End of Year Reflections

The Year 7s made a great start to their time at the academy; many acted as Student Ambassadors at our Open Evening back in September and have continued to take up similar opportunities to support the academy through sharing their experiences with others, most recently at the Year 6 Transition Parent Information Evening.

We have so many things to celebrate at the academy but some of the most memorable moments are the termly Accelerated Reader and, Numeracy and Literacy award ceremonies; recognising the progress some of our Year 7 and 8 students have made in these areas.

Continuing on the theme of celebration, our Year 8s donned traditional caps and gowns for their Key Stage 3 Graduation ceremonies earlier this month; a culmination of two years’ of dedication and effort shown to their key stage 3 studies. Graduates then enjoyed a fun filled two day residential to Kingswood – Peak Venture where they fostered many happy memories which we hope will last with them a lifetime.

Our Year 9 students have made an excellent start to their GCSE courses, showing the maturity and commitment expected of key stage 4 students. Earlier in the year, students were involved in the Ryman National Enterprise Challenge with six of our budding entrepreneurs going on to represent the academy at the national finals.

We have broadened our careers offer to all students this year and this has included our involvement in the national Higher Education Progression Partnership South Yorkshire Plus (HeppSY+) programme. Students in Years 9 and 10 have benefitted from our involvement through taking part in a variety of trips to the city’s universities, workshops with organisations like Dell. We look forward to this collaboration continuing next year.

Forging strong links with our community is important and we continue to build on this through our termly community lunches. Members of the local community enjoy a three course meal prepared by our talented Year 10 Catering students supported by Miss Rodgers, Mr Davis, Mrs Heath, Mrs Dawson and Mr Colliver. Even the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sheffield made time to sample the culinary delights.

The diligence and maturity shown by this year’s Year 11 students has been outstanding. Their attendance throughout the year to afterschool enrichments and holiday revision sessions, I firmly believe, will have equipped them well for their exams and we very much look forward to celebrating their achievements on Results Day. Befitting the occasion, we said our farewells at the Leavers’ Prom at Mosborough Hall and, on behalf of all of the academy’s staff, I would like to wish them every success for the future.

As one year group left us, we welcomed our Year 6 (soon to be Year 7) students on transition. Four busy and exciting days awaited them; introducing them to life at the academy. We look forward to seeing them for their first day in September.

One thing I believe makes Outwood Academy City so special is the celebration of our students’ achievements both in and outside of the classroom. Our annual awards evenings for both Key Stage 3 and 4 are brilliant events for recognising students who have not only excelled but who, against all odds, have demonstrated the resilience required to overcome challenges. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.

Other incredible highlights include the Movement Evening; a celebration of musical, gymnastic and dance talent. Our elite athletes represented the academy at the first OGAT Family of Schools Elite Games and our immensely talented musical and theatrical students took part in the OGAT Arts Showcase at the York Barbican theatre in front of a sell-out audience of 1500.

May I take this final opportunity to remind you that the academy will close to students for the summer at 2:30pm on Friday, 20 July 2018 and will re-open to new Year 7 students on Tuesday, 4 September 2018 with all other year groups returning the following day, Wednesday, 5 September 2018.

Summer holidays are a special time for families and a chance for our young people to relax, recharge and have fun. Whatever you have planned, home or away, I wish you a very happy and a very safe summer on behalf of all of the staff at Outwood Academy City.

Please find a copy of my end of year letter in which I outline our expectations for the forthcoming academic year under Letters to Parents.

Mr A Downing
Principal

Calendar of Events

July 2018

Summer Holidays: 23 July to 31 August

August 2018

• 1 August – Year 6 Uniform Collection Day
  10:00 – 12:00 Intake and Stradbroke
  12:00 – 14:00 Woodhouse West and Woodthorpe
  14:00 – 15:30 All other primary schools

• 23 August – GCSE Results Day
  The academy will open at 8:30am for Year 11 and 10:30am for Year 10 students to collect their results

September 2018

• 3 September – the academy will be closed to students for staff training
• 4 September – the academy will reopen to Year 7 students only
• 5 September – the academy will reopen to all students

Exam Results Day 2018

Year 11 students can collect their exam results from 8.30am on Thursday 23rd August and Year 10 students from 10.30am

Please note due to GDPR regulations we will not be able to issue results to anyone else without a written, signed request from the student. Therefore, if a student requires their results to be collected by a parent / carer or other relative, the student must write formally to request this and the person collecting the results must be able to provide photographic identification.

Year 6 Transition Forms

Please ensure your forms are returned to the academy as soon as possible. A copy of the Parent/Carer Information Booklet can be found below. Forms should be posted or returned to the academy in person.

Filling The Holiday Gap

Understanding The Needs Of Children & Families Over The School Summer Holidays

Sheffield Hallam University are conducting a study to understand the needs of children and families over the school summer holidays. Further details about the study can be found in the letter below.

If after reading the letter you would like to participate and consent to your responses being used for the purpose of the research, please follow the survey link.

Please note this research is being conducted by Sheffield Hallam University. Outwood Academy City will have no involvement in the study nor will the academy have access to parents’ responses. Should you have any questions about the study, please contact the Research Team, Kiran Sandhu and Rachel Rundle whose details can be found in the letter below.

Trutex

Academy uniform must be purchased from our uniform supplier, Trutex. Orders can be placed online through the Trutex website using the Academy’s LEA code LEA00644SC.

New Year 7 Parents – If you havent already collected your child’s new uniform, please call to the student entrance of the academy between 8.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday to collect.

Letters To Parents