Hollinwood Academy Blog Post - 23.10.2026

As we come to the end of another busy and successful term at Hollinwood Academy, I am extremely proud of the achievements, resilience and community spirit shown by our children, young people and staff.

This week’s highlights showcase so much of what makes our school special, from inspirational acts of kindness and encouragement during mock exams, to outstanding student achievements, creative successes, enriching Super Learning Days, and a continued commitment to professional development.

It has been wonderful to celebrate student accomplishments, welcome positive feedback from our Chair of Governors, recognise exceptional effort and attitudes to learning, and see our children and young people engage so enthusiastically in their learning.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make Hollinwood Academy such a positive, supportive and inspiring place to learn and grow.

Sharing the highlights…

A Simple Message with a Powerful Impact.

Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected places.

This week, a wonderful example of kindness, leadership and encouragement came from two of our Year 11 students, Oliver and Liam, during what can often be a challenging and stressful time for students preparing for mock examinations.

Oliver, who is a huge fan of Ted Lasso, was inspired by the famous "Believe" sign displayed above the dressing room door in the show. For those unfamiliar with the series, the message symbolises hope, teamwork, resilience and the idea that by supporting one another, anything is possible.

Wanting to bring that same positive message to his classmates, Oliver created and placed a "Believe" sign above the door of the Year 11 classroom. Liam then added an additional message underneath, helping to make the display even more meaningful.

When asked why he had done it, Oliver simply explained that he wanted to help the class get through their mock exams and give everyone a boost of confidence.

What a fantastic example of empathy and encouragement.

At a time when students and staff are all working incredibly hard and feeling the pressures that exam season can bring, this small gesture served as a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another and maintaining a positive mindset.

We are extremely proud of Oliver and Liam for demonstrating such maturity, thoughtfulness and care for their peers. Their actions reflect the values we strive to promote every day and show how even the simplest acts of kindness can have a significant impact on others.

Thank you, Oliver and Liam, for providing such an inspiring moment and a reminder to us all of one very important message:

Attendance Competition Winners.

We are delighted to celebrate the winners of our latest Attendance Competition.

Excellent attendance is so important, helping students to make the most of their learning opportunities, build positive routines, and achieve their very best. We have been incredibly impressed by the commitment shown by so many of our classes this term.

🌟 Primary Winners

🥇 1st Place: Explore 1 - Miss Bailey's Class
🥈 Runner-Up: Reception - Mrs Lerigo and Mrs Sutcliffe's Class

🌟 Secondary Winners

🥇 1st Place: Year 7 - Miss Cowling's Class
🥈 Runner-Up: Year 7 - Miss Raman's Class

A huge congratulations to all of our winning classes for their outstanding attendance and dedication to being in school every day. Your commitment and positive attitude have really paid off.

We would also like to thank every student, family, and member of staff for their continued efforts in supporting good attendance across the school. We look forward to seeing even more success and improvement as we move through the year.

Well done everyone

Miss Gold & Mrs Williams 💙

Attendance 23.10.2026

Rewards…

This term, we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of the following students who have demonstrated exceptional effort, commitment, and attitudes to learning Jackson, Logan, Jasmine, Sam, Lucas H, Maddie B, Ava, Amelia, Fatima and Mathew. These students have earned the highest number of reward and Trust Value points across the school and have been recognised with a special rewards voucher.

Their dedication, resilience, and positive approach to learning have not gone unnoticed. Well done to all of our recipients. You should be incredibly proud of your achievements.

I would also like to congratulate Molly, our Reader of the Month. Molly has a genuine love of reading and takes every opportunity she can to get lost in a book. Her enthusiasm for reading is inspiring, and she consistently demonstrates a passion for learning through literature. Well done, Molly.

Governor visit

Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted to welcome Nicola Ferron, Chair of Governors, into school to take part in lesson observations across a range of classes. Nicola provided extremely positive feedback and was highly complementary about the effort, creativity, and dedication that staff put into teaching and learning at Hollinwood Academy each day. She was particularly impressed by the high levels of student engagement and the progress being made across the school.

