Skip to main content

Newsletters

Our most recent school newsletter is below. Previous letters are available to read by downloading them at the bottom of the page:

23rd May 2025


Dear Parents and Carers
It has been a very short and eventful half-term here at Rockwood Academy.


Exam Season


Year 11: The Exam Season is in full-swing and our Year 11s are revising hard and doing their best in the summer exam series. Over half-term, they must keep revising but also be sure to take a break at times.


Year 10

The Mock weeks begin on Monday 9th June (although English and MFL are starting slightly earlier). This is an important series as they will be a measure for our pupils on where they are roughly half-way through their courses.


Years 7 – 9

Will be under-going assessment weeks in June. It is vital that pupils revise well for them as
assessments are a crucial aspect that tells them and their teachers where their strengths and weaknesses are in each subject.


Ofsted


As you know, we welcomed a team of Ofsted inspectors to Rockwood on 29th and 30th April. The inspection went well and the report has been published on the Ofsted website which you can find here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/138059


Key Dates Next Half-Term


There are key events for all parents and carers to be aware of including:

  • Year 10 Mock Exam Window (Monday 9th June – Friday 27th June)
  • Year 7, 8 and 9 Assessments throughout June.
  • Parent Symposium Monday 19th June 9.15am to 10.00am
  • Year 6 into 7 Transition Day (Friday 27th June)
  • Year 6 into 7 Transition Evening Thursday 3rd July
  • Sports Day Wednesday 9th July
  • Summer Showcase Concert Thursday 10th July
  • Residential Trip Now open to Year 8 not just Year 7 (14th – 16th July and
    16th-18th July)
  • Last Day of Summer Term: Friday 18th July

Thank you for your continued support.


Yours sincerely
Mr R Reeve
Headteacher

11th April 2025


Dear Parents and Carers


We have reached the end of another long term and it is good to see that the sun is finally coming out. Please note that the Summer Term starts on Monday 28th April at 8.35am.

Year 11 Important Notice:
Holiday study is on the website under the “Curriculum” tab and then “Homework”.
Please see the letter from Ms Creedon on how we and parents / carers can support your child’s learning beyond the classroom. All Year 11 should be revising ready for the formal GCSE exams which begin on 1st May 2025. Please see the website for the summer timetable and exam regulations.

Spring Term Highlights:
Here at Rockwood we have been working hard as usual to deliver the best education for our young people.
Highlights of this term include:

  • Parent Workshop on the impact of technology on young people
  • Pupil Workshops on the impact of technology in their lives
  • Introduction of Chat and Chai – parental information support on young people’s Mental Health
  • Development of The Base, our new Inclusion Hub that supports young people to remove the barriers to academic success (Behavioural, Attendance, Welfare or Mental Health)
  • 1 of our pupils joined others from the CORE Education Trust to perform for His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace in January at a Holocaust Memorial event
  • All pupils took part in a Loudmouth Workshop, supporting young people to keep themselves safe
  • Our magnificent Languages department have led on a series of events including:
    o Fútbol Lingo Webinar (Years 9 & 10) – 12th March. This exciting event supported our drive towards the International School Award (Foundation Certificate) and engaged students through their love of football
    o Global Challenge: Year 10
    Our students had the opportunity to visit the Open University and take part in a simulation of a real business proposal, using their language skills
    o “Where Can Languages Take Me?” Webinar (Year 8) – 18th March – A fantastic opportunity to expose Year 8 to the future possibilities that languages can open up
    for them
    o Year 7 Pen Pal Project Students wrote and sent letters to a school in Málaga—a meaningful way to bring language learning to life
    o Picasso Workshop (Year 10) A brilliant fusion of language, art, and culture
  • The Student Council continues to be a really important aspect of school life. For example: we have now constructed a new rewards programme based on the voice of students
  • Year 11 have organised a range of fund-raising events including a Bake Sale, a Football match and Culture Day
    Free School Meals Voucher:
    We are going to issue all FSM students a £25 voucher for the Easter holidays to support families. Pupils will be issued with the voucher at the end of term to bring home.

    Online Safety
    As you may be aware, young people’s use of devices and social media can be problematic, leading to an array of issues that can leave them unsafe and upset. What often complicates the identification and investigation of these issues is the use of emojis, which make up a whole new language that our young people understand. The poster below provides an explanation of the most common emojis used, categorised into six main areas: Drugs, violence, sex, self-harm, extremism, incel culture and hearts.
    As parents it is vital that you monitor you child’s use of devices and social media, as the level of harm that they can be exposed to is significant and long-lasting. Children allowed to use devices freely, without proper supervision or monitoring are at risk from cyber bullying, exploitation, gang-related issues and damage to their self-esteem. All mobile phones and tablets can have parental control apps installed that allow you to monitor and control your child’s device use and ensure that they are being safe online, as well as track their location, should they be outside of the home. I urge you to do this on all of your child’s devices and read the poster below, to keep them as safe as possible.

I would like to wish every family a restful Easter break and we look forward to seeing you all in the new term on Monday 28th April at 8.35am.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr R Reeve
Headteacher

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Please accept to continue or find out more about our use of cookies.