Heywood Academy Blog - 24.4.26
Students engaged in a STEM session to start the week off!! In the 3D design lesson, students used Tinkercad to design something for their classroom. The projects were matched to each student’s ability, which worked really well. They were full of ideas and got straight to work. Students have already designed lots of different items, and many of these will be printed on our 3D printer, which they are very excited about.
It’s also been lovely to welcome Theo, who has joined us as a new student in our Year 7 classroom. He’s settled in well and it’s been great seeing him get involved so quickly.
Alongside all this, we’ve been busy recruiting more fantastic staff for September. We look forward to sharing more details on our new additions to the team shortly.
Ms Waft has also been working hard planning a school careers event on Wednesday 29th April. Students will have the chance to meet and talk to people from lots of different jobs and learn about the different paths they took to get where they are today.
Ms Crossley's weekly update
This Week in English – Reading Across KS3
This week in English, students across Years 7–9 are diving into some rich, thought-provoking texts that challenge them to think deeply about character, atmosphere and big ideas.
Year 7 are exploring Havisham by Carol Ann Duffy alongside Great Expectations. Pupils are focusing on voice and viewpoint, discussing how Dickens and Duffy present Miss Havisham’s emotions and how language choices help us understand a character’s inner world.
Year 8 are reading The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs. Lessons are centred on building tension and suspense, exploring how small details and unsettling events gradually create a sense of unease. Students are also beginning to consider the story’s moral questions around fate, choice and consequences.
Year 9 are studying A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This week’s reading focuses on Scrooge’s character and the Victorian context of the novel, helping pupils
understand how Dickens uses the story to comment on social responsibility, poverty and change.
🎧 Free Audiobooks for Students
As well as reading in class, students can also access free audiobooks to support their reading at home. Through Calibre Audio, children and young people with print disabilities (including ASC) can listen to a wide range of texts at no cost.
Students and families can sign up here: 👉 https://my.calibre.org.uk/sign-up
Audiobooks are a great way to enjoy stories, revisit key chapters, or build confidence and enjoyment in reading.
We’re really proud of the thoughtful discussions and engagement we’re seeing in English lessons this term and look forward to sharing more reading updates next week.
Ms Nicholson’s weekly update
It has been a vibrant and productive week across Creative Arts, with students demonstrating creativity, technical skill and growing confidence across a range of subjects.
In Art, our Year 8 students have been developing their portraiture skills by practising the loop technique inspired by the work of Jacob Everett. Students focused carefully on line, rhythm and control, using continuous looping marks to build expressive and engaging portraits. This technique encouraged pupils to think differently about mark-making while strengthening their observational skills.
Over in Design and Technology, Year 9 students made an exciting start on their Cold War–inspired project. Using Tinkercad, they began designing a bunker, applying their knowledge of 3D modelling and considering both form and function. Students explored how historical context influences design choices, particularly around protection, structure and purpose.
In IT, our Year 7 students launched their graphics topic by creating mind maps to support the design of a game sleeve. They generated imaginative ideas linked to colour, typography, imagery and target audience, laying strong foundations for thoughtful and purposeful design work later in the unit.
Meanwhile, in Music, Year 8 students have been enthusiastically rehearsing songs from The Greatest Showman in preparation for their upcoming performance. Focus has been placed on vocal confidence, ensemble work and expressive performance, with students showing great commitment and teamwork.
Finally, in Food Technology, Year 9 students showcased excellent practical skills by preparing a classic lasagne, concentrating particularly on producing two key sauces: a rich ragu and a smooth béchamel. This lesson reinforced essential cooking techniques such as sauce-making, layering, seasoning and time management, resulting in some very impressive outcomes.
It has been a fantastic week celebrating creativity, skill-building and cross-curricular learning. We are proud of the enthusiasm and effort students continue to bring to their Creative Arts lessons.
Ms Pugh’s weekly update
Year 8 Weekly Learning Blog
This week, Year 8 have been busy across the curriculum, throwing themselves into lessons and activities with great enthusiasm.
