Heywood Academy Blog - 13.2.26
End of Half Term Reflections – February 2026
As we reach the end of the first half term of 2026, it’s remarkable to look back and reflect on just how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. Although we began the year with a somewhat bumpy start due to our unexpected water issues, our students have shown extraordinary resilience, determination, and focus.
Despite the early disruption, they have made phenomenal progress, not only academically, but also in their personal development. Their maturity, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning continue to make us incredibly proud.
Growing Our Team
We are also delighted to share that our staff team is expanding. We have successfully recruited a new Maths teacher, who will be joining us in September 2026. We look forward to welcoming them into our community...more details will be shared soon.
Investing in Our Environment
To ensure that we continue to provide the very best opportunities and personalised support for every learner, we are opening a new Year 7 classroom. This will help us maintain exceptional provision and ensure that students at every level continue to make outstanding progress.
Celebrating Our Zones of Regulation Character Competition Winners!
We have recently introduced the Zones of Regulation across school to further support our students’ emotional development and help them recognise, understand, and manage their feelings throughout the day.
As part of this launch, we invited students to take part in a creative competition to design unique characters to represent each of the four Zones. The response was fantastic!!
After much deliberation, we are excited to announce our winning designs. These students showed creativity and captured the essence of each Zone.
Their artwork will now be used across school to help bring the Zones of Regulation to life in classrooms and shared spaces.
Ms Nicholson’s weekly update
This Week in Creative Arts
It’s been a wonderfully creative and hands-on week across all areas of the Creative Arts department! Students have been exploring new skills, developing their artistic confidence, and producing some truly impressive work. Here’s a look at what each subject has been up to:
Art – Year 7
Our Year 7 students have begun designing and creating their own boomerangs, drawing inspiration from traditional Aboriginal art. They explored the symbolism, patterns, and colour palettes often found in First Nations artwork, and are now applying these styles to their own handcrafted pieces. The level of detail and creativity is already shining through!
Design Technology – Year 8 & 9
In Design Technology, students in Years 8 and 9 have been building their textiles skills by learning a range of embroidery techniques. They’ve been practicing stitches, experimenting with patterns, and preparing the foundations for their final embroidered outcomes. Their focus and patience have been fantastic to see.
Food Technology – Year 9
Year 9 students baked focaccia this week — and they didn’t stop there! They used vegetables to create stunning floral designs on top of their bread, combining food preparation with artistic expression. The results were as beautiful as they were delicious.
IT – Safer Internet Day
To celebrate Safer Internet Day, students revisited essential knowledge on how to stay safe online. After discussions and activities exploring responsible digital behaviour, they created informative and eye-catching posters promoting online safety. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of being smart and secure in the digital world.
Music – Year 7
Year 7 musicians have been getting to grips with the fundamentals of classical music using keyboards. They’ve been learning note names, hand positioning, and simple melodies — and many can now confidently identify musical notes. A brilliant continuation of their musical journey!
A Fantastic Week of Creativity!
Across all subjects, students have demonstrated impressive skill, enthusiasm, and imagination. We’re excited to see their projects continue to grow over the coming weeks!
Year 7 Explore York! A Fantastic Day of History, Learning & Fun
Year 7 had a fantastic and enriching trip to York, visiting York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower, where they were able to connect their classroom learning with real historical sites. Clifford’s Tower was a particular highlight, giving students the chance to explore a real Motte and Bailey castle, perfectly linking to their Design Technology work on castle models and their History lessons on the Norman Conquest. At York Castle Museum, students loved walking through the Victorian street, which gave them an exciting preview of their upcoming Victorian topic in History. They were fully engaged as they explored a range of exhibitions, including old arcade games, textiles throughout time, and dressing up in period costumes. Throughout the visit, students demonstrated excellent behaviour, showed genuine curiosity, and interacted with museum staff politely and enthusiastically, making the day both enjoyable and educational for everyone involved.
Ms Pugh’s weekly update
Year 8 Blog – A Busy and Brilliant Half Term!
During this half term, Year 8 have been incredibly busy getting creative, exploring the local community, and working hard to achieve their personal targets. Here’s a look at what we’ve been learning across our subjects:
English – The Tempest
In English, students have been studying The Tempest by William Shakespeare. We explored the story of Prospero, a magician stranded on an island, who uses his powers to create a storm and confront those who wronged him. Pupils examined key themes such as power, betrayal, forgiveness, and magic, while developing their skills in analysing language and dramatic techniques.
