Heywood Academy Blog - 02.10.26
We have been incredibly proud of our students this week as they took part in the Student Council elections.
An amazing 16 students put themselves forward for election, showing confidence, enthusiasm and a willingness to represent their peers. It was fantastic to see them canvassing for votes, sharing their ideas and explaining why they would make great representatives for our school.
Following the school vote, it was too close to call we have elected our council members, from the clear winners, but the remaining students received so many votes that we have elected them as deputy council members.
Student voice is incredibly important to us at Heywood Academy, and we are looking forward to working with our new Student Council and hearing their ideas about how we can continue to make our school the very best it can be.
This week, I have also been super proud of our Year 9 students. While out in the community with Ms Zobenica they received some wonderful feedback from the manager and members of staff at Morrisons.
They took the time to speak to our students and tell them how impressed they were with their lovely manners and what wonderful young people they were.
We recognised the students with a special award in assembly, as this is exactly how we want our students to represent themselves and Heywood Academy when they are out in the community.
Mrs. McManus
🌟 Can You Help Inspire Our Students? 🌟
At Heywood Academy, we are looking for local businesses, organisations and professionals who would be willing to support our students through workplace experiences, careers talks, demonstrations or visits.
We have enthusiastic students interested in a wide range of careers, including:
✅ Healthcare and Nursing
✅ Animal Welfare
✅ Barista and Hospitality
✅ Charity and Retail Work
✅ Army and Armed Forces Careers
✅ Special Effects Make-up
✅ Costume Design
✅ Graphic Design
✅ Sports and Fitness Industries
✅ Motorsport and Drift Car Driving
If you work in any of these industries, or know someone who does, we would love to hear from you. Even a short careers talk could make a huge difference in helping our young people explore their future aspirations.
Please contact: 📧 emily.pugh@newbridgegroup.org
Thank you for helping us create meaningful opportunities for our students. 💙
Ms. Thomas' Weekly Update
I have been incredibly impressed with all our students at Heywood Academy this week. It has been so hard to choose only one star of the week for each subject, as so many students have made so many positive contributions to our lessons each and every day. I have really enjoyed the vibrant learning environments that our students have helped to create. I have learnt many new things from our students, I have been introduced to Rubber Ducky Isotopes and Pistol Shrimp to name but a few!
In Forest school it has been minibeast week with all students contributing to our Heywood Academy bug hotel. We have been preparing stick bundles using loppers and wool, hunting for minibeasts in our forest area and working together in teams. Through our conversations around minibeasts, we have shared our extensive knowledge and I’ve been blown away by the countless examples of kind and supportive behaviours that our students have shown one another this week. Our Environmental Leaders have been helping to lead the KS3 projects and doing a fantastic job at giving instructions and spreading their enthusiasm to the younger year groups.
In Design and Technology, our Year 8 students got their hands on some tools for the first time and had a productive and enjoyable lesson, practising their sawing skills. Our Y7 students are starting to piece together their felt monsters, making templates for their final design and our Y9 students are investigating Trebuchets and Catapults as part of their explorations into engineering.
I’ve had such a fun week, I hope our students have too!
Ms Thomas
Ms. Taylor's weekly update
This week 7A have continued their work on function machines and looked at 2 step function machines. They have become fluent with 2-step function machines with numbers, working both forwards and backwards. They have also used algebra and understand that the order in which the functions are applied is important. We have used brackets in algebraic expressions, and are able to distinguish between 2x + 5 and 2(x + 5) scenarios.
8K started the week looking at conversion graphs. They appreciated that drawing horizontal and vertical lines on these graphs helps them with their identifying answers. Next we have looked at the various currencies that are used around the world and have gained an understanding of how exchange rates work. They now appreciate that £1 can look very different depending on the country you are looking at - 3000 Turkish Lira and you only have approximately £50!!
Percentages have been the focus for 9N, some students have been increasing and decreasing by a percentage. They can now look at the value of an item in a sale or after VAT has been added and using the multiplier method work out the original value. Finally this week they have expressed one quantity as a percentage of another, writing one number as a fraction of another and then converting from a fraction to a percentage.
Year 10 have focused on solving equations this week. They began with basic one and two step equations and then solved different types of equations that involved fractions. Finally this week we looked at solving equations with unknowns on both sides of the equals sign. We had to identify which of the two coefficients of the unknown is the smallest, this could be on either side of the equal sign, and then ensure that when removing these the equations always remained balanced. A real challenge for the class, but their perseverance and resilience was amazing.
