Tewkesbury Academy recently had the pleasure of hosting a cultural exchange visit from Gifu Shotoku Gaken Junior High School in Japan.
The visit saw 75 students aged 14-15, accompanied by their teachers, visit Tewkesbury for a week filled with cultural learning opportunities.
One of the highlights of the visit was a special session for Tewkesbury’s Year 7 students, who were introduced to various aspects of Japanese culture. The Japanese students performed a captivating musical rendition, followed by a series of engaging activities including origami, calligraphy, trying on traditional kimonos, and participating in games and challenges.
It was heartwarming to see the young people from both schools interacting and learning from each other.
During their stay, our Japanese guests were hosted by local families, providing them with a unique opportunity to experience life in Tewkesbury.
In addition to their time at the academy, the visitors enjoyed sightseeing trips to some of England’s most iconic locations, including Bourton on the Water, Gloucester Cathedral, Oxford, and London.
Julia Whybrow, Tewkesbury Academy Operations Manager, said: “We hope the exchange students enjoyed their time here at Tewkesbury, experiencing English school life as well as the beautiful surroundings of Tewkesbury. It has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about Japanese culture and for both groups to build lasting friendships.”
The cultural exchange visit has undoubtedly enriched the lives of both the visiting and host students, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures.
Richard Marriot, an English teacher at Tewkesbury Academy and an avid runner, has literally run miles over the past few weeks.
Richard signed up for the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Big Run, a fundraiser run by the school’s parent trust to fund support for the most vulnerable children and families in CLF schools.
In addition to the CLF Big Run, Richard also participated in the Bristol Half Marathon, an annual road running event held on the streets of Bristol. This was followed by the 5km Tewkesbury Parkrun, and finally, the Taunton Half Marathon.
Richard said: “I found it to be an incredibly challenging yet fulfilling experience and was a great opportunity to engage with students and families from Tewkesbury Academy and other members of the CLF community.”
GCSE science students at Tewkesbury Academy were treated to a session on ‘life in space’ from the National Space Academy (NSA).
The session, led by the NSA’s Space Advocate David Allden, provided students with an overview of different space agencies and a glimpse into various careers within space and astronomy.
The interactive session began with Year 9 students breaking into groups to discuss where space begins. They discovered that space begins at the Kármán line, 100 km above Earth. Following this, students explored the true scale of the distance from the Moon to Earth and received an introduction to professional alien hunters and the Goldilocks Zone — the habitable area of our solar system where Earth is positioned. Theoretical targets for potential aliens, such as Mars, Venus, Enceladus, and Europa, were also discussed.
The session also included a wide array of hands-on experiments. Students used glow sticks and water of different temperatures to understand why glow sticks appear brighter in the summer. They then explored Newton’s First Law, using a hovercraft CD on desks, and relating it to space travel.
Things took a wet turn when students made hydrogen-oxygen rockets and launched them across their classroom. After a short break, the session continued with a lesson on tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets. These resilient micro-animals that can survive in space and ‘deep sleep’ for up to 30 years, enduring extreme environments.
To round off the workshop, students had the chance to design their own aliens and assess whether their creations could survive on the fictional planet Borgonia. Throughout the session, Mr Allden connected activities to various aspects of the science GCSE curriculum, including evolution and natural selection in biology, forces in physics, and fuels and acidity in chemistry.
Dr Kennedy, Director of Science at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “Students were extremely motivated to get involved. Engaging with all practical’s and eager to be volunteers, our Tewkesbury scientists impressed Mr Allden with their knowledge of space facts.”
Tewkesbury Academy student Brendan Hoole has achieved remarkable success in the golfing world, securing first place in the County Championships and third place in the Schools’ County Championships.
The competition, held at Henbury Golf Course, saw the 15-year-old test his skills against a field of around 60 competitors. Brendan’s outstanding performance came in the under 18 category for the schools’ championships and under 16 for the county.
Brendan, who was inspired to take up the sport by his father, began playing golf at the age of seven. He is a dedicated member of Tewkesbury Park Hotel and has been under the expert guidance of golf coach Jordan Aubrey for the past three years.
Golf is more than just a sport for Brendan; it is a full-time passion. He plays three to four times a week, including weekends and evenings, and also dedicates time to practice during the week.
Brendan, who is in Year 11, said: “I have put lots of dedication into my training – this is my passion. I’m coming back to this level following the end of last year when I was really ill with a stomach condition. I spent six weeks in hospital, so my goal is to keep getting better. I’m not going to let that setback cloud over my mind. I am aiming for my goals and will focus on them.
“I would like to thank my mum and dad for pushing me and for encouraging me to turn professional. From September I will be attending Hartpury College and will be a part of the Hartpury Elite squad. From this, a select few students can go to the United States for a college scholarship – this is my main aim in the next few years. I will be practising a lot!”
