Mr Bailey's Head of School Update
With reward cards filling up, golden tickets being awarded, and smiling faces across the academy, it certainly has been a great start to this academic year!
Whilst reflecting on the list of amazing events that have happed so far this year, this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our four values: ambition, aspiration, courage, and respect.
The ambition of our Year 11 students at the start of what is their final year at TMA has shone through as they prepare for the challenge of GCSE examinations next summer. They have hit the ground running with their focus and aptitude during the daily afternoon lectures, led by our subject expert tutors. Alongside this, the academic aspirations of our Y11 cohort to progress onto university became very much apparent after their trip to the University of Lincoln.
The courage displayed by our new Year 7 students as they embark on their 5-year journey at TMA. As the weeks go by, they have become ever more confident in lessons, rising to the academic challenges secondary school poses.
Respect has perhaps been the most prominent value of reflection over the past few weeks with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Students and staff paid their respects across the week through assemblies and the signing of our book of condolences. The end of the week was marked by a service where, at the end, all students stood and sang the new national anthem.
As the nights draw in, leaves begin to fall, and temperatures become cooler, I wish the whole TMA community a restful half-term break. We look forward to welcoming you back next term.
Ms Willmot's Executive Principal Update
We have had a great start to the academic year here at TMA. We welcomed our largest ever year 7 cohort in September and they've made such a positive start to their KS3 journey. Our Year 11s have impressed us with their maturity and focus as they embark on their final year with us. We have rewarded their attitude by purchasing every year 11 student the equipment they need to take them through to their final exams. Our first McMillan coffee morning was a resounding (and tasty) success and our first autumn KS3 sport's enrichment day was brilliant fun. Year 11s have visited Lincoln university and experienced uni life first hand. Our new year team structures are having such a positive impact on the provision of welfare and pastoral care. We're busy planning our reward Halloween disco for all students who have impressed us this half term. We are delighted with the progress we have made this very busy half term and we thank you for your continued support as we strive to make TMA the best school in Lincolnshire and beyond.
Pastoral Care at TMA
What is the pastoral structure at TMA?
At Thomas Middlecott Academy, the main priority of our pastoral team is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Our wrap-around care begins with daily contact with a tutor, which then is supported by regular contact with the Year team, made up of a Head of Year and a Year Manager. We then have two members of the Senior Leadership Team who are responsible for overseeing the pastoral and welfare system and ensuring systems of support are in place for all students.
Who’s who?
Year 11 team: Mrs Baldwin (Head of Year) and Ms Wilkinson (Year Manager)
Year 10 team: Mr Karpyszyn (Head of Year) and vacancy
Year 9 team: Mr Rudkin (Head of Year) and Martin Ford (Year Manager)
Year 8 team: Ms Morris (Head of Year) and Adam Garner (Year Manager)
Year 7 team: Brad Laming (Head of Year) and Jo Allgood (Year Manager)
Who do I contact?
Your child’s tutor is your first port of call for all issues relating to your child. They can answer queries, give you information about your child in school and signpost you to the right place if they cannot directly answer your question. When you contact us, we will always direct your pastoral queries to the tutor in the first instance, regardless of who you ask for. If the tutor feels unable to deal with your query or issue, they will pass it on to the correct person in school on your behalf. Please allow tutors up to 24 hours from the end of the school day to respond to queries.
Your child’s tutor will see them twice a day, every day. They will monitor behaviour, attendance and progress. The tutor will remain with your child from year 7 to the end of year 10.
How do I contact the pastoral team?
Your child’s tutor can be contacted by calling the school reception on 01205 722336. The reception staff will send your enquiry in an email to the tutor. Please allow tutors up to 24 hours from the end of the school day to respond to queries.
I want a meeting in school- what do I do?
Schools are incredibly busy places- we serve over 500 families at TMA and we therefore cannot meet any parents unless they have an appointment. Please do not arrive to school without an appointment as you will not be seen. If you would like an appointment please call reception and make the request, detailing who you would like to see and the reason for your request.
MacMillan Coffee Morning Fundraiser
Sadly, so many of our staff and students' lives have been touched by cancer this year. We wanted to do something to recognise all of the great work Macmillan have done to support our families and our community. On Friday 30th September we held our first Macmillan coffee morning. Staff met in the morning for tea and cake and we held cake sales for students at break and lunch. So many staff and students donated and baked cakes- we are so grateful for the support. We raised £211.69 for Macmillan and we look forward to our next cake-filled event!
Autumn Sports' Enrichment day
As part of our PSHE programme, in September we spent time considering the impact of fitness on our health and wellbeing. We held assemblies for the National Day of Fitness and our PSHE session considered aspects of wellbeing. We were then joined by the entire DRET Sports' Enrichment Officer team to support us to deliver a full day of sports' enrichment to KS3. Professional coaches worked alingside the SEO's to provide students with sessions in table tennis, football, baskeball, netball and rugby. It was a brilliant, and luckily very sunny, day!
Equipment- The TMA Way
We have purchased new knowledge folders for every student. We have purchased high quality plastic folders which will last the whole academic year and beyond. It is essential that your child has this with them every day. If your child loses their folder you are required to purchase a replacement from reception for £6.
We remind you that we expect every student to bring basic equipment to school everyday: a pen; a pencil; a ruler; an eraser and a highlighter pen.
A school bag is part of our basic equipment list- every student must have a school bag with them every day. You can purchase these from reception. Thank you for supporting us with this.
Credits:
Created with an image by George Dolgikh - "Three Halloween Jack O' Lantern pumpkins"