HWA Blog - 26.6.26
Hot, hot, hot!
It has been a very hot and challenging week for everyone across our school community, yet our children and young people have shown remarkable resilience, soldiering on in the face of difficult conditions. Despite the heat, the week has been packed with memorable and successful events. We celebrated a fantastic Year 11 Prom, offering a well-deserved opportunity for our students to mark the end of their journey with us. Our Geography field trips continued where possible, although some had to be cancelled to ensure everyone’s safety in the extreme temperatures. Careers Day was a great success, providing invaluable insights and inspiration for students as they consider their futures. In addition, we welcomed our incoming students for our second transition day, which was another thoroughly positive experience, setting the tone for a smooth and confident start in September.
Sharing the highlights of this week…
Berlin Trip
This afternoon, we waved off our Year 10 students as they set off for an exciting photography trip to Berlin. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and we know they are going to have an incredible time.
This visit has been made possible through successful funding secured via the Turing Scheme, supporting an international residential focused on Apple Photography and Digital Content Creation. The programme is a collaborative project between New Bridge School (NBS), Hollinwood Academy (HWA), and Spring Lane (SLK).
This year, Hollinwood Academy students are travelling to Berlin, where they will work alongside Apple and partner schools. Throughout the trip, students will take part in a dynamic digital content creation project, collaborating with peers from across Europe and gaining valuable real-world experience.
The programme offers a unique opportunity for students to:
· Develop their digital and creative skills in a real-world context
· Build cultural awareness and broaden their global understanding
· Strengthen independence, teamwork, and communication skills
This is an exceptional opportunity for our students and reflects our strong track record in securing and delivering meaningful international experiences.
We look forward to hearing all about their adventures on their return. Have a great time and stay hydrated, I believed it is hot in Berlin reaching 40 degrees on Sunday.
Berlin
Geography Field Trip
This week, the Y10 GCSE geographers collected the data for their first fieldwork enquiry, Does the River Medlock fit the Bradshaw model? They visited sites at Rocha Vale, Daisy Nook and Clayton Vale, measuring the width, depth and velocity of the river to see if it gets wider, deeper and faster.
It was a hot day, so being near the river helped keep us cooler, especially in the wood river valley. The groups showed tremendous teamwork and resilience throughout the day.
An early look at the data shows that the river does seem to fit the Bradshaw model, although people and dogs paddling at Daisy Nook has created a bit of an anomaly there.
Well done to all the students and I’m looking forward to our next fieldwork in East Manchester.
Geography Field Trip
Careers Fair
On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome visitors to our school for an engaging and informative Careers Fair. The event provided a valuable opportunity for our pupils to explore future pathways, gain insight into a variety of professions, and build confidence in asking meaningful questions about their ambitions.
Throughout the day, pupils showed excellent enthusiasm and curiosity. They took the initiative to speak with visitors from a range of sectors, asking thoughtful questions about salary expectations, working contracts, and the entry requirements needed to succeed in different careers. These conversations gave students a clearer understanding of what various roles involve and what steps they can take to achieve their goals.
Our visitors shared their personal career journeys, offering honest and practical advice about education pathways, gaining experience, and developing essential skills. Pupils were particularly interested in learning about real-world working conditions and what it takes to progress in different industries.
Events like this are an important part of our commitment to preparing students for life beyond school. By connecting with professionals and hearing firsthand experiences, pupils are better equipped to make informed decisions about their future education and career choices.
A huge thank you to all of visitors who generously gave their time to support and inspire our students. Your contributions made a lasting impact, and we truly appreciate your involvement.
We look forward to hosting similar events in the future and continuing to support our pupils as they explore their aspirations.
Careers
Year 11 Prom
The Year 11 Prom was fabulous, an evening filled with celebration, reflection, and heartfelt emotion as we marked the end of an important chapter in our students’ lives.
From the moment they arrived, it was clear this would be a special night. Our students looked fantastic, dressed in beautiful gowns and dapper suits that brought elegance and style to the occasion. There was a real sense of pride as they stepped in, ready to celebrate everything they have achieved together.
