Weekly Bulletin: Module 2 Week 1
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable October half term break. It has been an absolute pleasure welcoming our students back to the academy this week. Seeing them return with such high energy, enthusiasm, and genuine excitement for the start of our new module has set a fantastic tone across the entire school.
We have a vibrant and busy module ahead of us, packed with opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and celebrate together. Among the many activities to look forward to, we are particularly excited for our upcoming Cultural Capital Day, which will offer enriched learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom, as well as our Christmas Concert, where we will showcase the brilliant talents of our young people.
Additionally, this module marks a crucial milestone for our Year 11 and Year 13 students as they prepare for their upcoming mock examinations. These exams provide a vital opportunity for students to gauge their progress, practice their exam technique, and build confidence ahead of their summer assessments. We know how hard they are preparing, and we appreciate your continued encouragement at home during this key period.
Further details on these events will be shared in the coming weeks.
Hot Chocolate Friday Celebrations As part of our ongoing commitment to recognising and celebrating our students’ exceptional effort and dedication, we were delighted to host another edition of Hot Chocolate Friday. This rewards initiative allows us to take a moment each week to spotlight individuals who consistently demonstrate our core values, work hard, and make positive contributions to our academy community.
Congratulations to all of this week’s winners who are Kelsie year 7, Destinee year 8, Tory year 9, Lily year 10 and Akaask in year 11.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. I wish all of our students, parents, and carers a wonderful, restful weekend.
Warm regards,
Mr Palak Shah
Principal
Cultural Capital Days:
Wednesday 18th November
In the previous module, we were excited to announce the launch of our Cultural Capital Days!
Students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 have now been issued a letter outlining the location, schedule, and educational aims of their respective trips taking place on Wednesday 18th November.
Year 7 – National Gallery, Year 8 – Natural History Museum, Year 9 – Science Museum, Year 10 – Imperial War Museum/Study Skills workshops, Year 12 – British Library.
Please ensure that their consent form is completed in full and returned to the designated trip leader by Wednesday 11th November.
What’s Cooking in Food:
Next week, our Food classrooms will be buzzing with exciting teacher demonstrations, as students get ready to put their culinary skills to the test in Week 3!
Year 8 will discover the science behind chemical raising agents, watching how beautifully decorated muffins rise to perfection!
Year 7 will be inspired by a demonstration of delicious mini carrot cakes, picking up baking techniques and creative presentation ideas.
Year 9 will explore the magic of yeast and biological raising agents, learning the secrets behind making soft, fluffy Indian naan breads.
Year 11 have begun their GCSE NEA2 coursework, exploring the wonderful flavours of Mediterranean cuisine as they plan ambitious dishes and develop their practical skills.
Week 2 we demonstrate. Week 3, it’s the students’ turn to shine in the kitchen!
Attenborough College:
Student who are leading with the most positive IB merit points this week include the following
- Year 7: Liyah and Opal
- Year 8: Immy, Kayden and Ellie
- Year 9: Ryan and Toby
- Year 10: Jimmy and Rosie
- Year 11: Taylor, Lilly, Ella and Poppy
Key Contacts
Head of CollegeDaniel Sargent
Assistant Head of CollegeMichelle Draper
Assistant Head of CollegeKathryn Sivyer
Pastoral LeadGraeme Ions
Student Support ManagerSafeguardingMichelle Harding
Student Support ManagerAttendanceAbby Dineen
College AdministratorNicole Rosier
Advisors
- Miss Farrell 7CO2
- Mr Blackwell 7CO1
- Ms Lo 8CO1
- Mr Smith 9CO2
- Mrs Leedham 9CO1
- Mr Thomas 10CO2
- Mr Gregory 10CO1
- Mr Pepper 11CO3
- Mr Heffernan 11CO2
- Mr Harvey 11CO1
Head Of CollegeMatthew Harris
Assistant Head of CollegeMatthew Wright
Assistant Head of CollegeKathryn Harlin
Pastoral LeadRebecca Wells
Student Support ManagerSafeguardingCassey Miller
Student Support Manager AttendanceCindy O’Hare
College AdministratorWendy Hammett
Advisors
- Mr Selby 7AT2
- Mrs Antonova 7AT1
- Mr Can 8AT2
- Ms Zierhut 8AT1
- Ms Mercer 9AT2
- Mrs Blackwell 9AT1
- Mrs Davies 10AT2
- Ms Batchelor 10AT1
- Ms Mulligan 11AT2
- Mr Parker-Harding 11AT1
Head of CollegeEmma Stubbs
Student Support ManagerSafeguardingNicola Cranham
College Administrator
Advisors
- Mr McPherson SF1
- Ms Snook/ Mrs Nair SF2
- Mr Parkinson/Mr Turner SF3
- Ms Hudson SF4
Safeguarding
Reminders & Notices
Free School Meals: From September 2026, the Government expanded eligibility so that more children in households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to Free School Meals. Families who have not previously qualified may now be eligible and are encouraged to apply. At the same time, transitional protections in place since 2018 are ending. This means some students who previously received Free School Meals may no longer be eligible if their family no longer meets the qualifying criteria. We encourage all families to check their eligibility, whether you have never applied before, your application was previously unsuccessful, or your child currently receives Free School Meals. Even if your child brings a packed lunch or does not regularly eat a school meal, registering is still vital. To apply, please use the KCC Free School Meals link.
