NewsSummer 2012ForewordA message from <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> Principal, Mrs Claire Smith.We can look back on this past school year with a huge sense of pride: we havemade great strides forward in so many areas, but most importantly in our students’academic achievements and commitment to really getting the most from school life.I have high hopes for exam results this summer following significant improvementslast year. Increased student attendance, participation in extracurricular activities,such as our enrichment classes, and going the extra mile in course work, all suggestthat <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> really is the school of opportunity I always knew it could be.Thank you to students, parents and all our staff for helping make this happen.This publication presents a snapshot of school activities this past term with contributions from students and staff alike: butbelieve me, it really is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many special projects, school trips, enrichment programmes, andsporting events going on, it would be impossible to present them all; but hopefully this will give you a good flavour of day today life at <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>.The next school year will be very special as in the Autumn term we move into our fantastic £22.5 million new school buildingnow nearing completion. Have a look at our centre page spread for an update on progress but be assured, we are makingevery penny spent count towards providing a second to none learning experience for our students.I am, however, only too aware that it takes much more than bricks and mortar to create a successful school and we willcontinue to prioritise first class teaching, whole of school participation and involvement in school life, and mutual respect foreach other – all important building blocks for success.I was recently asked the highlight of my school year, what had made me feel most proud, and from our our many achievementsit was five small words from a particular student which really stopped me in my tracks. At the end of a particularly challengingweek he said ‘I really love this school’ – few words but a huge endorsement of everything we strive to achieve here, and asvital as any exam result or Ofsted report.Those few words are a credit to everyone who works to make <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> a very special place.I wish you all a great summer holiday and look forward to another successful school year ahead.Mrs Claire Smith, Principal.HomeworkIn response to Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)recommendations, <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> will be introducinghomework for some classes in the next school year.The <strong>Academy</strong> has always resisted the practice of homeworkbelieving that work required could be completed withinnormal school hours; however there are occasions when abit of extra study at home is to the benefit of the student.Students, parents and carers will be advised on homeworkrequirements in due course.Polite notice<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>’s policy is for NO holidays to be takenduring term time. To do so could result in a £50 fine perparent, and the loss of a place at the <strong>Academy</strong>.Cover image: L-R Anelle Antoine, Tyler Webb, and Isabell Gwekwererehold the National School Sports Week Cup won by the Arts andSports Learning Village. Insert image: Old Operating Theatre trip.<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>welcomes Year 8 studentsThis is an exciting time for all students and staff in the<strong>Academy</strong> but particularly for our Year 8s joining us inSeptember who visited the <strong>Academy</strong> on Thursday 12th andFriday <strong>13</strong>th July as part of our transition programme.They enjoyed two days packed full of information andadvice about joining the <strong>Academy</strong>, as well as meetingstaff, their new tutor and fellow students. Year 8s alsoexperienced a wide variety of sample lessons to give a realflavour of <strong>Academy</strong> life and enjoyed a welcome speechfrom Mrs Smith.Parents and carers were welcomed at an informationevening on Thursday 12th and students and their parentscollected their smart new uniforms ready for September.90 minute lessonsLessons at <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> will change from two hoursto 90 minutes from next term. This is to accommodatewider curriculum choices but remains longer than thenorm, underpinning our belief that student time is betterspent learning than moving between classes.Points mean prizesThis year we have successfully introduced PersonalAchievement Points Rewards. In lessons students can beawarded Achievement Points for excellent application andclass work, along with being a positive role model and having100 per cent attendance.The rewards were divided into four sections from Bronzethrough to Platinum and, at the end of the year, studentschecked their total points to see their level of achievementand select a prize accordingly. There were over thirty rewardoptions including a calculator or free hot chocolate atBronze level; through to personal trainer sessions and a pizzalunch with friends at Platinum.Attendance rates up<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>’s attendance rate for the past schoolyear has increased to 94.7 per cent – well above nationalaverages and a massive improvement over last year.Students with 100 per cent attendance has increased by10 per cent.“We have worked very hard to achieve this impressivefigure as persistent absenteeism is disruptive for allstudents and greatly disadvantages the individual. We willwork towards even higher levels of attendance next year,”said <strong>Academy</strong> Principal, Mrs Smith.<strong>Academy</strong> marches on itsstomach<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> will be introducing a free breakfast forall students from September. Comprising a healthy mix offruit, yoghurt and cereals, the breakfasts are intended to bea social occasion as well as functional and will be taken in atwenty minute break in a group with staff.Research suggests that students certainly work better andare more productive if they are not hungry and thinkingabout food.A breakfast break will improve concentration and aidlearning.Olympic fever grips the<strong>Academy</strong>!<strong>Academy</strong> students have been given the chance to grab a sliceof Olympic history and get their hands on London 2012Olympic tickets!The school has 14 tickets for the Women’s Football at theRicoh Arena in Coventry to give to students who feel theyhave demonstrated Olympic values in their lessons across the<strong>Academy</strong>.Students were required to fill out a nomination slip fromStudent Reception, describing why they feel they should beselected to attend the event. From here a second round ofapplications are being made through video. Organised by ourArts and Sports Classroom Champions, applicants will beasked to state why they feel the Olympics is good for Londonand the positive effects it will have on the country as a whole.Peer mentoring updateThe Year 10 mentors have worked extremely hard thisacademic year and have remained committed to their role.In particular the Peer Mentors have contributed to thesuccessful implementation of <strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>’s zerotolerance towards bullying.<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong>’s Lead Peer Mentors are:Masuma Akhta, Sherrylee Du Toit, Ragna Begum, GemmaHendrickson, James Edwards, Betsy Witney, Robyn Scott,Cory O’Regan, Tamara Thompson, and Shenaz Yasmin.We are extremely proud of how the Peer Mentors haveworked during this academic year. They have been veryprofessional, always reliable and have displayed high levelsof maturity.The recruitment of the new 2012/20<strong>13</strong> Peer Mentors hasnow been completed and announced in the Village Assemblies.The new Peer Mentors are:Lina Akhtar, Larry Akowuah, Mashalla Ahmed, Lipa Nessa,Hazera Chisti, Tia Forbes, Sapphire Lowell, Niki Johnson, XantiaPapa, Tanesha Young, and Magdelena Szakowska.<strong>Bedford</strong> <strong>Academy</strong> is also in the process of developing the SixthForm mentors. The Sixth Form Senior Peer Mentors are:Sultana Ali, Timothy Baynes, Rashid Ahmed, Azoma Ahmed,Sonia Islam, Kadeem Ali, Jake Bloom, Liza Begum, and MariamaJalloh.We would like to say a big thank you to all of the Lead PeerMentors for all their hard work and efforts this academic year.It is always a pleasure to work with them. Also we would liketo thank our new Peer Mentors and Senior Mentors for theirapplications and look forward to working with them.