Skip to content ↓

Parent Digest , Half Term Three

As half term 3 comes to a close, we write with such pride in the many accomplishments of the last half term and to share with you some of the upcoming events that your children will be involved in.

Lights, Camera, Action!

We have our brilliant school production of ‘Matilda!’ underway as this reaches you - many, many hours from cast, crew, teachers and support staff have enabled a really professional performance and an unforgettable educational experience for all pupils involved. Thank you for supporting this - Performing Arts is such a central part of our offer here at Co-op North Manchester and the support from home is much appreciated.

Respect, Commitment, Trust

We have reinforced our values this week with full year group assemblies and shared again with pupils our expectations around attitudes and behaviours. We have promoted our vast range of extra curricular activities, rewards trips and events and we have ensured that all our pupils can be confident that all staff will challenge any lateness, jewellery, non uniform, chewing, mobile phone use etc so that our learning environment remains positive and our atmosphere is calm and purposeful.

Please remind your child that we will support them to contact home in the event of an emergency or needing to get in touch with you and they must do this through the year team so that we can support them. Please do not contact your child on their mobile phone throughout the day to avoid them being challenged about the rules and having their phone confiscated.

A reminder that we are so careful around mobile phones particularly as we have a very strong mental health offer - we know that online / mobile phone / internet usage can be a real threat to young people’s self esteem and mental health and an important part of this is making sure that our behaviour for learning and safeguarding policies support a no mobile phones in school policy - these must be switched off as soon as pupils enter the academy site.

We are also keenly aware that some of our pupils will still be feeling the loss of their very good friend and we continue to support them - they will carry her with them all their lives and we are certainly holding a space for Miley here at school. If you have any concerns around your child’s mental health, do get in touch via their year team.

Sharing, Success, Strengthening…

Thank you to our Year 9 parents and carers who came to our Options Evening - it was such a well attended event and lots of really important information and lovely conversations happening on the wintriest of evenings - thanks for coming and supporting!

We have also hosted Baroness Barran from the House of Lords this half term - she was keen to come and see how Co-op North Manchester is approaching attendance so it was a really prestigious visit and she has gone back to Westminster knowing all about what makes the difference here and how hard we are all working as parents and schools to ensure pupils come to school and enjoy their education.

We have strengthened our already brilliant reading offer - we are pleased to be able to share that pupils from Year 7 to Year 8 have made on average 2.5 years improvements in their reading ages and we have a number of pupils now in Years 7 and 8 reading at 15 years plus! In addition, we have introduced a new range of reading interventions online which will further support the gains already made so your child may be involved in this, please do ask if you would like more information about this.

Forwards, Future, Fantastic

I’m really hoping to need an extension to our trophy cabinet next term with us building on Secondary School of the Year 2024 with success in the Co-op Academies Maths Olympiad, with hopefully success in our Robotics Club’s STEM competition and further sporting successes.

As an English teacher, I’m particularly excited to read, see, listen to what our Year 7s are creating in our 26 week Young Writers workshop. 

Year 11

Our Year 11 performed well in their mocks and our staff are eager to support them further by providing an extensive offer of revision sessions after school ( period 6, 3.05-4pm) every day after half term. To support our pupils and to help them decide which sessions to attend, we will be providing them with bespoke individualised revision timetables, taking away their worry of trying to decide which sessions to attend. Some sessions will require compulsory attendance and some voluntary attendance. Also, look out for our Easter and May holiday revision timetable which will be published soon, together with several Saturday sessions.

Year 11 Progress Evening will be Thursday 29th February 4-6.30pm. Appointments  will be available through school cloud shortly and this will be the final opportunity for you to meet with subject staff, prior to the GCSE Summer examination season commencing. We look forward to welcoming you to the Academy for the final time and to advising you on how best to support your child over the next few months.

Parents and carers can continue to use the usual methods to contact the academy below:

I hope the half term break provides a welcome break and some important time as families and members of the brilliant North Manchester community. As always, if you need anything - uniform or otherwise - please get in touch via our enquiries email.

