Today, our pupils took part in a fantastic Drop-Down Day, focused on enhancing their personal development through a series of engaging and thought-provoking workshops.

Year 7 explored when ‘banter’ crosses the line into bullying, harassment, or abuse in the “It’s Only Banter?” workshop led by Libby Flenley covering identity, consent, boundaries, peer pressure, and online behaviour.

Years 7 & 9 joined body image workshops led by a personal trainer, promoting healthy attitudes, correct gym use, and breaking stigma around body image.

Year 10 pupils took part in a workshop on the impact of pornography on relationships and consent, aimed at helping pupils to distinguish fantasy from reality and promote healthy, respectful attitudes towards intimacy and boundaries. They also took part in a CV writing session aimed at building confidence and preparing pupils for future employment, equipping them with practical skills to take their next steps beyond school.

Pupils in Years 8 and 10 were privileged to hear from Alison Cope, mother of Joshua Ribera, who tragically lost his life to knife crime in 2013. Alison delivered a powerful and emotional talk on the consequences of youth violence. Following the success of her previous visit, we were honoured to welcome her back to CTA. Her important message will continue to reach young people across the region this week.

Across all year groups, pupils also enjoyed a variety of team-building activities outdoors, helping to strengthen collaboration, communication, and peer support.

We’re incredibly proud of the maturity, engagement, and thoughtfulness shown by all our pupils today.

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration