On Thursday 28th November all the schools from across Matrix Academy Trust came together to celebrate the Performing Arts. It was a spectacular display of talent, showcasing their skills in dance, drama, and music. This event was a celebration of creativity, hard work, and the vibrant spirit of pupils who have worked hard over the past few months to showcase their performances.

This event emphasised the importance of the performing arts in shaping well-rounded individuals. The confidence, discipline, and teamwork required in these artistic disciplines provide invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the stage.

The success of this event is a testament to the thriving performing arts community within our Trust schools. It’s clear that the future of dance, drama, and music is in good hands. With such incredible talent on display, it’s exciting to think about the future performances and productions that will emerge from these talented young artists.

Thank you to everyone for their involvement with the event.

The A Level Geography trip to PGL Osmington Bay was a fantastic and enriching experience for both pupils and staff. After an early start on Saturday morning, students were quickly immersed in fieldwork, kicking off their study with an investigation into the sustainability of service stations along the M5. This practical activity was an excellent introduction to the vital skills needed for their NEA (Non-Examination Assessment), teaching them how to design and conduct their own fieldwork investigations and how to critically analyse and write up their findings.

The group then travelled to the iconic Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, where they explored the fascinating geographical landscapes and got some delicious ice cream. Students observed first-hand the impact of rock type and lithology on the coastal features, further enhancing their understanding of coastal processes and landforms. After a busy day, we returned to PGL for a well-earned evening meal, followed by an early night to rest and prepare for two more days of learning and exploration.

Sunday saw us visiting various coastal sites to investigate coastal management strategies. A poignant moment of the day came when we participated in a one-minute silence at Lyme Regis War Memorial, where we also witnessed part of the Remembrance Day parade. It was a meaningful opportunity for reflection, adding depth to the trip’s educational experience. The day concluded with a beautiful sunset on Chesil Beach, offering a stunning and memorable end to a packed day.

On Monday, students explored Weymouth, where they investigated the town’s regeneration efforts and its historical development. The visit provided valuable insight into how urban areas evolve over time, offering real-world examples of geographical theories in action.

Overall, the trip was a fantastic success, offering our students the chance to apply their knowledge in the field and gain a deeper understanding of geographical processes. It was a memorable experience for all involved, and we are grateful to both the staff and pupils for making it such a rewarding trip. We look forward to seeing how this fieldwork contributes to their learning and NEA projects in the future.

Thursday 15^th August 2024

We proudly watched on as our Year 13 students received an impressive set of A Level and BTEC results.

We were delighted to see so many happy faces as students reaped the rewards for the hard work that they have put in over the last two years.

Here are a few examples of individual successes:

Students are progressing on to a wide range of undergraduate courses and apprenticeships including:

Medicine at University of Birmingham

Politics and International Relations at University of Nottingham

Architecture at University of Liverpool

Computer Science at University of Sheffield

Sport and Exercise Science with professional placement or study abroad at University of Bath

Adult Nursing at University of Birmingham

Accounting and Finance at University of Leicester

Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies at University of Central Lancashire

Marketing at Liverpool John Moores University

Degree Apprenticeship with West Midlands Police

Degree Apprenticeship with AWE – Design and Construction Manager

Degree Apprenticeship with HSBC – Finance

Degree Apprenticeship with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC – Sports Coach

Degree Apprenticeship with MBDA – Business Chartered Manager

Degree Apprenticeship with BDO – Audit

Legal Apprenticeship with Gately Legal

Relationship Management Apprenticeship with NatWest

Materials Engineer with Balfour Beatty

The range of exciting destinations is a reflection of the individuality of our students.  We send them off with our best wishes and look forward to hearing about their successes in years to come.

This comment, from one of our students, sums up how we suspect many have been feeling:

“It hasn’t been easy but it’s worth it to come out the end feeling like this!  Over the last two weeks, I have imagined every outcome for Results Day and not once did I think I would be this happy!  I was genuinely shocked when I saw the green tick on UCAS!  I am going to uni!”

Congratulations Class of 2024 – we are very proud of you all!

It was a pleasure welcoming back over 120 of our Year 11 students to take part in the Sixth Form Induction Week.  They had taster sessions for their chosen courses, allowing them to get a feel for post-16 life.  We shared information about the mindset required to enjoy success in our Sixth Form, including a strong work ethic, developing into independent learners and always having the highest expectations of themselves.  Our current Year 12 students shared their experiences and offered some valuable advice.  The week ended with a day of Team Building activities which encouraged them to develop their confidence, communication skills and logical thinking. The tasks they took part in were Swamp Cross, Night Rope, Barrel Move, Human Knot and Sheep Herd.  The students enjoyed their week and found it helpful in preparation for September.  The ice-lollies on Friday were very much appreciated too!  We are looking forward to them starting their Key Stage 5 journey with us in September.

Comments from students:

“I learnt that I need to organise my revision early.  Also, I need to take up opportunities in Sixth Form as these will be beneficial for my UCAS application.”

“I like how the teachers treat us more like adults and that there is more freedom in the way that we can learn and revise.  I find having smaller classes also makes it easier to engage with the teachers and ask for help.”

“I enjoyed how interactive the lessons were and how they gave a very clear idea about what life in Sixth Form will be like and what A levels are about.”

“It is good to have an understanding of what we will be taught over the years and to have had the chance to cover some of the content this week.”

“I enjoyed the activities that we did as they helped to create a more insightful experience of what next year will be like.”

 “I now know that there is a large amount of wider reading that I will need to do in order to be fully prepared for my option choices, ready to start in September.”

“I understand that I need to be very organised from day 1 to prevent feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.”

“I enjoyed exploring the subjects I have picked in more detail and speaking to the current Sixth Formers who were really helpful.”

“Thank you for the enjoyable Team Building Day.”