Hollinwood Academy Blog Post - 02.10.2026

Happy Friday everyone.

We are now into the second week of our lesson observation cycle, and I am delighted to share that these have continued to be highly successful. This week, observations have taken place in Maths, English, Science, Attention Autism and Targeted Support sessions, showcasing the breadth and quality of teaching and learning taking place across the school.

I have really enjoyed providing feedback to staff and celebrating the many strengths seen in classrooms. It has been wonderful to observe the consistent commitment, skill and dedication of our staff team in ensuring that every child and young person receives a high-quality learning experience. We will continue with observations next week, and I look forward to seeing more of the excellent practice taking place around school.

Baseline assessments have also continued this week. I would like to congratulate our students on the mature, calm and collected approach they have shown throughout the assessment process. They have demonstrated resilience, focus and determination, and should be very proud of their efforts.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that Olivia Lamb has been appointed to our Inclusion Support post. Olivia will be joining the secondary inclusion/pastoral team, and I am confident that she will be a fantastic addition to the team. Her appointment will further strengthen the support and opportunities available to our children and young people.

As always, thank you to our staff, students and families for your continued support.

Sharing the highlights…

Careers in Action

One of our students, Edward, in 11JSH, recently took the initiative to write to the recruitment team at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort. With support from Mr Howles, to ensure his correspondence met school policies and professional standards, he sent an email expressing his interest in working at the resort in the future.

He has been a passionate fan of Blackpool Pleasure Beach since the age of three, and his enthusiasm has inspired him to explore the wide range of career opportunities available there. We were delighted when he received a positive and encouraging response from the recruitment team, which was a real boost to his confidence and aspirations.

This experience has provided a valuable opportunity to develop his understanding of the world of work. Moving forward, we will continue to work together to explore the different roles he is interested in and identify the academic skills, qualifications and personal attributes needed to pursue these careers successfully.

We are proud of the initiative, curiosity and determination Edward has shown, and we look forward to supporting him as he continues to develop his career ambitions.

Student Interview Panel

On Tuesday this week, we welcomed three internal candidates who were interviewed for the new Chief Education and Inclusion Officer role within the MAT.

I would like to thank the children and young people who took part in the student interview panel. Their contribution to this important recruitment process was invaluable. Through their insightful observations and thoughtful, challenging questions, they helped ensure a robust and professional selection process while demonstrating a strong commitment to the future of our school community.

As always, I was proud of the maturity, confidence and professionalism shown by our students. It was clear that they wanted to ensure the successful candidate is someone who will continue to provide the very best opportunities and outcomes for children and young people across the Trust. The quality of their questions was exceptional and gave the candidates plenty to think about.

Thank you to all involved. Your voices matter, and it was wonderful to see you playing such an important role in shaping the future of education and inclusion within our Trust.

Staff CPD

This week, our teachers and teaching assistants took part in a refresher session on Good Autism Practice, reinforcing our commitment to providing the very best education, care and support for our children and young people.

The session was extremely well received by all who attended, with staff engaging positively in discussions and reflecting on strategies that can further enhance teaching, learning and holistic support across the school. There was a real sense of enthusiasm and shared purpose, with colleagues eager to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding to better meet the individual needs of our learners.

Continuous professional development remains a key priority at HWA, ensuring that our staff are equipped with the latest approaches and best practice to support our children and young people to thrive. It was fantastic to see such passion and dedication from the team, all united by the common goal of providing exceptional opportunities and outcomes for every student.

Black History Month

October marks Black History Month, and throughout the month we will be celebrating and promoting significant contributions, achievements and experiences throughout history and in modern society.

Across the school, children and young people will have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities designed to educate, inspire and encourage discussion. These activities will help to broaden understanding, celebrate diversity and reinforce our values of respect, inclusion and equality.

We look forward to sharing some of the learning and celebrations taking place across school during the month.

Let’s see what has been happening in the classroom.

In Miss Natalia’s class….

We have had a fantastic time full of learning and fun!

In our Talk for Writing lessons, we have been exploring The Lion Inside. We enjoyed drawing scenes from the story, making characters using arts and crafts, and learning adjectives to describe the brave and kind lion. We also talked about what animal we would like to be and why, sharing some wonderful ideas.

In Maths, we have been learning the names of numbers to 10 using whiteboards and pens. We have practised recognising and spelling the numbers and are now moving on to finding one more and counting backwards using manipulatives to support our learning.

During Science, we have been exploring the human body and our senses. We particularly enjoyed learning about hearing, creating our own band with instruments and playing a fun whispering game. This linked closely to our PSHRE lesson, where we discussed the importance of listening carefully to others.

In Art, we explored different drawing techniques, focusing on creating textures and experimenting with a variety of marks.

In History, we loved creating timelines of our lives using photographs from when we were babies and toddlers. It was lovely to see the children looking at each other's photos and talking about how much everyone has changed.

We have also enjoyed ending each afternoon with a story read by Miss Natalia, which has been a lovely way to relax and develop our listening skills.

Throughout all of our learning, we made sure to have lots of fun, movement, and hands-on activities to keep us engaged and excited about discovering new things.

NPA 02.10.2026

In Mr Gold’s class…..

