!, even my Grandma who has seen the play, didn’t tell me”
Claudia, a Year 8 pupil said: “I liked how the characters developed. That part was good and the twist at the end was very interesting”
To run along this, the Year 8 pupils have been chosen to participate in the ‘Young Mystery Writers’ programme’ and will also take part in a ‘Mystery Writing’ workshop in the New Year. This is being rolled out by the National Literacy Trust to celebrate the anniversary of the play and is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of budding mystery writers!
On Wednesday the 19th October 2022 we held our annual Careers Fair in the academy.
We invited local colleges, sixth forms, apprenticeship providers, employers and universities to come speak with pupils in years 10 and 11. Pupils were able to talk to each provider about the application procedure and the opportunities they offer.
We want to ensure that our pupils are fully prepared and informed to choose the career path which is right for them. We are committed to ensuring that our pupils have the highest aspirations and expectations of themselves and that they develop skills that are needed for the next steps of their journey in leading happy and successful lives, both throughout the key transition points in school, as well as transition to KS5.
You can read about our careers offer here: https://northmanchester.coopacademies.co.uk/careers-support/
At the start of September 2022 19 pupils embarked on a journey with Future Sound and the Abram Wilson Charity to focus on skills that wouldn’t normally be offered as part of their in-school music curriculum.
Throughout the project pupils were invited to attend workshops at The Yard where they got to meet and work directly with professional musicians who are part of the thriving UK music scene. The workshops focused on skills including composition, songwriting, performance and recording, with pupils given the invaluable opportunity to really engage with the arts.
On the 28th of September 2022 they attended their first workshop at the Yard and got to experience first hand what life as a professional musician has to offer. They developed and performed their compositions based on their own influences.#
Following the composition day they returned to the academy and continued to work on their projects under the guidance of the team from Future Sound and the Abram Wilson Charity to prepare for their final performance.
On Wednesday 9th November 2022 pupils took part in a live performance at The Yard to showcase their fantastic compositions. The pupils had worked incredibly hard and this performance was a testament to their hard work and commitment throughout the project.
Mr Asher, Head of Performing Arts said:
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to work with professional musicians. They gained invaluable experience and took part in something they will remember for the rest of their lives”
One of the pupils involved said:
“I made new friends during the project and got to make music with them. Working with the workshop leaders helped me build my confidence. I also improved my musical skills.”
