HWA Blog - 28.11.2025

 

Happy Friday again.

Just when you think the weeks cannot get any busier, Hollinwood Academy continues to prove otherwise. As we move through what continues to be a challenging term, it’s clear that the flu season has had an impact, with staff sickness and absence affecting many schools including ours. Despite these challenges, I am proud of the resilience and teamwork shown across Hollinwood Academy.

I want to say a huge thank you to every member of staff for supporting one another and going above and beyond to ensure that all our children and young people continue to receive high-quality teaching, learning opportunities, and enriching experiences. Your dedication and commitment make a real difference every single day, and it does not go unnoticed.

 

Celebrating Year 11: Completing Their Final Mock Exams

This week has been a significant milestone for our Year 11 students as they sat their final mock exams.

Staff are extremely proud of all students. The dedication, resilience, and focus they have shown throughout this process has been nothing short of brilliant. These exams are an important step in preparing for the challenges ahead, and our students have approached them with maturity and determination.

The Art and Photography students have truly impressed us. These sessions were no small feat, they can be quite intense, full-day experiences that demanded focus, creativity, and resilience.

Mock exams in these subjects are more than just a test; they are a showcase of imagination and skill under real exam conditions. Students spent hours planning, creating, and refining their work, demonstrating a wide range of techniques and artistic styles.

We can’t wait to see the final pieces in the summer exams. If the mocks are anything to go by, the future looks bright for our young artists and photographers.

 

Lidl Grand opening

After being chosen for consistently showing positive behaviour across school, some of our students were given the opportunity to cut the ribbon and officially open the new Lidl store in Hollinwood. 

Students were given a tour around the store to see what exciting treats were on offer. This was followed by a speech from one of our year 11 students Thomas.

All students showed exemplary behaviour and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The free bakery items were a big hit along with the free goody bags.

It was really good to see all students engaging with the community and being part of such a significant local event. Opportunities like this are more than just appearance, they help our students develop vital life skills, build confidence, and experience the importance of community connections. Watching them shine in this setting was a reminder of how far they have come and the incredible potential they hold. 

Thank you to our dedicated staff who made this possible. Your commitment to creating meaningful experiences for our students ensures they continue to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Your hard work behind the scenes does not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for everything you do.

I would also like to thank Tim Wardley for facilitating the visit and for his donations to Hollinwood academy.

LIDL Event

 

 

Shaping the Future of SEND: Reflections from the Hawthorns Workshop

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of attending a thought-provoking workshop at Hawthorns School, focused on securing a strong and sustainable future role for our schools. The event was designed with a clear purpose: to gather current best practice and communicate it effectively to key policy makers, ensuring that the upcoming SEND reforms are informed by the realities and successes within our schools.

The workshop brought together leaders from both the SEND and mainstream sectors, creating a dynamic space for collaboration and discussion. Conversations centered around the anticipated White Paper and its policy implications, with a shared determination to influence reforms that truly meet the needs of all learners. It was inspiring to see such passion and commitment from colleagues representing boroughs across the region, each bringing valuable insights and experiences to the table.

What stood out most was the collective drive to make a difference. The discussions were not only purposeful but deeply rooted in a vision for inclusive education that empowers every child. Networking with peers who share this commitment reinforced the importance of working together to shape policy that reflects best practice and addresses the challenges schools face every day.

As we look ahead, the outcomes of this workshop will play a vital role in informing the next steps for SEND provision. I left feeling energised and optimistic about the future, knowing that our voices are contributing to meaningful change. A huge thank you to Hawthorns School for hosting such an impactful event and to all the colleagues who participated with such dedication.

Together, we strive to build a stronger foundation for SEND reforms and one that ensures every child has the opportunity to thrive.

 

 

Super Learning Day

This week’s Super Learning Day focused on the Primary Nativity show. For the first time, our entire school both secondary and primary joined forces to prepare the scenery and props for this special event.

It has been an incredible collaborative effort, with every class stepping up to create some truly spectacular pieces. You’re in for a treat when you see the almost life-sized camel, the charming Bethlehem town, and the eye-catching hotel signage.

I’m so excited to watch all the props and scenes come together to bring the story of the birth of Jesus to life. The children and staff have also been practising the songs with great enthusiasm singing their hearts out. Primary families, be ready to be amazed.

SLD (MCN) - 28.11.25

 

 

Now let’s see what has been happening in the classrooms.

 

Starting with Miss Davies’s class…

"Time really does fly when you’re having fun. This half-term has been full of changes and exciting learning opportunities. We even moved classrooms, and I couldn’t be prouder of how well the children have settled into their new space.

Each morning, we focus on feeling calm and ready to learn. After our morning routine, we sit together and share breakfast it’s such a lovely way to start the day. Then we dive into our first activity, which awakens all five senses. Every day brings something new and exciting linked to sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell.

This term’s theme has been Awe and Wonder, and we’ve explored four magical sections: Bonfire Night, Space, Rainbows, and soon… Christmas.

We’ve loved bringing stories to life with props and sensory experiences during our sensory story sessions. After each story, the children enjoy hands-on activities linked to the story, some favourites have been making edible sparklers, creating galaxy pictures, and experimenting with coloured water to make beautiful tulips.

