Same Difference Youth Festival 2026

We are now getting ready for #WvSameDifference festival 2025 please save the date! It is taking place in West Park on Saturday 1 August 2026 11am-6pm there is going to be lots of exciting things to get involved in and all the activities are FREE. 

Tickets will be released soon so watch please keep an eye of our social media! 

All the latest information on the CEP and the 2026 Same Difference Festival can be found on the socials links are on the poster below.  

For YOUNG performer applications please complete the application form HERE the deadline for applications is Friday Friday 5 June 2026: 

We looking to receiving lots of exciting applications!

Any questions please contact Ros wolvescep@gmail.com

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Visual Arts Trail 

Calling all young creatives we are looking to engage with some different groups of young people who may potentially face more barriers in accessing the arts.

We are looking to recruit four small groups of young people. We would like to engage particularly with two groups from a SEND background and two groups attending a PRU provision. However, if you are interested and have any further questions please do get in touch.

Groups recruited will be able to join in our discussion and share your ideas to help shape the future of the visual arts trail. 

If this is you and you are interested in getting involved please email: 
m.puttick@wlv.ac.uk

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Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Join us this May Half Term for a fantastic programme of creative workshops for children and young people aged 5–16. From making personalised self‑sculptures inspired by identity and storytelling to experimenting with bold acetate drawings projected at large scale, each session is hands‑on, playful and imaginative — perfect for young makers of all kinds.

Date: Tuesday 26 May 
Title: Build Your Own “Self Sculpture”
Activity Overview: Children create a 40cm doll‑like self‑portrait sculpture using newspaper and masking tape, inspired by themes in Shaquelle Whyte’s figurative work. They reflect on identity, clothing, colours, personality, and interests, drawing details onto the finished sculpture.
Workshop Timings: 
10:45–12:15
12:30–2:00
2:15–3:45
Capacity: 15 per session
Cost: £4
Take‑Home: A personalised 40cm (approx) “self sculpture.”
Book you or to find out more: https://wolverhamptonart.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173677015

Date: Thursday 28 May 
Title: Big Ideas! – Projected Drawings Workshop
Activity Overview: Children draw on clear acetate sheets using colourful pens and cellophane. With an overhead projector, their drawings are projected large‑scale onto a wall, echoing the spirit of community‑curated art in the Georgian Gallery. Families then take their acetate artworks home to display in windows.
Workshop Timings:
10:45–11:45
12:00–1:00
1:30–2:30
2:45–3:45
Capacity: 10 per session
Cost: £4.50
Take‑Home: A completed acetate artwork for window display.
Book you or to find out more: https://wolverhamptonart.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173677017

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ArtForum
 

Youth Programs for ages 14-25 years old at Wolverhampton Art Gallery 

We are currently recruiting and would love to hear from you if you have a passion for art and creativity and would like to know more about how museums and galleries work behind the scenes then get in touch to find out more.  

FREE and ALL welcome 

Come and find out more about ArtForum and how to get involved in future projects too! For more information or to book your place please contact Ros: RosalindManasseh@gmail.com

Take a look at the ArtForum film produced recently in response to the Evelyn De Morgan exhibition working with artist Amber Drew:

And the audio piece that the ArtForum group produced recently with artist Fred Hubble responding to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 exhibition:

Both projects were produced working with RAG arts (Rosalind Manasseh) in collaboration with Dinosaur Kilby, Creative Producer: Digital at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. 

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Gazebo

Gazebo have a truly exciting programme of highly subsidised Theatre In Education available throughout the school year!

Coming up this Summer Term:

'If You See A Crocodile' for Nursery & Reception from 20 April 2026. 
An imaginative, interactive show using puppets and popular action songs to engage young learners in early concepts including counting, shapes and letters. 
The 5 little ducks have gone missing over the hills and far away. Help find them and bring them safely home before the crocodile snaps them up! 

'Hidden Treasures' for Years 5, 6 & Key Stage 3 Touring June 2026
An engaging performance-based workshop that brings the rich history, cultures and achievements of ancient African civilisations to life thought storytelling, drama and music. 

You can also book our 'Addressing Hate Crime' workshop and 'Invasion of the Flingatrons' all year round!

For even better value, become a Friend of Gazebo! Big Discounts, Resources, CPD and much more....

