Parent Update – Thursday 19th December
Dear Parent/Carer,
It has been a very festive end of term with students participating in interform sports, supporting charitable causes in the Christmas jumper day and being a welcome part of the first Community Christmas Dinner Day. The Christmas concert took place on Tuesday evening with 85 students performing – it was phenomenally good!
Assemblies – Celebration Assemblies and Rewards
This week, the Progress Leaders have led celebration assemblies for all year groups and we have held the rewards draw for both attendance and enrichment. It has been fabulous to see so many students engage with the prize draws. We will be running similar activities in the next half term.
Return to School Arrangements – Tuesday 7th January 2025
Vale of York Academy will open to students from Tuesday 7th January 2025. School will operate under normal operating hours. The gates from Water Lane and Fairway will be open from 8.15am. Tutor time starts at 8.45am for all students.
Uniform Expectations
We expect our students to attend the academy fully meeting our uniform expectations. A summary guidance sheet of these expectations has been included with this letter, please take a few moments to read through it and check your child/children have the correct uniform for their return after the summer holidays.
If you need to purchase replacement uniform and are concerned about meeting the costs of this, please contact the school in the first instance to discuss what support there is available to you.
Staff
Finally, we say goodbye to Mrs Butteriss (Lead Teacher of Mathematics) and Mr Williamson (Teacher of Computer Science) who are moving to posts in other schools after the Christmas period. We wish them all the best for their future careers.
Job Vacancies
Key Dates:
Thank you for all of your help and support this term.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 13th December
Dear Parent/Carer,
It has been another busy week in the academy with preparations for the Christmas concert, Engineering coursework days and the start of KS3 end-point assessments.
Assemblies – Striving for academic excellence
This week, Mrs Hardy has led assemblies on striving for academic excellence, linked to GCSE mock results and to the end-point assessments. If you would like to know more about how to support your child/charge in their revision, the following website offers top tips: Top Tips for Revision
Request from Fairway Residents
We have received a request from Fairway residents asking if parents/carers who are collecting their students from school could please turn off their engines whilst waiting to complete the pick up. This is to support the environment and limit air pollution in the residential area. Thank you.
Generation Juice – Drinks in the Dining Hall
Hutchison Catering, who provide our school lunches, have informed the school that the prices will have to increase for the Generation Juice from January 2025 as follows: Small – 70p; Large – £1.30.
Job Vacancies
Invigilator
Key Dates:
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills,
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 6th December
Dear Parent/Carer,
Festive Christmas decorations have arrived at Vale of York Academy this week. Some of the students fully embraced the charitable nature of the season by supporting the Rotary Club this week to support their fundraising as part of their charity work for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Yet again, the calendar has been full of events with lots of sports teams in action, GCSE drama and food technology preparation taking place, and the choir singing in preparation for the Big Sing and the Christmas concert.
Assemblies – Attendance Review
This week, the theme of assemblies has been an attendance review. Students still have two weeks to get their entries in for the end of term attendance draw. Research shows the importance of creating a sense of belonging for students in a school as part of their development. The evidence shows that missing even a few mornings or afternoons each week or month can make it much harder for your child to keep up with their learning and to be a full part of their school. In the longer term, we know that children who regularly miss school are less likely to get the good qualifications and skills which can help them to get a job.Please see the link for City of York Council for more information: CYC School Attendance Information
Job Vacancies
Invigilator
Key Dates:
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 29th November
Dear Parent/Carer,
It has been another busy week at Vale of York Academy. Firstly, we would like to congratulate Year 11 students for their attitude and effort in the recent mock exam window. There are a number of real GCSE elements to be completed over the next three weeks in various subjects and this focused attitude will really help them to achieve their goals.
Additionally, we have run a number of events during the week, including several sporting events, in which our students have represented the academy with pride. Well done for showing the spirit of one of the core values, Teamwork.
Careers Aspiration Week
For the Year 10 and 11 students, Mr Martin has organised a number of different activities to support them with skills for their futures, including CV writing and practice interviews with a number of local careers partners. Despite students being nervous about having an interview, the performance of all of the students was exemplary with many of the visitors to the school commenting on their confidence. Well done!
