Fantastic turnout at Year 6 Open Evening

Tuesday night saw Somercotes Academy host their Year 6 Open Evening.

Interim Principal Andrew Collins addressed the hall which was full of Year 6 pupils and their families.

He said: “We know that choosing a secondary school for your child is a significant decision. I see on a daily basis the excellence that we offer at Somercotes Academy.

Whilst we are a smaller school, we are not disadvantaged and still offer access to sport, music, performing arts, STEM and much more.”

The Academy has a broad and balanced curriculum with 20% of students staying behind after school hours for extra-curricular activities or fixtures.

Mr Collins added: “The teaching at Somercotes Academy is of the highest quality and another advantage to a smaller school is that we know our students well. It ensures that individual needs are met and allows us to develop on their talents, both academic and otherwise.”

Year 8 students Jennifer Stones and Kaiden Burley took part in a Q&A with Assistant Principal Stewart West to discuss their favourite subjects, how they found the change from Primary to Secondary school and what they liked about Somercotes Academy.

Interim Principal Andrew Collins

Jennifer Stones and Kaiden Burley (Y8) in a Q&A with Assistant Principal Stewart West

Freya Hewitt (Y7) was helping pupils in technology to try out the equipment and create something to take home. Finely (Y6) and Alex (Y2) Cone from Theddlethorpe Academy created their own keyring with the help of staff and students.

She said: “Somercotes really is amazing. I came from a small primary school, so the change was big for me but now that I’ve settled in, I love it.

When I first arrived, I kept getting lost, but I think that’s the same for everyone. All you had to do was ask someone and they were really helpful. Teachers and other students were more than happy to help.

I would struggle to pick a favourite subject but it would be between Art, Food Technology or Design and Technology. I’m a creative person, so all those topics help me do that.”

Left: Jessica Bensley (Y6) from Grainthorpe Junior School with dad Mark.

Freya Hewitt (Y7) with Finely Cone (Y6) and Alex Cone (Y2) from Theddlethorpe Academy.

In Art, students helped Year 6s to create their own print. Regan Pender-Croft from Theddlethorpe Academy created a PlayStation logo print with Year 8 student Kaitlyn Stokes.

The Modern Foreign Languages Department opened their own French Café upstairs and served patisserie treats to pupils and their families, whilst speaking in French. Charlie Marwood (Y8) helped out by serving croissants and pain au chocolat to Edwin Larkins from North Cockerington C of E Primary School.

Year 10 students were busy in Food Technology as Martha Cooper, Alyssia Ecob and Morgan Richardson created chicken and chorizo jambalaya for people to try. Pupils were also invited to make their own Microwave Chocolate Mud Pie, using just a few ingredients.

Regan Pender-Croft from Theddlethorpe Academy with Kaitlyn Stokes (Y8) in art.

Charlie Marwood (Y8) with Edwin Larkins from North Cockerington C of E Primary School.

GCSE Food students Martha Cooper, Alyssia Ecob and Morgan Richardson (Y10).

Riley Taylor (Y7) helping pupils make mud pie.

Vice Principal Simon Ritchie demonstrated the methane bubbles experiment in science, while Jacelynn Cowie (Y7) showed pupils how to identify compounds using a different coloured flame.

Belle Dixon from Laceyfield Louth was shown how to use the equipment in the Academy gym by Year 9 student Daisy Share.

The Humanities Department hosted a wealth of activities including building an earthquake-proof building from spaghetti and marshmallows, trying on war helmets and digging for ancient artifacts. Annie Locking from Grimoldby School and Tilly Ireland from North Somercotes C of E Primary School were shown how to use excavation equipment with the help of Year 9 students Ethan and Harry.

VP Simon Ritchie performing an experiment in Science.

Jacelynn Cowie (Y7)

Belle Dixon from Laceyfield Louth and Daisy Share (Y9).

Annie Locking (Grimoldby School) and Tilly Ireland (North Somercotes C of E Primary School) with Year 9 students Ethan Doherty and Harry Funnell.

In Music, Curriculum Leader Ellen Barlow welcomed pupils to try out the piano or ukulele. Miss Barlow showed Emily Brown from Laceyfield Louth how to play notes on the ukulele whilst Holly Treadgold (Y9) helped Ewan and Thomas Smith play the piano.

Interim Principal, Andy Collins joined in with a ukulele lesson with the help of Year 10 student Jasmine Radely and Jessica Bensley from Grainthorpe Junior School.

Music teacher Ellen Barlow with Emily Brown from Laceyfield Louth.

Holly Treadgold (Y9) with Ewan Smith (Y7) and Thomas Smith from Laceyfield Louth.

Jasmine Radely (Y10) with Interim Principal Andrew Collins, Teacher Ellen Barlow and Jessica Bensley from Grainthorpe Junior School.

Mr Collins commented: “The night was a great success with lots of visitors through the doors. We really wanted to showcase how good the school is and our best way of doing that was letting people see exactly what goes on and what the staff and students think about it.

We are very proud to have so many people visit us and we hope that everyone got a real idea of how good life really is at Somercotes Academy.”