Astrea St Ivo
Astrea St Ivo
Dear Parent/ Carer
It has been great to see all the staff and students who supported “Number Day”, and in turn the NSPCC, today by wearing green and donating. A huge thanks to the mathematics department (shown below) for leading on this! Information about this national event can be found here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/charity-fundraising/schools-fundraising-ideas/number-day
Sixth form update
With the application deadline on MyChoice16 now gone, and support meetings with students who have chosen to stay with us (preferences 1 and 2) now completed, I can update you on our progress towards September 2025.
As previously promised, any subject that attracts at least one preference 1 or 2 applicant will run. We know how important this reassurance is to students who have picked us. However, every year there are always some subjects that are not as popular that year, and don’t run.
The following courses didn’t attract any preference 1 or 2 applicants, and therefore will not run in September 2025 – that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to advertise in future years.
- BTec Dance
- A-level Film Studies
- A-level German (we are still running French)
- A-level Music
The support meetings also allowed us to review any remaining clashes for students as well, as a result Textiles will move from block C to block D to enable more students to choose it (none of the students who had already picked textiles had picked any subject in block D). Unfortunately, we have not been able to resolve other clashes because moving the subject for the one or two with the clash would have created further clashes for a greater number of other students.
Regarding our sixth form revamp, I am pleased to confirm that the architects plans have now been sent to our construction consultants to start the procurement process for the build work, and samples of furnishings have been requested for discussion with staff and students. We continue to be on track to deliver this amazing project for our community before September 2025.
Finally, the first if of the new sixth form pool tables, requested by students, also arrived this week and is in situ!
First week back
The first week back after half term will see a similar “reboot” to this half term, but with a tweak. Following on from student and parent/ carer feedback, year 11 students will continue with intervention work from their specialist form tutors during period 1 rather than complete the same activities as the rest of the school. Sixth form will have a similarly tweaked programme. For other year groups we will also continue, as we did this half term, to reteach our expectations and rules during the first-day assemblies and tutor/ period 1 activities by linking them to our values and ethos rather than just the “behaviour rules” themselves. The focus for the start of next half term will link to being kind, respect and politeness.
The rest of this week’s newsletter covers year 11 and 13 revision sessions, a reminder about equipment, changes to KS3 classes, a reminder about wearing PE kit on the correct days, information for students with asthma (and general Medical Tracker information), a reminder about safe journeys, information about mock job interviews and shaping future applications, and finally a reminder about the forthcoming year 9 parents’/ carers’ evening.
Yours faithfully
Tony Meneaugh
Principal
House points
Year to date totals:
- Bridge 30,961
- Crosier 31,534
- Leger 29,795
- River 32,221
- Wheatsheaf 32,097
Year 11 “just-in-time” sessions
Well done to our Year 11 students on their tenacity in completing the second week of mocks. Just in time sessions for next week are shown below:
| 8am – 8.25 | Period 3 (11.05) | |
| Monday 10 February | History – canteen | |
| Tuesday 11 February | Child Development – canteen | |
| Wednesday 12 February | Ethics – N6 | |
| Thursday 13 February | PE Paper 2 – Mr Blackman (Room 18) and Mr Farr (Room 17) | |
| Sport Studies – Mr Varey Room 7 | ||
| Friday 14 February | Film Studies – resource centre |
Year 11 after-school sessions
Please find below the weekly update on the Year 11 revision sessions happening after school next week, and the topics being covered:
https://www.astreastivo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Weekly-Interventions-20250210.pdf
Year 11 revision sessions during half term
Revision sessions are being offered for Year 11 students during half term in the following subjects:
- Art
- Textiles
- Computer Science
- Drama
- Geography (invite only – parents will receive an email from Mr Henry-Cockles)
- English (Mr Francis’ group only)
There are 90 spaces for Art and Textiles over two days, so these will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. We will contact you if you do not have a place, so if you do not hear from us, your child should come to the session.
Students must sign in at the main reception where they will be signposted to the correct rooms.