Our communication sessions are always a highlight. We start with Attention Autism, themed around our topic, and then move on to activities where children use gestures, symbols, talk boards, or TD Snap to request resources. They’ve had so much fun making chocolate apples, exploring alien gloop, and mixing coloured water to discover new shades.

In the afternoons, it’s all about curiosity and cause-and-effect learning. Children choose from six exciting activities, giving them ownership of their learning. Staff join in to support individual targets in fun, meaningful ways. From Bonfire Night edible slime to rocket-building and creating colourful art using swings and paint, it’s been amazing to see their creativity shine.

We’ve introduced five new activities during our curiosity sessions. One of our favourites is Fun with Food, where children discover new colours, textures, and tastes from crunchy cereals to smooth custard.

Messy Maths is another activity the children love! Here, maths becomes engaging with sensory play. Activities like “Ten Green Bottles” and “Five Little Ducks” help children learn numbers while having fun with textures and movement.

Through our Magic Box session, communication comes alive! Using symbols, children request surprises from our magic box, building confidence and language skills in an engaging way.

Our final addition is Musical Interaction, where songs and actions combine for joyful learning. Whether jumping in muddy puddles or exploring instruments, children choose their own fun while developing rhythm and coordination.

One of the best parts of our week is Friday afternoons in the forest school area. The children adore digging in the mud, finding sticks, and splashing in puddles, it’s pure joy."

SDS - 28.11.25

 

 

And now to Mrs Cowling’s class

"This week our year 11 students have been sitting their GCSE mock exams. They have all been working extremely hard in all their lessons revising in preparation for their GCSE’s. In English they have been writing a story about being “Trapped” using their imaginative writing skills. The students have been learning about a range of language and structural techniques to make their writing engaging for the reader.

Here is a small piece of one of our students work.

“They pressed against her skull like storm clouds swollen with rain, aching to break. Every morning, she woke beneath their shadow, grey, unyielding. Outside her window, the world glowed with warmth, Birds singing, sunlight spilled on roof tops and the gentle hum of life stirred gently awake. Yet inside her mind, the sun never fully rose. She could not remember when the fog had settled long ago, clinging stubbornly, refusing to lift.

Her room was painfully ordinary, books stacked with quiet precision, curtains drawn wide to welcome a light she could not feel. Coffee cooling untouched on her desk. Nothing held her in place, yet she could not move”.

In Spanish the students have been looking at the vocabulary they found difficult in their mock exam and looking at ways to help them to remember more complex vocabulary structures.

In maths the students have been revising several topics that they felt they needed to work on to help them achieve the best possible results in their exams.

In science the students have been revising and watching informative science videos to prepare for their chemistry, biology, and physics exams.

We are also extremely excited to announce that one of our students was invited to cut the ribbon for the new Lidl store where he got to meet the mayor and his wife."

11SCG (28.11.25)

 

 

Now to our amazing SUPER STARs and HWA We are Creative STARs

 

Mrs Quinn’s STAR of the Week is Ethan for settling well in class all week and producing amazing work. Well done.

Mrs Quinn’s HWA We Are Inspiring goes to Olly for producing beautiful work with a positive attitude. Well done, Olly. Keep up the good work.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week Alfie for amazing transitions around school, walking to different areas of the school independently.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We Are Inspiring goes to Cree for showing great enthusiasm in his learning this week.

Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week is Nico for turning his behaviour around and having a fantastic end to the week. We are super proud of you Nico.

Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We Are Inspiring goes to Romy for always showing how to make good choices throughout the day.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is Olivia for having a wonderful week and making all the right choices.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s inspiring star goes to George for showing off his wonderful dance moves and his confidence in our activity just dance and Danny go brain breaks.

Mrs Matthews’ STAR of the Week is Toby M for showing more confidence in and around school.

Mrs Matthews’ We Are Inspiring STAR goes to Loki for modelling the best behaviours in class.

Miss Pietraszewska’ s HWA We Are Inspiring goes to Sienna, for independently creating a full sentence using colourful semantics. You are a superstar.

Miss Pietraszewska’ s STAR of the Week goes to Elsie, for inspiring us every day with your bright smile and positive attitude. You truly are a ray of sunshine, Elsie.

Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Rafael for always being a kind friend to everyone in class.

Miss Oakley’s HWA We Are Inspiring goes to Eliora for innovating her talk4writing text with unique and wonderful ideas.

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Kian for coping really well with change this week.

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Abu-Bakr for working well with new staff this week.

Mr Corrigan’s WOW moments go to Hope, Albi-Lee, Teddy W & Teddy B for coping well with change this week.

Miss Hulme’s STAR of the Week is Korey for trying super hard with his handwriting in phonics.

Miss Tootill’s STAR of the Week goes to Lewis for working hard in maths.

Miss Tootill’s HWA We are Inspiring goes to Maya for inspiring others in the nativity.

Miss Gittin’s STAR of the Week goes to Mysha for excellent engagement and contributions in science this week.

Miss Gittin’s HWA We are Inspiring goes to Kai is for a wonderful attitude to learning in every lesson.

Miss Davies’s STAR of the Week goes to Euan for carefully following instructions to create rainbows in messy maths.

STARS of the Week (28.11.25)

 

 

 

Well done to everyone.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Gordon.