Students enjoy inspirational talk from a microbial ecologist
A group of GCSE and A-level scientists at Tewkesbury Academy had the privilege to attend an inspirational talk by an environment molecular microbial ecologist from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology about her journey from flunking chemistry to studying the guts of bees.
Dr Lindsay Newbold described her 20-year scientific journey through unconventional paths. She described the soil bacteria (with links to GCSE biology) project in the mountains, earthworms in Chernobyl, analysing water quality (links to GCSE chemistry) and work in environmental biology.
In a fascinating revelation, Dr Newbold told students their plate of chips relies on bees, birds, rats and another pollinators.
Dr Alice Kennedy, Director of Science at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “Dr Newbold gave some excellent advice about standing out from the crowd when looking for career progression.
“The event left a lasting impression on attendees, igniting a spark of curiosity and passion for science among the students at Tewkesbury Academy.”
A Tewkesbury Academy student has achieved a remarkable feat by finishing in the top 20 at the South West Cross Country Championships.
Year 10 student Jess Sheppard demonstrated exceptional talent and determination, securing an impressive 15th position in this tough competition. Jess was also part of the Gloucestershire County team, who triumphed by winning the competition outright.
Her dedication and commitment to the sport has not gone unnoticed, as she has been selected to represent Gloucestershire at the upcoming National Championships in just a couple of weeks.
Congratulations and good luck Jess!
Fines for parents taking children out of school without permission will rise across England from September the Department for Education has announced. Greatest Hits Radio, Gloucestershire spoke to Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury School about how schools should work in partnership with parents to encourage attendance.
The Year 7 girls’ football team from Tewkesbury Academy showcased great sportsmanship at the recent Cheltenham District football finals. Despite a slow start, the team rallied to secure a commendable third-place finish in their group.
While the girls did not advance to the semi-finals, they demonstrated their determination by securing a hard-earned draw against the eventual champions. Their performance reflected their dedication to the sport and their school.
Mr Graham-Kevan said: “They were a pleasure to work with and represented their school with pride and determination. Well done girls!”
After the education secretary’s proposal to ban the use of mobile phones in schools, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy Kathleen McGillycuddy was interviewed by Greatest Hits Radio, Gloucestershire.
Click on the link below to find out what Kathleen had to say.
Year 8 Students at Tewksbury Academy were treated to a theatre presentation this week informing them of careers and opportunities within the NHS.
The show – funded by the ‘We Want You’ careers outreach project from the Integrated Care System, One Gloucestershire – was an informative and fun introduction to post 16 & 18 pathways.
It focused on the different career and training options available within NHS Health & Social Care and the importance of planning for a successful future.
The session is designed to:
Careers Lead Sarah Baird said: “Students took part in an engaging one-hour interactive theatre presentation aiming to inspire young people to identify their skills and personal interests which can be matched to a future career in health and social care.
“The programme has been designed to raise aspirations and motivate all students to plan for and achieve the highest level they can in education and training. It will also examine the importance of GCSEs, Post-16 options, Post-18 options and staying on in education until 18.”
Young academics from Years 7-9 from Tewkesbury Academy were treated to a special visit today from engineers from GE Aerospace representing the Flying Start Challenge (FSC).
This regional STEM competition has been held in the South West of England for a number of years and aims to develop science and engineering skills in young people. The programme inspires students to consider a career in engineering and learn more about the opportunities available to them.
Teams were challenged to design and build a hand-launched glider, culminating in a ‘fly-off’ at the end of the day to see which could travel the furthest. Delegates shared their valuable technical expertise and knowledge with students, giving them useful lessons in design, manufacture and testing.
Budding engineers were then given the opportunity to continue with the programme and progress to a regional final against other schools on April 9.
Lucie Davis, Associate Assistant Principal, and Sarah Baird, Careers Lead, said: “We would like to thank GE Aerospace for providing our students with an exciting insight into the world of aerospace and for the future support they have pledged to give our students to help them in the next stage of the competition.”
Tewkesbury Academy proudly hosted the highly anticipated annual Cheltenham District B Team Festival, showcasing the talent of over 47 teams from Year 8 to Year 11. This event provided a unique opportunity for students who may not typically secure spots in their first teams, offering them a chance to proudly represent their school in a competitive atmosphere.
Throughout the week-long festival, more than 700 students enthusiastically participated. The emphasis was not only on competition but also on fostering a sense of teamwork, skill development, and overall enjoyment of sports.
One distinctive feature of the event was the involvement of student referees. Not only did this add an extra layer of student engagement, but it also aimed to cultivate leadership skills among the participants.
David Graham-Kevan, Head of Physical Education at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “It was a cold but very enjoyable and satisfying event to host and be involved with. It was a great team effort by the PE department and the wider extracurricular team.”
Professor Ralph Pite from University of Bristol visited Tewkesbury Academy to talk to staff about ‘Literature and the Environment and the Natural History GCSE.
The talk was an insightful, inspiring and memorable CPD event. Present at the talk were members of the Science department, English and Art departments, plus a group of A-Level students.
The GCSE called ‘Natural History’ will be implemented by the Government to start in schools in September 2025. Becci Rowberry, English Teacher and visit organiser stated: “We are all hopeful it would still include Arts and the Humanities, along with Science and Geology, to help teach a new generation of children how to look after the environment, in all its past and future forms.”
Tewkesbury Academy’s music department welcomed former student Max Walters to give a careers in music talk.
He spoke to music students in Years 9,10 and 11 about the prospect of working in the live events industry and his experience within the industry over the last two years.
Max left Tewkesbury in 2020 and is currently at university at the Academy of Live Technology in West Yorkshire. He has also had lot of work experience at The Roses Theatre.
In his talk, Max mentioned events and artists he has worked with including the Grøn Koncert in Denmark, Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay, Hozier and The Arctic Monkeys. Head of Music, Rhiannon Felton said: “It was great to welcome Max. He spoke about how Tewkesbury School and Kev Howlett (his Music Technology teacher, featured in the photo) had specifically sparked his interest in what he wanted to study and what is now his career.
“He wanted share his experiences and inspire other Tewkesbury students who may be considering the many opportunities within the live music/events industry as a future career. We wish Max every continued success.”
