We are really excited to launch to parents and families our 5 Smestow Teaching Principles. We will share regular updates with you. At Smestow academy, Quality of Education is at the heart of what we do, and echo’s the vision of Matrix Academy Trust “Education without Exception” 

We have created an entirely new curriculum since becoming part of Matrix, having a set of clearly defined ‘end points’ so pupils are really clear about what is being learnt.  

A carefully crafted and sequenced curriculum is built around these end points, and is delivered using a range of evidence informed approaches to teaching that are proven to move learning forwards. 

Our huge progress in examination outcomes is testament to this, and that hard work of both pupils and staff, as well as a shared understanding of the curriculum.  

At the heart of the delivery of our curriculum are the 5 Smestow teaching Principles. These form the basis of all lessons in the academy, and give pupils a consistent diet of high-quality teaching and learning experiences. These are based on robust educational evidence of teaching approaches that have the highest impact on pupil learning and progress. Nothing is left to chance.  

Careers information and guidance is an important aspect of our personal development programme here at Smestow Academy.  Not only do pupils complete careers lessons as part of the form time programme but subject content is also linked to careers and aspirations as part of our curriculum offer.  We are very lucky to have an independent careers advisor work with us in school.  Barbara Whyte is in school on Thursdays and meets individuals each week to look at their careers aspirations and support them on their next steps.

We have a new email address in school, specifically for our Careers programme - careers@smestowacademy.co.uk.  Please use this email address if you have any questions or wish to book a careers appointment for your child.  Please also take a look at our careers page HERE to find out more information - we have a lot of support for pupils, students, parents and carers.

During Open Evening, enthusiastic Year 6 pupils entered a 'Who's to Blame' competition introduced by the English department. Four lucky pupils from different primary schools across Wolverhampton will be receiving a selection of books, a certificate and some Smestow stationary as their prize. The responses to this competition were fantastic and are certainly in keeping with our Smestow ethos of #successachievedtogether.

Congratulations to A Samuels ( 7G1), P Singh (8H1), R Kaur (9H1), F Imamudeen (10H1) and K Agyei-Darko ( 11E1) for being kayscientists of the month. 

Keep up the brilliant work and continue to strive to improve and be your best. 

Who will be the kayscientist next month?

This morning, our school council reps had the opportunity to deliver a speech to each other, and Mr Patel, with the hope of being voted on to the School Executive Council Committee. There were 11 pupils who showed great courage and confidence to stand in front of their peers and share why they would be suitable for the role. Pupils then carried out a democratic vote for who they want to represent them on the School Executive Council Committee

#SchoolCouncil #PupilLeadership #Democracy #MakingADifferenceEveryday 

October Edition: HERE

Smestow Academy are delighted that Castlecroft Primary School, our neighbours, are now utilising access to our state of the art swimming pool. The Year 6 class come down every Tuesday afternoon to take part in their PE lesson at Smestow in the pool. Both Mr Webb and Miss Perfit who have been involved in these sessions have been hugely impressed by both the talent and the attitude of the students who have already shown some fantastic progress with the stroke technique, we even a group of students moving onto breaststroke which is brilliant. This is a fantastic opportunity for these students and we are excited to be a part of their PE journey by offering our services with the pool and staff.

In other news, as our team building activities come to an end for KS3 with half term drawing on us …. Students have took part in a Football Mini Golf challenge with Miss Perfit in her lessons. Students have been working in small groups to set a course up and then challenge another group within the class. The main focus being leadership and communication skills in order to first of all explain the challenge but then being able to navigate themselves and their team-mates around the course with as limited touches on the ball as possible. Some fantastic feedback from the students shows not only their enjoyment of the activity but their willingness to work as a team and be successful.

Meanwhile, 8X2 have been in our multi-purpose Fitness Suite completing a circuit session with Mr Craig. The pupils have explored BORG's Rate of Perceived Exertion and applied this during their fitness circuit. Pupils demonstrated a mature approach and put in great energy throughout all stations!

This week our year 8 pupils have been working hard finalising their choreography ready for assessments to beign. During this project they have learnt how to respond to a stimulus and the choreographic process that follows. All pupils have been working extremely hard portraying our Smestow Value 'Success achieved Together' to create interesting unique dances.

As part of our celebrations of world mental health day in school, our Year 7 pupils have been completing mindful colouring at lunchtime, highlighting our key top tips for positive mental health.  They are:

• Be active
• Connect
• Give
• Keep learning
• Take notice

Our staff have also participated in wellbeing week, with a variety of activities provided after-school to promote positive wellbeing in our workplace - which is also the theme for this year's world mental health day as set by the World Federation of Mental Health.  Staff have been invited to take part in swimming and yoga (to be active), still life drawing and crocheting (to keep learning) and a walk in our local area (to take notice).  We have connected in school by giving staff time to talk, and we practised "give" in school with a Macmillan Cake Sale two weeks ago too.

This morning, our newly appointed wellbeing ambassadors attended their first training session with Mrs Oshodi.  The group discussed what mental health is, identified some statistics regarding mental health in secondary age pupils and developed techniques to support pupils in our school.  This training is also part of the many activities taking place this week as part of our celebrations for World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October.  Here at Smestow Academy, we are committed to providing a welcoming and caring environment and to be able to promote positive mental health support in our school will help us to achieve this.

Our Smestow Six Mental Health Ambassador Sophie Phelps, had this to say about our session this morning: "The Mental Health Ambassador training meeting created an inclusive and welcoming environment in which all students involved felt comfortable contributing to. The meeting clearly outlined the duties and purpose of the role, as well as using interactive activities to understand serious topics in greater depth. As a member of year 13, I believe that the training created positive engagement, establishing connections from key stage 3 to sixth form. As the sixth form mental health ambassador, I will not only be taking on duties such as being the voice for those who choose to come to me for advice or suggestions and promoting mental health tips, but also I will oversee the younger students that have also chosen to be a mental health ambassador, giving them advice and being a role model. This role will be beneficial experience for my chosen career of clinical psychology and will allow me to apply my studies of psychology to real life, expanding my transitional skills at the same time, which will prepare me for the start of my University journey."