Friday before half term, we said a fond farewell to our incredible Year 13 students at Countesthorpe Academy HIVE Sixth Form. It was wonderful to come together and celebrate all they’ve achieved during their time with us.
Students enjoyed a special celebration event, where we shared memories, laughter, and a few keepsakes to mark the occasion — including our “Bee-lieve in yourself” themed pens and bee/hive keyrings 🐝💛
Although many are still busy completing their exams, we want to wish each and every one of you the very best of luck. We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and the resilience you’ve shown.
We can’t wait to celebrate your successes again in August when results are released — we know you’ll do amazingly well!
Wherever your next steps take you, remember to always 🐝 believe in yourself.
#HIVESixthForm #ClassOf2026 #BeeLieveInYourself #CountesthorpeAcademy #SixthFormSuccess #GoodLuck
We’ve got another great selection of meals lined up for students next week, with plenty of choice to suit all tastes!
On the menu:
🍝 Pork meatballs with spaghetti and chicken & pancetta pasta bake
🌶️ Beef chilli with wedges & nachos
🍛 A choice of chicken tikka or korma with rice and naan
🍗 A classic chicken nuggets, chips & beans day
Vegetarian options are available every day, including veggie meatballs, macaroni cheese, vegetable chilli and curry.
And don’t forget the desserts… 🍰
Chocolate muffins, treacle sponge & custard, carrot cake, shortbread and iced sponge will be available across the week!
Plus, there’s always the popular pasta bar and jacket potato options available daily.
✅ A tasty, varied menu to keep everyone fuelled for learning!
#CountesthorpeAcademy #SchoolMeals #WeeklyMenu #FoodForThought
As we look forward to another exciting and very busy term, I would like to thank you for your continued support. Our pupils continue to work incredibly hard and I am proud of their progress, achievements, and resilience. Year 11 and 13 are now well into their exam season and I wish them the very best of luck as they continue with their revision. Our final farewells will take place over the coming weeks where we have both Awards Evenings and Proms to look forward to. These are always very special occasions.
As we look ahead to the second half of the Summer Term, we will be placing a strong focus on two key priorities: attendance and punctuality. We have worked hard since January to improve both areas and have seen some improvements, but we are still not where we want to be.
Regular attendance is essential for children to achieve their full potential. Every lesson matters, and even occasional absences can have a significant impact on learning, confidence and progress. We are therefore asking you to support us by ensuring that your child attend school every day, even when they might not be feeling 100%.
Equally important is punctuality. Arriving at school on time helps children settle calmly into the day, begin learning positively, and avoid missing important teaching and routines at the start of lessons. Late arrivals can be disruptive not only for the child concerned, but also for the wider class.
If your child is persistently late to school and/or lessons, you will be receiving a separate letter to explain the actions we will be taking to ensure your child’s punctuality to school and lessons improves.
During this half term, we will be:
- closely monitoring attendance and punctuality
- celebrating and rewarding excellent attendance and punctuality;
- recognising students who consistently demonstrate positive habits;
- working with families where attendance causes concern; and
- continuing to promote the importance of being in school, on time, every day.
A reminder that all students MUST be through the main gates by 8:42am. After this, they are late. Once through the gates, they must go straight to their CREW room to prepare for the start of the day.
I firmly believe in recognising and rewarding students who do the right things every day. Pupils with excellent attendance and punctuality will have opportunities to receive certificates, rewards, special recognition and participation in celebration events throughout the term. We want all students to feel proud of their commitment to school and understand the positive impact these habits have on their future success.
Mobile Phones – Upcoming changes
I would also like to remind you about mobile phones. Mobile phones should be switched off and stored safely in school bags during the school day. Any mobiles phones out of bags during the school day will be confiscated. If you need to contact your child during the school day please contact our main reception who will relay any important and urgent messages.
From September, and inline with Government Policy, we will be a mobile phone free school. I will write to you towards the end of the term with more details on this and the consequences for students who breach this policy, but be assured that this policy will be appropriate to the needs of students and their safety and well-being.
Thank you once again for your continued support,
Mrs C. Aitcheson
Headteacher
🍽️ What’s on the menu next week at Countesthorpe Academy? 🍽️
Week commencing Monday 1st June, our catering team has a great range of hot meals and desserts on offer!
Pupils can enjoy favourites such as southern fried chicken, roast pork with all the trimmings, sweet & sour chicken, and cheeseburgers with curly fries, followed by treats like crumble & custard, chocolate brownie, and ginger shortbread.
🌱 Vegetarian and vegan options are available every day, alongside our popular pasta bar and jacket potatoes with fillings.
A tasty, balanced choice for everyone – we look forward to seeing pupils enjoy next week’s menu!
#CountesthorpeAcademy #SchoolMeals #HealthyChoices #WeeklyMenu
📅 Save the Date!
We’re excited to invite all prospective students to the Hive Sixth Form Induction Day!
🕘 Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Date: 1st July
Further details will be shared after half term with students who have confirmed their conditional offer.
💡 Haven’t applied yet? There’s still time!
If you’re interested in joining our fantastic sixth form, get in touch with
Mrs K. Challinor, Director of Sixth Form
📧 KChallinor@clcc.college
We look forward to welcoming you to Hive Sixth Form! 🌟
This week, our Milkshake with the Head celebration was proudly hosted by Deputy Headteacher, Mr Hall.
