Heywood Academy Blog - 28.11.25
Celebrating Student Leadership at Our School!
We are incredibly proud to share that 45% of our students nominated themselves to be Student Council representatives! This amazing figure reflects the confidence, sense of belonging, and commitment our students have to making a real difference in our school community.
To those who were voted in, we hope you feel inspired to become the leaders of tomorrow. Your voices matter, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact you’ll make.
Our first Student Council meeting is just around the corner, and it will focus on refining our rewards system to ensure every student is recognised for their individual efforts and achievements. This is an exciting step toward creating an environment where everyone feels valued.
As part of the nomination process, each student recorded a video outlining their ideas for supporting the development of our school. These were shared during assembly, and the creativity and passion on display were inspiring.
A huge thank you to Ms Crossley for her outstanding coordination and to Ms Nicholson for her fabulous work designing our ballot box. Your efforts made this process engaging and memorable for everyone.
Watch this space for more Student Council updates, we’re just getting started!
Ms Zobenika’s weekly update
This week, our Year 7, 8 and 9 students enjoyed a wonderful visit to the local garden centre. The pupils showed fantastic independence throughout the trip, exploring the displays, asking thoughtful questions, and demonstrating excellent behaviour while out in the community.
Back in school, our PE lessons have been full of energy and new challenges. Year 7 students began their gymnastics unit, learning key shapes, balances and travelling movements with great enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Year 9 have been developing their shooting technique in netball, focusing on accuracy, and control during game play.
In addition to their curriculum work, all year groups have been getting creative in preparation for our upcoming coffee morning. Students have been making beautiful Christmas crafts using natural resources, ready to sell on their very own stall. Another fantastic week!
Ms Nicholson’s weekly update
Creative Arts Weekly Round-Up
This week in Creative Arts has been full of imagination, skill-building, and impressive results across all year groups.
Year 8 Music Students have been channelling their festive spirit by writing original lyrics for a Christmas song, using the structure of Hallelujah as their foundation. It’s been inspiring to see their creativity shine through as they balance tradition with their own ideas.
Year 9 Food Technology Our kitchens were buzzing with activity as students prepared potato wedges—both regular and sweet—paired with a fresh tzatziki dip. The results were excellent, and the class demonstrated great teamwork and attention to detail in both preparation and presentation.
Year 7 Art The final touches were added to the jellyfish wax-resist pieces, and the outcomes were nothing short of stunning. The vibrant colours and intricate designs showcased the students’ patience and artistic growth.
Year 7 IT Students have embarked on a new topic: digital media. This week, they explored what makes an effective poster, considering layout, colour, and messaging. It’s exciting to see them develop a critical eye for design.
Year 8 Design Technology In DT, students have been experimenting with Canva to create design concepts for sustainable food packaging. Their ability to pick up digital design skills so quickly was impressive, and their ideas reflected thoughtful consideration of sustainability.
Ms Pugh’s weekly blog
🌟 Year 8 Weekly Blog
English
This week in English, we stepped back in time and explored Old English through the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. We read an extract from The Canterbury Tales and had a go at translating it into modern English. It was challenging but fun to see how much the language has changed!
Science
In Science, we continued our topic on Energy, focusing especially on how electrical circuits work. We’ve been investigating how energy flows and what makes circuits function effectively.
Maths
Maths this week has been all about algebra. We’ve been plotting coordinates on graphs using algebraic rules and equations. It’s been great practice in applying algebra to visual patterns.
Geography
Year 8 are almost finished with their exciting model river projects. We’ve taken things to the next level by adding flowing water to test how our rivers behave—erosion, deposition, and all!
Outdoor Education
For Outdoor Education, we visited Gordon Riggs Garden Centre. We researched winter-growing shrubs and flowers and explored the huge range of Christmas decorations. A festive and informative trip!
Forest School
In Forest School, we’re in full festive mode! We’ve been busy being little elves, creating handmade Christmas treats to sell at our upcoming parents’ open evening.
Music
Music this week was lively and colourful as we used Boomwhackers to create our own Christmas music. We’re working towards a festive performance at the end of term.
Mr Lord’s weekly update
Science
Our students have been diving into exciting topics across all year groups:
· Year 7 continued their exploration of separation techniques by creating salt crystals, a hands-on way to see science in action!
· Year 8 wrapped up their work on energy levels, focusing on how energy stores change in electrical circuits.
· Year 9 explored the fascinating world of ores, synthetic polymers, and ceramics, understanding their uses within the Earth topic.
Maths
Problem-solving and logical thinking have been at the forefront:
· Year 8 applied their knowledge of equations to generate values and plot straight-line graphs.
· Year 9 tackled inequalities, mastering the use of greater than, less than, and equals signs.
Ms Crossley’s weekly update
Exploring Stories and Literature Across Key Stages
This term, our English classes are embracing creativity and critical thinking through exciting projects:
· Year 7 are continuing to write their own safari adventure stories and are now focusing on editing and refining their work.
· Year 8 have moved on to studying Chaucer and are comparing different styles of epic poetry.
· Year 9 are still crafting wartime stories and learning how to edit their work for clarity and impact.
To enrich these experiences, we encourage students to engage in age-appropriate outside reading. Here are some suggestions:
· Year 7: The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
· Year 8: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Grendel by John Gardner
· Year 9: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Students who upload evidence of this extra reading on Evidence for Learning will receive an Achievement Point.
Student Council News
We’re excited to announce the first meeting of the Student Council . I can't wait to see what initiatives they come up with..
Special Visitor: Elsie Blundell, Local MP
This week, we were delighted to welcome Elsie Blundell, our local MP, to Heywood Academy. Elsie delivered an inspiring talk to our students about the importance of community, leadership, and resilience. Her visit sparked some great discussions !
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