Brendan’s future in golf looks promising as he has qualified for higher regional events. He will compete in the under 18 Gloucester Golf Union Championship on June 30 at Knowle, and the Kendalshire Open on July 25, which offers a £250 prize.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal of Tewkesbury Academy, said: “Brendan is an impressive young man – talented, hardworking, kind and polite. He is a great example to other young people and shows that the power of resilience and decency brings rewards. I am excited about his future in the sport and look forward to seeing him in the British Open or on the fairway in Augusta in due course!”
Well done to students Luke, Ellie and Emma from Tewkesbury Academy who attended the Tewkesbury Borough Mayor Making Ceremony held at Tewkesbury Abbey.
Congratulations to them all on their stunning musical performances to a packed audience – Luke singing a solo, Ellie Haines performed a beautiful piano solo accompanied by music teacher Rachael Patrick, and Emma Aubury, accompanied by Head of Music Rhiannon Felton, singing a duet.
Thanks to Mrs Felton and Mrs Patrick for giving up their time to support this activity.
Lyndsey Woodward, Executive Assistant to Kathleen McGillycuddy said: “We are so proud of these students and as always it’s an honour for our school to be invited to be a part of this prestigious community event.”
Forty Year 9 students from Tewkesbury Academy embarked on an insightful educational visit to the Imperial War Museum in London to explore their exhibits of the Holocaust galleries.
The students are currently learning about this monumental and harrowing period of events in history. Visiting the galleries helped students improve their knowledge and understanding of how and why the Holocaust happened and the enduring impact on humanity.
They engaged in workshops before and after touring the galleries. After being divided into small groups, they used iPads to navigate through the exhibits, and were guided to significant artifacts that prompted contemplation and reflection.
Teacher Chris Thomson, who organised the trip, said: “It was a thought-provoking and sobering experience. The students engaged really well, and their conduct was excellent, a great learning experience all round.”
Since the start of January, the creative minds of students from Tewkesbury Academy in Years 7, 8, and 9 have been diligently honing their pottery skills at an after-school pottery club.
Guided by the expertise of Mrs Ply, they have painstakingly crafted enchanting ceramic birds, each student utilising their imagination and pottery skills.
These remarkable creations, collectively known as the ‘Magical Murmuration’, will be proudly exhibited at Showborough House Gardens in Twyning, offering a delightful blend of youthful creativity alongside the works of renowned Gloucestershire artists.
The Showborough House exhibition opens on Thursday May 2 and continues until Sunday June 16. It will be open to the public from 10.30am-4pm from Thursday to Sunday each week.
Admission to the exhibition is free, with donations warmly welcomed. No prior booking is required to view the students’ brilliant work in all its glory.
For more information about visiting, please go to https://www.showborough.com/
In a swashbuckling display of talent and creativity, Tewkesbury Academy’s stage came alive with the timeless tale of Peter Pan.
Audiences of all ages were taken on a magical journey to Neverland, home of fairies and pirates and a unique ticking crocodile.
They followed the story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, as he whisks the Darling children away from their nursery to the fantastical realm of Neverland, where adventure and mischief lay in store.
Led by Noah Green (Year 9) in the iconic role of Peter, Tinkerbell played by Phoebe Haddrell (Year 10) and Captain Hook, played by Samuel Tomkins (Year 13), a talented cast of more than 40 students from different year groups took part in this mammoth production.
The students put their talents to use in a wide variety of roles, both on stage and behind the scenes.
Everyone involved had been working tirelessly on this production, rehearsing extensively for more than three months, after school and even at weekends.
Morgen Taylor, Teacher of Drama at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “This production of Peter Pan has been a journey filled with creativity, collaboration, and sheer determination. I couldn’t be prouder of the dedication and talent displayed by our students. They truly brought the magic of Neverland to life on stage.”
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal at Tewkesbury Academy, was asked to comment for Greatest Hits Radio on a report stating Children in England could face the worst exam results because of school closures during Covid.
Click on the link below to find out what Kathleen had to say and what schools are doing to work with students.
Four Tewkesbury Academy sixth form chemists took part in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad.
The UK Chemistry Olympiad is a challenging competition open to all secondary schools and colleges across the British Isles.
Nearly 15,000 students took part in this year’s contest, which is designed to showcase the nation’s brightest young minds in chemistry.
Against strong competition, William Redfern and Barnabey Jones showed their skills and knowledge to earn a Bronze certificate, placing them in the top 37% of the 15,000 who entered.
Not far behind were Lucy Evetts and Ava Baker, who narrowly missed the Bronze certificate by just a few points.
Dr Alice Kennedy, Director of Science at Tewkesbury Academy, said: “We are immensely proud of our students’ achievements in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad. Their success reflects not only their individual brilliance but also the supportive and nurturing environment fostered here at Tewkesbury Academy. Congratulations to William, Barnabey, Lucy, and Ava for their remarkable performance.”
