Blog

Year 9 House Point competition winners!

To celebrate the end of this half-term, our Year 9 Progress Team selected the top 30 students with the most house points this week and entered their names into a special draw.

Congratulations to Emelia and Elisia for winning some Valentine’s-themed treats!

Well done to all students for your hard work and effort!

Sixth Form students raise money for local charity

Today, our Sixth Form students, supported by Miss Gleeson, Assistant Headteacher, sold Valentine’s roses at lunchtime.

It was wonderful to see so many students purchasing a rose for a friend, sibling, parent or someone special – a simple but meaningful way to spread kindness and brighten someone’s day across our school community.

We are also proud to share that all proceeds will go to Kids’ Village, so every purchase is helping to support an incredible cause.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

Celebrating National Apprenticeships Week!

This week, our students have enjoyed a variety of engaging lunchtime activities to explore the world of apprenticeships. Highlights included:

Guess the Company Logo – testing knowledge of companies offering apprenticeships.

Ping Pong True or False – challenging common apprenticeship myths.

Which Apprentice Am I? Quiz – connecting students with different apprenticeship journeys.

It’s been fantastic to see our students getting involved, learning, and discovering the exciting opportunities that apprenticeships can offer!

#NationalApprenticeshipsWeek

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

National Apprenticeships Week

This week we have been celebrating National Apprenticeships Week! To support our students, we welcomed guest speakers into each year group assembly to explore different apprenticeship pathways. Year 7 enjoyed a session with NHBC, Year 8 with Crown Highways, Year 9 with Nova Training, Year 10 with Training & Business Solutions, and Year 11 with HMRC.

We are very grateful to all our guest speakers for visiting the school and inspiring our students to explore apprenticeship opportunities!

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

JTMAT Apprenticeship Workshops

In recognition of National Apprenticeships Week, we were delighted to welcome Sixth Form students from across the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust to take part in an apprenticeship event.

Students engaged in a series of interactive workshops focused on understanding job descriptions, applying for apprenticeship roles, identifying transferable skills, exploring apprenticeship journeys, and developing effective CVs. The sessions were expertly delivered by the IAG Apprenticeship Programme, providing valuable insight into the evolving apprenticeship landscape.

Earlier in the week, all Sixth Form students across the Trust also took part in a virtual webinar led by ‘Not Going To Uni’, exploring a wide range of degree apprenticeship options and helping students understand the pathways available to them.

At our school, we are committed to preparing students for their next steps by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue ambitious pathways – including competitive degree apprenticeships. Opportunities such as this ensure our students are informed, prepared and ready to succeed in their future careers. A big thank you to all the schools who joined us – it was fantastic to collaborate and support our students together.

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

Valentine’s Roses for sale today – Supporting a Great…

A reminder that our Sixth Form students and Miss Gleeson, Assistant Headteacher, will be selling Valentine’s roses at lunchtime today outside the Dining Hall. Each rose is individually wrapped in cellophane and costs £2 (cash only).

Roses can be purchased for anyone – a friend, sibling, parent, or someone special – making it a lovely way for students to spread kindness and brighten someone’s day.

All proceeds will go towards Kids Village Charity, so every purchase helps support an amazing cause. Thank you for your continued support!

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge

We are incredibly proud of the 44 students who participated in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge and achieved bronze, silver, or gold awards!

This nationally recognised competition offers our students the chance to develop confidence, resilience, and advanced problem-solving skills beyond the standard curriculum. It’s always a fantastic experience and is highly valued by colleges, universities, and employers alike – making it a brilliant addition to any student’s CV.

Well done to all our participants for their hard work and achievement!

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

It’s Thankful Thursday!

Today, Miss Devereux met with a group of students to celebrate their fantastic achievements.

Daisy was nominated for her dedication to football. Training up to three times a week as a goalkeeper, she shows real commitment in all conditions and regularly earns Manager’s Player for her consistent performances and positive attitude.

Dora was also nominated for her achievements in football, recently winning Parent’s Player and Manager’s Player trophies at her recent football match with Burntwood Phoenix Football Club.

Isabelle achieved three gold awards and one silver at a recent gymnastics competition for her performances on different apparatus with Invoke Gymnastics Club, along with an official medal – a fantastic result and a great boost to her confidence.

Freddie has progressed from green to blue belt in kickboxing and performed exceptionally well at his recent interclub sparring event. Keep up the amazing work!

Holly was nominated for acting so quickly and with such bravery after an accidental burn to her whole forearm and hand. She demonstrated great first aid skills in ensuring that it was run under water until she could alert someone at home. We are so proud of her and thankful that she knew what to do under pressure in difficult situation.

Keep up the amazing work, everyone! Thank you to all the families who continue to nominate their children for these celebrations – we are proud to recognise their achievements.

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration

Success for our Year 8 Basketball Team!

Another outstanding performance from our Year 8 basketball team! In their first game in the Junior NBA League, the team delivered their strongest display yet, showcasing exceptional teamwork, commitment and skill to secure a fantastic 63–6 victory against Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth.

The squad continues to train diligently and is already preparing for their next fixture against Phoenix Collegiate in a few weeks’ time. Well done to all involved – an excellent achievement!

Children’s Mental Health Week

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week, and this year’s theme is “This is My Place.” The focus encourages young people to reflect on the support systems around them and to consider where they feel they truly belong.

During Personal Development lessons, students have been exploring this theme by creating an “identity card,” helping them to think about what matters most to them, the communities they are part of, and the moments when they feel valued and included.

You can find out more about Children’s Mental Health Week by visiting: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

#RespecttheCTAWay #Community #Tenacity #Aspiration