We always welcome opportunities for governors to spend time in school and see first-hand the incredible work taking place. These visits allow governors to gain a deeper understanding of our daily practice, celebrate successes, and fulfil their important role in holding the school to account. Most importantly, they can see how our children and young people continue to thrive within our learning community.

Thank you, Nicola, for your time, support, and valuable feedback. A huge thank you also goes to our wider staff team for proudly showcasing the strength of our universal offer and the positive experiences we provide for every student.

WOW WORK - Year 10 Graphic Communication.

Our graphics students continue to develop their creative skills using industry-standard software on their iPads. Since we installed Procreate, we have learned together about the various tools and techniques.

Jamie has created a rainy city scene using multiple layers, different brushes, carefully selected colours and varying opacity. He has even created the effect of water droplets to his canvas. Do you think it looks like a photograph? It isn't - this is a piece of digital artwork that has been created step by step, layer by layer by this talented young artist with a passion for design.

We are so proud of you Jamie, and so excited to see how your talents will shine through your work. Well done.

GC 23.10.2026

Mock exams

A huge well done to our Year 11 students, and the Year 10 students who have been sitting their mock examinations this week. I have been so impressed by the maturity, resilience and focus demonstrated throughout the exam period.

The positive attitude, determination and commitment shown by students have been fantastic to see. Mock examinations can be challenging, but our students have approached them with confidence and professionalism, making the most of this valuable opportunity to prepare for their future GCSE examinations.

Their hard work and dedication over the past term have shone through, and they should all be extremely proud of what they have achieved so far. I am very proud of the progress they continue to make and the exemplary conduct they have displayed throughout the week.

I wish those with remaining exams the very best of luck and hope all students enjoy a well-deserved break before returning refreshed and ready for the next round of mock examinations. Well done, everyone!

Super Learning Days

Monday 19^th October…All Hallows’ Eve.

During our Super Learning Day, we focused on Religious Education, exploring the history of All Hallows’ Eve, a Christian observance that takes place on the evening before All Saints’ Day. Children learned how the celebration has changed over time and how it is marked in different countries around the world.

Children across the school took part in a variety of exciting activities, including decorating pumpkins, making ghosts, answering quizzes about the history of Halloween, writing descriptions from The Pumpkin’s Perspective, creating sentences about Halloween scenes, and designing their own magical Halloween potion recipes.

The children really enjoyed the day learning about the traditions, history, and customs linked to All Hallows’ Eve.

SLD All Hallows Eve 23.10.2026

Black History Month…Tuesday 20^th October…

On Tuesday, students took part in a Super Learning Day focused on Black History Month. They explored the significance of Black History Month and why it is celebrated, before researching an influential Black individual who has inspired them or made a significant contribution to society.

Students then shared their findings with their peers, developing both their communication and presentation skills.

Throughout the morning, students engaged in a variety of activities linked to the theme, including word searches, reading comprehension tasks, and descriptive writing activities.

These learning experiences supported the development of literacy skills while deepening students’ understanding of the achievements, resilience, and contributions of influential Black figures throughout history and modern society.

Students demonstrated excellent enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day, showing strong research skills, curiosity, and thoughtful reflection in their work. The activities encouraged meaningful discussion, broadened cultural understanding, and promoted the values of diversity, inclusion, and respect for others.

Black History Month 26.10.2026

Sharing excellent work

This week, I have once again had the pleasure of seeing some fantastic work from our Key Stage 1, 2 and 3. It is always a highlight of my week when children take the time to visit my office and proudly share their achievements.

A huge thank you to Kai, Ezra, Haroon and Hasnain for coming to show me the excellent work they have completed this week. Your hard work is wonderful to see. I was very impressed with the effort you have put into your work and the progress you are making.

Well done to all three of you. Keep up the fantastic work and continue to strive for excellence every day.

Ezra 23.10.2026

CPD for staff

This week’s staff CPD focused on a refresher of the NEN Progression Framework, the Priorities Questionnaire, and the process of setting meaningful step targets for our children and young people.

