Nottingham Secondary Academy

Weekly Newsletter from the Executive Principal

Welcome to our School Newsletter Archive! Here, you'll find a comprehensive collection of our...

🎃👻 The 'Big Woo' Attendance Challenge! 👻🎃 A huge well done to all of our students who took part in the Big Woo Attendance Challenge, organised by our fabulous Mrs Bigwood! 🌟 Over the past week, students have been collecting Attendance and Punctuality Tokens for the chance to win some fantastic, spooktacular prizes. Today was our big prize giveaway, and it was wonderful to see so many students rewarded with sweet treats and some brilliantly spooky surprises! 🍬🎁🕸 At Nottingham Academy, we know that great attendance is key to success, and we are incredibly proud of our students for their superb attendance and punctuality this half term. Their commitment truly reflects our values of Respect, Aspiration and Pride. A special thank you to Mrs Bigwood for organising such a fun and engaging challenge, and to all of our students for getting involved. We can't wait for our next big attendance drive! 🎉

🍫🇳🇴 Fundraising Success! 🇳🇴🍫 What a fantastic way to end the half term! Our students have raised an incredible £150 towards their upcoming Norway trip later this academic year through their Black History Month fundraising sale. By selling African and Caribbean-inspired spiced hot chocolates, Caribbean patties and delicious brownies, students worked together to achieve an amazing result. A huge thank you to Ms Chattaway and to everyone who supported the event and helped make it such a success. Alongside the fundraising, tutor groups also showcased their creativity through some amazing Black History Month-themed door decorations as part of our Nottingham Academy House System competition. The effort, imagination and teamwork on display were outstanding, helping to celebrate and recognise the rich cultures, achievements and contributions highlighted throughout Black History Month. We are incredibly proud of our students' hard work, enthusiasm and teamwork, which truly reflected our Academy values of Respect, Aspiration and Pride. 👏 Well done to everyone involved, and thank you for your support!

Year 6 Admissions Reminder: Apply by 31st October

If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2027, please remember that applications...

📢 Year 6 Admissions Reminder 📢 If your child is currently in Year 6, don't forget that applications for secondary school places for September 2027 close on 31 October. To help you learn more about life at Nottingham Academy, we invite you to watch our brand-new video, "This is Nottingham Academy", narrated by our Head Boy and Head Girl. 🎥 The video provides a glimpse into our vibrant academy community, our facilities, and the opportunities available to students, all underpinned by our values of Respect, Aspiration and Pride. 🔗 Watch the video and read our admissions reminder here: https://www.nottinghamacademy.org/thisisnac

🎶 A huge thank you to The Mercians for visiting us today! 🎶 Our Year 7 and Year 8 students were treated to an incredible live performance, with many experiencing their very first gig. The energy, music and audience participation made for a truly memorable day. What made the experience even more special was the band's powerful message around mental health. Their honest and inspiring discussion encouraged students to reflect on the importance of wellbeing, resilience and looking after themselves and others. Thank you, The Mercians, for sharing your talent, your time and such an important message with our students. They absolutely loved it, and we're sure it's an experience they'll remember for a long time to come! 🎸🎤💙

👩🏽🍳 PIPING SKILLS, PRECISION & A WHOLE LOT OF CREATIVITY! 🍓🧁 Our talented Year 10 Hospitality & Catering students have been putting their practical skills to the test, mastering the classic Viennese Whirl! 👏🏽 From perfecting their piping techniques and achieving consistency in shape and size, to experimenting with flavours, fillings and professional presentation, students were challenged to turn a traditional biscuit into something worthy of a restaurant dessert menu! 🍽 And just look at those results! 😍 We absolutely love seeing our students develop the confidence to experiment, showcase their individuality and take pride in what they create. Same recipe, different interpretations, and some fantastic examples of creativity and flair! 🌟 A brilliant display of practical skills, attention to detail and budding culinary talent. Well done, Year 10! 🙌🏽

🎓 University of Oxford - Magdalen College 🎓 Yesterday, Year 10 students enjoyed an inspiring visit to Magdalen College, University of Oxford! Students experienced university lectures, took part in Q&A sessions with current Oxford students, and explored the stunning college grounds, including the famous deer park. They also enjoyed a tour of the historic city of Oxford, giving them a fantastic insight into university life and future opportunities.

