News - Page 6 of 35 - Magnus C of E Academy

Year 9 Parents’ and Options Evening – Tuesday 23rd February

The online Parents’ Evening for year 9 will take place on Tuesday 23rd February between 3.00pm and 6.30pm. This is an important event which will provides parents and carers with an opportunity to check your child’s progress with their subject teachers and discuss their suitability for any subjects they are considering studying at GCSE.

The school has introduced a new, easy to use online appointment booking system called SchoolCloud. This allows you to choose your own appointment times with each subject teacher and you will receive an email confirming your appointments.

For more information, please see the letter we have sent to all parents and carers below, along with some helpful guides on how to use SchoolCloud. You will also find a copy of the KS4 Subject Options booklet.

World Book Day 2021

World Book Day is Thursday 4th March 2021

To help us celebrate World Book Day this year, the usual £1 book tokens have gone virtual to ensure all students still have access to them during Lockdown. You can find the token below and use it to pay for one of the special £1 World Book Day books, or towards a book of your choice at participating booksellers. Valid from Thursday 18th Feb – Sunday 28th March. Please see terms and conditions for more details.

Look out for further World Book Day announcements and activities next half term!

World Book Day Token 2021

Author holds virtual workshop with Magnus C of E Academy students

Each year 7 student received book as a Christmas gift from Magnus

Magnus Church of England Academy Year 7 students enjoyed a virtual workshop with author Thomas Taylor and received a copy of his book as a seasonal gift from Magnus C of E Academy.

Writer and illustrator of many children’s books including recent works, Malamander and its sequel Gargantis, Mr Taylor said workshops to encourage reading were a valuable way to encourage a lifelong skill in students. He said, “I am delighted to be invited to ‘Zoom’ into the Magnus Academy to present my book Malamander to Year 7 as they break up for Christmas.

“I have a few surprising beach-combing finds to share with them, to explain the inspiration behind my magical story, which is set in the fictional seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea.”

In a surprise at the close of the workshop every year 7 student was gifted a copy of Malamander by Magnus C of E Academy.

Mr Taylor said, “I am thrilled and honoured that Magnus have chosen Malamander as a gift for their Year 7s. I really hope the children enjoy the adventure and find inspiration too – perhaps to write stories themselves, or maybe even to venture out to the seaside in winter and hunt for treasures of their own.”

Heather Jackson, Learning Resource Centre Manager at Magnus C of E Academy said, “We have gifted a book to our Y7 students for a few years now, and we were keen that this year should be no different. We were so pleased that Thomas could join us via Zoom to talk to Y7 about his book Malamander and answer any questions they had for him. It’s so important that our students get the opportunity to hear from an author, to understand the inspiration for a book, and see where that creativity stems from. We hope it will inspire them to read the book over the Christmas break and encourage them to put pen to paper and write their own stories.”

Magnus Academy celebrates with GCSE students

Magnus Church of England Academy welcomed its students on this their GCSE results day.

Principal Anna Martin said, “This has been an incredibly challenging year for all students and staff at the school, but particularly for the students collecting results today. Throughout their time at the school they have impressed me with their positive attitude and good character. This has shone through throughout this crisis and I have been so proud of the way they have embraced the challenges faced and continuing to work hard to prepare for post 16 progression.

“They have trusted us to do what is right for them and have been rewarded with an excellent set of GCSE results. I am delighted that, yet again, we have record numbers of students joining us for sixth form in September, I look forward to welcoming them back to continue their journey of success.”

Chair of Governors, Martin O’Connell said, “This has been an extraordinary year and I want to thank both students and staff for the way in which they have adapted to these challenging circumstances. The resilience and attitude of everyone concerned has been exemplary and these excellent results are a reflection of those characteristics”.

There were some outstanding individual performances including Aamod Bashyal who achieved 9 grade 9’s and is going on to study A level biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and economics at Magnus as he pursues his ambition to study medicine at University.