Regular refresher training is essential to ensure that staff remain up to date with new developments, initiatives, and enhancements to the frameworks we use across the school.

These sessions help maintain consistency in practice and ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality support and learning experiences for our children and young people.

Thank you to Louise, our Director of Curriculum and Assessment, for delivering this informative and valuable training session.

Exploring and Learning at Daisy Nook

Our students recently enjoyed a visit to Daisy Nook Country Park, where they had the opportunity to learn more about the area's rich history, wildlife, and future development plans.

During their visit, they discovered exciting proposals aimed at making Daisy Nook an even more engaging educational resource for young people and visitors. Plans are being developed to introduce a series of educational QR codes throughout the park, linked to a large walk-around map located near the café.

These QR codes will provide visitors with a range of information through four colour-coded themes:

🟢 Green – Learn about the wildlife and nature that can be found in different areas of the park.

🔵 Blue – Explore the history of Daisy Nook, including historical photographs and information about significant events from the past.

🔴 Red – Find out about the culture of the area, current developments, and future plans for the park.

🟣 Purple – Access walking routes, points of interest, and guidance to help visitors make the most of their visit.

A key aim of the project is to help young people develop a deeper understanding of the history of the canal and park, and the important role they have played in the development of both Oldham and Manchester over many years.

The students also learned about the work being carried out by local historians and volunteers, including presentations delivered to community groups, historical societies, and schools. These sessions help bring local history to life and encourage younger generations to engage with their heritage.

Our students were highly engaged throughout the visit, asking thoughtful questions and showing great curiosity about the area's past, present, and future. Experiences such as these help to make learning meaningful, connecting classroom knowledge with the world around us.

We look forward to seeing these exciting educational developments come to life and hope to visit again in the future.

JBT 23.10.2026

Headteacher award

This special award celebrates children and young people who have demonstrated outstanding effort, resilience, kindness, progress and commitment throughout the term. Whether through their achievements in the classroom, their positive attitude, their determination to overcome challenges, or the support they have shown to others, these students have truly embodied our school values.

The end of term is an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved, and our Headteacher's Award winners should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments. Their hard work, perseverance and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and they serve as excellent role models for their peers.

I would like to congratulate each student who has received a Headteacher's Award this term. Your commitment to learning, personal development and our school community has been exceptional, and you should be proud of everything you have achieved.

Thank you for making such a positive contribution to school life. We look forward to seeing you continue to thrive and succeed in the term ahead.

Head Teacher Awards 23.10.2026

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

In Mrs Whitworth’s class…

This week has been full of exciting Halloween-themed learning and sensory exploration in Mrs Kessie’s class. The children have thoroughly enjoyed getting into the Halloween spirit while developing their communication, interaction, and curiosity skills.

This week we have been exploring all things Halloween. The children have had lots of fun during sensory story sessions, where we enjoyed reading a Halloween poem and investigating a variety of Halloween-themed props. We explored pumpkins, ghosts, and bats, and used our senses to discover what Halloween might smell like.

The children also enjoyed a range of sensory experiences, including sensory trays filled with pasta and Halloween objects. During water play, we made our own “witches’ brew”, practising stirring, splashing, and exploring different textures and movements.

In our communication sessions, we created fizzing witches’ cauldrons and explored spooky playdough activities.

Alongside these engaging experiences, we have continued to work closely on individual targets, focusing on developing joint attention and strengthening interactions with both adults and peers.

During our Curiosity Cause and Effect lessons, the children had lots of fun building relationships and engagement through interactive games such as Monster Tag, bowling, and parachute activities. They also enjoyed pushing cars down ramps, riding didi cars, and exploring a variety of musical instruments.

In Forest School this week, the children had the opportunity to explore and investigate pumpkins or, if they preferred, use the mud kitchen and explore the natural outdoor environment. It was wonderful to see the children making choices, following their interests, and enjoying the different sensory experiences available.

We have had a fantastic week filled with fun, exploration, and learning, and we are looking forward to more exciting activities after half term.

