We will be serving up our annual Christmas dinner on Wednesday 15th December 2021

Main Course

• Roast Turkey/Roast Pork/Roast Beef with honey and mustard
• Roast Carrots
• Roast Parsnips
• Stuffing
• Roast Potatoes
• Cauliflower Cheese
• Sprouts
• Yorkshire Pudding
• Vegetarian Option
• Quorn Roast served with the above vegetables

Dessert

• Christmas Pudding and Custard
• Chocolate Fudge Cake and Cream

The final week of term saw Bloxwich open their doors to the Scholastic Book Fair as a chance to inspire reading for pleasure among our pupils. The book fair allowed pupils to browse and purchase titles from award-winning authors and see the range of genres and styles in writing. The fair as buzzing every day, with pupils eager to extend their book collection. Remember- reading at home is one of the best things you can possibly do!

Year 7 have spent their first half term studying gothic fiction and to celebrate, gothic the department dressed up as famous literary gothic characters and decorating their classrooms – a fantastic effort team English!

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day on 10th October is ‘mental health in an unequal world’, asking us to think about the issues that cause mental health inequality both locally and globally.

Stigma and discrimination towards those with mental health issues is one key reason for these inequalities.

Almost 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems say that the stigma surrounding mental health has a negative impact on their education, work and personal lives.

The stigma around mental health can make it more difficult for those having difficulties to seek help.

To raise awareness of World Mental Health at Bloxwich Academy, the pupils completed various form-time activities and the whole school took part in a virtual assembly presented by Sandra Vaughan, who is the chief executive of Black Country Mental Health. Sandra explained what Mental Health and the different forms of mental health as well as what the theme for this year called Unequal World meant to our pupils. The pupils asked a wide range of questions throughout the session, so they could improve their understanding of Mental Health. Our Academy, is following up this assembly by training peer supporters and we sold doughnuts at break time to raise money for Black Country Mental Health to help them continue their work in our local area.

On Wednesday 6th October, 30 Year 11 pupils attended The University of Wolverhampton’s Campus Experience Day organised by ‘Aspire to HE’.

During this visit, pupils completed a workshop looking at making informed decisions. This was an interactive and engaging session that helped the pupils to understand why it is important to make informed decisions and what process they can follow to make the right decisions for them. Pupils left this session feeling enthused, positive and prepared to step outside of their comfort zone and tackle each decision they may encounter.

Matrix Academy Trust can proudly announce that we have been successful in two bids for the new Turing Scheme. We will therefore be able to offer experiences across all five Matrix secondary schools for 100 pupils to go abroad to experience life in Spain or Germany in 2022. The Turing Scheme replaces the Erasmus project, which, for many years, has supported pupils to travel, learn and study internationally.

We will shortly be opening applications for 10 Year 8 pupils to apply to go on the Turing Germany project and a further 10 Year 9 pupils to apply to go on the Turing Spain project. Our projects are planned to take place in Fulda near Frankfurt in Germany and the Costa Del Sol in Spain.

For the successful applicants this will be a life-changing opportunity: the chance to travel internationally, working alongside other pupils from the Matrix Academy Trust schools and meeting German or Spanish pupils. Pupils taking part will also take part in pre-mobility work between schools to learn about the host countries culture, language, food, schools and ways of life.

Another excellent set of results for Years 11 & 13 at Bloxwich Academy.  We have continued to increase the proportion of pupils who excel within English, Maths, Sciences, and other key academic subjects at GCSE and A-level.

Mr S. Martin, Assistant Headteacher, stated "I am absolutely delighted with the fantastic grades achieved by our pupils at Bloxwich Academy.  They have worked so hard throughout their time with us, and thoroughly deserve their success today.
The outcomes achieved by our pupils has led to an increasing number staying on at our sixth form.  This, along with our excellent outcomes in both A-level and level 3 vocational subjects, has ensured that a greater number of our students access the best universities in the country.  I am incredibly proud of them all."

Mr A. Seager, Headteacher, stated "The brilliant results are a testament to the dedication and efforts of our pupils, parents and staff.  I am delighted to see so many of our pupils meet the entry requirements to gain a place at our sixth form.  I look forward to working with them in the future in order to help them be the best that they can be!"

As the end of the academic year, approaches the CCF are winding up the end of the year with a big recruitment push with year 7. An open evening for potential cadets has been held with the serving cadets running the event. So far about 25 students have shown interest in joining the cadet programme. The evening consisted of Drill, first aid, rock climbing and skill at arms, this was all run by the current serving cadets.

Cadet numbers remain healthy with 35 cadets, 1 school staff instructor and 3 officers on strength. Nationally some schools have suffered major losses of cadets leaving the cadet programme due to the pandemic and the lock downs. I hope that with the New Year 7/8 cohort we should pass the 50 cadet mark.

The senior cadets are looking forward to an educational visit to the helicopter museum in Weston– Super– mare as part of their part 2 syllabus. The junior cadets have recently attended a visit to RAF Cosford museum as part of their training syllabus. The cadets/students represented their school with the upmost of manners and behaviour and a very enjoyable day was had by all. The gift shop made some serious profit that day.

Thank you for your continued support.

Flying Officer Hall R J

Contingent Commander,

Bloxwich Academy Combined Cadet Force RAF