The annual Monkton Wood Academy year 11 GCSE Art and Textile exhibition has been held, showcasing more than 100 pieces of student artwork.
The event featured the talents of the year 11 art and textiles students and hopes to inspire and encourage the next generation of artists coming through.
The collaboration resulted in a professional and visually impressive exhibition, where students were able to display their creativity and earn recognition for their hard work.
The exhibition ran for the whole week to allow all students the opportunity to visit during school day, with after-school openings for families and the community to attend too.
The students’ artwork covered 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 were inspired by various artists, from the contemporary world of art to the more traditional known artists.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “The exhibition was a resounding success, and students received praise and compliments from their families and peers. The event gave everyone a chance to see what the students had been working on and allowed the students to take pride in their artistic skills and achievements.”
Four talented students from Monkton Wood Academy (MWA) are set to jet off to Prague to take part in the finals of the Dance World Cup.
Jemima McLaughlin (Year 10), Ruby Layzell (Year 10), Maisie Richards (Year 9) and Verity Jones (Year 9) have all been selected to take part.
The students will be part of a 17-strong team from The Katrina Lyndon School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance (KLBC) in Taunton. The team has triumphed over thousands of other dancers to reach the finals, a milestone they have been training extremely hard for over the past year.
The Dance World Cup is the largest global sporting event second only to the Olympics and will see dancers from over 60 countries competing in ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz and show dance styles.
Jen Martin, Associate Assistant Principal at Monkton Wood, said: “We wish the students the best of luck and hope the experience will be truly rewarding. This is a chance of a lifetime.”
A student from Taunton’s Monkton Wood Academy has earned national sporting recognition after earning a place in England age group basketball squad.
Year 10 student Luca Bakary achieved milestone in his basketball career over a rigorous four-day trial in Manchester, which won him one of only 12 places in the England Under-15 Talent Programme as part of the Huish Tigers Basketball team.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, Luca was called up to play with the Under-15 England team in a tournament in Greece.
The England Talent Programme for under-14 and 15s is an important part of the Basketball England talent pathway, supporting the development of England & Great Britain team players.
The objective is to provide international-level competition and quality coaching with the aim to encourage their progression, readying them for more senior levels of play on the international stage.
Zoe Draper, Year 10 Raising Standard lead at Monkton Wood Academy said: “Playing for your country is a great honour and we wish Luca all the best with his basketball career. His dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we are excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Monkton Wood Academy is giving students a hands-on experience of politics ahead of the upcoming General Election by staging its own mock election.
This initiative aims to educate and engage students in the democratic process, giving them a deeper understanding of civic responsibilities and the importance of political participation.
Students participating in the mock election will undergo a comprehensive process that mirrors real-life elections, including selection, writing a manifesto, responding during hustings, and campaigning through assemblies.
Rebecca Smith, Associate Assistant Principal at Monkton Wood Academy, said: “We hope this opportunity allows eager students to develop communication skills, confidence and gain political confidence.”
The mock election at Monkton Wood Academy promises to be an enriching educational experience, providing students with practical insights into the electoral process and enhancing their engagement with political issues.
We are incredibly proud to present the Monkton Wood Academy end of year Art and Textile exhibition.
This exhibition is a long-standing key event in the school calendar celebrating the outstanding creativity of our 2024 GCSE Art and Textile students, the next generation of Monkton Wood Academy artists.
Exhibition opening evening Monday 10th June, 3:45 – 5:30.
Exhibition on show Monday 10th – Friday 14th of June, 3:45 – 5:00.
Sixty Year 9 students from Monkton Wood Academy successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Award practice walk. This event marks a significant step in their preparation for the upcoming Silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition in June.
The students embarked on a scenic route along a canal path, concluding their journey at the school. This practice walk was designed not only to prepare them for the physical demands of their upcoming expedition but also to develop essential skills such as teamwork and independence.
During the practice, they participated in first aid scenarios using their ability to respond to potential emergencies. They supported one another throughout the trek, demonstrating the values that the Duke of Edinburgh Award aims to instil in young people.
Becky Smith, Associate Assistant Principal, said: “We were incredibly impressed with their teamwork, independence, and enthusiasm, and we look forward to their achievements in June.”
Students from Monkton Wood Academy have been working with their parish council recently to get a better understanding of local governance.
Keeleigh Bryant, Noah Day-Hitchen, Megan Luton, Effie Ellwood and Leo Cridge, from years 7-9, have worked alongside Kate Walsh from Monkton Heathfield Parish Council, and supported by Pastoral Support Officer Miss Kyle Williams in this new initiative.
The aim of this project is to help students understand the work of the parish council, play a part in making Monkton Heathfield a great place to live and go to school and get to know the local community better.
Monkton Wood students have been involved in the council’s community work in a number of ways. They have looked at urban planning, written and analysed questionnaires and provided ‘youth voice’ on a range of projects.
Most recently, they have supported Kate and a team of volunteers in replenishing the ‘community fridge’.
The community fridge is an important welfare initiative which was opened in July 2022. This project is run by community volunteers who collect food that would otherwise go to waste from local supermarkets.
This food is then shared with the community via the open access shed which is based at The Brittons Ash Community Hall (BACH.) The project is run in conjunction with the Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Bookers and M&S to help reduce food waste.
Monkton Wood Academy student Den Maestro made such an impression at his work experience placement at Rotec Hydraulics, they published an article on their website about him and the work he carried out.
To find out more click here.
Pic Den Maestro & Louise Husband, Assistant Principal.
Monkton Wood Academy’s Year 10 rugby team showcased their talent in their County Cup semi-final clash against a strong side from Clevedon School, emerging victorious with a scoreline of 41-24.
It was an impressive team performance, and a number of players on the scoresheet. Ben A (2) Kenzie R, Harrison SL, Seth W (2), Sam D all scored tries, and converted goals by Seth helped the team finish as comfortable winners.
The final against Beechen Cliff in early May promises to be an exciting showdown.
A big thank you to all the parents who came to watch and support, and Jon Roberts for his coaching and refereeing. A massive thank you also to Taunton Rugby Football Club for providing the venue for the match.
As the final approaches, let’s rally behind the Monkton Wood Academy boys and cheer them on to what will hopefully be a victory!