Year 12 have looked at all aspects of percentages, this has been increasing and decreasing by a percentage, reverse percentages and then types of interest. We have had to clearly distinguish between simple and compound interest.
Mr. Adams’ Weekly Update
KS3
Years 7-9 Computing
Students have continued their work on online safety and responsible online behaviour. Building on last week’s exploration of negative interactions in online gaming, students considered how they can manage their digital interactions and respond to challenging situations. Activities focused on recognising inappropriate online behaviour, considering when blocking and reporting may be appropriate, and identifying trusted people and organisations that can provide support. Students also discussed the importance of thinking about the consequences of their own actions when communicating with others online.
KS4
Year 10 iMedia
Year 10 have continued their OCR Cambridge National in Creative iMedia project for Skillful Steering Driving School. Having created mood boards and gathered suitable assets last week, students have moved further into the planning stage by developing ideas for the visual identity and promotional material.
Year 10 Employability
In BTEC Employability, students have built on their understanding of workplace skills and behaviours by beginning to consider their own transferable skills. Activities encouraged students to identify examples of skills they already use in school and everyday life and consider how these could transfer into different workplace situations. Students also explored how communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability and time management might be demonstrated to an employer through practical examples rather than simply listed as personal qualities.
Year 10 Personal Growth & Wellbeing
Following last week’s investigation into smoking, students have continued their BTEC Personal Growth & Wellbeing work by considering other choices that can affect physical health. They explored the importance of making informed lifestyle decisions and considered both the immediate and longer-term consequences that different choices can have. Activities encouraged students to distinguish between positive and negative influences on health and to consider where reliable information and support can be found when making decisions about their wellbeing.
KS5
Year 12 Esports
Year 12 have continued Unit 1: Introduction to Esports, building on their work on the organisation and structure of esports in the UK. This week, the focus moved towards esports tournament organisers and the role they play within the industry. Students explored examples of organisations involved in running competitive esports events and considered the different responsibilities involved in organising competitions, from providing the tournament structure and facilities to supporting competitors and audiences.
Year 12 Personal Growth & Wellbeing
Following last week’s research into drug use and its physical, mental and social consequences, students have continued to explore the topic from different perspectives. They considered the arguments surrounding drug legislation, using their previous research to identify evidence that could support contrasting viewpoints. Students organised arguments for and against changes to legislation and took part in discussion and debate, considering how health, social and legal factors can influence different perspectives on the issue.
Ms. Nicholson's weekly update
Art:
Year 7 students have been exploring the fundamental visual element of line, challenging their perceptions of what a line can be and how it can be used to create different effects. Through a range of experimental drawing activities, students investigated expressive, continuous, and varied line work before applying these skills to their ongoing Zentangle fish projects. Their designs are becoming increasingly detailed, with many students showing great imagination and patience when creating intricate patterns.
Year 8 students have begun producing research pages on the artist Jim Dine. I have been particularly impressed by their thoughtful observations and perceptive comments about his work. Students have demonstrated a strong understanding of how artists communicate ideas and emotions, creating research pages that are both informative and visually engaging.
Year 9 students have started exploring the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat as part of our learning linked to Black History Month. Students have begun analysing Basquiat’s unique style, symbolism, and powerful messages, discussing how his work challenged conventions and highlighted important social themes. We are looking forward to developing this work further over the coming weeks.
Food Technology:
Year 7 students have been developing their knowledge of food safety by learning about pathogens and how they can affect food. They also recapped key knowledge about correct fridge and freezer temperatures and practised organising a fridge safely to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. It was great to see students applying their previous learning to real-life situations.
Year 8 students made delicious mug cakes, developing their practical skills while learning how to use the microwave safely and effectively. They also focused on the importance of measuring ingredients accurately to achieve consistent results, gaining confidence with key baking and preparation techniques.
Year 9 students have been exploring the principles of sauce making, focusing on creating a roux sauce and understanding how sauces can be thickened through reduction. Alongside their practical work, students celebrated National Poetry Day by creating food-themed poems. It was wonderful to see them combining culinary knowledge with creativity, producing some imaginative and engaging pieces of writing.
Well done to all students for their hard work and enthusiasm this week. We look forward to seeing their creativity and skills continue to develop throughout the term.
Ms. Thompson's weekly update
7T blog – week 3
In Science this week we have been busy completing our paper mache activities. We have carefully planned out and labelled the cells we want to make and now we are ready to put these plans into action!
Food Technology has been interesting this week, as we learnt all about bacteria and hygiene within a kitchen. This has linked nicely with our History learning as we are focusing on sanitation throughout the ages.
