In this edition of our music newsletter, we celebrate the incredible journeys of our students as they dive into the world of music! From mastering the piano to strumming their first chords on the guitar, each lesson is a stepping stone toward their musical dreams. Join us as we highlight student achievements, share inspiring stories, and provide tips for practice at home. Whether you’re a new musician or a seasoned player, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy! Let’s make some noise and keep the music alive!🎵✨

Next week at Smestow Academy we are promoting wellbeing, and in order to allow our pupils and staff to take part in a range of new activities to promote good mental health there will be no study seminars taking place after school for year 11. Study seminars will continue as normal, beginning with the options subjects the week commencing 14th October. Please encourage your child next week to take part in one of our extra-curricular activities instead to help support their wellbeing. The full extra-curricular timetable can be found HERE

Science hosted a forensic science workshop for year 5 pupils from Castlecroft Primary. The workshop involved pupils becoming forensic scientists for the day to investigate a crime that was committed.

Pupils conducted different practical activities like chromatography to investigate the colours in ink, they looked at different clothing fibres using magnifying glasses, they matched fingerprints to the suspects and finally had the opportunity to see the great demonstration of flame tests by Mrs Robertson.

 All the pupils showed impeccable behaviour and represented their school really well. 

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

Last night we hosted our Open Evening and welcomed prospective Year 7 pupils and their families to view our school, and take part in a range of activities. Each of our departments were proud to showcase the best Smestow has to offer, including an evening murder mystery in English, flames, trolls and potions in Science, marvellous magic tricks in Maths, delicious French fancies and in character performances in Humanities. If you didn’t get chance to attend our Open Evening, there is still time to book onto our Open mornings that are taking place next week. You can use the following link on the website to book your place: https://smestowacademy.co.uk/open-events-2024/

Check out our board in the dining hall to say what active citizenship opportunities we have coming up this term!

Are you a parent or carer that isn’t sure about your child’s next steps?  Want to find out about apprenticeships or T-Levels?  The “Choices Magazine” provides parents and carers with information about both apprenticeships and technical education and you can find the September edition here!

#SmestowAcademy #SuccessAchievedTogether #Careers #NextSteps

Our Year 11’s have begun their final year at Smestow with a really positive mindset and their attendance to the study seminars has been incredible. Keep working hard Year 11 and striving to be your best!

Smestow Academy hosted three fantastic discovery days which involved pupils having the opportunity to participate in different activities and events in and out of school.

This was the first time that we hosted discovery days and what a brilliant experience it was.

Pupils showed what adrenaline junkie’s they are when they went on trips to Drayton Manor, Go Ape and Aztec adventure to name a few.

Thank you to all the staff at Smestow who organised all these excellent trips and activities for our pupils.

On Thursday 27^th June, the staff at Smestow Academy had the privilege of saying goodbye to an absolutely incredible year group. Our 2024 Y11 Prom was held at the Mount Hotel, in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, and was a venue befitting of the occasion. We were in the Grand Hall, and the venue certainly did not disappoint. 

In the build up to this year’s prom, it was a hard sell, with it taking right until our leavers day to get the numbers up to where we needed them to book the venue. I have no doubt however, that all of those who were unsure, but decided to go, will have memories to treasure that they will remember for years to come. 

All of the staff at Smestow Academy have nothing but good things to say about a wonderful year group, who have gone through some turbulent times earlier in their school career, but showed real determination, resilience, and strength of character in preparing for this summer’s examination’s. 

All of us at Smestow Academy wish you well, looking forward to celebrating your successes on results day on Thursday 22^nd August, and welcoming many of you back into sixth form in September. 

Embarking on a journey beyond borders can be a transformative experience for students, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, languages, and traditions. Recently, a group of 35 adventurous pupils from across Matrix Academy Trust had the incredible opportunity to explore the city of Stockholm, Sweden through the Turing Scheme. This government-funded scheme enables pupils to experience other cultures. 

Our first activity was a visit to the Paradox Musuem, which offers an engaging exploration of optical illusions. Visitors are invited to pose for some great pictures as part of these illusions, before walking to the Avicii Experience, where our pupils enjoyed DJing alongside the groundbreaking DJ and producer, experiencing his music in a unique and immersive setting. 

Later that afternoon, our students had the opportunity to visit Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s charming Old Town, exploring landmarks such as the Royal Armouries. They also delved into the world of Nobel laureates at the Nobel Prize Museum, learning about the importance of science, literature, and peace in shaping our world.  

On our second day, we visited the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. As you step into the museum, you’re greeted by the Vasa ship, a preserved warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged centuries later. Our pupils also enjoyed exploring Lego versions of the world’s most famous shipwrecks. 

Following this, our students had the pleasure of exploring the iconic music of Sweden. At the ABBA museum, they were immersed in ABBA’s iconic costumes and memorabilia, exploring interactive exhibits and singing and dancing along to timeless hits.  

On day three, we paid a visit to the Tekniska Museum of science, technology, and innovation. Here the pupils enjoyed interactive exhibits, followed by lunch at Max Burgers – Sweden’s (significantly better) answer to McDonalds.  

In the afternoon, we took a scenic boat tour around Stockholm’s archipelago, where we got to see the city’s iconic landmarks from a unique perspective. And in the afternoon, the competitive natures of staff and pupils kicked in with an outdoor escape room adventure around the historic town. Divided into teams, pupils navigated their teams and their teacher through the narrow cobblestone streets, solving clues and unravelling mysteries, where only one of our groups solved the clues to find the final code! 

On day four, our pupils had the opportunity to visit Töjnaskolan, a Swedish school located in the suburbs of Stockholm. Stepping into the classrooms of Töjnaskolan, our pupils were struck by the differences between British and Swedish educational systems. Aside from being instant celebrities, they noticed smaller class sizes, a longer lunchtime and no school uniform. The visit sparked discussions between both sets of pupils about the different educational models, encouraging our students to reflect on their own learning experiences and cultural perspectives. 

On day 5 was a visit to Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum, showcasing Swedish life from centuries past to the present day. Our students were delighted to explore the native animals of Sweden, with the highlight of the visit being the opportunity to hand-feed some of the friendly birds that call Skansen home. 

On our final day, our pupils experienced an adrenaline rush at Skypark Vaxholm, an exhilarating outdoor adventure park. They navigated treetop obstacle courses, zip-lined across forests, and conquered thrilling challenges, pushing their limits and building confidence. 

As our pupils bid farewell to Stockholm and boarded their flight back to London Heathrow, they carried with them memories that will last a lifetime. The trip embodied Matrix Academy Trust’s ethos of Education without Exception. Through experiences like the Stockholm trip, we empower our students to open their minds to endless possibilities and shape them into compassionate, informed global citizens.