Year 12 took part in a series of engaging practical activities which relied on and emphasised the use of excellent communication as part of our DEC Top 10 Employability skills. Pupils were required to describe abstract scenarios to other pupils in order to complete a task. The depth to which the task was completed depended on how well pupils gave verbal instructions and how the other team listened. Another employability skills demonstrated was teamwork. Well done year 12!

#DECCareers #Employabilityskills

In our 9R maths lessons this week, we have been collecting our own primary data via some unconventional methods. Pupils have been measuring each other, timing each other in outdoor races and playing different sports. Pupils will collate the data and analyse it, presenting their findings to teachers in their lessons.

Last term 130 year 7 and 8 mathematicians sat the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. The Junior Mathematical Challenge is a 60-minute, multiple-choice challenge sat by students across the country. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve problems. It provides students with the opportunity to solve interesting problems and questions outside of their usual maths lessons.  

All students who sat the challenge did exceptionally well and it was evident that students were trying their hardest to work through the problems. Congratulations and well done to everyone who took part.  

Students who achieved certain scores were awarded certificates for their efforts and as a school we achieved 1 gold, 7 silver and 27 bronze certificates. This is an amazing achievement and all students who received a certificate should be very proud of themselves. A particular well done to Anna A in year 7 who achieved best in year and Macy R in year 8 who achieved best in school. 

At the start of this half-term 37 year 10 prefects went on their team building trip to Ackers Adventure. They were split up in to four groups and completed kayaking/canoeing, rock climbing and bush craft. All students conducted themselves fantastically well and showed great resilience and teamwork across the three activities. It was great to see them encouraging each other to succeed and push themselves, especially with the climbing which for some students was very much out of their comfort zone. The prefect team really came together to support and guide each other throughout the day. It is going to be great to see them apply the skills they have developed, at Ackers, to their roles within school and beyond. 

On Friday 19^th May students from York house held a bake sale to raise money for their house charity St Basils. Students baked and decorated cupcakes and cookies the evening before, with a variety of colours and styles. The amount raised was £38.70, which can go towards supporting the fantastic work St Basils do tackling youth homelessness in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Matrix’s first ever cross-trust pupil awards event, held at Millennium Point on 20^th April, was a fantastic success.

Pupils were recognised for exemplifying our trust values of creativity, resilience, selflessness, enthusiasm and continuous improvement. There were also awards for exemplary members of our Cadet Forces.

With more than 7000 pupils across our trust schools, it was really difficult to choose the 46 award winners. Those who did receive the awards should feel deservedly proud of their achievement.

The awards-giving was punctuated with several fantastic performances, including DJs from Barr Beacon, a piano virtuoso from Year 4 of Bloxwich Academy and Etone’s ‘Mega Band’. Before the event, we had over an hour of performances from pupils across our trust schools, all of who had been selected to perform after a trust-wide talent competition, which had more than 100 entrants.

The evening started with a video relating the story of our trust up until the end of 2022. Our CEO Ms Draycott then spoke about the two newest schools, Smestow Academy and Wednesfield Academy, who joined the Matrix family this year.

 There was also a special video explaining ‘what a makes a Matrix pupil’, starring a teacher from each of our schools.

Here is what some of our parents and carers have said about the event:

“The awards ceremony was fantastic. It was great to see pupils getting their awards and the fantastic performances from across the Matrix Academy Trust schools.”

“It meant so much to see all the pupils being awarded for life skills rather than academic achievement. The head teachers giving a little speech about each pupil was a lovely touch and really personalised it.”

“Thank you for a wonderful evening.  It was very special to see everyone receiving their awards.”

“Thank you for a special evening celebrating the achievements of pupils.  We are especially proud of our daughter!”

“Tonight was simply amazing!” 

Ms Draycott and Director of School Improvement Mr Lowbridge-Ellis introduced each of the awards and our headteachers explained who they had chosen and why. Trustee Sir Mark Aspinall bestowed the awards on the worthy winners.

At DEC we have had a series of assemblies about mental health and stress awareness this week. Stress awareness month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. It is the time when we have an opportunity for an open conversation on the impact of stress and open up about our mental and emotional state with friends, families, colleagues, and professionals.

Pupils in 10A and 10S took part in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge on 26^th April 2023.

The challenge was a great way to test and encourage deep thinking skills in STEM related contexts.

Thanks to the team at University of Warwick for organising the event, we look forward to the results!

As their reward for excellent attendance for this school year, selected students had a reward trip to Drayton Manor Theme Park. The students had an amazing day, the weather held off all day and the park itself was very quiet with plenty of opportunities to go on rides, multiple times. The staff were nothing but complimentary of the students and spoke of how polite and well-mannered they were all day. Well done to all the students who were involved, well deserved!

Easter may be over, but the EGGcellent fun is not finished yet! On Wednesday 26^th April we will be doing a post-Easter raffle in which students can win a hamper full of Easter eggs. Students will be able to buy a strip of tickets for £1 during lunch times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. That gives them five opportunities to win this CRACKing prize. The draw will be made before the end of the day on Wednesday. Don’t get SCRAMBLED if you don’t win though, the money raised will go towards our four House charities: Help Harry Help Others, Wythall Animal Sanctuary, St Basils and the Trussel Trust. Students are invited to bring in some change at the start of next week for the chance to win.