English has seen us practicing our describing skills and writing our own poems based on settings. We also celebrated national Poetry Day by doing some work around ‘The Sound Collector’ by Roger McGough. We devised our own versions of this lovely poem after collecting sounds from around school.
Miss Zobencia's weekly update
This week, our Year 7 students continued their gymnastics unit, focusing on five fundamental shapes. They also explored what makes an effective balance, learning the importance of control, body tension and stability. It was great to see their confidence growing as they practised these key skills. Year 8 students were introduced to the basketball rule of double-dribble. Through a variety of engaging activities and games, they developed their understanding of the rule while improving their ball control and dribbling skills. In Year 9 netball, the focus was on the footwork rule. Students worked hard to identify their landing foot and understand how this affects movement within the game. They showed excellent progress and were able to successfully apply the rule during match play. Meanwhile, Year 10 continued to develop their lacrosse stick skills, with a particular focus on throwing and catching techniques. Their concentration and coordination were impressive throughout the lesson, and it was fantastic to see the progress they have made in such a short time.
Overall, it has been a brilliant week in PE, with students demonstrating enthusiasm, resilience and a willingness to challenge themselves.
Our Outdoor Education lessons have continued to provide valuable opportunities for students to develop independence, safety awareness and community skills.
Year 7 students have been exploring how to stay safe while out in the community. Together, we discussed potential risks and dangers they may encounter and considered appropriate ways to respond to different situations. Their thoughtful contributions showed a growing awareness of personal safety and responsibility. Year 8 took a trip to the library to create posters around keeping our community clean and then participated in some litter-picking. Year 9 took a walk to a local café, where they were tasked with creating their own risk assessment. Students carefully considered safety factors and planned their journey. Following this, they enjoyed the opportunity to make a purchase independently and develop their communication and social skills within the group. It was wonderful to see their confidence shine through.
A particular highlight this week came from Year 9. During our visit to the café, two members of staff took the time to personally approach our group and comment on how polite, respectful and well-mannered our students were. This was a genuine "WOW moment" and a testament to the excellent attitudes our students display when representing the school. We are incredibly proud of them.
Year 10 visited a local gym to learn more about opportunities for staying active within the community. Students enjoyed a tour of the facilities and found out about free sessions available for young people. As part of our focus on healthy lifestyles and lifelong fitness, this visit provided a valuable insight into accessible ways to stay active beyond school.
A huge well done to all students for another successful week of learning, teamwork and personal development. We look forward to seeing what they achieve next week!
Ms. Crossley’s weekly update
National Poetry Day at Heywood Academy
National Poetry Day provided a wonderful opportunity for students across the academy to explore poetry in a range of creative and inspiring ways. From the classroom to the local community, students discovered that poetry can be found everywhere around us.
Our younger learners explored poetry through nature and the outdoors. During Forest School sessions, students read a selection of nature-inspired poems before creating their own writing based on the sights, sounds and feelings of being in the forest. The experience encouraged careful observation and showed how the natural world can spark creativity.
In Year 7 Discovery, students became poetry detectives, travelling around the school collecting sounds and snippets of everyday life. Inspired by Roger McGough’s famous poem The Sound Collector, they transformed these observations into their own imaginative poems, discovering how ordinary sounds can become extraordinary writing.
Another group took their poetry beyond the classroom with Poetry in the Park. After exploring their local community, students worked collaboratively to create a class haiku inspired by what they could see around them. They then performed their poem on the Rainbow Stage at Queens Park, developing both their confidence and their appreciation of spoken poetry.
Poetry also linked brilliantly with other subjects. In geography, students explored Geography Lesson, using the poem as a starting point for discussions about travel, place and perspective. The conversations that followed showed how poetry can help us think deeply about the world beyond our own experience.
In Food Technology, students celebrated National Poetry Day by creating food-themed acrostic poems. Using ingredients, favourite dishes and healthy eating as inspiration, they explored how carefully chosen words can paint vivid pictures for a reader. Their creative acrostics demonstrated that poetry can be found even in the recipes, flavours and foods that we enjoy every day.
Elsewhere, students experimented with a range of poetic forms, from mathematical poems that explored patterns and number to book spine poetry created from titles found in our library. These activities highlighted that poetry is not confined to a page; it can be found in every subject, every space and every imagination.
National Poetry Day reminded us that poetry is a powerful way to express ideas, share experiences and connect with the world around us. We are incredibly proud of the creativity, confidence and enthusiasm shown by our students throughout the day. Their poems demonstrated that, whether inspired by nature, community, travel, food or even mathematics, every student has a voice worth sharing.
