A group of 95 Year 12 students took part in an innovative self-leadership programme delivered by the College of Policing.
The course – known as Boost – has been created by Gloucestershire Constabulary. It was launched with an initial 13-month pilot in July 2020 before the programme was rolled out in full in Gloucestershire in September 2022.
It’s the first time Tewkesbury Academy has taken part in this peer-to-peer initiative, which has the ambition to build resilience and self-leadership in students. It is designed to equip Year 12 students who took part with the skills to act as mentors to Year 7 students.
This hard-hitting course addressed topics such as crime prevention, child sexual exploitation and abuse, drugs and alcohol, and ethics and values.
The aim is to encourage all young people to choose to be positive and effective personal leaders where they feel their voice is heard, that they feel valued, and they can thrive with confidence even in environments they can’t necessarily affect or alter themselves.
The students who deliver this programme receive a certificate signed by the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner.
Tewkesbury Academy’s Head of Year 12, Paul Warren, said: “Our Sixth Form students are a real asset to the Tewkesbury Academy community and their participation in this project will further embed our core school values into the daily lives of our young people.”
Staff and students at Tewkesbury Academy held a poignant Remembrance Day to pay their respects to those who lost their lives defending the country in wartime – including a former pupil.
It was with pride that the whole school community, joined by the Boys’ Brigade, Scouts, Guides and Air, Army and Sea Cadets, observed an impeccable silence. Students conducted themselves in an exemplary manner throughout the occasion.
Head Student Archie recited We Will Remember Them in the presence of Mrs Stuart – mother of former student Matthew. Matthew died in the Falklands War in service of his country. Each year a small group gathers at the tree planted in his memory and this year Ellena, Tewkesbury’s second Head Student, laid a wreath at his tree. Guests were particularly moved by Helen Walters of Tewkesbury Town Band’s playing of The Last Post – sombre notes that represent so much for so many.
Principal Kathleen McGillycuddy said: “You would be humbled and immensely proud of the children and young people of Tewkesbury as all of them plus colleagues observed the ceremony in respectful silence. Mrs Stuart was moved to tears by our students and the event itself.
“As I said last year, our freedom as a country has been reinforced and secured over the years as a result of the sacrifice of many young service men and women. Today we remember them. Today as we see lives shattered in Israel and in Gaza we hope for peace, we hope we learn the lessons of the past and we remember those who gave their lives for us.”
Photos: thanks to Jack Boskett/Nick Jones.
Staff at Tewksbury Academy dressed in yellow to raise awareness of a charity which helps young people look after their mental health.
Hello Yellow is an event staged on World Mental Health Day, and is organised by Young Minds, the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health.
The charity is working to create a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.
The team at Tewksbury Academy embraced the event by inviting staff to dress up in yellow and have fun for the day to support the cause. They also had the opportunity to engage with the serious meaning behind the event and were encouraged to start having conversations about mental health.
Menize Donatien, Inclusion Standards lead, who organised the day, said: “The campaign aims to promote awareness for World Mental Health Day by encouraging individuals to wear yellow and donate to Young Minds on October 10. Our staff have done an exceptional job of raising awareness and demonstrating to our students that we stand in solidarity with them, and that mental health is a crucial issue, as evidenced by our yellow attire and other tutor-led initiatives.
“Our ultimate objective is to pave the way for a brighter future for the mental health of young people, while simultaneously reassuring them that it’s perfectly acceptable to not be okay.”
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal at Tewksbury Academy said: “Hello Yellow gives us a chance to let our young people know we recognise it’s not been an easy few years since lockdown. Students have faced and overcame many challenges and shown great resilience since lockdown.
“Staff at Tewksbury Academy are actively working together on promoting positive metal health, well supported by a range of partners like Young Minds Matter and Tic+ and making sure every young person knows they can talk to us about things that matter to them.”
We are pleased to report some wonderful achievements by our students in their A-level and vocational qualifications this summer.
Highlights included the performance of Leon, who achieved A*, A and a Distinction*, and will now go onto study computer science at the University of Cardiff. Freya achieved excellent grades in psychology, biology and chemistry and will go onto study psychology at the University of York. Other students will be embarking on new studies in fields as diverse as medicine, bio-medical science, fashion design, engineering, primary teaching and journalism at universities ranging from Swansea, Birmingham, Plymouth, Winchester, UWE, Gloucestershire, Worcester and the Royal Agricultural University. School leaders are also proud of those students who have secured apprenticeships and employment, including Diego with the aerospace company Safran.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal, said: “We are very proud of our Year 13s as they get their well-earned results. They are off to exciting destinations ranging from universities to apprenticeships.
“They have been a year group much disrupted by the pandemic and its aftermath, yet they have shown grit and determination in shaping their own future – what wonderful role models for our school, our wider community and our town. Well done to the whole year group, including those who have excelled against the odds and overcome obstacles to achieve such fine results. Thank you to our teachers who have guided their students to these results and to our parents and carers that work in partnership with us. We wish all our alumni ‘good luck’ on their new adventures and can’t wait to hear all about their successes.”
These results are the first since we joined the Cabot Learning Federation in June.
Cabot Learning Federation Chief Executive Steve Taylor said: “We are immensely proud of these post-16 students. Against the backdrop of the uncertainties and difficulties of recent years, they have shown great resilience and richly deserve the excellent set of results they have achieved today.
“Whether they now plan to move into higher education or the world of work, we wish them every success in their next step – and hope they will continue to show the talent and dedication they have displayed throughout their years of education. Thanks to the team of colleagues who have supported these students over the course of their school careers, and in particularly over the past two years.”
We celebrated some wonderful GCSE results today. There was a great atmosphere at the school as parents, teachers and young people gathered to acknowledge the achievements of the whole year group. The excitement as young people had their sixth form place at the academy confirmed or their apprenticeship secured was palpable.
We were delighted to see numbers of students achieving top grades but more importantly the whole school community was thrilled to see the achievements of our cohort who have worked hard and sometimes in difficult situations to ensure they can take their next steps. There was clear pride and joy in evidence at the academy today. Congratulations to all our students!
Students who achieved top grades across all subjects include Joe Ferrier, Lucy Evetts, Hannah Dyke, Alfie Cull, Sam Elliott, Sofia Kashoo, Sophie Machray, Trinity Ramsay, Elizabeth Walsh, George Ellis and Nico Rainbow.
The majority of students will be staying on at our Sixth Form to start their A-Levels whilst others will go to Hartpury College to study student Animal Care, Gloucestershire College to undertake a variety of vocational courses, Dean Close on a rugby scholarship and some are going onto highly sought after and competitive apprenticeships with local companies like Bromford Construction.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal, said “Well done to the class of 2023 – we are very proud of you. You are tremendous young people, and we can’t wait to see you back here at sixth form.”