Key Dates

Date  Event

Friday 16th February 2024

Half term break 

Monday 26th February 2024

Pupils return from half term break 

Monday 26th February 2024

Year 8 & 9 MMR and HPV vaccinations catch up

Thursday 29th February 2024

Year 11 Progress Evening 4pm - 6.30pm 

Monday 11th March 2024

Staff INSET day, academy closed to pupils

Tuesday 26th March 2024

How to help your child revise event 

Friday 29th March 2024

Easter break 

Monday 15th April 2024

Pupils return from Easter  break 

Thursday 25th April 2024

Year 8 Progress Evening 4pm - 6.30pm 

Thursday 2nd May 2024

GCSE & BTEC exams begin 

Monday 6th May 2024

Early May Bank Holiday 

Monday 13th May 2024

Year 7 & 8 exams begin 

Thursday 23rd May 2024

Year 10 Progress Evening 4pm - 6.30pm

Friday 24th May 2024

Half term break 

Monday 3rd June 2024

Pupils return from half term break 

Monday 3rd June 2024

Year 9 exams begin 

Wednesday 10th June 2024

Year 10 mock Interviews 10am - 1.30pm

Monday 17th June 2024

Year 10 mock exams begin 

Thursday 20th June 2024

Year 7 Progress Evening 4pm - 6.30pm

Thursday 27th June 2024

Open Evening 4pm - 7pm 

Monday 1st July 2024

Transition Week 

Monday 1st July 2024

Year 10 Work Experience Week 

Wednesday 24th July 2024

Pupils finish for the Summer break 

 Help for Parents and carers

Things To Do 

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

Ambition Manchester 

Ambition Manchester is providing a bespoke service giving Manchester residents who are currently in paid work or self-employed, intensive support to increase their earnings and/or progress into ‘better’ paid work. Residents who sign up with Ambition Manchester can expect a tailored plan, personalised guidance, help with job applications, coaching, and access to free training.

To access the program residents can email Ambition@Manchester.gov.uk who will then get in touch

Cost of Living Support 

·         Manchester's FREE Cost of Living Advice Line: Support with benefits, help and advice about rent, debt, bills, food support and help to get online (support to access the internet, laptops, phones and data). The advice line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm on 0800 023 2692. You can also text on 07860 022 876 or visit manchester.gov.uk/coladvice. 

·         Manchester's web page for help with the cost-of-living crisis: A comprehensive guide to the financial help and practical support available to Manchester residents.

·         Manchester's web page for those in financial difficulty: Providing information on housing/council tax, FSM, fuel, travel and cash grants, furniture and white goods.

·         Warm Welcome: You can find out more about Warm Welcome spaces near you by accessing the web pages and map at https://www.warmwelcome.uk/.

·         Food Banks and Community Grocers: There are both referral and non-referral foodbanks across Manchester. You can find your nearest online at www.trusselltrust.org or www.greatertogethermanchester.org.

·         Local help and support: Information about support and advice in your local area.

·         Free SIMS/internet data for those eligible.

·         Help with internet use, digital inclusion and use of computers in our libraries.

·         Governments Help for Households campaign and web pages https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living for information and support with benefits, income, rent and bills, pension, subsidised travel, childcare and maternity costs.

·         Social Tariffs: Low-cost broadband and phone service packages, for those on low incomes. Check the Ofcom website to see if you can switch to a social tariff.

Measles Guidance for Parents and Carers 

Measles is circulating in the UK at the moment, there is lots of information available to via https://www.manchesterlco.org/measles/

This is why the NHS has launched a catch-up campaign. 

When and where?

Monday 19.2.24, 10am-2pm: Moston Sure Start Centre, M40 5EA

Tuesday 20.2.24, 10am-2pm: Alexandra Park Health Centre, M16 7AP

Wednesday 21.2.24, 10am-2pm: Alexandra Park Health Centre, M16 7AP

Friday 23.2.24, 10am-2pm: Etihad Stadium, M11 3FF

How do you book?

Parents/carers need to call or email to book: 

07973698166  Mft.immunisation@nhs.net

What vaccinations are available?

MMR, HPV, DTP and MenACWY