Clara Moshari also achieved 7 grade 9’s and will be staying at Magnus to study A level art, biology, chemistry and mathematics.

Other notable achievements were Mark Ponder who achieved 3 grade 9’s, 1 grade 8, 3 grade 7’s and a Level 2 distinction, Noah Potter with 1 grade 9, 4 grade 8’s and 3 grade 7’s and Olivia Mallinson with 3 grade 9’s and 2 grade 7’s, all the equivalent of A grade or higher.

Student Aamod Bashyal, said, “I was surprised when I opened my results but I’m really pleased with them. It was an anxious wait but now I’m excited to get back to Magnus to start studying my A levels. I’m going to study biology, chemistry, physics, maths and economics at Magnus sixth form and I’m looking forward to actually sitting my exams this time!”

Student Mark Ponder said, “I’m over the moon with my results, especially my nines in English literature, history and RE. I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so nervous but I’m pleased my results show how hard I’ve worked over the last few years. I’m looking forward to staying on at Magnus to study my A levels and hopefully go on to study at Oxbridge.”

Student Clara Moshari said, “I’m really happy with my results and I’m looking forward to coming back to Magnus for sixth form. I’m taking chemistry, biology, maths and art A levels and hope to go on to study medicine at university so these subjects are really good stepping stones.”

A Level students’ resilience ‘an inspiration’ says Magnus Principal

On this the day, when students across the country would usually be attending schools to collect their A Level results, the dramatically different challenges facing education has, says, Anna Martin, Principal of Magnus Church of England Academy, brought out the best in her students.

“This year, we wanted to celebrate the stoicism of our students who have faced so many new challenges this year. They have shown real character and resilience and are an inspiration to the staff at Magnus.

“Many of our A Level students are now moving onto universities with some fantastic opportunities secured in the pursuit of their future goals in education and we wish them all the very best for their futures.”

Rebecca Barber (Senior Leader Post 16) said that the school has seen many success stories. “We have to acknowledge that this year has been a different experience for all of us. Nevertheless, we have seen some fantastic results for students.

“Following on from their success at GCSE, Jordan Lovett has received A*A* AA and Head Girl, Georgia Furmidge has received A*A*A*A. Both who have been successful in their applications to university.”

Georgia said, ‘I am looking forward to the physics element of my course and studying Maths in greater depth. This year has been very different! I’m pleased with my results and looking forward to starting fresh in September.”

This year also sees the first cohort of You Can Do Sport Students graduating and moving onto their chosen destinations. Danny Mountney-Town has secured a place at Bishop Grosseteste University to study Sport, Coaching and Physical Education along with teammate Katie Scott.

“I am really proud of these students who have developed so much over their time in the Sports Academy and now are moving on to further their study in Sport” said Rebecca Barber, “The sports academy continues to grow, and we are excited to see other students follow in their footsteps.

“We are also celebrating our first student in recent years to go on to read Music at university. Tia Jermyn has studied Music A Level, alongside her other subjects and is a prominent member of the school’s band dedicating her time and efforts to her studies. Tia told us she is excited for the extra-curricular elements of her course, meeting new people and playing new music and we wish her all the success as she moves onto Hull university.”

Students from Magnus Academy are also continuing to choose to study further afield. Another first for Magnus is Poppy White, being successful in her place at London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London. Poppy has chosen to read Mathematics and Economics following her success in Psychology, Further Maths, Maths and Economics receiving A*AA*A*.

Poppy said “I’m excited for the independence moving away to university will bring. London will be a brilliant city to study and live. I’m looking forward to exploring London and what it has to offer.”

Anna Martin, Principal, said she was delighted to hear of the students future plans in what was a challenging year. “We asked staff to show integrity when producing centre assessed grades. This was supported by rigorous standardisation across students and subjects. We are therefore delighted that the hard work of students over the last 2 years has been recognised and the vast majority of student grades are unchanged by exam boards.”