We are delighted to have welcomed Year 4 and Year 5 pupils from Fibbersley Park Academy into our school this week.

Year 5 pupils participated in a History session delivered by Mrs Brown where they looked at the Staffordshire Hoard  developing their ability to analyse source materials.

Year 4 pupils participated in an English session delivered by Mr Wallbank where they developed their creative writing skills.

All pupils  engaged brilliantly with the sessions, showing high levels of enthusiasm and enjoyment.

On Tuesday afternoon a group of Year 10 pupils had an amazing afternoon at Wolverhampton Grammar School’s Insights into Oxbridge session.  The had the opportunity to work with the staff and pupils from the Grammar school, listening to their Oxbridge Alumni and even practising some Oxbridge interview questions.  Pupils were an absolute credit and we look forward to joining Wolverhampton Grammar in October for a visit to Cambridge University.

As we dive into Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s crucial to remember that our mental well-being matters just as much as our physical health.

In a world that constantly demands our attention and energy, it’s okay to not feel okay sometimes. Whether it’s stress from school work, or just the ups and downs of life, know that you’re not alone.

Take a moment to check in with yourself and those around you. Let’s create a safe space where we can share our thoughts and feelings openly, without fear of judgment. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

This week, let’s spread kindness, understanding, and support. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and build a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Embarking on a journey beyond borders can be a transformative experience for students, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, languages, and traditions. Recently, a group of 35 adventurous pupils from across Matrix Academy Trust had the incredible opportunity to explore the city of Stockholm, Sweden through the Turing Scheme. This government-funded scheme enables pupils to experience other cultures. 

Our first activity was a visit to the Paradox Musuem, which offers an engaging exploration of optical illusions. Visitors are invited to pose for some great pictures as part of these illusions, before walking to the Avicii Experience, where our pupils enjoyed DJing alongside the groundbreaking DJ and producer, experiencing his music in a unique and immersive setting. 

Later that afternoon, our students had the opportunity to visit Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s charming Old Town, exploring landmarks such as the Royal Armouries. They also delved into the world of Nobel laureates at the Nobel Prize Museum, learning about the importance of science, literature, and peace in shaping our world.  

On our second day, we visited the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. As you step into the museum, you’re greeted by the Vasa ship, a preserved warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged centuries later. Our pupils also enjoyed exploring Lego versions of the world’s most famous shipwrecks. 

Following this, our students had the pleasure of exploring the iconic music of Sweden. At the ABBA museum, they were immersed in ABBA’s iconic costumes and memorabilia, exploring interactive exhibits and singing and dancing along to timeless hits.  

On day three, we paid a visit to the Tekniska Museum of science, technology, and innovation. Here the pupils enjoyed interactive exhibits, followed by lunch at Max Burgers – Sweden’s (significantly better) answer to McDonalds.  

In the afternoon, we took a scenic boat tour around Stockholm’s archipelago, where we got to see the city’s iconic landmarks from a unique perspective. And in the afternoon, the competitive natures of staff and pupils kicked in with an outdoor escape room adventure around the historic town. Divided into teams, pupils navigated their teams and their teacher through the narrow cobblestone streets, solving clues and unravelling mysteries, where only one of our groups solved the clues to find the final code! 

On day four, our pupils had the opportunity to visit Töjnaskolan, a Swedish school located in the suburbs of Stockholm. Stepping into the classrooms of Töjnaskolan, our pupils were struck by the differences between British and Swedish educational systems. Aside from being instant celebrities, they noticed smaller class sizes, a longer lunchtime and no school uniform. The visit sparked discussions between both sets of pupils about the different educational models, encouraging our students to reflect on their own learning experiences and cultural perspectives. 

On day 5 was a visit to Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum, showcasing Swedish life from centuries past to the present day. Our students were delighted to explore the native animals of Sweden, with the highlight of the visit being the opportunity to hand-feed some of the friendly birds that call Skansen home. 

On our final day, our pupils experienced an adrenaline rush at Skypark Vaxholm, an exhilarating outdoor adventure park. They navigated treetop obstacle courses, zip-lined across forests, and conquered thrilling challenges, pushing their limits and building confidence. 

As our pupils bid farewell to Stockholm and boarded their flight back to London Heathrow, they carried with them memories that will last a lifetime. The trip embodied Matrix Academy Trust’s ethos of Education without Exception. Through experiences like the Stockholm trip, we empower our students to open their minds to endless possibilities and shape them into compassionate, informed global citizens. 

Year 5 pupils from Edward the Elder Primary School joined us today for a science session, as part of our curriculum transition programme, delivered by Miss Jayakrishnan. Pupils learned how to use a microscope to look at the cell structure of an onion. They thoroughly enjoyed the session and loved the opportunity to work in a school laboratory.

This weekend 27 cadets from four of our schools expanded their leadership skills by attending The Bronze Leadership Course at Barr Beacon School. The course was held centrally to allow our cadets to share ideas and harness the fundamentals of leadership training.

Our cadets began the day by learning how leadership styles can affect the output of teams in a practical environment, this was reinforced with group discussions and scenarios based on real-time situations. They then moved onto practical leadership tasks in which each of the candidates were assessed on implementing their own leadership styles.

By the end of the day all 27 cadets achieved the Bronze standard and had a great time in the sun. Well done all!

Attendance at Wednesfield Academy is improving! We have worked hard as a school to raise the profile of attendance and share how important it is with parents and pupils. All pupils should attend school daily, attend school punctually and attend school with their equipment so that they have the best opportunities to learn and succeed

 

We are excited to launch our brand-new Careers Guidance Pupil Website. 

Pupils need to be prepared for the evolving working world and so, at the heart of our Careers Programme, is a focus on building up essential lifelong employability skills.

Visit our new website to access a wealth of careers guidance, designed to support both pupils and parents.

With our brand-new resources, you can…

• Choose a subject you love and see where it might lead
• Explore your options for when you leave school
• Gain valuable advice on applying to university, apprenticeships and jobs
• Practice your interview skills
• Discover alternative options like gap years or starting your own business

Visit https://matrixcareersguide.co.uk/

Thursday 21^st March saw our second careers fair of the year involving Years 7-13.  We had over 30 external providers support our event from a range of colleges, universities and other employers and HE/ FE institutions.

We were blown away by the level of engagement especially by the younger year groups who used the opportunity to build on the work they’d started during National Careers Week.

There were some fabulous comments from our visitors such as “pupils were polite and asked some really good questions” and “pupils were engaged”.

Well done Wednesfield!