English
In English, students have started studying The Monkey’s Paw. The dramatic opening lessons certainly made an impression – the tense atmosphere and spooky themes had students genuinely terrified! This has been a brilliant way to hook their interest and encourage thoughtful discussion about suspense and consequences.
Science
Year 8 have been learning about the function of the skeleton, exploring how bones support the body, protect vital organs and allow movement. Students showed good curiosity and engagement when learning about how different bones work together.
Mathematics
In Maths, the focus has been on angles. Students practised identifying and measuring different types of angles and applying this knowledge to problem-solving activities.
Art
Art lessons have been inspired by the work of Jacob Everett. Students examined his style and techniques before beginning their own creative responses, showing imagination and careful attention to detail.
Food Technology
There were some delicious smells coming from Food Tech this week as students made cheese and onion pasties. Pupils followed recipes carefully, developed their practical skills and, of course, enjoyed tasting their finished products.
Outdoor Education
Year 8 enjoyed a visit to Queen’s Park, making the most of being outdoors. The session supported teamwork, wellbeing and an appreciation of outdoor spaces.
Physical Education
In PE, students played rounders, working on teamwork, communication and hand-eye coordination. There was excellent participation and sportsmanship throughout the lessons.
History
History lessons have focused on the Tudors, with students learning about Tudor life and key events from this fascinating period of British history.
Well done to Year 8 for another productive and exciting week of learning!
Ms Zobenica’s weekly update
All year groups have truly excelled in their PE lessons. It has been wonderful to see pupils confidently applying the rounders skills they have been learning into game situations. Their teamwork, perseverance and understanding of the rules have been clear throughout the week, and the progress made by all has been impressive. The children have shown great sportsmanship and resilience, supporting one another and enjoying friendly competition.
This week we have been making the most of the glorious weather. We have combined art and nature during outdoor learning. Students have used clay to create a tree portrait. The children were extremely proud of their masterpieces.
In Outdoor Education, pupils enjoyed walking to Queens Park, where learning continued beyond the classroom. Along the journey, pupils practised important road safety skills, including stopping, looking, and listening carefully when crossing roads.
I have been particularly impressed by how sensible and responsible the pupils have been while out in the community. They represented the school brilliantly, showing respect to others, listening carefully to instructions, and demonstrating excellent awareness when crossing busy roads. Their calm and mature behaviour made the trips a great success and a pleasure to be part of.
Mr Lord’s weekly update
🌟 A Brilliant Week of Learning in Science and Maths 🌟
It has been another busy and exciting week across Key Stage 3, with students fully immersed in hands-on investigations, problem solving, and preparing to showcase what they’ve learned.
Year 7 students have continued their exploration of the digestive system in science. This week, learning really came to life as students investigated the energy stored in different foods. They carried out practical experiments by safely burning food items and measuring the change in temperature to understand how energy is released. This practical approach supported students to make clear links between digestion, energy, and how our bodies use food to function.
Year 8 students have been working hard in science as they prepared for their end-of-unit assessment on the musculoskeletal system. They have revisited and strengthened their understanding of how bones, muscles, ligaments, and cartilage work together to allow
movement at the joints. In maths, Year 8 have continued developing their knowledge of geometry, with a particular focus this week on calculating the internal angles of polygons. Students applied their learning to a range of problem-solving activities, building both confidence and accuracy.
Year 9 students have brought their forces topic to a close in science, applying Newton’s Laws to a variety of real-life situations. Students demonstrated strong understanding by explaining how forces affect motion and everyday objects around us. In maths, learning has focused on Pythagoras’ Theorem, with students practising how to calculate an unknown hypotenuse. This has supported their reasoning skills and prepared them well for further mathematical problem solving.
Overall, it has been a fantastic week of purposeful learning, curiosity, and growing confidence across all year groups. We are incredibly proud of the focus and effort shown by our students.