Christmas Dinner Day
In the last week of term, we will be holding a number of different events. The Christmas Dinner Day will take place on Wednesday 18th December and will have a theme of Community. The academy day will run as normal until the end of period 2; for the remainder of the day, students will be in their tutor groups and they will come down at designated times for their Christmas dinner. They will sit in their tutor groups and will be served their dinner. We will offer a quieter space for students who we are aware of who may have sensory issues. After they have finished their dinner, students will have time to access the Astro, designated outside space and toilets for a break time. When not at Christmas dinner or on designated break time, students will be in their tutor groups completing inter-form competitions and Christmas themed learning opportunities.
Please note:
At break time, the dining room will not be available or accessible for students. Food will not be served.
Tutors will be completing the orders for their tutor groups in tutor time next week. The Christmas day menu is attached here. There will also be halal chicken available. If your child has any dietary requirements that we are not already aware of please could you email hello@voy.hslt.academy
No sandwiches or other options will be available on the day due to the demand on the kitchen.
If your child/charge is bringing a packed lunch, they will sit in the dining room with their form to participate in the event.
Assemblies
This week, assemblies have been focused on the theme of Healthy Lifestyles with Mr Orr, Director of Community. If you would like to know more about healthy lifestyles, please see the following site: BBC Bitesize Healthy Lifestyles
Job Vacancies
Key Dates:
25th November Careers Aspiration Week
6th December Christmas Big Sing
17th December Christmas Concert
18th December Christmas Dinner Day
19th December Christmas Jumper Day *More information to follow
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 22nd November
Dear Parent/Carer,
Well done to the Year 11 students this week who have completed their second week of mock exams. We have been impressed with the number of students who have been using their revision cards to get ahead with their preparation for their GCSEs.
Thank you to those of you who attended Year 7 parents’ consultation evening this week. It was great to see so many families being able to attend with lots of success stories on the night. Keep up the good work, Year 7!
Assemblies
This week, assemblies have been focused on the theme of Careers. Next week is Careers Aspiration Week and there are lots of events taking place. Year 10 students are busy finding placements for their work experience – thank you to those who have helped to support this so far. If you would like to know more about careers, please see the following site: https://www.gov.uk/careers-
Job Vacancies
Key Dates:
25th November Careers Aspiration Week
6th December Christmas Big Sing
17th December Christmas Concert
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 15th November
Dear Parent/Carer,
It has been a very busy week with the start of Year 11 mock examinations. It has been pleasing to see so many of the Year 11 students supporting each other before their exams with revision techniques – fabulous teamwork!
Remembrance Day
Many thanks to those in the community who shared pictures, names and memories linked to Remembrance Day. The students marked the occasion with great respect. We formally revealed the silhouettes that are now on permanent display in the Courtyard.
Assemblies
This week, assemblies have been on anti-bullying week. The theme this week has been ‘Choose Respect’, one of the core values of our academy. This has also been included in the Votes 4 Schools work that the students complete during tutor time. If you would like to know more about anti-bullying week, please see the website: https://anti-bullyingalliance.
Job Vacancies
Key Dates:
18th November Year 11 Mock Exams week 2
21st November Year 7 Parents’ Evening
25th November Careers Aspiration Week
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 8th November
Dear Parent/Carer,
Thank you for all of your support this week on our return to school after half term. There have been lots of trips and visits and some very successful extra-curricular activities taking place.
Remembrance Day Activities
On Monday 11th November, the students in the academy will be participating in a number of different events to commemorate Remembrance Day. Students will have the opportunity to make a charitable donation for a poppy if they have not already done so.
Each tutor group will be provided with a knitted poppy which have been provided to the school by a member of the wider community. Tutors will draw attention to the poppy and will be looking at the different poppy colours used to commemorate the day.
In period 1, students will be shown a 4 minute presentation of friends and relatives of our children and colleagues who have served in the forces over the past century and beyond. Thank you to all parents/carers and members of the wider community who have contributed to this.
During period 2, students will be watching a live assembly being delivered by the Royal British Legion on Zoom which will include the two minutes silence at 11am.
