On Friday 21st June we said a fond farewell to the class of 2024. It started with time for pupils to sign their fantastic shirts, a buffet of food, and of course their Year 7 photographs, to relive their memories of time gone by.

Mr Booth and Mr Bradley led the way with a range of awards nominated by the Heads of House and Leadership, based on the fantastic memories of the pupils. In what has become tradition the assembly finished with a staff video where staff said their goodbyes in true Bloxwich Academy style.

Bloxwich Academy would like to finish by wishing Year 11 all the luck for their exam results and for their future careers, it has been an emotional and memorable year. Thanks for the memories class of 2024. Next step…..PROM!

On Friday 21st June Year 10 pupils had the opportunity to have an assembly delivered by Alison Cope.

Alison is the mother of Joshua Ribera, who was murdered in 2013. Alison now works tirelessly to help prevent youth violence by campaigning and working with schools, sharing her sons’ story. Her mission is to educate others of the realities and consequences of youth violence and knife crime. Her particular focus, also discusses the dangers of social media and the footprint pupils are creating for themselves.

Both staff and students were moved by Alison and her story. We would like to thank Alison for her time and sharing her guidance on the ways to reduce the risk to all.

Find out more at https://www.alisoncope.com

On Friday 21st June Bloxwich Academy had the fantastic opportunity to be supported by Stefanie Lakin from Madrina UK. Madrina UK is a company supporting schools and individuals with Prom attire to overcome the financial barriers that some of our children and families face.

Stefanie joined us with a wide range of gowns and suits to support our pupils. During her time at Bloxwich, Stefanie helped our students to find their ideal outfit for the up and coming Prom.

Without the support of Madrina, some of our students would not have been able to feel special at the Prom, and for this Bloxwich Academy would like to express our gratitude for making this night, one to never forget.

From September, a fixed penalty notice will be issued by the local authority if a pupil reaches 10 sessions (morning or afternoon registration mark) of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks.    

This can be for any combination of unauthorised absence, for example…  

John is late to school after 09.10 six times in September.  In October, he goes on holiday with his family for the last two days before the half-term break.  His parent/carer will be issued a fixed penalty notice and receive an £80 fine.   

Sarah is absent from school without a valid reason on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  The following week, she is absent on Friday without a valid reason.  The next week, she is late after 09.10 on Wednesday and Thursday. Her parent/carer will be issued a fixed penalty notice and receive a £80 fine.’

Please see the flowchart explaining the process for the new National Framework for issuing penalty notices.

On Friday 7^th June, 14 pupils went down to Wembley to see the Euros friendly England v Iceland. With lots of snacks and treats along the way the pupils were raring to go. Although the result wasn’t what we wanted, the loss didn’t dishearten anybody and pupils had a great time supporting their national team. COME ON ENGLAND!

Our Beauty Therapy program has been very successful over the last term and we are proud to see some of our girls flourish in this environment. Over recent weeks they have been looking at the application of tanning and the method of Hopi Ear Candling. They cover extensive links to industry and the working environment to support for future aspirations. Well done girls.

Pupils in Year 8 are having the exciting opportunity to learn first aid skills. This is part of the Personal Development curriculum to ensure pupils are able to remain safe in the community and support others.

Pupils are learning how to make a clear and efficient call to emergency services if necessary and the concepts of basic first aid. Pupils have been shown how to deal with common injuries and, head injuries and how to do CPR. Pupils have also been shown the purpose of defibrillators and when they are needed.

We would like to thank Miss Handley from Dame Elizabeth Cadbury for supporting our pupils with these sessions.

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.