It was lovely to see our Duke of Edinburgh students out in the local community working tremendously hard to complete the voluntary section of their Bronze award. We look forward to seeing how they transform the Barnsley Academy plot at the Union Jack Project Wentworth Castle Gardens.

#educationwithcharacter

#determination

#resilience

New student-led Eco-Committee is encouraging young leadership in support of green initiatives, including tree-planting and recyclin

This work has seen a brand-new Eco-Committee set up at the academy which is enabling young leaders to develop their own ideas for how to tackle environmental issues and encourage whole-school engagement.

The Eco-Committee, which comprises students from Year 7 to Year 10, has recently worked on an environmental review of the school looking at topics including waste, biodiversity and energy. They have devised an action plan and an Eco-Code for how they would like to change the habits of both students and staff to reduce waste and improve biodiversity around the school grounds.  

We are exceptionally proud of our Year 7 students who took to the stage at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London this week to perform alongside Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Kanneh-Mason family and renowned saxophonist, Jess Gillam. The concert took place in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Misst - Music in Secondary Schools Trust.

Barnsley Academy students joined 250 of their peers from across the country, the concert included music by classical, jazz and film composers, as well as by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who joined the students on stage for a performance of Any Dream Will Do from the musical Joseph.

#educationwithcharacter

#ambition

#determination

#Respect

As a Unicef Rights Respecting School, we were delighted to announce to our Year 7-10 students that we will be holding our first charity event Soccer Aid here in the Academy on May 10th. Two 'Players of the Match' will be selected from each Year group with the star players attending the football game at Old Trafford on the 11th of June. 

#respect

#determination

#ambition

#educationwithcharacter

A group of Duke of Edinburgh participants were out today to visit Wentworth Castle Gardens. Here they learned about the history of the site, explored the enormous maze of greenery and spoke to the gardeners about upcoming voluntary work at their impressive Union Jack Garden Project.

#educationwithcharacter

Well done to our aspiring boxers on how they conducted themselves at Retro Fitness Wombwell.

This programmes build confidence, self-esteem, self-worth and physical wellbeing through non-contact boxing and fitness training.

#proud

#workhardbekind

We are incredibly proud of our talented Year 7 musicians for representing the Academy's core values of ambition, determination and respect at the MiSST Together Day in Warwickshire. Students spent the day rehearsing as part of an orchestra, in sectionals, a choir and delivered a concert, performing music by Bologne, Ruiz, and Lizzo!

Misst - Music in Secondary Schools Trust

#BeRemarkable

We were fortunate to host two chefs serving in The Royal Navy at the Academy as part of our Character and Careers Curriculum. Our Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students' learned about life in the armed services and were set a timed challenge to make smoked haddock fish cakes and summer berry pavlovas. We were incredibly impressed by the culinary standards on display.

#teamwork

#ExcellenceIsAHabit

Well done to the winners of our Year 10 Business Studies competition, who developed a innovative product design concept for a new cereal. A special thank you to our expert judging panel from local business Fresh Pak Chilled Foods

#ambition

#BeRemarkable

#educationwithcharacter

Congratulations to our Year 7/8 dodgeball team on their win against Trinity Academy St. Edwards earlier today. This means that they will progress to the South Yorkshire round of the National Secondary School Dodgeball Championship.

#ambition

#determination

#excellenceisahabit

Well done to these Year 9 students for achieving silver & bronze awards in the National Intermediate Mathematical Challenge.

The challenge encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought & fluency to solve interesting problems.

#knowledgeispower

#ambition

#respect

Ten remarkable students attended training today in Manchester to successfully become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. We are fortunate to be associated with The Diana Award. The only charity set up in memory of Diana, Princess Of Wales. Empowering young people to make positive change.

#ManyMindsOneMission

#workhardbekind

Celebrating World Book Week with local author Jennifer Burkinshaw. Our students engaged in discussions surrounding her debut novel 'IGLOO', a story about a teenage girl who needs to find her true self and true ambitions in a sea of expectations.