At 11am, the academy will observe the two minute silence and our Head Students and Lead Prefect Team will be laying a wreath under the new memorial in the Courtyard from the Royal British Legion, representing soldiers and women at war.
Children in Need
On Friday 15th November, the Dining Room will be selling spotty food as part of Children in Need. It will not be a non-uniform day as Year 11 mock exams are taking place. We will be collecting voluntary contributions for Children in Need on the day.
Job Vacancies
Key Dates:
11th November Remembrance Day Activities
11th November Year 11 Mock Exams 1
21st November Year 7 Parents’ Evening
25th November Careers Aspiration Week
Many thanks for your ongoing support. Have a restful half term.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 25th October
Dear Parent/Carer,
As we come to the end of a packed half term, we continue to be really busy here at Vale. This week, we have seen a number of sporting events taking place with some great success for our teams; we have held the Autumn concert with some exceptional musical performances; and we have run a number of trips for students into York and surrounding areas. In school, we were really happy to welcome Year 10 and 11 parents/carers and students in for a revision tip evening and we held a STEM wind turbine challenge day for students in Years 8 and 9. We have also hosted a Year 7 and primary indoor athletics competition as part of our wider community work. It has been a fabulous end to the half term.
Assemblies – Celebration/Attendance Rewards
This week, we have held celebration assemblies and completed the half term rewards draw for students. This term, students have had the opportunity to let the team know what they would like to have as their prizes. A huge thank you to the attendance prefect team who have been going around the different classrooms, collecting 100% tickets from each group. There will be another attendance rewards draw in the run up to Christmas.
Return to School Arrangements Monday 4th November 2024
Vale of York Academy will open to students from Monday 4th November 2024. The gates from Water Lane and Fairway will be open from 8.15am for a 8.45am start to lessons for all students.
Firework Safety
Over the half term break, lots of families will be taking the opportunity to attend events linked to Halloween and Bonfire Night. Despite annual safety warnings, firework celebrations still end in painful injuries for too many people, including very young children. If you would like to know more about fireworks safety, please follow the link Firework safety – RoSPA
Job Vacancies
Senior Advanced Teaching Assistant
Key Dates:
6th November Year 7 ISSP Breakdown
11th November Remembrance Day Activities
11th November Year 11 Mock Exams 1
21st November Year 7 Parents’ Evening
25th November Careers Aspiration Week
Many thanks for your ongoing support. Have a restful half term.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 18th October
Dear Parent/Carer,
This week, we have seen lots of our students getting involved in enrichment activities. Alongside sporting activities, we have also had the opportunity to get involved in a reading experience hosted by St. Peters and the formal launch for Year 10 Work Experience. It has been a very productive week.
Assemblies – Black History Month
To support our core value of respect and Modern British Values, our assemblies this week have focused on Black History Month. This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Reclaiming Narratives,” recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture. This theme shows a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage. If you would like to know more about Black History Month, please follow the link https://www.blackhistorymonth.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
We launched the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh award to pupils last week in assembly and sent home communication with the powerpoint, letter and sign up enrolment form. Mr Rampling would like to remind parents/carers that if pupils would like to complete their bronze or silver award in Year 9-11, that they need to return the enrolment form to PE and pay the deposit on ParentPay by Friday 1st November. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Mr Rampling.
Jewellery
Thank you for your support regarding jewellery for the last two weeks; we have continued to see a decrease in students wearing jewellery. Please can we continue to ask for your support to check that your son/daughter is only wearing one small ear stud per ear. All other jewellery (large or hoop earrings; nose studs; bracelets; necklaces; anklets, etc) are not to be worn to school. Thank you.
Key Dates:
21st October Celebration and Reward Assemblies
21st October Year 7 Indoor Athletics
22nd October STEM Wind Turbine Day
23rd October Autumn Concert
24th October York Unlocked (Year 8)
24th October KS4 Revision Information Evening
11th November Year 11 Mock Exams 1
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 11th October
Dear Parent/Carer,
We have had an exceptionally busy week at Vale of York Academy with our Community Open Evening taking place on Wednesday 9th October. We were delighted to welcome so many of the community into the building to see what takes place in the school. Mr Orr, Director of Community, has offered some additional time for prospective families to see the school during the day too. Details of this are on our website.
