A group of Year 9 students have created a large art installation as part of this year’s ‘Stone Advent Windows’ exhibition. Thi year's theme is Christmas carols.

Representatives for the year group unveiled the display at the Home and Colour shop on Stone high street.

Members of the local community and church, as well as shoppers, joined our pupils in the unveiling and sang the Christmas carol, ‘Once In Royal David’s City’ of which the installation is based.

On Tuesday 16th December, Year 10 students at Alleyne’s Academy ran a Christmas market to rival Hamburg, Leeds and Birmingham’s offerings! 

Every form ran a stall, festively-decked and offering a range of seasonal offerings.  Hot chocolate was sipped, chocolate fountains flowed, cake was consumed and games were played.  Santa made an appearance, along with another visitor who was out of this world! 

So far, students have raised over £270 for Bowel Cancer UK, although one competition is still running so this is set to increase.  Well done Year 10!

Over the summer, Sarah Norbury, 6th form student, won a Bronze Medal at the 2014 Junior European 420 Sailing Championships in Poland.  
She had, in fact, been sailing virtually the whole of the summer, starting with Keil Week in Germany at the end of term.  She then moved onto Portugal for the International Sailing Federation Youth World Championships where she was 10th overall but was pleased to have achieved some top 5 results.  It was a new experience, racing in an elite fleet where only one boat qualifies to represent each nation.
She also competed in the 420 World Championships and the UK National Championships where she achieved 1st British Lady Helm. It was a busy summer and she only had a couple of days at home between each event.
Next year she plans to qualify for the World and Junior European Championships to be held in Japan and Bulgaria and aims to medal in each event.

On Monday 17th November, 4 of our sixth form students travelled to Stafford to represent the school in the regional round of the Senior Maths Team Challenge. The students had to complete 3 challenging tasks composed of a variety of different problem questions each in a different format including a relay and a crossword round. The students completed these tasks very well, by working individually and as an effective team, demonstrating leadership skills, good time management skills and of course having excellent mathematical ability.
The students were placed a very respectable 5th out of 16 teams, competing against other teams of students from across the county.
A big WELL DONE from the Maths Faculty.

At Alleyne’s Academy in Stone twelve talented artists were all poised to perform and prove that they each had the ‘X factor’ before judges who included Stoke born Pete Conway (Robbie Williams’ dad), actress and comedienne Paula Williamson (fresh from her tour supporting Paddy McGuinness), seasoned entertainer and Cardiff based cruise ship entertainer Mark Porter, and the school’s Chair of Governors John Lockley.
The show was compared by the school’s own Paul Marsh, organiser of the popular ‘Alleyne’s Has Talent’, who made sure that the audience who packed the school’s Millennium Theatre would be able to enjoy a night of top quality entertainment. The competition was won by 17 year old musician Lewis Wheeler from Stone (pictured) for his house Bennett. “I can’t believe that after being at Alleyne’s for all this time I have finally won the talent show in my final year here” said Lewis.
Proceeds from the event are being donated to both The Royal British Legion and The Teenage Cancer Trust (in memory of Stephen Sutton who delivered one of his inspirational speeches to the students of Alleyne’s shortly before his tragic death from cancer earlier this year).

Staff and student of Alleyne’s Academy went the extra mile this week in putting together 78 shoeboxes of donated items for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal run by Signal Radio and Samaritans Purse.  In exactly one week, staff and students collected together all sorts of items for children around the world and filled the 78 shoeboxes with soaps, toothbrushes, stationery, small toys, sweets and even a toy meerkat !  A local church group very kindly donated a box full of colourful hats and one was put in each box. 

Each shoebox will be given to a child to open on Christmas Day.  These are children who otherwise have nothing.

Staff members, Ann Leadbeater and Fliss Porter, rallied all members of the school and spent many hours after school ensuring that a variety of items went into each box.

For further information on the appeal see the website:
www.signal1.co.uk/local/operation-christmas-child-2014

An Open Evening will take place at the Academy on Thursday, 13th November, 2014between 6pm and 8pm for students considering a place at Sixth Form for September 2015.
The evening is open to prospective students and parents to come along and see what the Academy Sixth Form has to offer.  We are keen to meet students who currently attend Alleyne’s or other schools who are interested in attending the Sixth Form. There will be an informative talk by the Head of Sixth Form, along with an opportunity to collect a Sixth Form Prospectus and application form, visit and explore the school’s specialist facilities and meet with Sixth Form subject teachers. Alleyne’s Academy Sixth Form offers a wider range of A Level and Level 3 BTEC qualifications in addition to exciting enrichment and development opportunities.
Alleyne’s Academy has excellent examination results at A Level with 100% of students gaining a place at one of their chosen universities.
Alleyne’s Academy was judged ‘Good with Outstanding Features’ at its last Ofsted inspection.
This is an excellent opportunity to visit the school and meet staff and other prospective students and parents.

During lunchtimes last week, students took part in the annual House Quiz competition in the school hall. Competing in teams and representing their houses, the general knowledge of students was challenged. Although there was only one winner in each year group quiz, everyone who took part was awarded participation points for their house.

Congratulations to all who took part!

On Thursday 21st August, Alleyne’s Academy was pleased to publish the GCSE and other Level 2 qualification successes for the year.

