Head of Academy 1

Battlefields 1

Disneyland Paris 2

Performance Dates 2

School

Shakespeare

Festival

2

Work Experience 3

Transition 3

After School Club 3

Listening Matters 3

SSAT 4

Annual Reviews 4

Celebration of

Learning 4

Staffing 5

The Big Draw 5

SEND IASS 6

Bendrigg 7

Forest School 6

Framwellgate

adopt a Lion 7

Safeguarding Diary

Dates 8

Newsletter Hope Wood Academy

December

2016

Inside this Issue What a fantastic year this has been. The

Academy continues to go from strength to

strength. We had a visit from Ofsted in July,

which confirmed for us the amazing work that

our pupils, staff and parents do to make this

academy what it is today. We were very

pleased that Ofsted agreed with us that we are

a school that is developing and making the progress we need to

provide good opportunities and experiences for our pupils. The

academy is still going through considerable change in order to meet

the needs of its community. As a staff team we are very aware of the

impact that changes have on some pupils. As a result we work very

hard with pupils, staff and parents to minimise

impact and develop a safe and happy learning

environment. Over the year I have been very

pleased with the number of parents and carers

who have become involved with the school

community, giving their time to visit us and their

children on special occasions. I would also like to

thank our hard working and dedicated staff team

for a tremendous year. I hope that all our

community have a fun but safe festive holiday and

I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Battlefields Tour

Over a crisp and bright November weekend, 2 Key

Stage 4 pupils, Ben and Mark were chosen to

represent Hope Wood Academy on a First World War

Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, a national programme to

commemorate the First World War. The tour focused on the battlefields of the

Ypres Salient in Belgium and of The Somme in France. After an early start on

the Friday morning the pupils travelled to Kingswood Grosvenor Hall in Ashford

to take part in a series of team building exercises and research activities such

as rock wall climbing, researching local soldiers from the Easington district and

handling First World War artefacts. It was then on to Europe and during the

tour they visited a number of battlefield sites and cemeteries such as

Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Memorial Museum at Passchendaele, the opportunity

to watch the nightly ceremony of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, Lochnagar

Crater, High Wood, Langemark Cemetery, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Thiepval

Memorial. They also participated in handling the equipment of the British

soldier of Then and Now and the opportunity to create a pottery figure that

will form part of a commemoration art programme and memorial to the

600,000 killed in Flanders during the First World War. It was an amazing and

humbling experience for the pupils.

A note from the

Head of

Academy

Rachel Ireland

12 students and staff from Hope Wood Academy joined a group of students and staff

from Barbara Priestman Academy for Hope Wood’s second international residential trip

to Disneyland Paris in October 2016. The group travelled by coach and ferry to the

Explorers Hotel just outside the Disneyland park, the group enjoyed exploring both the

Disney park and Walt Disney Studios Park during the day and having fun in the swimming

pool and soft play on an evening. The group particularly enjoyed the Disney parade

during the afternoons where students and staff got to see lots of the characters while they

danced to Disney tunes. For many students this was the first time they had been out of the

country and away from their parents for four days. All students had a fantastic time and

really enjoyed mixing with students from Barbara Priestman Academy.

To Disneyland

Paris and

beyond!

Performance Dates

The Christmas period is always a busy time for the Performing Arts within Hope Wood

Academy. During the last week of term the pupils will have performed at a number of

events such as The Hope Wood Academy Signing Choir visiting the INTU Metro Centre to

entertain the shoppers on Monday 12th, Primary

and secondary Christmas performances within

school to a packed out hall. Parents and

carers are welcome to both performances.

School Shakespeare Festival

Pupils from Hope Wood Academy Performing

Arts Club and Key Stage 4 Performing Arts

students took to the stage at Middlesbrough

Theatre on a cold, and very wet, November

night to perform A Midsummer Nights Dream as

part of the School Shakespeare Festival. The

company ranged from primary to Post 16 pupils and performed with 3 other schools on

the night. The pupils have worked very hard in after school Performing Arts clubs and

performing arts lessons to bring this play to life and they did an amazing job. New

members, aged 8 and above, are always welcome to join Performing Arts Club.