Science – Light
In Science, Year 8 have been learning about light. We explored how light travels in straight lines, how reflection and refraction work, and how mirrors and lenses form images. Students carried out practical experiments to investigate how light behaves and learned about the visible spectrum.
Music – Musical Elements and Performance
This half term in Music, students have focused on musicals. They have developed their performance skills through group work.
History – King Charles I
In History, students studied the reign of Charles I of England. They learned about his belief in the Divine Right of Kings, his conflicts with Parliament, and the causes of the English Civil War. Pupils explored how these tensions eventually led to his trial and execution, and the impact this had on Britain’s monarchy.
Geography – Rainforests
In Geography, Year 8 have been investigating tropical rainforests. They learned about the different layers of the rainforest, its climate, and the incredible biodiversity found there. Students also discussed the causes and effects of deforestation and why rainforests are important to our planet.
Outdoor Education – Exploring Our Community
Year 8 have taken their learning beyond the classroom with visits to several local landmarks. Highlights included trips to the Imperial War Museum North, Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale Town Centre, Queen's Park, and the Roch Valley. These visits helped students connect their learning to real-life history, geography, and community life while developing teamwork and independence.
ICT – Coding
In ICT, students have been developing their coding skills. They learned how to write and debug programs, use variables, and create algorithms. Pupils practised logical thinking and problem-solving while creating their own simple programs.
Maths – Algebra
In Maths, Year 8 have been working on algebra. They have learned how to simplify expressions, solve equations, and substitute values into formulae. Students have developed confidence in manipulating algebraic expressions and applying their skills to problem-solving questions.
Ms Zobenica’s weekly update
Year 7 and 8 have been developing their lacrosse skills this week. After practising key techniques, the pupils rounded off their lesson with a fun and competitive game, giving them the chance to apply everything they’ve learned about throwing, catching, and teamwork. Whilst Year 9 focused on improving their shooting skills in football. Throughout the lesson, they demonstrated growing resilience, stronger communication, and great determination as they worked together to refine their technique.
This week our Year 7 group enjoyed a fantastic visit to Heaton Park. Pupils loved seeing a variety of animals, exploring different enclosures, and even watching a donkey being clipped. Afterwards, they spent time on the playground equipment, sharing positive experiences and playing cooperatively together.
Years 8 and 9 returned to the Imperial War Museum to complete their exhibition work. During their visit, they learned about wartime spies and explored fascinating background information connected to their project. The trip concluded with an immersive large-scale projection exploring modern-day conflict and the experiences of young people living in affected areas , a powerful and thought‑provoking ending to the day.
Ms Crossley’s reading update
Celebrating Reading in Every Form
At our school, a love of reading is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities that encourage children to engage with books, stories and texts in ways that are exciting, inclusive and meaningful.
One of our long‑standing traditions is the study of Shakespeare across all year groups. By revisiting his work in age‑appropriate ways, pupils build confidence, deepen their understanding and discover that Shakespeare’s stories are full of drama, humour and themes that are still relevant today.
To further promote reading for pleasure, we have introduced book boxes across the school. These carefully curated collections allow children to explore a variety of genres, authors and formats, helping them to discover new favourites and develop independence in their reading choices.
Structured reading groups play a key role in developing fluency, comprehension and discussion skills. These sessions allow pupils to talk about texts, share ideas and build confidence as readers. Alongside this, peer reading opportunities encourage children to read together, support one another and develop positive reading role models across the school.
We also recognise the importance of accessibility and inclusion. Audio books and recorded texts are used to support pupils who benefit from listening as well as reading, ensuring all children can enjoy stories, develop vocabulary and engage fully with texts.
We love to bring creativity and fun into reading. Events such as our Masked Singer–style reading activities encourage pupils to engage with books in unexpected ways, sparking curiosity and conversation while celebrating storytelling and performance.
Most importantly, we encourage children to read anything and everything. Whether it’s novels, comics, magazines, poems, non‑fiction, graphic texts or audio stories, all reading is valued. Our aim is to nurture confident, enthusiastic readers who see reading as a pleasure, not a chore.
By offering a rich and varied reading culture, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to find joy in reading and develop skills that will support them for life.