See our full programme here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ExVIGG73hOMl1ld-2egHUXVKTCZgYt_/view?usp=sharing

Out of School Hours Activities
FREE places available for our weekly Youth Theatre

Contact us now: info@gazebotheatre.com
01902 296199/ 07723 910082

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RAW HAF Activities

We were delighted to return to our regular Wolverhampton venue partner All Saints Action Network, delivering another successful four-day programme funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and the Department for Education.
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The HAF programme, introduced nationally in 2021, provides free school holiday provision including meals and enriching activities for children from low-income households—and we are proud to contribute to that mission locally.

Across the week, young people explored a wide range of creative techniques while learning about healthy lifestyles and Deaf awareness.

Across the week the young people created clay fruit and vegetable sculptures, spring daffodil watercolours, graphite observational drawings, cardboard sculptures and wooden birdhouses, learnt BSL and celebrated World Creativity and Innovation Day by making galaxy jars and kinetic Agamographs led by RAW facilitator Jen. 

We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated staff, interpreters and volunteers for helping make these programmes possible.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3QGfkF4

For more information contact: 
realartsworkshops@gmail.com

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South Asian Heritage Month July 2026

Unity in Diversity

A garden full of colour, roots and life. One Community, many voices, many journeys.

A unique way to engage your pupils to celebrate and learn about South Asian Heritage Month, July 2026 (SAHM).

Sohan Kailey (Award Winning Performing Artist) will be providing exciting educational and cultural workshops through the month of July. Learn more about the Arts and Culture and lets go on a journey countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Mauritius. Explore the festivals, traditions and contributions these nations have made and some of the leading famous figures. An exciting way for your pupils to share their cultural experience from these nations.

Take part in:

• Bhangra, Bollywood Dance workshops
• Indian Storytelling
• Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation 
• Music, Arts and Culture

Come dressed up in your cultural clothing
And lots more!

Fully immerse yourselves in these colourful, vibrant and dynamic workshops for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools.

To celebrate, educate and commemorate the cultures, histories and identities of South Asian communities, particularly within the UK.

Celebrate your staff, pupils and communities that come from South Asia and to educate other communities and to unite through the arts, storytelling and sharing our experiences and values.

Now taking bookings for SAHM (1st July 2026 - 31st July 2026)

For more information and to book please contact:
Sohan Kailey
07957 338 643
https://www.sohankailey.com/
ozonepr@hotmail.com

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The Grand Theatre 

We are excited to announce yet another year of our PLAY IN A WEEK and STAGES SUMMER SCHOOL programmes, which will be taking place this summer and we would LOVE for you to get involved!

Each programme allows you to work with industry professionals to not only produce a final performance, but also enhance skills, techniques and confidence when performing.

PLAY IN A WEEK:
A fast-paced, fun-filled week creating and performing a play from scratch!
Dates: Monday 27th – Friday 31st July 2026
Ages: 12 – 17
£130 per person*
 
STAGES SUMMER SCHOOL:
Two unforgettable weeks of acting, singing, movement, confidence-building, and performance. Experience includes performing with a live band!
Dates: Monday 3rd – Saturday 15th August 2026 (please note that this will be taking place Monday-Friday, except for the final Saturday performance)
Ages: 10 – 17
£400 per person*

A £50 non-refundable deposit must be made to secure the position in the programme. Monthly payment plans of £150 are available and can be discussed with the team on request.  
*a £4 booking fee may apply
To book, please contact the Community and Creative Engagement team:
Engagement@grandtheatre.co.uk
or by calling 01902 57 33 20.

We also ask that you complete the following form, which states which programme your child may be interested in participating in, as well as any emergency contact information: 

BOOKINGS OPEN NOW
For more information contact: 
https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/summerschool/

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Smestow YR8 Football tournament perform fantastically well at the trust football tournament. On Friday 8^th May, 9 YR8 boys and 2 YR7s travelling across to Etone to compete at the annual trust football tournament. A special mention must go to Lucas YR7 and Prince YR7 who were playing up a year group on the day and did fantastically well in what was difficult conditions for them but they really stood up to the challenge and let their talent shine through. A massive shoutout to Muhammad YR8 who was named Player of the Tournament by Mr Webb as before the tournament, he volunteered to go in goal for the team and he really was brilliant in every game we played especially the first two games of the group stage where he kept the team in with a shout of getting something from them. He made some fantastic saves and really developed the more and more into the tournament, performing excellently. Like Muhammad, the whole team grew into the tournament and with the final game of the group stage we got a 1-0 win against Bloxwich thanks to a brilliant free kick from Gurjot YR8 that was too powerful for the goalkeeper and then the whole team (subs included) worked really hard to hold onto the win by showing excellent work rate and togetherness.