🏃 Congratulations to Mr Coltherd! 🏆 A huge Nottingham Academy congratulations to Mr Coltherd, who was crowned winner of the Leicester Half Marathon with an incredible finishing time of 1:10:22! 🎉 This outstanding achievement is a testament to the dedication, commitment and perseverance that Mr Coltherd demonstrates both on and off the race course. His success is an inspiration to our students and wider school community, showing what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Please join us in celebrating this fantastic accomplishment! 👏

Don't Forget... Only 3 Days To Go! Choosing your next step after Year 11 is a big decision, and we're here to help you make the right one. Join us at our Sixth Form Open Evening on Monday 12th October, 4:00pm to 6:30pm, and discover what makes Nottingham Academy Sixth Form a fantastic place to continue your journey. Outstanding progression pathways to university, apprenticeships and employment Dedicated Futures Week and personalised support A wide range of academic and vocational courses Enrichment opportunities, sport and leadership programmes Opportunity to win a £50 gift voucher in our prize draw Come along, explore our facilities, meet staff and students, and find out how we can help you achieve your ambitions. 📅 Monday 12th October 2026 4:00pm to 6:30pm 📍 Nottingham Academy, Greenwood Road Don't forget... only 3 days to go!

🏆 National Recognition for Nottingham Academy! 🏆 We are delighted to share that Nottingham Academy has been recognised with a National School Attendance Award for the 2025/26 Academic Year. This award recognises Nottingham Academy as being in the Top 25% Most Improved FFT Secondary Schools in England for attendance. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment of our students, families, staff and wider school community. Improved attendance means more learning opportunities, stronger educational outcomes and greater success for our young people. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in this fantastic achievement. Together, we are making every day count. 👏 Well done, Nottingham Academy!

📚 Year 11 PPEs Begin Next Week 📚 A reminder that Year 11 Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) begin on Monday 12th October 2026 and will run throughout the week. All students should arrive at school by 8:30am each day, ready for a 9:00am start. Core subject examinations will take place during the morning sessions, with option subject examinations scheduled for the afternoons. These exams are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, identify areas for improvement and build confidence ahead of their final examinations. We wish all of our Year 11 students the very best of luck. Remember to prepare thoroughly, get plenty of rest and give your best effort in every examination.

📐 Senior Maths Challenge 2026 📐 On Wednesday 7th October 2026, our Year 12 and Year 13 Mathematics students took part in the Senior Maths Challenge, a prestigious 90-minute problem-solving competition organised by the UK Mathematics Trust. We are incredibly proud of all the students who took part. Their enthusiasm, perseverance and willingness to challenge themselves demonstrate the dedication and ambition that we value so highly. Well done to everyone involved, and we look forward to celebrating the results when they arrive! 👏

Year 7 Football Team Update! Our Year 7 football team have had an incredibly busy and successful week, representing the school with pride across two evenings of fixtures. Competing in a county-wide tournament as well as a National Cup match in Leicester, the team showed great determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout. Their results included a hard-fought draw, an outstanding 6–0 victory, and two closely contested defeats. Well done to all of the players for their hard work, commitment and positive attitude. You represented the school brilliantly, and we are incredibly proud of your efforts both on and off the pitch.

💛 Hello Yellow Day! 💛 Today, Nottingham Academy is supporting YoungMinds' Hello Yellow Day to raise awareness of young people's mental health. Students have been invited to wear something yellow or something that makes them feel happy, with a £1 donation to support this important cause. 💛