Category: Academy News

A group of Year 9 students from Countesthorpe Academy were elected to fulfill the role of ‘Young Leaders’ at a primary school hockey festival. 🏑

The current CNAT PE students were nominated for their consistent enthusiasm, potential, and willingness to assist. The exciting event was organised by South Leicestershire School Sports Partnership and was hosted at Countesthorpe Academy’s renowned Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).

Cambridge Nationals or CNAT focuses on applying knowledge and practical skills in real-life scenarios to foster career success and develop the employability skills that modern businesses seek. For students on this pathway, the emphasis is on applied learning and putting these skills into practice. With a focus on practical, skills-based learning, Cambridge Nationals are structured around themed units. 🎓

The festival provided a fantastic opportunity for these students to practice for the Leadership component they are required to complete in Year 10 and gain valuable experience. The event organisers commented on the ‘superb’ students who ‘represented [Countesthorpe Academy] extremely well!’. Their involvement was instrumental in the smooth running of the event, and they demonstrated remarkable dedication and teamwork.

The festival highlighted the importance of leadership and community spirit and emphasised the importance of nurturing young leaders and providing them with opportunities to shine- and shine they did! ✨

A massive thank you to the students who were involved in this project for not only remaining professional and motivated throughout the event but for displaying the qualities they were selected for in the first place, truly embodying being ‘Young Leaders’! 📣

Their efforts made the festival memorable and successful for everyone involved.

 

Today, our students had the fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves in a different language and culture at our Spanish Café event! 🎉

Designed to help students experience the richness of the Spanish language, learn new skills, and contextualize their learning, the event was a resounding success. Our students embraced the challenge, showcasing their enthusiasm and talent in language acquisition. 🌟

Language skills are incredibly important in today’s globalised world, and our students demonstrated their ability to communicate effectively and confidently in Spanish. We are so proud of their achievements and the effort they put into making this event memorable. 👏

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made the Spanish Café such a wonderful experience. ¡Bien hecho, estudiantes! 🎉

#SpanishCafe #CountesthorpeAcademy #LanguageSkills #Achievement #CulturalExperience

Today, we celebrated the incredible achievements of our students who have shown outstanding resilience, respect, and success! 🌟

A huge congratulations to all the students nominated by their teachers for excelling in various aspects of school life. You are all fantastic, amazing young people! 🎉

This morning, our winners enjoyed a special “hot chocolate” breakfast with Mrs. Aitcheson and Mr. Williams. It was a delightful time filled with milkshakes, delicious treats, and inspiring conversations. Well done to everyone involved! 👏

#HotChocFriday #CountesthorpeAcademy #Respect #Resilience #Success

In a heart-warming initiative, Year 8 students at Countesthorpe Academy showcased their creativity and compassion during textile lessons by designing and creating blankets for donation to the local RSPCA centre.

The project not only honed their crafting skills but also instilled a sense of community and environmental responsibility as the students utilised donated and recycled materials to fashion the blankets. They then implemented a variety of specialist techniques they had been taught during textile lessons including tie dye, batik and applique, to add their own individual touches to the final products.

A meaningful trip to the RSPA Woodside Animal Centre in Leicester resulted in wonderful opportunities to interact with some of the animals, making the experience even more memorable! Whilst there, the students also received a talk on the amazing work the RSPCA undertakes along with a tour of the kennels and cattery.

The students were able to donate the handmade blankets themselves, along with tins of pet food, allowing them to see the project through from start to finish and providing a sense of satisfaction and a job well done! The joy and excitement were palpable as the students bonded with the animals, knowing their efforts would provide comfort for them.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and their actions serve as a reminder of the positive impact young people can have on their community.

If you are looking for a pet, please consider visiting the RSPCA, as many animals are waiting for their forever homes and your visit or donation could make a world of difference to these loving creatures.

 

Today, we were honoured to welcome Lynsey Knott, a Criminal Barrister from 1 High Pavement Chambers, to speak to our Year 10, 11, 12, and 13 students as part of our ASPIRE programme.

Lynsey Knott, a Criminal barrister with almost 20 years experience, spoke to our students as part of our ASPIE programme. This series of seminars is designed to inspire students by introducing them to a variety of career paths they might not have considered. Today, was our last seminar of the Academic Year.

Lynsey provided an insightful talk on what it means to be a barrister, detailing her role as a criminal barrister. She explained the intricacies of representing clients in court, preparing legal arguments, and the importance of upholding justice.

What made Lynsey’s visit even more special is that she is a former Countesthorpe student herself! She demonstrated that this career path is accessible to all young people, sharing her journey from our classrooms to the courtroom.

Thank you, Lynsey, for inspiring our students and showing them that with determination and hard work, they can achieve their dreams! 🌟

#CountesthorpeAcademy #ASPIREProgramme #CareerInspiration #FutureBarristers

Lots of tasty food including fish 🐟 and chips🍟 , cheese burger 🍔 , pasta bar 🍝 and lots of sandwiches 🥪 😋


 

The Wellbeing Ambassadors guided a fantastic Spring Wellbeing walk in Crew this morning! 🌿 Twenty-nine students took part, capturing the beauty of spring in our fields and hedgerows. 📸 It was a lovely event with invigorating icy air and warm sunshine in perfect balance. 🌬️☀️

Students were encouraged to be mindful, enjoying the sensations of sun on skin, the sounds of birdsong and breeze, and the vibrant colors of spring unfurling. 🌷🐦

A big thank you to Crew leaders for signing up the right students and to Mrs. Weston for accompanying us. 🙏

#Wellbeing #SpringWalk #Mindfulness #NatureLovers

Countesthorpe Academy Year 8 girls broke down barriers by taking part in a ‘Changing the Face of Construction’ workshop.

In collaboration with Blaby District Council, 25 students from Countesthorpe Academy took part in a workshop which featured engaging talks from women who have made significant strides within the construction industry.

These speakers shared their inspirational personal journeys, challenges and triumphs, providing invaluable insights and motivation for the students. Their stories highlighted the diverse roles available in construction, from Design and Technology to Social Values and Planning.

Overall, the event was a resounding success, breaking down stereotypes and leaving the students inspired and empowered to explore new possibilities within the construction industry, a field traditionally dominated by men.

The workshop ended with a fun team-building exercise, fostering teamwork, confidence and perseverance! We look forward to seeing these young trailblazers continue to break barriers and build bright futures. 💪🔧 #GirlsInSTEM #FutureBuilders