10xy3 have been studying the topic of trigonometry in Maths.  To bring Maths to life we used a clinometer (a device which measures angles of elevation and depression) and a tape measure to try and find the height of the school building.  We did get a variety of answers, most being between 8 and 9 metres, we then discussed the obstacles and reasons for why the results are different, including accuracy of measurements, the height of the person taking the angle measurement and the incline of the ground itself.  It gave the pupils a real insight of how trigonometry could be used in real life applications.

DofE Expeditions 2025. 48 YR9 & 10 pupils have embarked to Cannock Chase over the last week to complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition and what fun was had by all. There was huge success throughout the days spent over at Cannock Chase, from navigating their way across the chase to cooking up a storm on the evening for their dinners. With 100% pass rate, it will be something that the pupils will not forget in a hurry and look back at it with great pride and accomplishment. The two different groups were faced with complete different conditions as it was 30 degree heat on one expedition but then strong winds and rain on the other, despite this all of our pupils showed perseverance, togetherness as a team and the willingness to succeed and push through the pain of working for over 10 hours across two days. Many of our pupils shone throughout our time at the chase, with the Smestow value of Success Achieved Together at the full front of everything we did. From navigating as a team across the chase, to putting the tents up when we got to the campsite, cooking their dinners together to even washing up after they had cooked. There was even time to toast some marshmallows and have a game of cards on the evening around the campsite.

All pupils really did withhold this value and many others as they really did themselves and Smestow proud. Well done to all pupils and we look forward to not only next years Bronze expedition, but many of these pupils going on to their Silver Award for DofE which is fantastic for their development and career pathways.

With the summer holidays quickly approaching, we are mindful that some of our pupils might struggle over the break with not having routine or not seeing their peers as often.

There is a new service available in Wolverhampton for young people to access to support their emotional wellbeing - Wysa.  A free, private and non-judgmental space to talk about anything that may be troubling them.  There are a range of self-help exercises such as mindfulness and meditation to therapy tools.  Scan the QR code or use the link to find out more.

#SmestowAcademy #SuccessAchievedTogether #MentalHealthMatters #EmotinalWellbeing

Here at Smestow Academy, we are grateful for the service that our staff provide to our pupils and the wider community. We are incredibly proud and grateful for Mr Thomas, who celebrates his 30th year of teaching here at Smestow. To honour this, we asked him to put his thoughts down on the changes he has seen over the years.

I suspect that the last few weeks of the Summer Term 2025 are the closest that I will ever get to experiencing actual time travel…

There are two reasons for this.

The first was Sports Day. The world of sport isn’t my natural habitat, but on this day I found myself watching not only the student competitors, but also the spectating staff and the other students sitting at the side of the track cheering on their peers. There was that healthy air of competition, the sun was out and I caught myself thinking ‘Yes! This is what Sports Day at Smestow used to feel like!’ The sporting events were the same but the climate had changed and I don’t mean the weather. There was a real sense of ‘community’ and, dare I say it, that everyone was actually enjoying themselves…

I had the same feeling during the GCSEs and Year 10 mock exams. Something had changed. In (recent) times past it had sometimes felt like dragging bags of sand over broken glass to prepare students for their exams. This exam season it felt like all students wanted to achieve success. Form time revision sessions, lessons during the day and after school study sessions meant that sometimes I would see students four hours in one day. The English class that I taught rose to this challenge.

I realised that actually this wasn’t a return to what Smestow used to be like. This was something new. This was Smestow, but better.

This was the ‘cultural shift’ that Matrix had set their sights on when they took over Smestow two years ago. The staff at the time knew that this shift was long overdue, but, like myself, probably felt like the Egyptian workforce, standing next to those massive stone hued blocks, being shown the blueprints for the pyramids;

Worker: You want us to do what?

Boss: We’re going to build this. Trust us. It will work.

Worker: (looking at the massive stone block) Okay… Let’s do it.

I am honoured to have been part of a staff who have risen to this challenge. It has happened, it has happened fast and it feels secure.

I’ve never been ‘nostalgic’ or ever really ‘pined for the old days’ of Smestow. Teaching moves too fast to allow for that. The annual new student intake, new classes, new initiatives, refined curriculums and modified exam content has kept this job fresh and interesting for me for 30 years.

I was head of English at Smestow for twelve years, managing an excellent team of nine staff (some of whom I had taught while they were students at Smestow!). I was a member of SLT for six years, but it was during the more ‘troubled times’ of the school that made me choose to return to my ‘second love’ of full-time classroom teaching – which allowed me to spend more quality time with my ‘first love’, Mrs Thomas!

On a purely selfish note, I have absolutely loved my job for the past 30 years. In an interview I gave for the Times Educational Supplement (name drop…) I shamelessly expressed how my accountant and city trader peers might have had the expensive sports cars (which they never seemed to have time to actually drive) but were jealous of my smug job satisfaction and stories of the classroom.

It’s true. In which other job could you write, direct and produce your own theatre production (two, in fact, in my first years as a newly qualified teacher at Smestow – just add half a dozen willing sixth form actors and an enthusiastic behind-the-scenes-crew)? In what other job could you be asked to ‘step in’ and lead a ‘Camps International’ group of eighteen year 11 and 13 students to Peru? For a MONTH? An incredible experience, supporting local communities in building much needed primary schools and health centres – before a five day hike of the Inca Trail through the Andes and indulge my childhood ‘Indiana Jones’ fantasies by visiting Machu Picchu.