KGY 23.10.2026

In Mrs Whalley’s class…

The start of Year 10 has brought many changes for 10DWY as students have begun their Key Stage 4 courses and settled into their chosen options. Despite adjusting to new subjects, increased expectations, and different routines, the form has managed the transition well and the class team have been impressed by those students that have shown a positive attitude towards their learning.

It has been pleasing to see many students engaging with revision activities and beginning to develop the independent study skills that will support them throughout KS4. Subject teachers have also been praising those students, and this is reflected in positive reward points.

In outdoor education, students have started to look at extracurricular clubs and activities. They enjoyed a visit to Inclusive Bytes, a social enterprise nonprofit business, they will start to visit colleges looking at future pathways soon.

There has been lots of enthusiasm for Duke of Edinburgh and students have been eagerly participating. They have been getting plenty of steps in.

Music is a popular option choice, and students have been working on practising compositions. They are making progress playing piano, guitar and ukelele.

Art students have completed a small unit of work focussing on drawing, creating an altered surface and printmaking. It is lovely to watch their work develop and progress.

During super learning day students were learning about All Hallow’s Eve and Christian Observation, we also had opportunity to carve pumpkins which students thoroughly enjoyed. For mindfulness in form time, they have worked as a team to decorate the windows with a Halloween theme.

In employability students have been looking at different jobs roles and identifying different skills needed to support these jobs. The students engage well in class discussions and sharing their ideas.

Some students have undertaken mock exams in English or maths. They have had a mature approach to this and responded well to changes such as working in the sports hall in exam conditions. Miss Gordon has commented that their conduct has been exemplary.

We are very proud of our students in 10 DWY and their first half term.

10DWY

And finally in Mr Ottaway’s Outdoor Education and PE…

This term, our students have worked incredibly hard in Outdoor Education and PE, showing great effort, enthusiasm and progress across a range of activities.

In Outdoor Education, students have been developing their awareness of how to stay safe in the community. We have focused on road safety, crossing roads safely and navigating busier environments, including visits to Oldham town centre. We have also explored water safety during a visit to Strinesdale Reservoir, alongside trips to local parks, including Alexandra Park and Heaton Park. These experiences have given students valuable opportunities to practise their skills and build confidence in real life situations.

In Primary PE, MCN class have been working on their agility, balance and coordination skills through a variety of fun and challenging circuits. It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow and the effort they have put into developing these important skills.

In Secondary PE, Years 7, 9 and 11 have been developing their basketball skills, focusing on passing, dribbling and shooting. Years 8 and 10 have been working on handball, improving their passing, receiving and shooting skills.

We are extremely proud of the hard work, positive attitudes and progress our students have shown this term. Well done to everyone for a fantastic term and enjoy the half term break.

TOY 23.10.2026

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

Mrs Thompson’s STAR of the Week is Willow for super contributions to Talk 4 Writing.

Mrs Thompson’s STAR of the Week goes to Cree Swift for demonstrating an impressive attitude and knowledge in maths.

Mrs McDonalds’ and Mrs Bramley’s STAR of the Week Everyone in Explore 4 for having a wonderful first half term! Well done everyone.

Miss Pietraszewska’ s HWA We are inspiring goes to the whole class for a fantastic 7 weeks in Year 2! Thank you for your effort and engagement. We're so proud of you!

Mr Corrigan’s STAR of the Week is Teddy B for feeling proud of his positive behaviour.

Mr Corrigan’s WOW moment Teddy W for thriving with the new seating plan.

Mr Corrigan’s congratulates Albi-Lee for a wonderful week.

Mr Corrigan’s We are inspiring goes to Kian, Teddy C, Teddy B & William for tidying up in Pokémon club.

Mrs Boylan’s STAR of the Week goes to Everyone is our Star of the Week this week! For having a fantastic first half term

Miss Davies’s STAR of the Week is Silva Harper- Engaging, participating and being super learners this half term.

Miss Oakley’s STAR of the Week is Everyone in COY- Engaging, participating and being super learners this half term.