If you wish for your child to attend, please fill in the form here: https://forms.office.com/e/YJyqWNVgMC
Year 13 revision sessions during half term
Revision sessions are being offered for Year 13 students during half term in the following subjects:
- Media Studies
- Computer Science
- Drama
If parents /carers wish their child to attend, please fill in the form here: https://forms.office.com/e/r2GaXiuPF8
Equipment (and checks)
After half-term we will be trialling formalised morning equipment checks (beginning with year 7), and a loan system for the basics, to ensure that students have the equipment they need to be successful for the day ahead. As a reminder, students are expected to bring in the following equipment daily:
- Pens – two black/ blue and one green
- Pencil
- Highlighter (any colour)
- Ruler (30cm)
- Eraser
- Pencil sharpener
- Protractor
- Compass
- Glue stick
- Scientific calculator (the Casio FX83GTX is preferred)
- Canteen card
- Water bottle
We will not sanction students for missing equipment where it is an isolated and/ or accidental occurrence; detentions will only be issued for repeatedly failing to bring in the correct equipment. As such, we welcome any support parents/ carers can give in reviewing what equipment their child has now, and perhaps using next week and the half term break to ensure everything is in place for when we return.
Year 7-9 classes
Following the recent assessments across key stage 3, please be aware that there may be some changes to the groups that students are in upon return from half term. These decisions will not be based solely on any one assessment as we will also take into consideration effort and attainment in class and on homeworks. We encourage students to check timetable on the Student Portal over half term to see any changes.
PE kit
A reminder that students should only wear PE kit on days when they have practical PE or dance. Students who choose to wear PE kit on other days will be asked to change, and if they refuse, will be sanctioned for this.
Students with asthma
It is important that we hold up-to-date information on student medical conditions, including for those students with asthma. Parents/ Carers can check the medical notes we have on file using MCAS. If any updates are needed, please contact the school office. If your child has a health care plan, we ask that you please provide the academy with a copy.
We do have emergency salbutamol reliever inhalers on site. This is a precautionary measure, and parents/ carers still need to provide their child with their own reliever inhaler (and spacer if needed with this inhaler) as prescribed. If you do not wish for us to use the schools’ inhaler in an emergency, please email office@astreastivo.org as soon as possible.
Safe journeys
We encourage students to walk or cycle to school where possible at part of an active, healthy lifestyle. We would appreciate the support of parents and carers to remind students of the following (this will also be reinforced by school staff next week):
- If cycling to school please cycle one behind the other, not in a row, because vehicles can’t get past and students could get hurt.
- Wear a helmet.
- Lights on bike.
- No e-scooters to be used.
- If walking to school, walk on the path.
If you do need to drop your child off at school, please be considerate to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Calling all parents – mock interview volunteers needed!
Do you have experience in interviewing? If so, we would be grateful for your help.
As part of our careers programme, we are offering our Year 10 students the opportunity to take part in mock interviews—and we would love your support!
Monday 3rd March, 9:00–3:00 in school, lunch and refreshments provided.
You can volunteer for all or part of the day—any support is greatly appreciated. We will provide you with a set of interview questions
If you’re able to help, please contact helen.parks@astreastivo.org.
Thank you for your support in preparing our students for their futures!
Year 10 shaping futures – job applications now live
Job advertisements are now available on Morrisby, and all Year 10 students have received guidance on how to apply.
We kindly ask for your support in helping your child choose a job role and submit an application. Even if your child is taking part in a pre-arranged traditional placement, they are still required to complete this process and attend mock interviews, as these are essential skills for their future.
Thank you for your support.
Year 9 parents’/ carers’ evening
Parents’ evening will be held online on Thursday 13 February from 4.00pm-7.30pm.
Appointments can be booked via SchoolCloud – St Ivo Academy. Booking are available now and will close at 8am on Thursday 13 February. If you have any difficulties using the online platform, please contact the school office.
If you wish to book an appointment for dance, please note that Miss McAdam teaches every student in year 9. We therefore kindly ask that you only book an appointment to see her if your child has particular interest in dance for further study.
On the evening itself, please once again log on to School Cloud then click the “join video appointments” button. The system will then load your appointments, please see https://support.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/article/801-video-parents-how-to-attend-appointments-over-video-call for further information. You can use most phones, tablets, laptops etc to access this service. Please note that in order for the evening to run to time, calls will automatically cut off at the given end time (there will be a countdown on your screen).
Following on from parents’ evening, the Year 9 curriculum evening will take place on Thursday 13 March, starting at 6pm in the school hall. The curriculum evening gives Year 9 families the opportunity to visit subject areas and hear from senior staff about the Year 9 into 10 preferences process.