The week of the 21st of November, Castle class took

part in a week long work experience. This was a

great opportunity for all students who took part to

develop some essential skills required for work and to experience the world of work for a

week. Placements were varied and included; Edendale Paving, Fergusons Motor repairs,

Seaward Electronics ltd, County Durham Furniture help scheme, Beachcomber care home

as well as others. We would like to thank all of our work experience providers for supporting

our students and providing them with opportunities and experiences. We are currently

developing good links within the community establishing a portfolio of work experience

placements.

Our next round of students from Prebends class are excited to go on their work experience

the week commencing the 6th of February.

We are aware that work experience is a new and sometimes daunting challenge for our

students, however we do make sure that Health and Safety checks are performed to

safeguard all students and ensure the correct level of support is available.

Work Experience

Transition The majority of our year 11 students have enjoyed visiting

different colleges this term. They have visited providers for

16-19 in the following establishments; Springboard, Darlington

College, East Durham College, Catch 22, New College

Durham, and Hartlepool College.

This provides our students with a better understanding of their

options and can make informed decisions for their next steps

in Education.

Listening Matters aims to provide early

intervention to support individuals with social,

emotional and mental health needs.

Children, who would benefit from working for 6

to 8 weeks with

one of our

Listeners, are

identified by the

SENCO/Teacher through a referral and assessment procedure,

with parents agreement.

Supervision of the Listener’s work is an essential part of the

process and all our Listeners have received training.

After School Clubs

The following After School Clubs will be operating in the New

Year for pupils aged 8 and above.

Tuesday – Sports Club

Wednesday – Film Club

Thursday – Performing Arts Club / Craft Club

We look forward to seeing you there.

Two members of staff have been enrolled on

the nationally recognised lead practitioner

course through the Schools, Students and

Teachers network based in London. The aim

of the course is to develop teaching and

learning within the academy with the start of

action research. Both members of staff will

develop staff and pupils in areas of teaching

and learning specific to our school.

Annual reviews of EHCP’s and Statements are an

important opportunity for parents and carers to

meet with staff and review progress made during

the academic year and discuss outcomes for the

forthcoming year. The review meeting provides

opportunity for all professionals working with your son/daughter to be involved in

discussing aspirations for the future, how he/she learns best and the support he/she

requires in order to have a happy and fulfilling life at school and home. Parents and

carers participation has been a fantastic this year, and we would like to say how

much we appreciate parents and carers on-going support.

Annual Reviews

SSAT - Schools, Students and Teachers Network

On Tuesday 29th of November our

primary department held a

Celebration of Learning assembly.

The picture shows Blue Class

displaying the diva lamps they

made. It was a lovely assembly

where pupils were fully engaged in

the experience. The assembly

was based on Diwali. We listened to music, looked at artwork and photos, read

out facts, showed everyone's diva lamps, and tried to fasten a sari! Thanks to

Charlotte Warren for organising it, and to Jo James for leading the singing of a

Diwali song.

Celebration of Learning

Assembly

We wish Claire Todd-O’Neill, Darren Morton, Joanne Turner and

Jordan Hackles all the very best as they leave us to further

pursue their careers.

We would like to welcome, Anna Foster (Leading Science), Zoe

Ballard (Teacher) and Sally Walton (Behaviour Lead) all starting in the New Year.

We wish them a smooth transition into this amazing school.

We would also like to introduce Andrea Amos our School Nurse;

“Hello everyone,

I am the School Nurse for Hope Wood Academy and within my role I liaise with

Education, Health and other agencies, services that children

and their families may be involved with. I will offer support

and advice on health issues and will appropriately sign-post

where necessary to support and advise on health related

issues. I am also available to liaise, support and give advice

to you as parents.

My main base is in Seaham One Point Hub. I do my best to

be available in school as much as possible.

From the Wednesday 11th January 2017 I will be offering a

weekly School Nurse drop-in session for pupils, parents and

school staff from 8:30 am until 10:30 am in school. I can be

contacted via Seaham One point Hub 03000 261117 or you

can leave a message at school and this will be forwarded

onto myself. I look forward to working with you all in the New

Year.”

Staffing

update

Bishop class are lucky to have been involved with ‘The Big Draw – The

Kids Draw’ event this year. We have worked on a whole class piece, as

well as individual pieces, which are now being exhibited in the region.