What made the evening even more special was seeing the strength of the friendships that have been built over the years. Laughter, shared memories, and genuine joy filled the room, reminding us that school is about so much more than lessons it’s about the connections and experiences that shape who we become.
It was, at times, an emotional evening. Saying goodbye is never easy, particularly after watching this group grow, overcome challenges, and support one another. But alongside those emotions was a strong sense of happiness a celebration of how far they have come and the exciting journeys that lie ahead.
We are incredibly proud of every one of our Year 11 students. Their hard work, resilience, and determination have been inspiring, and we have no doubt that they will go on to achieve great things.
We hope this is not goodbye, but rather “see you soon.” Please do come back and visit us and do keep us updated as you take your next steps, your future successes will always be part of our story too.
We look forward to seeing you all again on results day. You have worked so hard, and we truly hope you receive the results you deserve.
Class of Year 11, thank you for the memories. We wish you every success in the future.
Prom
Let’s see what has been happening in the classroom...
In Mrs Whalley’s class this week…
"9DWY have this week enjoyed our careers fair, they found it an engaging event. Students had the chance to speak with a pilot, a train company, and the police amongst
many more. They asked thoughtful questions and explored different career pathways. A highlight was the police demonstration, where two students were (safely!) handcuffed, an experience that captured everyone’s attention and made learning memorable. Overall, students were highly engaged and inspired by the real-world insights shared.
Whilst GCSE exams have been taking place, students have participated in super learning days where they have learnt about careers, religion and food and nutrition. 9DWY particularly enjoyed the food and nutrition morning where they had to save the school from the food nasties! They produced some amazing food hero designs.
During super learning days students have also supported some of our primary students to take part in the Hollinwood Academy Community weave. This is a project where students and staff participate in contributing to adding their own thread or fabric to the weft. Once complete this will be displayed in school.
In English the students have been learning about Macbeth they have took part in reading the play and looking at how the characters are portrayed. Students made their own presentation and presented these to the class on topics relating to Macbeth.
Some of our students have been learning about Pythagoras in maths, our students have done well and shown resilience when finding tasks challenging.
In food tech we have been learning about different pastry’s and making our own pastry, our students have done well. Last week we made shortbread, we have been using the food processors and using different techniques when creating our petticoat shortbread! Our students have also shown lots of knowledge during food theory when talking about reared foods, caught foods etc.
In Spanish we have had fun learning about the cultural side of Spain, we have been making our own presentations on different Spanish festivals, our students made some creative PowerPoints! Well done.
Students have been inspired by Japanese Art and are designing Japanese themed cereal boxes. We are looking forward to seeing the end results.
On outdoor education we have enjoyed some nice trips to parks, and we recently visited the garden centre. Our students enjoyed looking around and spending time in the community they also really enjoyed feeding the fish at the garden centre. Also, during outdoor education, we have learnt about water safety and what we would do in case of emergency our students.
It is hard to believe how quickly the past three years have flown by. From those first uncertain days to growing in confidence, friendships, and independence, the journey has been full of memorable moments.
Now, as students step into Year 10 and begin their KS4 journey it marks an exciting new chapter.
While it feels like time has passed in a flash, it has laid a strong foundation for what comes next, and there is so much more to look forward to."
In Miss McDonalds class…..
What a fantastic term we have had exploring our theme, ‘Wonders of the World’! Our pupils have enjoyed taking part in a range of exciting, hands- on activities that have encouraged curiosity, creativity and communication.
Our Talk for Write journey has taken us around the world through two wonderful sensory stories. We began by exploring Handa’s surprise, where the children used their senses to discover a variety of tropical fruits and animals before diving under the sea with Rainbow fish, using sensory experiences to bring the story to life while learning about kindness, friendship and sharing.
In communication, pupils have continued developing their requesting skills using TD snap, building confidence to communicate their wants and needs through the school day. We enjoyed creating campfires using sticks, egg boxes and tissue paper flames, as well as making steaming volcanos with flowing lava, using these exciting activities to encourage communication, interaction and imaginative discussion.
In curiosity, we have celebrated our amazing planet by creating colourful Earth pictures using painted paper plates, complete with a face with hands holding a heart to show how much we love our world. We also had lots of fun making insects from play dough, developing our fine motor skills while exploring mini beasts.