After the lunch break we played in our final game which was play offs for everyone to see where each team would finish in the final standings. We came up against Dame Elizabeth which was a very competitive game and could have gone either way, our lads really stepped up and played some fantastic football in the right way and working together as a team.

An epic effort from everyone throughout the whole day resulted in us coming 6^th in the tournament. The pupils should be really proud of their efforts and showed themselves and Smestow in an excellent light.

Meet our Teacher of Textiles & Food Technology - Mrs Preece

I joined Smestow in September 2023, as a Teacher of Textiles and Food – both subjects that hadn’t been taught at Smestow for several years.  Since then, I have had the joy of developing both curriculum areas and seeing pupils achieve and thrive in both practical subjects – learning skills they can take forward into their adult lives and also extend their creativity.  Before becoming a teacher, I had worked in the costume industry for many years, and I love seeing my passion for fashion and costume create a spark of interest in our pupils; this is especially visible in my weekly fashion club, where students can come and practice their sewing skills and chat over the latest catwalk shows and celebrity fashion.

Outside of school, I spend lots of my free time on creative projects – from making huge cakes for family gatherings to designing crazy headpieces to wear to weddings!  This summer, I plan to start writing and illustrating my own children’s book based on the life of my dog.

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Meet our Tigers Lead - Mr Holmes

I joined Smestow in September 2023 after leaving the school as a pupil at the end of Year 13 six years ago. The thing I enjoy most about working at smestow is being able to see long standing traditions such as fancy dress for children in need still embedded into the culture of the school. I teach PE where I am able to pass on my enthusiasm for sport to our pupils. I am also the pastoral intervention lead where I run our “Tigers” intervention program a which enables our pupils to reach their full potential and contribute to the positive culture that we have at smestow. 

Outside of school, I coach my main sport of cheerleading. As an athlete, I was fortunate enough to attend the world championships on three separate occasions performing at both club and national level. 

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Meet Miss Field - our newly appointed Head of Creative Arts!

Since joining Smestow in September 2023, I have had the privilege of establishing the Performing Arts department at this wonderful school. I teach Dance and Drama across Key Stages 3 and 4 and am proud to serve as Heasd of Creative Arts, overseeing the four creative disciplines of Dance, Drama, Music and Art.

I am deeply passionate about nurturing pupils’ creativity and inspiring a lifelong appreciation for the arts. It is incredibly rewarding to work within such a supportive and welcoming school community, where creativity is encouraged and pupils are given the opportunity to express themselves and grow in confidence.

Outside of school, I enjoy staying active through dance, Pilates and the gym. 

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Meet our Assistant Head of House - Mr Sidhu

I joined Smestow Academy in September 2020 as a trainee teacher on my PGCE placement and have been proud to remain as a full-time member of staff ever since. I teach Mathematics across Key Stages 3 and 4 and also support our pastoral provision as Assistant Head of House, working closely with Heads of House and the attendance team to promote positive behaviour, attendance, and punctuality. 

Smestow is a fantastic school with brilliant pupils and a supportive, dedicated staff team that I am proud to be part of. I am passionate about helping pupils believe in their potential and feel confident about their future, whatever path they choose. 

As a young Panjabi male teacher, I am proud to be a visible role model and strongly believe that representation matters - every pupil deserves to feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and unwinding with films, games and podcasts.

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Meet our Head of 6th form and Assistant Head of Sixth form - Mrs Bryant and Mr Davies! 

Name: Mrs Bryant

Role: Assistant Head (Exams, Data, Assessment & Careers) and Head of Sixth Form

I joined Smestow in April 2024 and have loved being part of such a dedicated and vibrant school community. Alongside my leadership role, I teach A Level Biology as well as Science across Key Stages 3 and 4. I’ve been teaching for nine years and supporting students both academically and pastorally continues to be the most rewarding part of my career. I am incredibly excited to keep watching the Sixth Form grow and to help our students achieve their aspirations.

Fun fact: I’m a huge dog lover and share my home with two giant Newfoundland's and one very cheeky Labrador!