Support a Turing Scheme trip to Marrakesh for a week? Count me in. A job that has allowed me to indulge my love of travel – but, more importantly, see young people in absolute awe of new places and new experiences. You can keep your ‘office job’.

But if you ask me what has kept me turning up at Smestow every day for the past 30 years, besides starting every day off by parking my car next to the spectacular views of bright green playing fields which roll down to the canal, backed by the thick trees climbing up to Wightwick bank?

Stories.

Reading them mainly. Out loud. In a classroom or in an assembly. With voices. Lots of different voices.

It sounds cliché, but, for me it’s a ‘magic’ that never grows old. I just love reading to students and feeling them getting ‘pulled in’ (like a ‘tractor beam’ from Star Wars). Exotic trips aside(!), there is genuinely only one reason that I do this job and that is to give young people the opportunity to try to achieve some success that will give them CHOICE in their own lives (and English is one of the BIG keys on the keychain to facilitate this). I have been honoured in supporting young people to create their own (life) stories and it has been a privilege to have been part of Smestow Academy’s continuing story.

Congratulations Mr Thomas and thank you for all you have done for staff and pupils, past and present here at Smestow Academy.

JULY 14 2025 

Matrix Academy Trust is proud to announce a visit to Paris from Friday March 13^th to Monday March 16^th. 50 pupils from each school in the trust are invited to participate in the visit. This exciting opportunity is open to pupils who are in currently in Year 7 and 8 and will include a visit to the Eiffel Tower, either Montmartre or the Stade de France and Disneyland. We will be staying at the PGL Château Romaine centre near Disneyland. Pupils will receive a letter from their form tutor today explaining all the details. 

Teams of 6 pupils from each of our Trust schools recently enjoyed a football-related language learning enrichment activity with a company called Futbol Lingo at Barr Beacon School. 

Owner Pierce Kiembi is an inspirational football coach and linguist, who aims to inspire future linguists and open young people’s minds about the wealth of opportunities for people who speak other languages and also understand other cultures in the football industry. 

Pierce has a wealth of experience in the football industry as both a professional player and a coach and worked  with Year 8 pupils from across the trust. There was a motivational talk on the value of languages followed by a practical football session conducted in French/German!  

With the aim of gaining points for participation throughout the day, in competition with the 6 other schools in our Trust, our pupils showed excellent teamwork in preparing and delivering a presentation on why their Francophone or German speaking country should host a football tournament. 

Presenting to a group of French & German teachers, conversing in French as well as English did not daunt our pupils, who spoke confidently about their country's food, transport links, stadia and star players. 

Then out on the pitch, our football fanatics collaborated with their peers from other Matrix academies, demonstrating their football skills whilst collecting vital coaching tips from Pierce and improving their languages as they competed. 

Our overall winners for this year were Turves Green Boys School who have taken home the Matrix trophy for this year. Congratulations to all the pupils who took part in the event and to the Year 9 pupils who represent Smestow Academy. 

From 1st – 5th July, pupils from all Matrix Academy Trust schools, including Elmwood School who are joining the Matrix family in September, embarked on the final International trip of the 2024–2025 academic year. The 55 children experienced an unforgettable week in the heart of Italy.

During their time in Italy, students explored some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, including the awe-inspiring Colosseum and the Pantheon. A hands-on gladiator school experience gave everyone a taste of ancient Roman life — a highlight for many, even with the heat!

Adventurous spirits were tested on the high ropes course, followed by visits to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the lively Piazza Navona. Although a planned trip to the Vatican was sadly cancelled due to a metro line closure, spirits remained high. Instead, the group enjoyed a sunny afternoon on the beach at Ostia, where paddling in the sea proved the perfect way to end a packed itinerary.

The behaviour of all students was exemplary throughout the trip — a real credit to the Trust and to their schools. The final trip of this year was a resounding success, leaving everyone with memories that will last a lifetime – and a lot of enthusiasm to participate in next year’s adventures!

🎬✨ Lights, camera, PROM! Our Year 11s shone like stars at their Hollywood-themed prom at the Molineux on 26th June 2025. A night of glam, laughter, and unforgettable memories! 🌟
#HollywoodProm #Year11Magic #MolineuxMoments

On the 23rd and 24^th June we hosted our new Year 12 pupils for their Sixth form Induction day. The two days consisted of subject taster sessions where pupils carried out a locust dissection, joined our current Year 12 students in their maths and sport lessons and explored the careers available to them with an IT or Business qualification. We look forward to seeing all of our pupils on results day to celebrate some amazing results.

World Population Day takes place today on 11th July. It's aim is to raise awareness of world population issues. Here at Smestow Academy, we have taken the opportunity to celebrate the population of our school with Year 9 form groups researching into and creating displays around 10 countries that our children come from.

Pupils have demonstrated our school motto of "success achieved together" in preparing these.

Our displays can be seen around site - we hope you enjoy learning about these countries, as much as we enjoyed creating them! 

The winning form will receive an extended lunch...stay tuned to find out who are the successful form!

#SmestowAcademy #SuccessAchievedTogether #WorldPopulationDay #Diversity