Exploring future pathways in the games industry

We were delighted to welcome David from the University of Staffordshire to our school this week. He spoke to our pupils about the University’s Games Institute and the many pathways into games-based careers, including roles in design, art, programming, production, audio, animation, community management and more.

David also introduced pupils to a range of university courses such as Games Design, Games Development, Concept Art, Computing and Programming, highlighting the key skills needed to succeed at university level.

A huge thank you to David for an inspiring and informative session!

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Year 12 Drop-down day

Today, as part of our Drop-Down Day, Year 12 pupils took part in a series of workshops aimed at developing essential life skills for the future.

Mr Giles, Head of Sixth Form, demonstrated how to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals for under £3 – an ideal skill for university life.

Mr Lloyd, Assistant Head of Sixth Form, taught pupils key car maintenance techniques, including how to safely change a tyre.

Mr Cain, Deputy Headteacher, led an informative session on budgeting, planning, and managing personal finances.

These workshops form an important part of our commitment to preparing pupils for independent living and success beyond Sixth Form. Well done to all pupils for their enthusiasm and engagement!

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Personal Development Drop-Down Day

Today, we held our first Personal Development Drop-Down Day of the academic year – an important opportunity for pupils across all year groups to develop essential life skills through a series of interactive workshops. This initiative supports the government’s expectations for high-quality personal, social and health education, helping our pupils to grow into confident, informed and responsible young people.

Year 7 explored resilience and emotional wellbeing through ‘Circus of Life’ sessions.

Year 8 took part in a workshop led by Everyone Health on the dangers of vaping, alongside further Circus of Life activities and a session on self-esteem.

Year 9 engaged in workshops on county lines, gang mentality and grooming, using laptops and VR headsets from PSHE VR to navigate virtual scenarios that promoted informed and safe decision-making.

Year 10 focused on their futures with virtual work experience, CV writing workshops and revision skills sessions.

Year 11 took part in workshops on addiction, as well as informative men’s and women’s health talks, and explored apprenticeships, university pathways and further education options via Unifrog.

We are incredibly proud of how maturely and thoughtfully our pupils engaged with the day. These experiences play a vital role in supporting their personal development and preparing them for life both in and beyond school.

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Book Fair Update

Our Book Fair, originally scheduled for last week, has unfortunately been rescheduled. It will now arrive on Monday 8th December and will be in school for one week.

The deadline for the bookmark competition has also been extended to 8th December. Please encourage your child to take part – the winner will receive a £5.00 voucher to spend at the Book Fair!

A reminder that the payment options for the Book Fair are as follows:

· Cash on the day

· Pupils can fill in a Wish List for items, which parents/carers can pay for online. Items will be ready for collection from the Library.

· Book Fair gift vouchers can be purchased directly from Scholastic: https://bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/gift-vouchers

We can’t wait to see our pupils enjoy this exciting event!

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Christmas Tree Festival

We are thrilled to be taking part in the Christmas Tree Festival at Lichfield Cathedral!

This wonderful annual event showcases beautifully decorated Christmas trees created by local businesses, charities, and schools.

Our talented pupils and dedicated Art Department have been hard at work over the past few weeks designing and crafting beautiful decorations for our tree, and we couldn’t be prouder of their creativity and effort.

If you’re visiting Lichfield during December, we’d love your support! Please pop into the cathedral and vote for CTA as your favourite school tree. The festival runs from Thursday 4th December to Sunday 4th January, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the festive displays.

Thank you for your support!

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Every Day Counts!

At Chase Terrace Academy, we believe that every lesson, every day shapes your child’s future.

The Government has made school attendance a national priority because pupils who attend regularly achieve better GCSE outcomes, develop stronger friendships, and build lasting habits for success. Even small amounts of missed learning time can quickly add up and impact progress (‘Working together to improve school attendance’, 2024).

Our Attendance Team can offer a range of supportive measures to help pupils attend consistently and thrive in school. If you have any concerns or need support, please contact us at attendance@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk.

We’re here to help your child succeed.

Proud to support future teachers through our partnership with…

Our Art team have been delighted to welcome Miss Richardson, a trainee teacher from John Taylor SCITT, to the department. She has made a fantastic contribution during her placement and has already achieved fantastic outcomes with the groups she has worked with.

Here’s what she had to say about her time with us so far:

“Year 8 have completed artist research on Roy Lichtenstein, earning an overwhelming number of ‘Outstandings’ for their brilliant writing and creative backgrounds. Year 9 are producing pencil self-portraits inspired by Alana Dee Haynes, exploring personal narratives through symbols and patterns. I’m so proud of the quality of work and the creativity pupils have shown.”

We truly value our partnership with John Taylor SCITT in offering high-quality placements and meaningful classroom experience to the teachers of tomorrow. If you are interested in training to teach, you can find out more about the John Taylor SCITT here: https://jtscitt.co.uk/

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The countdown to Christmas is on!

We’re celebrating with 12 Days of Christmas at Chase Terrace Academy! Each day, a different festive treat will be available to purchase from our food offer.

Check out the delicious menu above!

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Christmas Jumper Day

We’re excited to be joining in with National Christmas Jumper Day and raising funds for the incredible Teenage Cancer Trust!

A reminder that full school uniform is still required. Pupils may wear a festive Christmas jumper in place of their school jumper, shirt and tie, but blazers and school trousers/skirts must still be worn. If pupils choose not to wear a Christmas jumper, they should attend in full standard school uniform.

We’ll be collecting a voluntary contribution via MyChildatSchool to support this fantastic charity – there is no minimum or maximum donation, and every contribution helps.

Let’s spread some festive cheer while supporting a wonderful cause!

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Don’t miss the Sixth Form application deadline!

A reminder that the deadline to submit your Sixth Form application is tomorrow, Monday 1st December!

Explore our 2026 – 2027 prospectus and guidance online for full details on courses, entry requirements, and support to help you make an informed decision: https://chaseterraceacademy.co.uk/sixth-form/sixth-form-admissions-information/

We warmly welcome external applicants and encourage you to book a tour of our Sixth Form. Whether you are continuing your studies with us or joining from another school, Chase Terrace Academy Sixth Form offers a friendly, inclusive, and opportunity-rich environment to help you succeed.

For guidance, support, or to book a tour, contact Mrs Graham at k.graham@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk.

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