Monkton Wood Academy is extremely proud to announce that 61 students have successfully completed their entire Bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award.
This incredible achievement reflects the dedication, resilience, and hard work of students over the past year.
The Monkton Community was delighted to celebrate their accomplishments at a special awards evening, attended by students and their proud parents. With nearly 100% completion from this year’s large cohort, school leaders are thrilled with the commitment and perseverance shown by all participants.
Rebecca Purnell, Associate Assistant Principal, Monkton Wood Academy, said: “As we look forward to the upcoming year, we encourage our new Year 9 students to get involved and sign up for the DofE award.
“The program not only provides a rewarding experience but also builds valuable life skills that will serve them well into the future.
“A huge thank you to all the teachers and parents who played a key role in making this achievement possible. Your support has been instrumental in guiding our students through this journey.”
Monkton Wood Academy was delighted to host two members of staff from Water Bear College, who delivered an inspiring seminar to Key Stage 4 music students.
The seminar was attended by both Year 10 and Year 11 BTEC and GCSE music students, and aimed to expand students’ knowledge of the wide array of careers available within the music industry.
In addition to learning about various college and university courses they could pursue after leaving school, students were introduced to different career pathways ranging from music performance and songwriting to production and management.
A highlight of the session was the discussion of Water Bear College’s famous alumni, who have gone on to achieve success in the industry, performing with, managing, and writing songs for renowned artists.
These real-life success stories served as an invaluable source of inspiration for the students, encouraging them to follow their own musical ambitions.
A spokesperson said: “Monkton Wood Academy is committed to providing its students with meaningful opportunities to connect with industry professionals, and this seminar was a significant step in broadening their understanding of the exciting possibilities the music industry has to offer.”
A talented young artist from Monkton Wood Academy has beaten thousands of other students to win the Cabot Learning Federation Artist of the Year competition.
To read the full story on the Somerset County Gazette website click here.
A talented young artist from Monkton Wood Academy has triumphed over thousands of other students to be named the winner of the Cabot Learning Federation artist of the year competition.
Year 9 student Elsie Ryder’s outstanding line drawing, a unique blend of an everyday scene and famous artwork, impressed audiences, earning her the top spot through an online vote.
Her work had been displayed in an online gallery alongside art created by students from other CLF students between Gloucestershire and Somerset.
Elsie said: “This is an amazing surprise! I am very passionate about art and have worked so hard on this piece. I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award.”
Created as part of her Key Stage 3 Art lessons, the impressive piece took Elsie approximately 10 hours to complete. The inspiration for her artwork came from the celebrated self-taught landscape and portrait artist Ben Hughes.
Elsie’s passion for art is set to continue, as she has now chosen to pursue the subject at GCSE level.
Working across the Cabot Learning Federation’s (CLF) Arts curriculum network, this initiative was created to help showcase all the wonderful artwork being produced across the federation.
All academies had the opportunity to put forward their own Artist of the Year, with finalists’ work displayed digitally in an online exhibition. CLF staff, students and the wider community were invited to visit the virtual gallery and vote for their winner.
The gallery earned 14,000 views and 1,250 votes were cast.
In recognition of Elsie’s achievement, she was presented with a personalised leather art roll by Steve Taylor, CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation.
Heather Essadiq, CLF Curriculum Curator for Art and Design, said: “The wide range of work produced, at such high standards, is a testament to the creativity and hard work of CLF students. One collective community, supporting and raising the next generation of artists.”
Monkton Wood Academy present their annual Tacchi Morris year 11 leavers Exhibition, which is a selection of excellent, high-quality artwork created by last year’s students.
The exhibition features the talents of the year 11 leavers art and textiles students with hopes to inspire and encourage the next generation of artists coming through.
This stunning collective showcases a professional and visually impressive exhibition, where students were able to display their creativity and earn recognition for their hard work.
The students’ artwork covers a variety of themes (including portraits, collections, landscapes, still life and abstract art), along with a huge variety of media (sculpture, painting, print, textiles, drawing). Exhibits are inspired by various artists, from the contemporary world of art to the more traditional known artists.
Exhibition on show in the Tacchi Morris Arts Centre from 10 September to 4 November.
Students at Monkton Wood Academy are celebrating their GCSE and BTEC results today. Their success is down to their hard work and the encouragement and support of their families and school staff.
Amongst a strong set of results for the entire cohort, some individual successes stand out. Sixteen students are celebrating at least one top grade 9, with five students achieving 4 or more grades at this level. One Ukrainian refugee who joined the school late, in year 11, has passed her GCSEs in English, Maths and Science despite just a few months in our education system.
The Monkton Wood Principal, Hannah Jones, said: “Huge congratulations to all our year 11 students collecting their results today. They are a terrific group of young people and the whole school community is proud of their commitment to achieving their own potential.
They should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. We wish them all well as they
move on to their next steps in education and training.”
Steve Taylor CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation said: “Across the Cabot Learning Federation, we have almost 1,800 students collecting their results today after 12 years of education, and the day is all about them as individuals. There are some extraordinary stories of young people achieving well against the odds, showing the tenacity and commitment to invest in themselves and their futures. We know that they are making their parents and carers and our colleagues proud, and we’re just as excited to see where they go next as what they find when they open their envelopes today. Well done to them and thank you to the many colleagues who have nurtured their potential and helped them to grow from the first day they were dropped off at school!”
A group of Year 10 students from Monkton Wood Academy collaborated with peers from other academies, delving into the wide-ranging uses of mathematics beyond secondary education, in a ‘girls in maths’ event.
The event included interactive sessions where the 10 students had the unique opportunity to engage with three accomplished women who have successfully integrated their maths qualifications into their professional careers.
The girls posed insightful questions, demonstrating a keen interest in understanding how mathematical skills can be applied in different industries.
Anna Ogden, a maths teacher at Monkton Wood Academy, said: “The students were a credit to the school and really immersed themselves in the event. Well done girls!”
This event is part of Monkton Wood Academy’s ongoing commitment to encouraging gender diversity in STEM subjects and empowering young women to pursue careers in fields where they have been historically underrepresented.
Monkton Wood Academy students Carla Valenzuela, Maisie Hazell, and Zoe Woodley recently participated in The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Battle of the Bands competition, held at City Academy Bristol.
Performing under the band name ‘Ultraviolet’, the talented trio showcased their musical prowess and stage presence, making a significant impact despite being new to the competition.
While Ultraviolet did not place in the top three, they were honoured with the ‘Bravery’ award, recognising their courage as a new school participating in the event.
Their performance was highly commended by many other schools, especially for their excellent stage presence and vocal control.
Joshua Horsey, Monkton Wood’s Head of Music, said: “Monkton Wood Academy is incredibly proud of Carla, Maisie, and Zoe for their dedication, talent, and the positive impression they made at the competition.
“We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in future musical endeavours.”
Monkton Wood Academy proudly held its annual Summer Recital Evening at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre.
The event was an excellent exhibition of the musical talents of students across all year groups, with standout performances that captivated the audience.
In addition to students, the school was delighted to feature guest performances from some dedicated staff members, adding a unique and enriching dimension to the evening.
Joshua Horsey, Head of Music at Monkton Wood, said: “The Summer Recital Evening not only highlighted the hard work and dedication of our musicians but also celebrated the vibrant and supportive community at Monkton Wood Academy.
“We look forward to continuing this tradition and showcasing the incredible talents of our students and staff in the years to come.”