Name: Mr Davies

Role: Science Teacher and Assistant Head of Sixth Form 

I joined Smestow in September 2016 as a PE teacher and began teaching Science in 2017. I have loved how Smestow Academy has grown into a positive and successful community where pupils are well mannered and make good progress. I teach A Level Biology as well as Triple Biology to KS4 and Science to KS3 pupils. My additional responsibility in school is Assistant Head of Sixth Form where I support students in making the right choices in their next steps as well as ensure they make progress in Level 3 studies.

In my Spare Time I enjoy:  Watching football (I am a big football fan), listening to music and going on long walks with my family

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Congratulations to the Year 11 pupils who completed their speaking examinations last week. Pupils performed well on the examination which is worth 25% of their final grade. Congratulations to some candidates who went above and beyond the have inspired conversations. Pupils commented on how nature was good for your mental health and your soul and there was even a paraphrased quote from Roald Dahl – in French! It was also heartwarming to see Year 11 students helping others in social time. We have never seen so many pupils speaking French together. Thank you to all students who put in 100% effort in lessons and the extra study seminars that took place on Fridays after school! Now the focus is on the listening and reading exams, and the final writing exam which takes place on June 8^th.  

Use these links to help you to prepare for the remaining exams: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zhy647h

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/resources/free-audio-files-for-grade-9-1-gcse-french?srsltid=AfmBOoqlFbS6jK0uDSiVAhQ9oYVDJQlwZjgud8aSxIVNDZLeHHSdWaWH

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/french-2024.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Category%2FSpecification-and-sample-assessments

• What's the best day to fry eggs?  Fri-yay!
• Why is the hulk such a good gardener?  Because he has green fingers!
• What is a bunny's favourite type of music? Hip hop!
• What did the melon say when his grass was going brown?  I guess I better water-me-lon! (Mrs Ellison!)
• What do you call cheese that's not yours?  Nacho cheese!
• Why was the snowman in the bucket?  Because it melted!
• Why can't you trust atoms?  Because they make up everything!
• What shoes do ninjas wear?  Sneakers!
• How do skeletons call their friends?  On the telebone!
• What did the egg say to the other egg when it made it laugh?  You are cracking me up!
• Why was the computer cold?  It forgot to close it's windows!
• Why was 6 scared of 7?  Because 7, 8, 9!
• What do you call a car that's named after a body part?  A knee-san (Nissan!)
• What do you call a man with a runner toe?  Roberto
• Where does a pencil go on vacation?  Pennsylvania
• What do you call a fish with no eyes?  Fssshhhh

Knock knock

Who's there?

Boo!

Boo hoo!

No need to cry about it

The Year 9 girls recently took part in a Netball tournament at Etone College, competing against six other schools within the trust. Throughout the event, the team demonstrated great determination and teamwork, playing to the best of their ability in every match.

Each game provided a new challenge, allowing the players to test their skills against a variety of opponents. The team showed resilience and a positive attitude, supporting one another both on and off the court. The trust wide tournament was a fantastic opportunity for the players to enjoy netball and build connections with students from other schools. The team enjoyed the experience, showing excellent sportsmanship and representing the school with pride.

Pupils have continued to work incredibly hard throughout rehearsals, and we are now focusing on the final scenes and songs as we move closer to the refining stage in preparation for show time.

Everyone should feel very proud of their dedication and the progress they have made so far—it’s really beginning to come together!

To celebrate International women's day our Sixth form students and some of our Year 9 girls took part in the House of Lords International Women's day event online. This event allowed them to explore the current laws around women's rights, and also get an insight into the careers open to women within our government.

During the last two weeks of term, we had a very special guest join us in the Academy. To celebrate our pupils amazing attendance the Easter bunny made a surprise appearance to hand out some Easter goodies to pupils who had 100% attendance. On the last day of term, the Easter bunny upped his game and delivered incredible Kinder chocolate hampers during each lunch sitting to one lucky pupil in each year group. Well done to all of our pupils who showed fantastic commitment to their learning!

World Autism Day takes place on 2^nd April and raises awareness of autism, highlighting what can be done to improve the quality of life for autistic people.

Here at Smestow Academy, we will be celebrating World Autism Day on Friday 27^th March and invite all members of our school community to wear blue socks to celebrate the event.  This is part of our active citizenship offer in school and one of the many meaningful opportunities that encourage our pupils to be responsible, respectful citizens who contribute positively to society.

Please join us in wearing your blue socks tomorrow!