Staff and students at Tewkesbury Academy joined the nation on Armistice Day, observing a two-minute silence to honour the courage and sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces, past and present.
Continuing a cherished tradition, students who are part of youth organisations such as the Cadets, Guides, Scouts, and Boys’ Brigade wore their association uniforms, symbolising respect and solidarity.
At 11am, the entire school community paused lessons to gather quietly on the academy’s tennis courts.
Sombre music and hymns created a reflective atmosphere, and a lone trumpeter played The Last Post before the school fell silent in collective remembrance.
Following the silence, cadets, joined by their Unit Leaders, held a parade that concluded at a memorial tree located at the front of the academy.
This tree honours the memory of Able Seaman Matthew Stuart, a former student who tragically lost his life on his 18th birthday while serving aboard HMS Argonaut during the Falklands War in 1982.
Matthew’s mother, a regular attendee of the event, described the occasion as deeply moving.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy, said: “Our annual Remembrance event is one of the most important in our calendar.
“The entire academy stands together in remembering those who gave their today for our tomorrows.
“We also remember our service families, our own loved ones, and our hopes for peace across the world.
“Our students were exemplary in their conduct and seeing them all together in solemnity is quite breathtaking. We are very proud of them as they pay tribute.”
Students and staff at Tewkesbury Academy proudly wore odd socks as part of Anti-Bullying Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and take a stand against bullying.
Odd Socks Day, the official kick-off to Anti-Bullying Week, encourages students and staff alike to don mismatched socks in a powerful symbol of individuality, celebrating that differences make us unique and valuable.
A spokesperson for Tewkesbury Academy said: “Odd Socks Day is a fantastic way to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity within our school community.
“By wearing odd socks, we’re reminding everyone that our differences are strengths, and each person deserves respect, kindness, and acceptance.”
Tewkesbury Academy has congratulated the 50 dedicated runners both boys and girls who represented the school at last week’s Schools’ District Cross Country Championships.
Among the standout performances, special recognition goes to Jess S, who secured an impressive second place finish and has earned a spot in the upcoming County Championships in December.
Tewkesbury’s Head of PE, Mr Graham-Kevan, praised the students for their outstanding effort.
He said: “Cross country running is a true test of grit and determination, and all students demonstrated incredible perseverance and resilience.
“They pushed through the physical and mental barriers in some challenging weather and terrain.
“I was so proud of the effort shown by all students. Special praise goes to Jess for her fantastic achievement.”
Tewkesbury Academy looks forward to cheering on Jess and wishes her the best of luck in the County Championships.
Students at Tewkesbury Academy have demonstrated their generosity and community spirit by spending a day in non-uniform to raise funds for a vital cause.
The event was organised in response to the severe flooding that recently damaged the library of Tewkesbury C of E Primary School, one of the academy’s feeder schools.
Heavy rain caused the drainage system at Tewkesbury C of E Primary School to overflow, flooding the building and damaging books, furniture, and carpets in the library.
To help replace essential reading materials and equipment, Tewkesbury Academy students participated in a non-uniform day, raising over £800.00.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy, said: “We are really proud of our young people and their families who have raised these funds for Tewkesbury C of E Primary School.
“We were deeply upset that their library was destroyed in the recent floods – reading and literacy are so important to all of us – so it was only natural that everyone wanted to help.
“I’m pleased to see our values of responsibility exemplified here, and we hope all the youngsters at the primary school will soon enjoy lovely new books as a result.”
The funds raised will go directly to Tewkesbury C of E Primary School to replace the much-needed books and equipment lost during the flood.
In a vibrant show of solidarity and support for World Mental Health Day, teachers and staff at Tewkesbury Academy dressed in yellow to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing.
By taking part in this initiative, Tewkesbury Academy joined a nationwide effort to highlight mental health struggles, demonstrating to students that they are never alone and that help is always available.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy, said: “We are proud to wear yellow to celebrate World Mental Health Day – the wellbeing of our young people and colleagues is really important to us.
“It is a symbol to our school community that it is okay to not be okay, and as a Young Minds Matter school, we are thankful to all our partner organisations for their help in keeping our children and young people well.”
A grand total of 88 Year 10 art and photography students from Tewkesbury Academy took part in an exciting photography walk around the town this week
The event, organised in collaboration with Alley Cats and local artist Sam Morris, offered students a unique opportunity to refine their photography skills while delving into the rich history of Tewkesbury.
Led by Steve from Alley Cats, the guided tour highlighted Tewkesbury’s fascinating landmarks and historical significance.
With Sam Morris providing artistic direction, the students captured a variety of creative and striking images, applying the skills they’ve learned in class to real-world settings.
A spokesperson said: “It was a fantastic day filled with learning and creativity.
“Students not only improved their technical photography skills but also gained a deeper appreciation of the history and culture of their town.”