Assemblies – Mental Health Awareness Week
Our assemblies this week have focused on Mental Health Awareness Week. This culminated in the ‘Hello Yellow’ event for Mental Health Awareness Day on Thursday 10th October where students were able to substitute part of their uniform for a yellow item of clothing. We are proud to be among thousands of schools, companies and communities celebrating ‘Hello Yellow’ to show young people they’re not alone with their mental health, reflecting our core values of kindness, respect and teamwork. If you would like to know more about supporting the mental health of young people, Young Minds have a section for parents on their website: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Jewellery
Thank you for your support regarding jewellery from last week; we have seen a decrease in students wearing jewellery. Please can we continue to ask for your support to check that your son/daughter is only wearing one small ear stud per ear. All other jewellery (large or hoop earrings; nose studs; bracelets; necklaces; anklets, etc) are not to be worn to school. Thank you.
Current Vacancies
Key Dates:
17th October Reading trip to St Peters
18th October Flu Vaccinations
21st October Celebration and Reward Assemblies
21st October Year 7 Indoor Athletics
22nd October STEM Wind Turbine Day
23rd October Autumn Concert
24th October York Unlocked (Year 8)
24th October KS4 Revision Information Evening
11th November Year 11 Mock Exams 1
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 4th October
Dear Parent/Carer,
I hope this update finds you all well. This week, we have relaunched Reading Plus, Year 7 girls have taken part in their first football tournament and we held the first Year 11 Walking Talking mocks of the year for English. The conduct of the students has been exemplary on all of these occasions.
Assemblies – DofE Launch and Protected Characteristics
Our assemblies this week have included the launch of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme for Years 9/10 and Protected Characteristics as part of our core values of respect and teamwork. If you would like to know more about Protected Characteristics and the Equality Act 2010, please visit the following website: https://www.gov.uk/
Jewellery
We have seen an increase in students wearing jewellery on site this week. Students have removed jewellery when asked but we are concerned that expensive or jewellery with personal significance may be lost in the school environment. Please can we ask for your support to check that your son/daughter is only wearing one small ear stud per ear. All other jewellery (large or hoop earrings; nose studs; bracelets; necklaces; anklets, etc) are not to be worn to school. Thank you.
Year 10 Work Experience
Each year at Vale of York Academy, we offer the opportunity for our Year 10s to go on a one week work experience placement. This year the week will be the 12th-16th May. It is getting ever more difficult to find appropriate work places for our students. With this in mind, we are asking whether you, or someone you may know, would be able to offer an opportunity for one of our pupils. The students greatly appreciate the opportunity and it helps our community develop vital employability skills, helping them to succeed in their next steps. If you believe you would be able to offer a placement, please complete the google form https://forms.gle/
Current Vacancies
Casual Exam Invigilator
Key Dates:
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 20th September
Dear Parent/Carer,
Student leadership has been a key focus this week. The Head Students were appointed and a new Senior Prefect team established. The standard of the applications and interviews from the students was stunning. Student council members have met to have their photographs refreshed too.
Students from Years 7, 9 and 11 represented the academy when we were visited by the Director of Education for HSLT. The students were articulate, engaging and represented the academy well, embodying the core value of teamwork.
The after-school enrichment programme began in earnest this week and the Year 11 P6 revision programme will be launched next week. It is fantastic to see so many students taking part in the activities.
Please click on the link below to see details of our current vacancies
Key Dates:
26th/27th September: Y11 Post-16 Provider Sessions
9th October: Y5/6 Community Open Evening
10th October Y10 Work Experience Launch
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Parent Update – Friday 13th September
Dear Parent/Carer,
We have continued the brilliant start to the academic year this week. Uniform, attendance and behaviour standards continue to improve and there have been lots of opportunities to praise and reward students throughout the week.
This week, we would like to introduce the Progress Leader Team to you:
Alice Appleyard, Progress Leader Year 7
Dion Rice, Progress Leader Year 8
Laura Duncalf, Progress Leader Year 9
Paul Foster, Progress Leader Year 10
Corin Belyeu, Progress Leader Year 11
As a reminder, the enrichment programme has now begun. Mr Rampling contacted parents/carers with a guide on how to book the different clubs last week. The enrichment prize draw for attending activities this term will be for 25 different Christmas presents made up of family/group games.
