Newsletter 24 October 2024

Dear Parent/ Carer

So, the end of this first half term is now here; how quickly did that happen? Already 20% of the way through the academic year!

This week has been another exciting one for extra curricular engagement. Thank you to all the staff who supported with the Year 7 trips to Sutton Hoo this week and last; 95% of the year group attended which is brilliant. Thank you as well to the English department for the Year 13 English Literature trip to Cambridge to see a theatre production of 1984.

Mock exam season has already kicked in; well done to all Year 13 students who have sat exams this week and the end of last week – I hope you are looking forward to a well-earned rest next week. As for Year 11, I hope you are set up for some focused revision ahead of your mocks when we return. There is information below about lunchtime swaps which will support you during this mock exam period.

Finally, thank you to everyone’s support and hard work over this half term. Have a great break, and rest, and we’ll see you all on Monday 4 November 2024. The remainder of this week’s newsletter explains some lunchtime swaps, gives information about upcoming parent engagement evenings, as well as some updates about Year 7 groups and English timetables.

Please also take a minute to see our amazing PE fixture results below; well done to everyone who played in these events, and thank you to the PE department for their continued dedication to supporting these extra-curricular opportunities.

Lunchtime swaps

When we return on Monday 4 November 2024, our lunchtimes will swap around for a couple of year groups.

Year 7 have enjoyed the privilege of having the earliest lunchtime this half term to allow them to settle into the school. This goes hand-in-hand with our supportive transition approach for them: having the school to themselves at the start of the year, having their own yard, delaying homework detentions until they are up to speed with our systems.

After  the half term break, Year 11 start their mock exams, which is a really important time for them. In order for Year 11 to have enough time for their afternoon exams and still finish by 3.00pm, we will be moving them on to the earlier lunchtime from 12.00 noon to 12.45pm, and then they will undertake either a mock exam or their intervention tutorial between 12.45pm and 1.10pm. Year 7 will move to the same lunchtime as Years 8 to 10, and take up the lunch line-up slot that Year 11 have now.

From Monday 25 November 2024, all year groups will move to the same later lunch time of 12.25pm – 1.10pm as we move to a single lunch time. A single lunch time supports both staff wellbeing and staff availability for clubs for students.

Parent engagement evening

Next half term will see the return of the parent engagement evenings. I plan to run these once every other half term this year, so three times a year. We will hold the next evening on Monday 11 November between 5pm and 6pm. Future provisional dates are Monday 17 March 2025 and Monday 9 June 2025 at the same time.

The format of the evening will cover (1) upcoming developments in the school, (2) how we are responding to parent/ carer, PAC and LGC feedback, and (3) responses to anonymised individual parent/ carer questions submitted in advance of the evening.

You can submit questions ahead of the meeting by using the following link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gGfPFvBL70-q-gtugufqCmtFNXMeEpVKr-NMlbqauotUQTNHQlVIVVAyVENGU1JRREtMNlMxUVI3MC4u

Year 7 set changes

Approximately 20 students will see changes to their teaching groups next half term. The changes are based on baseline assessment results in English and mathematics this half term. These changes are merely tweaks and setting refinements to the attainment information we are provided by primary schools; wholesale change is not something we ever intended for this half term.

Student and parents/ carers will be able to see any changes in Bromcom from tomorrow, Friday 25 October 2024. Mr Porter will be providing updated paper copies to students on the first day back.

Timetable changes

There will be a few timetable changes to English, film studies, media studies and drama groups after half term as a result of new staff joining us. We are delighted to welcome Mr Donnelly and Mrs Carter to the English department on a permanent basis. Please can all students check their Bromcom before they return.

Yours faithfully

Tony Meneaugh

Principal

PE Fixtures

Year 7 Football – ESFA National Cup

Well done to the boys of the Year 7 A team who travelled to Hinchingbrooke school this Wednesday to play the second round of the national cup. They were deserved 5-1 winners. On to Stanground Academy, Peterborough for the third round!

Year 8 into the 4th Round of the National Cup

Year 8 boys came out 3-2 winners in the 3rd round of the National Cup against Bottisham. Valuable contributions across the team, with Charlie, Aiden and Luke all getting on the scoresheet!

Year 11 Netball

Well done to all Year 11 Netballers who came 3rd in the district competition on Wednesday. Some high quality netball was on show with the team just missing out on higher places by goal difference”

U13 girls’ football are through to the third round of the national cup.

The year 7 and 8 girls squad have had a fantastic start beating the Abbey 6-1 and a strong Sawtry side 1-0 to get to round 3. Goal scorers this season include Edie, Boe (getting a hattrick) and Maya. Well done girls! Thank you to Mr McConnell who volunteers his time to coach this team alongside Mrs Nisbet.

U12 girls’ football are through to the second round of the national cup.

The Year 7 squad have had a great start beating the Stephen Perse foundation 8-0 to get to round 3. Goal scorers this season include Maya, Megan, Sienna, Grace and Ella bagging herself FOUR! Well done all!

U16 girls’ football county cup

The girls managed to bag a win with only ten players on the pitch. Well done to our team of year 10/11 players. Goals came from Flo, Joanna, Matilda, Ebony and Ava. Great 8-0 victory to move through this knock out competition.

U16 girls’ football are through to the 2nd round of the national cup

The team beat castle Newman 4-2 in a really strong sided away match to make sure they continued their national cup run this season. Two goals each from Joanna and Matilda. Really strong squad performance to start the year!

Online Safety

Christmas Concert

Adult Learning

Adult Learning at Cottenham Village College have some great classes running in November and December. For further details and to book visit www.astreacottenham.org

If you have any questions, please email community@astrealearning.org