Work is well underway on the £100000 swimming pool and changing room refurbishment. With current progress we are still hopeful of reopening for January 2024.

At Smestow Academy, we value all members of our school community. We are proud to recognise National TA and National Teacher Day in our school.  Pupils have been busy writing thank you cards to staff as part of this event. We had an overwhelming response from our pupils, who were really grateful to be given the opportunity to say thank-you. All staff were presented with a handwritten card, with personal thank-you cards inside. We celebrated with a staff breakfast to show our gratitude to the hardworking and professional staff at Smestow Academy who make such a difference to the lives of our pupils every single day. 

We are raising awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing this week, through our assemblies delivered by Ms Patel and Heads of House, but also through our mindfulness challenges, of which all pupils have been invited to take part in.  Using our 5 top tips for looking after our mental health, pupils have been challenged to explore each tip and record this, in return for a leadership commendation.  Year 7 pupils can also participate in mindfulness colouring at lunchtime and are being offered "time to talk" during the different lunch sittings this week.

Mental Health UK have created a Conversation Guide: Talking to someone about mental health. 

Please do read this if you need to.

On Friday 29^th September, we were delighted to hold a cake sale to raise money for Macmillan cancer support.  We were very proud of the generosity of our pupils who donated shop bought cakes for sale.  Staff and pupils donated money at break time to purchase cakes and manage to raise an impressive £144.07 for the charity. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest UK charities providing specialist healthcare, advice and support for people suffering for cancer and their families.  Thanks to staff, pupils, parents and carers who took part and supported this event.

What a fantastic start it has been to the new academic year! 

Smestow academy have welcomed year 5 and year 6 pupils from Castlecroft Primary School to take part in a brilliant forensic workshop. This workshop involved pupils becoming forensic scientists for the day to investigate a crime that was committed. All the pupils showed impeccable behaviour and represented their school really well. 

A big thank you to the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils, staff and a special thank you to the wonderful Mrs Neish and Mrs Robertson for hosting such a great event.

At Smestow Academy, we are delighted that such a high proportion of our Year 11 pupils achieved some very positive results in their GCSE and BTEC qualifications.   We are pleased to announce that the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 5 and above in English and Maths increased by 6% and the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 4 and above in English and Maths increased by 8% from 2019 to 2023.  There has also been a 1.5 point increase in Attainment 8 headline figure when comparing 2019 and 2023. 

There were some wonderful performances from A Das (2 grade 9s, 5 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s), H Mann ( 3 grade 9s, 4 grade 8s and 2 grade 7s), P Thapa ( 3 grade 9s, 3 grade 8s, 2 grade 7s and a Distinction*) and J Singh ( 3 grade 9s, 3 grade 8s, 1 grade 6, 1 grade 5 and 2 Distinction*s)

Headteacher Ian Chamberlain shared ‘We are very pleased to see an increase in the headline figures against the most comparable data from 2019.  With a large proportion of our children achieving very positive results, we hope to see a greater number of them join our new 6^th form provision here at Smestow, in September.’ 

At Smestow Academy we are all very proud of the great achievements of many of our Y13 students receiving their results today delivering a 94.4% pass rate with 83% of the cohort having been accepted on courses at university.  There have been some outstanding performances in particular from E Kyei (AAB), E Martin (ABB), S Sigely (ABB) and L Webley (A, B, Distinction *) amongst a year group of hardworking individuals with a number of very strong grades. 

Headteacher Ian Chamberlain said ‘On behalf of all of us at Smestow Academy I am delighted to see so many of our learners achieving such wonderful results to enable them to move on to the next phase of their education whether it be university or apprenticeships.  The results are a credit to students, staff and parents and exemplify the hard work and commitment shown, particularly in the challenging climate they have faced in a post Covid environment and the subsequent grades awarded nationally.’ 

A level Results Day - Thursday 17^th August 2023

Results will be available from 8am till 11am in Dining Hall

---

GCSE Results Day - Thursday 24^th August 2023

Results will be available from 9am till 11am in Dining Hall

---

Pupils and staff all enjoyed a fantastic End of Year assembly to celebrate the progress made since joining Matrix Academies Trust in January. There was a fantastic atmosphere within the assembly as we presented a number of awards to individual pupils and Houses following a wide array of House competitions. Our first set of prefects were presented with their new ties by Mr Chamberlain before Ms Pitman and Mrs Butler presented pupils with Sparx Maths awards. This was followed by Mr Patel performing a karaoke showcase that is worthy of a Brit award due to his vocals and the accompanying dramatic acrobatics from G. Dillon (7G1).

The conclusion of the assembly was the presentation of the inaugural House Cup which went to Mr Craig and Holbeche House.

---