Year 10 pupils with an interest in automotive careers attended a workshop at Arnold Clark, giving them a taste of the different apprenticeships available, such as mechanic, parts and customer service. 

A series of interactive tasks taught pupils how to change a tyre, identify the parts of an engine and repair bodywork. They also had a tour of the facilities. 

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Year 10 pupils with a keen interest in finding out more about this pathways visited Walsall College. As well as discovering the benefits of learning on the job, directly from the experts, and earning while you learn, pupils now have a better understanding of the roles colleges play in training them for the workplace. 

Following an information session, pupils then had the chance to meet lots of current apprenticeship students to learn about their experiences. They also had the opportunity to talk to T Level students and learn about other technical pathways that can be a great alternative to traditional A levels for some pupils. 

What is a T Level?:

https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students

Learn more about apprenticeships:

https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships

The Wellbeing Ambassadors prepared a bake sale and cake decorating competition for Children's Mental Health Week, with the theme 'My Happy Place', which successfully raised £136.90 for PAPYRUS. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to the sale. A huge well done to our winners:  

1st Place: Abigail, Year 9, Elysia, Year 9, Jessica, Year 9, Leila, Year 7, Aoife, Year 7 

2nd Place: Hollie, Year 11 

3rd Place: Flynn, Year 7

Recently, 40 year 12 and 13 students took part in a webchat to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27^th January.  Survivor Paul Sved and his son, Richard, recalled Paul's experiences in Hungary during World War 2 as a young Jewish boy.  Paul emphasised the importance of education about the Holocaust and the lessons that can be learned in fostering a spirit of optimism for the future.

Head of History Mrs Selby has led this week's assembly for Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme this year is "Bridging Generations" and pupils were told the story of Leon Greenman, he ​was born in London​.

Leon and his family were arrested by the Nazis on the 8th October 1942 for the 'crime' of being a Jew.  ​

The Greenman’ suddenly felt very scared and uncertain about what lay ahead…they were taken ​

from Rotterdam to Westerbork, a holding camp for Dutch Jews.

His story represents the impact of the Holocaust on Leon's generation but the way that this continues to effect future generations and how important it is to remember and not hide from what has happened. This is how humans will ensure it never happens again.

On 5^th February, we once again welcomed Nicky Salt from the Anne Frank foundation. Helping pupils to understand Anne Frank's part in the Anti-Racist movement, Nicky explored ideas around racism in 2026.

This meant understanding the suffering of Anne Frank at the hands of the racist ideology of the Nazis but thinking about the impact words and actions still have now. Using examples such as racism in football, the groups in Year 8 considered the wide impact of racism, prejudice and discrimination and their own part in preventing this.

We would like to congratulate six of our Year 7 pupils who have qualified for members to the Mensa Society this year! Pupils had to achieve a score on the assessment which demonstrates that they have an IQ in the top 2%. Pupils will be receiving a special badge to proudly wear on their blazer alongside free membership to Mensa. Well done to the 22 pupils who participated in the assessment!