#knowledgeispower

#ExcellenceIsAHabit

#educationwithcharacter

Thrilled to have Poet, Playwriter, Broadcaster Ian McMillan, Music Composer Luke Carver-Goss and Curator Steven Skelly in the Academy today. Students engaged in a series of workshops exploring the local heritage through Music, Poetry and Drama. We can't wait to see the final production 'Up the Swanee'!

#educationwithcharacter -

#knowledgeispower -

#100%everyday 

Our final job on the last day. Taking all your donations to the Food Bank. Thank you Kai and Leo for all your help 

January 2023

Our Year 11 girls had an excellent day at the at the Maths Institute at Oxford University. The day included students learning about what careers maths is important in and also received a lecture from a Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advisor who supported the government in decision making during the Covid pandemic.

#oxforduniversity

#Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford

#workingtogether

United Learning 

Thank you to PC Norton from South Yorkshire Police who delivered Your Life, Your Choice to Year 9 today, as part of our wider PHSE program. #educationwithcharacter 

Barnsley Academy was delighted to welcome the Ian Burnett, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales to the school this week.

The visit provided students interested in a career in law with the opportunity to ask insightful questions into his role and understand more about the justice system in England and Wales.

This was part of an exciting opportunity for our students and forms part of a programme to raise aspirations of students. One student said, “for a while now I have been looking into different paths to take for my future in law: university, apprenticeships, A-levels, etc. So, by meeting Lord Burnett it has given me a sense of comfort and relief, knowing the paths he took and the opportunities he had. Also meeting George and Karl (local judges) showed me that you do not need to be from a prestigious, London background to have the same opportunities; something I was worried about previously. I am very grateful for the push I received to continue down the law route and one day meet him again as the barrister I hope to be.”

Sian, a talented young artist in Year 11 at Barnsley Academy, is in the running to take home the top prize at United Learning’s International Art Competition after her work was selected from 57 entries for the final shortlist.

The art competition, now in its 14^th year, challenges students aged between 15 and 18 across the Group to draw, print or paint an original piece of artwork and submit a high-quality digital photograph of the piece. Those students who finish in the final four are given the opportunity to have their work displayed at Tokyo’s celebrated International High School Arts Festival, whilst the winner receives an all-expenses paid trip to Japan to see their piece exhibited in person.

Having progressed through the first two rounds of judging, Sian is one of ten students across the country to see her work be shortlisted. Sian’s piece, titled ‘Deep in my thoughts’ is a hyper realistic self-portrait in pencil, which depicts Sian from a bird’s-eye view with her hair falling behind her. It demonstrates her attention to detail, with every individual strand of hair drawn with immense precision.

Speaking of her piece, Sian said:

“The piece that I entered into the competition has a very special meaning to me – I created it last year as a way of processing the grief I felt after my grandma passed away.

“I am thrilled to have been shortlisted amongst such exceptional talent from across the country and especially to have my work presented alongside A Level students. I'm so excited to be in with a chance to go on this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tokyo.”

Naveed Khan, Principal at Barnsley Academy, said:

“I am delighted that Sian has made it to final ten. Her artwork is incredible and we are so proud of her. What is particularly pleasing is that Sian’s work has been selected amongst a very high calibre of artwork, including work submitted by A Level students. We have our fingers crossed that she wins the competition and gets the opportunity to travel to Tokyo. Irrespective of the outcome, this a great achievement and one I’m sure she will remember for many years.”

All ten pieces will now go before United Learning’s Executive Team and a panel of professional artists who will have the difficult task of voting for their favourite artwork. The winners and three runners-up will be announced via social media on 17^th March.

We are delighted to share that one of our students, Olivia and her dog Ruby are currently finalist for Crufts The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award. This award is recognition for her special canine companion, Ruby and this category recognises Ruby’s support and positive impact on Olivia’s life.

You can watch the Crufts finalist video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9lXxJT3fik

Voting is now live, and you can vote for Olivia and Ruby here:

https://www.crufts.org.uk/whats-on/the-kennel-club-hero-dog-award/

Please take a moment to vote for this wonderful duo and support one of our Barnsley Academy students.