Heywood Academy Blog - 23.1.26
A Wonderful Week of Learning at School
As we come to the end of another fabulous week, it’s been inspiring to see our students participating in such a wide range of amazing educational experiences.
Our weekly assembly focused on the theme of individuality. Students reflected on what makes each of us unique and why it’s so important to celebrate the differences we all bring to our school community. The message was clear: our diversity is our strength, and recognising our own identity, and respecting the identity of others helps us create a school where everyone feels valued.
Thank you to all our students and staff for your enthusiasm, kindness and hard work. We look forward to another exciting week ahead!
Ms Zobenica’s weekly update
In PE, our Year 7 and Year 8 students have been introduced to the exciting sport of lacrosse. For many students, this has been their first experience of the game, making the lessons both challenging and enjoyable as they learn new skills. The focus of the initial sessions has been on how to correctly hold the lacrosse stick and how to scoop up the ball safely and effectively. Students have worked hard to develop their coordination and confidence, practising these skills through a range of structured drills and fun activities. A key part of the lessons has been working together. Students have supported one another by giving encouragement, sharing tips, and practising in pairs and small groups to help improve their technique. This teamwork has not only helped with skill development but has also encouraged communication, cooperation, and resilience.
An exciting week for Year 9 students as they attended a fantastic careers event at Rochdale Town Hall. Students had the opportunity to talk with many different organisations in Rochdale, who are involved in creative careers. These varied from architects to librarians, circus skills to game designers. The event provided students with a valuable opportunity to explore the wide range of creative career pathways available within the local area.
As part of their Outdoor Education lesson, Year 9 students enjoyed a memorable visit this week to Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). The trip provided students with a unique opportunity to experience live music performances
in a professional setting. During the visit, students watched a series of outstanding performances delivered by talented musicians from the college. With performances by vocalists, violinists, pianists, harpists and trumpet players. This variety gave students a broad insight into different musical disciplines and performance techniques, in a genre which they are studying in their music lessons in school. All the students were engaged throughout the visit, listening attentively and being fantastic role models. This visit helped to broaden students’ understanding of creative pathways and highlighted the opportunities available within music and the performing arts.
Ms Crossley’s weekly update
🌼 Year 7 – From Romeo and Juliet, to The Tempest, to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Year 7 have now moved from the intensity of Romeo and Juliet to the magical storms of The Tempest, and are currently stepping into the playful world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This half term, they are beginning to compare the similarities and differences between these genres—looking at how tragedy, romance, magic, and comedy each create very different moods and messages. I
🌀 Year 8 – Exploring Identity Across Texts
Our Year 8 classes have been digging deeper into how Shakespeare presents identity. They have been comparing characters from The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet, thinking about how young people assert themselves, how power shapes identity, and how characters change when they are challenged. This work has led to some thoughtful discussions about confidence, choices, and the ways literature reflects real-life experiences.
⚔️ Year 9 – Continuing the Journey Through Macbeth
Year 9 are still fully immersed in Macbeth, exploring ambition, guilt, and the consequences of the choices we make. They are beginning to examine how Shakespeare builds tension and how the themes remain relevant today. The maturity they have shown when tackling these big ideas has been fantastic.
Ms Nicholson’s weekly update
This Week in Creative Arts
This week has been a busy and inspiring one across the Creative Arts faculty, with students developing key skills and building confidence across a range of subjects.
In Year 7 IT (Photography), students have continued their introduction to photography by exploring the rules of composition. This week’s focus was on filling the frame to create stronger, more engaging images. Students analysed example photographs and then began planning their own compositions in preparation for practical photography work next week. This careful planning stage has helped them think creatively and intentionally about how photographs are constructed.
In Design and Technology, Year 8 students have begun an exciting new project designing candles. This work links closely to their historical learning about the Great Fire of London, encouraging students to think about design in a real‑world and historical context. Students have explored initial ideas, shapes, and purposes, and are beginning to understand how design choices can be influenced by events from the past.
Over in Art, Year 9 students have been creating artist research pages focused on Hannah Höch. They have explored her work within the Dada movement and created collage‑style outcomes inspired by her techniques. A key focus this week has been
developing fine motor skills, particularly through careful cutting and assembling with scissors, resulting in detailed and thoughtful outcomes.
In Food Technology, Year 9 students have been learning the theory behind bread making. They explored the role of ingredients, yeast fermentation, and kneading techniques, all in preparation for making their own bread rolls next week. Students have shown great engagement in understanding the science behind baking before putting it into practice.
Finally, in Music, Year 8 students have been studying musicals, learning about the basic principles that make them effective and engaging. They have explored how music, drama, and storytelling combine to create memorable performances and have begun analysing key features within well‑known examples.
Mr Lord’s weekly update
This Week in Learning: A Snapshot from Years 7, 8 and 9
As we settle into another exciting week of learning, our students across Years 7, 8 and 9 have been diving into hands‑on experiments, new mathematical skills and plenty of scientific discovery. Here’s a look at what they’ve been up to.
Year 7: Exploring Chemical Reactions & Earning Their Bunsen Burner Licence
Year 7 have embarked on their brand‑new science topic: Chemical Reactions. To support their understanding, they’ve been getting familiar with one of science’s most iconic tools—the Periodic Table. Students have been learning how elements are organised and why this structure is so important to chemists.
Towards the end of the week, excitement grew as they began working towards their Bunsen Burner Licence. This included practising safe lab techniques, striking matches confidently, and learning how to light a candle safely. A fantastic foundation for the practical lessons ahead!
Year 8: Area, Volume & the Fascinating World of Light Waves
Year 8 have had a productive week in both maths and science.
Maths
Students wrapped up their topic on Area and Volume, putting their learning to the test with their end‑of‑unit assessment. This topic has strengthened their spatial reasoning and ability to apply formulas to real-life contexts.
Science
In science, Year 8 continued to explore light waves. This week’s focus was on how light behaves when it travels from one material to another—specifically through reflection and refraction. Pupils investigated how light bends or bounces depending on the surface it meets, deepening their understanding of the physics behind everyday phenomena like mirrors, rainbows and lenses.
Year 9: Currency Conversions & Building Electromagnets
Year 9 have been busy strengthening both their mathematical and scientific thinking.
Maths
Students have been completing their unit on Money, with a key focus on currency conversions. They explored how exchange rates work and practised converting from one currency to another—a vital life skill for budgeting, travel and financial literacy.
Science
In science, Year 9 have stepped into the world of electromagnetism. After learning how electromagnets work, they designed and carried out their own investigation, testing how the number of turns in a wire affects the strength of an electromagnet. This hands-on challenge brought together their creativity, teamwork and scientific method skills—brilliant work all round!
Have a lovely weekend.