Please click on the links below to see details of our current vacancies
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
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Dear Parent/Carer,
Thank you for all of your kind words and support during the first week of the academic year.
It has been a pleasure to welcome the new Year 7 students to the academy. Students from across the academy have embraced the core values of kindness, respect and teamwork with great enthusiasm. Students were collecting lots of reward stamps in their planners. The quality of work and pride in the presentation within books has been lovely to see.
We would like to introduce the Senior Leadership Team to you:
Gillian Mills, Principal
Heather Wright, Associate Principal
Liz Hardy, Vice Principal
Claire Hirst, AVP and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Rory Donaldson, AVP
Rob Orr, Associate SLT
Sarah Barnes, SENCO
Stacey Stump, Support Services Manager
Despite the short week, we have had a number of different events take place. Assemblies focused on standards, expectations and rewards. The week culminated in the draw for the attendance awards from last academic year with three students being selected for the big £250 voucher prizes. We will be sending out more information to you regarding the attendance competitions for the term in the near future.
The enrichment programme begins in earnest next week. Mr Rampling will be in touch with a guide on how to book the different clubs for parents/carers. The enrichment prize draw for attending activities this term will be for 25 different Christmas presents made up of family/group games.
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
Dear Parent/Carer,
We welcome back all students to Vale of York Academy on Tuesday 3 September 2024. Please see below for details for the arrangements for the day.
Return to School Arrangements Tuesday 3 September 2024
Vale of York Academy will open to students from Tuesday 3 September 2024. There will be a staggered start for year groups as follows:
8.40 New Year 7 students to meet on the Courtyard
10.15 Year 11 to meet on the Courtyard
11.30 Years 8-10 to meet on the Astro Turf with Years 7 and 11. All year groups line up in their tutor groups on the Astro Turf.
The gates from Water Lane and Fairway will be open from 8.15am for the new Year 7 students. Fairway only will be open from 10am for Year 11. Water Lane and Fairway will be open from 11.15am for the remaining year groups.
Uniform Expectations
As you know, we expect our students to attend the academy fully meeting our uniform expectations. A summary guidance sheet of these expectations has been included with this letter, please take a few moments to read through it and check your child/children have the correct uniform for their return after the summer holidays.
If you need to purchase replacement uniform and are concerned about meeting the costs of this, please contact the school in the first instance to discuss what support there is available to you.
Behaviour Expectations
As you are aware, we implemented a new structure for issuing and recording behaviour during the last half term of the last academic year. As a result of this, it has allowed us to make some more amendments and you can now find an updated version of the behaviour policy with updated localised procedures for September 2024 onwards on the academy website. We would also encourage you to download the Edulink app so you are kept up to date with your child’s behaviour at the academy.
Attendance – New Guidance from August 2024
Changes to how schools record attendance are now being applied. This is following a published document issued by the Department for Education earlier in the year (https://assets.publishing.
One of the key implications of this is the way in which schools manage and record holidays taken during term time. Currently, parents inform the school of intended holidays and may seek permission for the holiday to be approved by the school. Under the new guidance this will not be possible as schools are no longer able to use an approved code enabling this. Consequently, it will mean that all holidays taken during term time will be recorded as unauthorised. We would still ask that you inform us of your intention to take your child on holiday during term time to aid with our safeguarding responsibilities within school. As always, we would also encourage parents to ensure that students do not take holidays during term time. Should you have any questions relating to this change please do not hesitate to contact us at the school.
Congratulations to Year 11 (Class of 2024)
We would like to congratulate the class of 2024 at Vale of York Academy. At Vale, we are very proud of what our students achieve, not least their academic outcomes. This summer’s results are a celebration of all that has been achieved by working hard and demonstrating personal resilience and determination.
We would like to thank the staff for their conscientious diligence with our students, not only the lessons, but the before school, after school and holiday revision sessions. Once again, we would like to thank the parents/carers and the wider community for their support during this time.
We wish all our students success in the future.
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Ms Mills
Principal
