26 February 2016

INASecondaryNewsletterYear 7 visit Oxford University P. 9

Next Thursday it's World Book Day and once again we will be having our Book Character Dress Up to celebrate. A contribution of £1, paid to your child's form tutor, before the day. Last year we had a tremendous response

and we're hoping this year will be even better. We're hoping ALL our students will take part by dressing up as their favourite book or comic book character. There will be prizes for the best costumes in each year group, and remember - there's no need to spend a lot of money on this, we much prefer home-made costumes. Normal non-uniform day rules apply; no jewellery, high heels, revealing clothing or make up, but face paint will be allowed.

Year 10 progress meetings will also be occurring on this day, so year 10s must make sure they bring their uniform to change into if they're not returning home first. Any face paint must also be removed in time for meetings.

To take part in this year's Dress Up, we're asking students to donate £1, to be spent on books for the library that our students will help choose.

On top of all this, we'll be having a visit from special guest author and Redbridge Book Award nominee Polly Ho Yen! Polly will be taking a special selection of students on a story writing adventure and signing copies of her book 'The Boy In The Tower', which will be on sale in the library at the special price of £5.

There's so much going on, we just can't wait! Time to get thinking about that

2 INA Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers

It has been a busy first week back!

On Monday a group of Year 8 students went to visit the Bloomberg offices in Central London – read all about their trip in the following article.

On Wednesday Mr Abrantes took our Year 10 INA Debating Champions to compete in the Ark Inter-School Debating Competition. You can read all about how they got on later in the edition. Thanks to Mr Abrantes for coaching the students and giving up his time during the half term break. Congratulations to all participants.

On Friday a selection of Year 8, 9 and 10 students went on a Science Live trip. A review will follow next week.

And finally, our very own Ms Ali, Lead Teaching Assistant at INA Primary, won the Ark Primary TA of the Year Award at the Ark Summit on 13th February, beating rivals from all the other Ark schools. Well done Ms Ali –we are all very proud of you and your award is well deserved!

With best wishes,

Rachel Macfarlane,

Principal

INA Newsletter 3

We are consulting with the Heads of Department to finalise course offers and entry requirements for individual courses. We will be able to confirm final entry requirements at a 6th form information evening in July 2016.

Facilities

Students will be based on the 3rd floor which has been preserved for our 6th form. We are going to create appropriate, dedicated study spaces where students can work independently. We are ensuring that ICT provision for the 6th form is brand new and we are planning for the provision now.

We also appreciate that students will need a common room for use during break and lunch. We hope that this space will be one in which café style snacks are sold. As KS5 students are transitioning to a life outside of INA, we anticipate KS5 students being allowed to bring in packed lunches and these being eaten in agreed spaces. They will also, of course, have access to the meals in the dining hall. Hot food will not be allowed from outside.

Uniform

Students will be required to attend in smart business dress. Many parents, carers and students expressed that they liked having a unifying feature of a uniform and so we will expect students to wear an INA pin to continue the sense of identity and community that having a uniform brings.Independent studies

Students will, in the initial stages, be supervised during their study periods. Over time, as students demonstrate that they are successful self-regulated learners, students will be permitted to study off site in non-contact periods.

Enrichment Opportunities

We will plan to support students in developing their curriculum passions as well as other interests. We are committed to ensuring our students have access to high quality Careers Information, Education, Advice and Guidance and that they are supported to make the right decisions for themselves.We will be holding a 6th form information evening in July 2016 and we hope to see many of our founding cohort at this event!

Ms Alibhai-Watson

Art Graphic Products or Product design

French Further Maths Business A level or BTEC

Biology Theatre Studies Geography Music PE A level

Chemistry Economics History Philosophy and Ethics ICT BTEC

Physics English Literature Government and politics Psychology EPQ

Computing English Language Maths Spanish Core maths or AS Maths

Thank you to all the parents, carers and students that joined us to discuss and help shape the planning around our 6th form provision. It was a really positive event and we were really interested to hear your thoughts, hopes and aspirations for what the 6th form experience would include.

Following the meeting, the SLT discussed the outcomes of the Harkness discussions and we are pleased to be able to share the following with families:

Curriculum offer

We are committed to offering courses that will support our students in achieving success at university and beyond. We therefore plan to offer:

Update following 6th form Consultation Evening 21st January 2016

4 INA Newsletter

SafeguardingThe welfare and safety of our students is our priority. We do everything possible to ensure our students’ safety, both within the school community and outside of school, including working with relevant agencies to address any issues related to child protection.