First, our amazing artwork will be on display in the Sunderland Minster,

alongside work by other children, as part of The Kids Draw. We attended

a special preview of the exhibition on Friday 25th November to see our

artwork in such a fantastic setting. In December, our work is joining other

local artists’ work in the inaugural exhibition of a new creative space in

Seaham called The Spectrum. We are immensely proud of the effort of

the whole class and the fantastic pieces they have produced. We were

immensely proud of our art being on display in these amazing places and hope

that others will be able to visit the exhibitions to see our work hung professionally

in local art galleries!

Within our topic of Africa, we looked at African patterns and the shapes used in

African art and designs. We first experimented creating some 2D artwork using

the vivid colours and geometrical shapes, before moving on to making the

designs into a more sensory 3D artwork. Each person used We then

collaborated Once the coloured thread patterns were all finished we added

some fine vivid paint to accentuate the shapes and design of the piece.

on a large piece, using embroidery thread on a black wooden base, with a

great amount of shape and colour detail being used to create the overall

design.

Fo

If you would like to

access this service,

please pick up the

phone and dial

the number.

There are still places

available for our

Secondary

deparment annual

trip to Bendrigg in

May 2017.

If you would like to go, or

would like more information

please get in contact with

staff at reception or ask your

tutor.

Hope Wood forest school

continues to grow! The forest

school ethos encompasses

learner led pedagogy with

emphasis upon play, discovery

and building resilience within a

social community.

So far children have had the

opportunity to create and build

dens, play team games, independently reflect in solo time

and immerse themselves physically and metaphorically in

the pond environment! Nature and the outside is working

well with a range of pupils across primary and Key Stage

classes, who are benefitting from open spaces and free

thinking activities, by demonstrating more relaxed

behaviours and

increased participation

with others. Busy

learners have planted

over thirty saplings,

pruned countless

hedges, and assisted in

the removal of the

infamous golf course!

This term Framwellgate Class have been learning about Africa. During their

PHSE lesson they researched the Born Free Foundation. Born Free was founded

by the actors Bill Travers MBE and Virginia McKenna OBE, following the classic

wildlife film, Born Free in 1984.

Framwellgate Class discovered that even today animals are mistreated in

some parts of Africa. They decided to adopt a lion who had been chained up

for 4 years of its life in the hope that their gesture would help support and keep

Dolo the lion safe . The class have produced some extensive work including

research, writing letters, developing a presentation and producing a fantastic

wall display to show other pupils their work and to remind themselves of their

learning.

One pupil in Framwellgate Class wrote, ‘Dolo shares a large natural habitat

with his companion Safia. Dolo’s health

has improved, but his eyes were still wide

and anxious so we adopted Dolo

because we saw sadness in his eyes’.

Natalie, Framwellgate’s teacher is very

proud of the mature conversations she

has had with her class during PHSE,

commenting that all pupil’s have shown a

level of maturity and understanding

around the topic.

More information about the Born Free Foundation can be found

Framwellgate Class adopt a Lion!

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/

Address: Hope Wood Academy, Crawlaw Road, Easington

Head Teacher: Mrs R. Ireland | Tel: (0191) 559 1420 |

Email hopewood@ascenttrust.org website: www.hopewood.org.uk

Safeguarding at Hope Wood Academy

Hope Wood Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its

students and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share in this

commitment. Safeguarding concerns are handled sensitively and professionally by

appropriately trained, designated staff who are committed to supporting student

well-being.

The Safeguarding of our special young people is really important to us. Our staff are

trained in responding to a range of Safeguarding concerns. There is always a member

of our team available on site to listen to our young people and help them.

Designated Safeguarding Team

We recognise that although the winter break should

be a time for family fun and relaxation, this isn’t

always the reality for some of our families. If you do

have any concerns about the safety or well-being of

a child during the holidays, and need additional

support or advice, Children’s Services can be

contacted on 03000 267979.

Wishing you all the very best, whatever your plans

are this holiday. We look forward to welcoming you

back in the New Year!

Diary Dates

Friday 16th

December

Christmas holidays

Wednesday 4th

January 2017

Students return

Adele Pearson

Designated

Safeguarding Deputy

Samantha Little

Designated

Safeguarding Lead

Sally Walton

Designated

Safeguarding Deputy