Welcome to Sandhill View Academy’s first ‘Head of School’s Blog’. I hope this will be a regular opportunity for me to inform you all about the wonderful things our pupils are doing, so please forward this to anyone interested in following the Academy!
May I also take this opportunity to wish all staff, pupils and parents a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I hope everyone enjoys their time off over the holidays and look forward to seeing our pupils again in the new year. Our Spring Term starts Tuesday 5th January.
Moving Forward
Summer’s exam results gave everyone a huge confidence boost as we have addressed the decline in results over recent years and have begun to build a trend of improving results over the years to come. There has been significant improvement in results in Maths and English combined and very pleasing outcomes in P.E, Art and Languages also.
Significant staffing changes and improvements to the quality of staff training is leading to better learning taking place across the academy.
The academy has undertaken large scale change and both students and staff are now becoming well settled into our new status, have welcomed our improved facilities and are speaking positively about our new behaviour and rewards systems which is making significant impact upon improving attendance, punctuality and student behaviour.
Academy Open Evening & Progress Review Day
On Wednesday 23rd September we held our Academy Open Evening. The event was a huge success with record numbers of parents turning up with their children, curious to see the massive changes and improvements happening at the school.
After a short presentation in the theatre that included speeches by representatives from each year group, our Head Boy & Girl and the Head of School, parents were guided throughout the building by our eager team of student helpers.
From there they explored the huge array of colourful and exciting activities put on by our subject and support staff. From students in the pool and PE department, to the make-up attired English department, an alien autopsy in Science, a Transformer in ICT, the Chilli Challenge in Food, Minecraft in Technology, bingo in MFL, the musicians, the essential support explained by the SEN team, the mocktails in Maths and the displays in Art and Humanities, our visitors were truly spoilt for choice by all the exciting things to see and participate in.
There was even a treasure hunt that every single one of our visitors were challenged to solve, with prizes and giveaways for all that took part!
On Monday 9th November we also held our annual Progress Review Day where parents and students attended appointments at which progress so far since September was evaluated and each student set personalised goals and targets for the year ahead. This event was established and is now in its second year in response to parental requests. Academic reports and year group Parent Evenings will continue to inform parents as to the progress their child is making here in the academy throughout the current academic year.
Reading Matters - Literacy Initiatives
One of the key areas of focus this academic year along with improving teaching and learning further is to improve levels of student literacy. We are doing so through the introduction of a number of strategies from teachers openly displaying the name of the book they are reading presently on their teaching room door, whilst also taking the time to discuss their choices with their students. Walking around the building students can also see large scale posters displays of the favourite book of every member of staff accompanied by a write up as to the reason why.
One of the most successful initiatives is our Year 7 ‘Reading Throne’ where every Friday lunch-time in the Library, members of staff take it in turn to read chapters from their own favourite childhood book to students, as well as discuss the reason for their choice. This takes place upon our specially made reading throne which has been created by Mr Blake. This weekly event is proving hugely successful and attracts 60 year 7 students on a weekly basis. All of these initiatives sit alongside our specific targeted support reading intervention sessions for identified students as well as curriculum content and the work carried out by Mr Shannon our Director of Literacy.
Entrepreneur's Excite!
Earlier this term Mrs Appleby organised a visit from leading business entrepreneur Baroness Michelle Mone OBE who came into the academy to give a presentation and workshop to fourteen of our Year 8 students who are partaking in a business initiative in partnership with Sunderland’s Foundation of Light. Michelle is a very well-known and widely respected business leader with a highly successful background in running underwear and tanning product businesses amongst her many achievements. The students were given an insight into the value of education, trying hard, having a vision for your own future and how to be successful by overcoming barriers.
Baltic Creative Careers Visit
As a way to kick start a brand new GCSE course at SHV we took the entire photography cohort to the Baltic centre for contemporary art in Gateshead and to the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens to take some exciting shots for their projects.
Students attended various workshops at Baltic led by creative practitioners in the north-east to experience what life would be like as a fashion designer, an illustrator, a photographer and logo and games designer! A pupil favourite was definitely the Games Design talk led by Assassin's Creed artist Jack Coulela! Students t received great feedback from Baltic for their mature behaviour!
Thank you to the staff at Baltic and the Winter Gardens for welcoming us! Watch this space for an exhibition of year 9 and 10 photography work in the new year!
Baltic Creative Careers Day Game Design Presentation by Jack Couvela
Both classes have demonstrated a heightened enthusiasm in lessons as a result of the trip and you can read some of their comments below!
"The most important thing I learned is that art is everywhere!"
"To become a fashion designer I need to stay positive and be inspired to capture new things"
"I need a to commit a lot of my time to be a photographer and if I work hard I will go far"
One of the many changes which I have been keen to oversee since taking up post in September has been to increase the range of activities available for students to take part in during lunch-time each day, in enrichment time every Wednesday afternoon and after school every other school day. The academy Extra-curricular Activities Co-ordinator (Mr Blake) has worked very hard this term to expand the range of activities which all students can elect to access. Take up is very high and student feedback reports a huge improvement and expansion to what they now have access to. We will continue to build and expand upon the range of activities and revision sessions available throughout the year ahead.
In addition to this I must also highlight the efforts which Sandhill View staff go to enable students across all year groups get to take part in team events such as football and other sporting activities. I am pleased to report that our teams are very healthy with lots of interest from our students. We have also been hugely successful and victorious in many fixtures played in local competitions with Year 8 boys and our Year 7/8 girls football teams doing particularly well.