In Maths, we have been building our understanding of more and less as well as composition, using work sheets, practical activities and hands-on resources to support learning.
As we come to the end of another wonderful term and academic year draws to a close, we would like to say how much incredibly proud we are of our pupils. They have shown, enthusiasm, curiosity and resilience throughout the year, and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow in confidence and independence.
We wish all families a happy, safe and relaxing summer break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting year of learning in September."
And now… what had been happening in PE and Outdoor Education. Mrs Bennett and Mr Ottaway share all….
"This term in PE, students have been taking part in a range of athletics activities, developing their skills across running, jumping and endurance events. Students have been working hard on improving their speed and timing through running activities, focusing on technique, pace and pushing themselves to achieve their personal best.
Students have also been practising hurdles, developing their coordination, jumping technique and speed while learning how to approach and clear hurdles safely and
effectively. Alongside this, they have been completing endurance training activities to build stamina, resilience, and the ability to maintain effort over longer periods. Year 10 inspiration hub visited Failsworth park in their PE lesson and learned how to play a game of bowls.
In Outdoor Education, with the recent hot weather, students have been exploring the importance of staying safe around water during our visit to Castleshaw Reservoir. We discussed why it is important not to swim in the reservoir, including the hidden dangers that can be present in open water. These include cold water temperatures, strong currents, uneven depths, hidden objects, and the difficulty of knowing what hazards the surface may be underneath. Students learned that even when water looks calm and inviting, it can still be unsafe.
We also spoke about the importance of following safety rules, listening to advice, and making responsible choices when around water. Alongside water safety, students have been learning about the importance of staying hydrated in hot weather. We discussed how drinking plenty of water helps our bodies regulate temperature, maintain energy levels, and prevent issues such as dehydration, tiredness, and heat-related illness.
It has been great to see students engaging positively in both PE and Outdoor Education, developing physical skills while also building important life skills around safety, wellbeing and looking after themselves in different environments."
TOY
Mrs Bennett’s classes this term has been focusing on leisure activities. The children have enjoyed playing near their peers and members of the public in play areas. They have had lots of fun, taking turns using the equipment and have enjoyed playing in the sand.
They have visited local petting farms and saw day-old piglets, lambs and calves.
Mrs Bennett took Mr Corrigan’s class to Tameside Active Cycling Centre, and the children gained confidence riding a variety of tricycles, balance bikes and two-wheelers.
Congratulations to Jack and Hope for learning to ride a 2-wheel bike and completing a full lap of the circuit. Well done everyone.
Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are We trust each other STARs
Mrs Bailey’s STAR of the Week is Everyone - For showing amazing resilience and coping so well during this week's heatwave.
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week Ezra for a great week being a wonderful friend to everyone!
Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We trust each other goes Cree for being super trusting of new adults during transition.
Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week goes to Louie for showing kindness to his friends when they were upset.
Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We trust each other goes to Romy for trying so hard with all her work this week.
Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is Zachary for coping well with change this week.
Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s we trust each other star goes to Roman for being trusting when the dentist came to visit this week.
Miss Pietraszewska’ s STAR of the Week goes to Sienna and Elsie for having a wonderful second day transitioning into a new classroom. Amazing job, ready for Year 2
Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Albi-Lee for having a lovely week.
Mr Corrigan’s WOW moment is Jack for coping well in stressful situations this week.
Miss Hulme’s STAR of the Week is whole class for having such a fantastic week despite the heat being a challenge.
Miss Donbavand’s STAR of the Week goes to Lewis for great participation in the class interviews for English.
Miss Donbavand’s HWA We trust each other goes to Ace for using taught strategies to help self-regulate.
Mrs Boylan’s STAR of the Week goes to Kai for excellent sentence writing in English
Mrs Boylan’s HWA We trust each other goes to Mysha for persevering with maths work before asking for help
Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Kai for his excellent participation in talk4writing this week, learning and remembering the dialogue and actions.
Miss Oakley’s HWA We trust each other goes to Eliora for welcoming her new classmate and making her feel welcome.
STARS of the Week (26.6.26)
Well done to everyone.
Have a good weekend and stay hydrated.
Miss Gordon.