Over the coming weeks, the students will use their photographs to develop a range of creative projects, including editing, drawing inspiration from, and creating photomontages. This work will contribute to their GCSE portfolios, showcasing their artistic development.
Tewkesbury Academy is celebrating another great year and congratulates our Y11 students on their success in their GCSEs and other Level 2 awards. Their success reflects not only their own hard work but also determined input from teachers and families who have motivated and encouraged these young people to strive to give their best.
Tewkesbury Academy is delighted that so many of our Year 11s are choosing to continue their studies at Tewkesbury Academy Sixth Form for A levels, BTEC awards and other Level 3 courses. We look forward to welcoming them back along with new joiners to our 6th Form on Wednesday 4th September.
Special congratulations go to our highest attaining students Lucy Overthrow, George MacPherson, Maggie Stather, Esme Burton, Issy French, Sam Whatmore, Amelia Brookes, Aoifie Kelly and Ollie Eden.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal, said “It’s always a joyous event to celebrate the achievement of the young people of Tewkesbury and to see them relish the fruits of their labours! This year’s results yet again demonstrate that attendance and hard work will unlock great results. Well done to the class of 2024 and we look forward to seeing many of them shortly in Year 12.”
Whatever our Y11 leavers decide to do in the future, whether joining our popular 6th Form, continuing their studies elsewhere, or starting apprenticeships, we wish them all good luck!
Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation said: “Across the Cabot Learning Federation, we have almost 1,800 students collecting their results today after 12 years of education, and the day is all about them as individuals. There are some extraordinary stories of young people achieving well against the odds, showing the tenacity and commitment to invest in themselves and their futures. We know that they are making their parents and carers and our colleagues proud, and we’re just as excited to see where they go next as what they find when they open their envelopes today. Well done to them and thank you to the many colleagues who have nurtured their potential and helped them to grow from the first day they were dropped off at school!”
Tewkesbury Academy’s Sixth Form team has spoken of the ‘immense pride’ at the achievements of this year’s graduating students.
The impressive results reflect the hard study efforts of Tewkesbury’s young people, as well as the inspiration and motivation received from not only their Sixth Form teachers and tutors at Tewkesbury Academy, but also every teacher who has contributed to their learning over the past 14 years.
The school offered thank to students’ families who have supported and encouraged sixth formers during their studies.
Across the cohort, Tewkesbury students will now be embarking on a range of exciting new directions.
Many continue with academia and among those students heading to top universities are Caitlin Whitefoot who is going to University of Warwick to study English literature and creative writing; Vlad Yatsyna who is going to University of Leicester to study software engineering; Ellena McNamee who heads to University of Liverpool to read law and Jack Scorer has earned a place at the University of Warwick for film studies.
Exeter University will be the next destination for Jess Quinn, who will study theology and religion and Amberley Hall to study business with a year abroad.
Some students continue their studies locally: Sam Roberts is heading down the road to the University of Gloucestershire to study business and management, Darcy Coleman is going to the University of Worcester to study environmental management and sustainability and Louis Pugh is also staying local to study graphic design.
Several students are taking the apprenticeship route, and we look forward to hearing how Sophie Hulse gets on with her Formula 1 apprenticeship.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy, said: “We are immensely proud of all our young people and the hard work they have put in to secure their destinations, whether university or apprenticeships. We have a brilliant group of youngsters heading out into the world – we wish them much luck.”
Pic taken by Jack Boskett
Tewkesbury Academy’s Expressive Art and Technology team would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all the families who joined them in celebrating the exceptional work of talented Year 11 and Year 13 students.
The event showcased more than 100 pieces of outstanding work, highlighting the creativity and hard work of Tewkesbury’s students.
An estimated 150 attendees, including parents, carers, grandparents, and friends, helped make the event a truly memorable occasion.
Kate Murtagh, Tewkesbury’s Associate Assistant Principal, said: “To everyone that attended, thank you for coming together to celebrate the dedication and achievements of our students this year.
“Your support and encouragement are invaluable to us, and we look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate our students’ achievements together.”
Tewkesbury Academy students were given a taste of democracy in action today, when they staged their own mock General Election.
As the nation went to the polls to select a Government for the coming years, Tewkesbury students were enjoying their own hands-on experience of the democratic process.
In this unique exercise, all students were given the opportunity to cast their votes for the three main parties standing in the Tewkesbury constituency. However, the parties were anonymised and identified only by numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Party number 1 was Labour, party number 2 was Conservative, and party number 3 Liberal Democrats.
The primary objective of this initiative is to help students grasp their role within the voting system and gain a practical understanding of the general election process.
We are excited to announce that the party duly elected to serve Tewkesbury Academy is the Liberal Democrats.
Thomas Pilkington, Head of Year 11 and election organiser, said: “This event not only provided a valuable learning experience but also encouraged thoughtful discussion and engagement among students about the democratic process and the significance of elections.”