Congratulations and well done to all of our Year 11 students!

Overall, 68% of students achieved at least 5A*-C including English and Maths. 87% of students achieved at least 5 A*-C grades, with 78% achieving these in at least five different subjects.

The success of all students:

• 2 students in the year group achieved  A* in all subjects entered
• 28 students have gained 8 or more A*-A grades
• 61 students achieved the full English Baccalaureate pathway

Well done to all our students and staff for another set of excellent GCSE and A Level results. Wishing all students good luck in the next steps of their education at sixth form, employment, training or university.

Alleyne's in the news: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/GCSE-results-day-Alleyne-s-High-School/story-22796594-detail/story.html

On Thursday 14th September, Alleynes’ Academy students collected some of the best A Level results that the school has achieved.

Overall there has been an improvement this year in the Average Point Score per student - it has increased by a third of a grade compared to 2013 and is now equivalent to a C at A2 Level.

Thirty of the top grade, A*or equivalent, were awarded this year in the following subjects:
·         Biology 1
·         Business Studies 3
·         Chemistry 2
·         English 1
·         Further Maths 2
·         Geography 1
·         Maths 2
·         Physics 2
·         Psychology 2
·         Applied Business Studies 14

7 students in Year 13 got an Average Point Score per entry of A – A* these students achieved the following results:

• 3x A*, 1 xA, EPQ A*
• 3xA*, 1x A
• 2xA*, 2xA, EPQ A*
• 1xA*, 2x Distinction *, 1xA
• 1xA*, 2xA
• 1xA*, 1xA, 1xB
• 1xA*,1xA, 1xB

23 students in Year 13 got an Average Point Score per entry of above a B grade.

The school wishes to congratulate all those who received results today, and wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.

In the sunshine on Wednesday 9th July, Darley Moore (near to Uttoxeter) had become ablaze with supporters and spectators for the biggest kit car event of the year with students from all over the Staffordshire County driving their incredible kit cars around the high speed race track, determined to secure a prize in this coveted KMF National Engineering Competition

Team Alleyne’s consisted of a group of ten dedicated Year 10 students, supported by two from Year 12 to ensure that their incredible kit car hit the track with lightning speed, to impress the gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury who was judging part of the competition. The team who would not have been at this event had it not been for the sponsorship and support of MGS Precision who were represented at the event by Iain Whitaker.

Team Alleyne’s secured sixth place in what was an incredible finish.

The team want you to share in their success: they invite you to contact them to discuss how you can be a part of their success in the next exciting kit car event which they are determined to win! Local businesses can make this happen and at the same time, promote their own brand as a sponsor and also a supporter of fast moving engineering events here in Staffordshire.

On Wedneday 9th July the largest number of students ever to participate took to the school field for the annual Summer Sports Day. Heats and field events took place in the morning, and the finals in the afternoon were in front of a large crowd of other students and staff. Points were awarded for both participation and winning. The results from the events are as follows:

These results have been added to the running total of points for the House Competitions over the year - the final totals reveal that Vincent House retain the house trophy for the second year.

Congratulations to all participants and winners in Sports Day.

Alleyne's Academy boys narrowly missed out on the final by 21-20 in the deciding game.  Had they won that match they may have gone on to win the tournament.

 The boys, without exception, were a great credit to the Academy playing a high standard of volleyball, winning exciting and crucial rallies. 3 of the 4 boys had never played volleyball until a short time ago and they have shown great aptitude and determination to do well at a high level.  They have shown real commitment as a team to developing their skills and have been doing extra practice at Newcastle Volleyball Club in preparation.
 We hope this is a springboard for Alleyne’s Academy to become a centre for volleyball talent and to develop pupils of all abilities into high quality players, feeding in to one of the top national clubs in Britain.  It would also be good to see more students, both boys and girls, give volleyball a go in the new school year.

Engineering Team receive Gold CREST Award

A group of Year 12 students from Alleynes Academy recently attended the Engineering Education Scheme assessment day at Cranmore Park, Solihull. The scheme provides students with an in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology that will enable them to make an informed decision about their future studies and career. The students have developed skills in industrial enterprise, creativity and innovation whilst gaining extensive experience of problem-solving, team-working and project management.

During the day, the students presented their engineering project to a panel consisting of directors from industry. One of the directors was so impressed with the Alleyne’s students he has asked to showcase the student’s presentation at the 'Big Bang' exhibition at the NEC next year.

As a result of the day, the following students were awarded the Gold CREST award: Drew Christie, Chris Mobley, Shaylyn Kent, Aaron Hissey, Jimmy Lead and Ryan Marklew.

Alleyne's Academy receives an allocation of funding known as Pupil Premium for Y9-Y11 pupils falling into the following categories:

Pupils who are eligible for a free school meal;
Pupils who have parent/s who are Service personnel;
Pupils who are currently in care, or
Pupils who have been adopted from care or left care under a special Guardianship Order.

If your child falls into one of these categories it is important that the school is made aware of this, particularly if your child is eligible for a free school meal but does not take one. Parents of pupils already in receipt of a free school meal do not need to contact us.

Any information provided is treated with the utmost confidentiality. Please contact Mrs. Rhodes on 01785 354200 or office@alleynes.staffs.sch.uk to provide this information or to discuss further.