We were delighted to recognise a fantastic group of students who have demonstrated consistently outstanding work and a superb attitude to learning. Their commitment, resilience and positivity truly set a wonderful example across the school.
A huge well done to all who were invited – you should be incredibly proud of your achievements! 👏
Keep up the excellent work! 🌟
Looking to plan your future? Here are some exciting opportunities you don’t want to miss this month:
🔧 Apprenticeships
Linde Apprentice Engineer Programme (Level 3) – hands-on training with real career progression
HR Administrator Apprentice role available locally in Coalville
Apprenticeship taster opportunities also available
💼 Work Experience (Years 10–13)
Explore a huge range of virtual experiences to boost your CV:
🌌 Careers in Space – design your own mission and meet industry experts
🚁 Drone Technology with Cyberhawk – help tackle real-world challenges like wildfire prevention
🎬 Film & TV Careers – discover behind-the-scenes roles with Into Film
⚖️ Law Work Experience – connect with top international law firms
📊 Business & Accounting – experience sessions with companies like KPMG and BDO
🏥 NHS Allied Healthcare – follow real patient journeys and explore healthcare careers
⚽ Sports, Media & Coaching – from coaching to digital sports media careers
🔬 Scientific Research & Gaming Industries – discover cutting-edge careers
🌍 Sustainability & Environment – explore green careers and innovation
🎓 Higher Education & College Opportunities
Sheffield Hallam University webinars and summer insight days
Leicester College experience days for future students
NWSLC taster sessions and final open day of the year
Derby College open events now booking
💡 Emerging Careers
Innovation in construction, AI, and sustainability shaping future job roles
Opportunities in energy, football industry, and entrepreneurship
📅 Many application deadlines are coming up soon – don’t miss out!
We are very pleased to share that our new 3G Astro facility is now ready for use in PE lessons. This is an exciting addition to our school facilities and will provide students with an excellent surface for a variety of activities and sports throughout the year.
In order to use the 3G Astro safely and correctly, students must wear suitable footwear during PE lessons. Below are the requirements that must be adhered to regarding the type of footwear that students are allowed to wear while using the new 3G pitch.
Suitable footwear includes:
• Artificial Ground (AG) boots
• Firm Ground (FG) boots with round/hollow studs
• Hard Ground (HG) boots\
The following footwear is not permitted:
• Metal studs
• Mixed studs
• Bladed boots (metal or plastic)
• Flat trainers, futsal shoes or indoor trainers
• Astro turf trainers with dimpled soles are only suitable for younger children and are not permissible for our students.
Wearing the correct footwear is extremely important for both health and safety reasons.
Appropriate footwear helps to:
• Reduce the risk of slips, trips and injuries
• Provide the correct grip and support on the playing surface
• Protect the new Astro surface from unnecessary damage
• Ensure students can participate safely and comfortably in lessons
If students do not have the correct footwear, they will complete their lesson activities on the 2G Astro or tennis courts. This requirement will be implemented from Monday 1st June 2026.
Students in Years 7,8 & 9 will be informed in advance when they are due to use the 3G Astro so they can ensure they bring the correct footwear to school.
Students in Years 10 &11 should be aware that the 3G Astro may be used regularly within Core PE lessons and therefore suitable footwear will be required for all lessons.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say how pleased I am with the standard of PE kit students are now wearing. The overall presentation of students has improved significantly, and we appreciate your continued support.
I also understand that there have been some delays with our PE kit supplier. If you have ordered a PE top and it has not yet arrived, please inform Mrs Rose via email (nrose@clcc.college ). In the meantime, students will be permitted to wear a plain black top until their ordered item arrives. We kindly ask that a copy of the order confirmation/email is sent to the school as proof that the item has been ordered.
Finally, we are considering allowing students to wear their PE kit to school on their PE days in the new Academy Year. Before making any final decisions on this, we will carry out a trial period to assess the impact across the Academy. I will update you on this after the half term break.
Thank you for your continued support of the PE department
Here’s what’s cooking in our kitchen next week! Students can enjoy a fantastic range of hot, hearty meals and tasty treats, including:
🍝 Chicken & tomato pasta bake with garlic bread
🥩 Beef lasagne or vegetable lasagne with salad and nachos
🌭 Toad in the hole (including a Quorn option) with roast potatoes & veg
🍛 Chicken curry or vegetable curry with rice and naan
🐟 Fish, chips & beans
🧀 Macaroni cheese or cheese & tomato flan
🍰 Desserts include chocolate fudge cake, iced sponge, flapjack, blueberry muffins and ice cream tubs.
🥔 Plus, our Pasta Bar and jacket potatoes with fillings are available every day.
A big thank you to our catering team for keeping our students well fed! 😄
📄 Full details are available i
🍧❄️ Freeze Pop Friday is here! ❄️🍧
Join us every Friday at 3pm by the school gates for a refreshing end to the week at Countesthorpe Academy!
Students can purchase:
🥤 Cans of pop
🧊 Freeze pops
🍭 Ice lollies
—all for just £1 each!
This is a student-led enterprise initiative, giving our students valuable experience in teamwork, business, and entrepreneurship as part of their enterprise education.
Come along, support our students, and grab a cool treat on your way home! 😎☀️
#FreezePopFriday #CountesthorpeAcademy #StudentEnterprise #EnterpriseEducation