9PGD have continued with the great start they had made to their year 9 journey.

In science they have started a unit of work on Evolution. They have been learning about how Charles Darwin came up with his theory of natural selection, how a species can become extinct and the effect on the ecosystem.

In English, they are reading The Women In Black. The students have shared different opinions about the book and how the main character presents herself. It’s great to see them expressing their own thoughts and ideas during class discussions.

In Outdoor Education, this term students are learning how to stay safe in different places. They are practicing road safety, like crossing the road carefully, and water safety, such as staying safe near rivers, lakes, or pools. Helping them identify how to stay safe outdoors and building confidence as individuals in the outdoor environments.

In Food, they are learning about different types of bread. The students are making their own bread by following clear, step-by-step instructions. They are working independently, which helps build their confidence and life skills. We are also exploring the science behind bread-making, learning how the dough rises and how yeast makes bubbles to help the bread grow. The students have enjoyed seeing their dough change shape and texture, and they are proud of what they have made.

PGD 02.10.2026

And finally in Miss Harrington’s class…

It has been another busy and exciting week of learning across the curriculum, with students engaging in a range of topics that connect both academic learning and personal wellbeing.

In Maths, students have been developing their understanding of ratio and proportion. They have explored how quantities can be compared and scaled, building problem-solving skills that can be applied to real-life situations such as budgeting, cooking, and interpreting data.

Science lessons have focused on compounds and mixtures. Students have investigated the differences between substances that are chemically joined together and those that are simply mixed. Through a practical experiment looking at different mixtures and how we can separate them and discussion, they have developed their scientific knowledge and enquiry skills.

Students have continued their study of The Woman in Black, bringing the text to life through a range of immersive classroom experiences. These activities have helped deepen their understanding of the plot, characters, and atmosphere of the novel, while encouraging creativity and engagement with the themes of suspense and mystery.

This week in History, students have explored the causes of World War One. They have examined the key events, alliances, and tensions that contributed to the outbreak of the war, developing their understanding of this significant period in history and the impact it had on the world.

As part of Personal Growth, students have been learning about healthy lifestyles. Discussions have focused on the importance of maintaining physical health, supporting mental wellbeing, getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying active. These conversations encourage students to make positive choices that support their overall wellbeing.

In RSE, the focus has been on peer pressure. Students have explored how peer influence can affect decision-making and have discussed strategies for making safe, confident choices. By developing resilience and understanding different scenarios, students are building the skills needed to manage social pressures positively.

KHN 02.10.2026

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

Mrs Whitworth’s STAR of the week is George for trying really hard with his work and for doing amazing following his class routine.

Mrs Whitworth’s HWA We are inspiring goes to

Mrs Bailey’s HWA We are inspiring goes to Rose For: Fantastic participation in our sensory story and talk for writing sessions this week, recreating parts of the story in the tuff tray.

Mrs Bailey’s STAR of the Week is Blaire - For getting more involved in class activities and super sorting in our maths lessons this week.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's STAR of the Week is Hashim for a great week of learning, being so engaged in bucket times and knowing our routine so well now.

Mrs Lerigo’s and Mrs Sutcliffe's HWA We are inspiring goes to Sulayman for Settling into reception so well and some for wonderful sitting and listening in bucket time this week.

Mrs Thompson’s STAR of the Week is Willow for showing an improved attitude to learning.

Mrs Thompson’s STAR of the Week goes to Harris Yaqoob for great work in maths using greater than, less than and equal to.

Miss Boothroyd’s STAR of the Week goes to Nico for adapting so well to the new change to drop off in the morning.

Miss Boothroyd’s HWA We are inspiring goes to Louie for showing so much care and kindness this week to his friends and teachers.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week is Abdul for finishing all his lunches this week.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s we are inspiring star goes to Diana for being caring and making her friends friendship bracelets.

Miss Lloyd’s STAR of the Week is Kai Bull for always coming in with a smile and exceptional behaviour.

Miss Lloyd’s We are inspiring STAR goes to Simon Clough for great contributions to our class discussions.

Miss Pietraszewska’ s HWA We are inspiring goes to Nevaeh for always sharing with others when they ask her. Well done.

Miss Pietraszewska’ s STAR of the Week goes to Elsie for trying different vegetables available in our canteen during lunchtime. Well done

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is William for a great attitude to his work in maths this week.

Mr Corrigan’s WOW moment Teddy C for talking about his feelings this week.

Mr Corrigan’s congratulates Teddy W for using his words with loud noises.

Mr Corrigan’s We are inspiring goes to

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

Miss Hulme’s HWA We are inspiring goes to Eden, Kian & Teddy B for being proud of their friends.

Mrs Boylan’s STAR of the Week goes to Cleo is our Star of the Week for persevering with her times tables

Mrs Boylan’s HWA We are inspiring goes to Rafael is our Inspiring HWA Star for consistently showing kindness to others

Miss Davies’s STAR of the Week is Noel for Independently transitioning to different areas of the classroom and showing excellent listening skills this week.

Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Roma for being a talk4writing superstar this half term, remembering all the words and symbols for our story and fact file.

Miss Oakley’s HWA We are inspiring goes to David for making everyone smile by singing songs and being happy and smiley.