At INA we have a number of trained staff who are designated to respond to any child protection concerns and to liaise with social services:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Jo Spencer Vice PrincipalDeputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Tam Broadway Primary HeadteacherDesignated Child Protection Officers: Eleanor Seal Office Manager Nazma Mataria SENCO Leanne Abbott-Jones Lead Pastoral Leader

The INA Safeguarding policy, Child Protection policy and other related policies can be found on the Academy’s website.

INA Newsletter 5

Year 10 Progress meeting Thursday 3rd March

Y10 Progress meeting are calendared for Thursday 3rd Marc 2016 from 2:30-6:30. All students will complete lessons p1 – 4a (Y10 students will complete lesson 4a as per KS3 timings). P4a will finish for all students at 1:05. Students will return to tutor groups from 1:05-1:15. Students who are eligible for Free School Meals who request lunch in advance (via form tutors) can collect a lunch bag from the KS3 desk area as they leave. Tutors will escort students to the KS3 gate at 1:15 where students are expected to go directly home and return between 2:30-6:30 with parents. Students are expected to attend with an adult family member in full school uniform. The progress meeting will take place in the KS3 Hall. The last appointment is 6:25 for a 6:30 finish. Staff will set independent learning for Y7, 8 and 9 in advance for p5 and 6. The school will be closed to Y7, 8 and 9 from 1:15. Enrichments and detentions will not take place.

PE AT ISAAC NEWTON ACADEMYNews & ResultsYear 9 vs Year 10 Basketball match

The end of the half term finished with a bang with INA’s year 9 and 10 Basketball teams facing off against each other for bragging rights around school. The game was filled with explosive drives, big 3 pointers, excellent handling and a real maturity from both sides. The year 10’s took control from the start of the match with the Year 9’s always trailing by about 6 points. This gap increased throughout the 3rd and 4th quarter due to the experience the Year 10’s showed in their game play. It was the first time INA had their own teams playing against each other with spectators allowed to watch and show their support. This game was played in a great atmosphere with standout players being Max Haluwa and Mason Pickton.

Girls Can!

This is a new initiative for Isaac Newton Academy looking to raise participation levels of females in sport. It will run every Tuesday at the start of lunch and we will have special guest teachers from around the school each week to help raise awareness also acting as positive role models. Come and try something different with your friends.

Isaac Newton Academy’s Spring Spectacular is fast approaching, it will be held on Wednesday 16th March 6pm-7pm in the sports hall. Tickets will be available very

shortly.

6 INA Newsletter

PE AT ISAAC NEWTON ACADEMY

After school Lunch timeDay 1st Lunch

(Year 10)2nd Lunch (year 7,8 &9)

Mon Badminton Boys and Girls

Badminton (Year 7, 8 & 9) Boys and Girls

Tues Girls Can! (Year 7,8 & 9 Girls)

Wed Basketball club Boys and Girls

Basketball (Year 8 & 9) Boys & Girls

Thur Handball(Year 7, 8 & 9) Boys and Girls

Fri Basketball (Year 7) Girls and Boys

PE department extra-curricular and enrichment clubs

Improve your skills! Try something new! Keep fit! Make new friends! Unleash your

energy! Increase your chances of getting into a team!

DAY CLUB TEACHER VENUE

Mon Handball DB Sports Hall

Netball EH MUGA

Table Tennis GW Activity Studio

Tues Judo Club External Sports Hall

Wed Yr 9 S+C BH Sports Hall

Rugby Club OT Knox Field/MUGA

Thur Yr 10 Football AT MUGA

Table Tennis BW Activity Studio

Yr 8 Basketball JL Sports Hall

Seated Volleyball

MB Activity Studio

Football/Cricket Yr 7

TB MUGA

Fri Badminton club External Sports Hall

Girls’ Sports club

AN MUGA

Bike Club EC, DH, BB MUGA

Football/Cricket Yr8

AG Knox Field

Upcoming fixtures

29th February• Year 10 Basketball semi-final vs Chadwell2nd March• Year 8 Football Vs King Solomon

INA Newsletter 7

INA: ARK debating finalists!On Tuesday 23rd of February, 5 brave students from the Year 10 cohort participated in the prestigious ARK debating championships. 16 teams

represented the schools in the ARK network at Dartmouth House.

As with any team, to achieve success requires dedication, hard word work and perseverance. These are the qualities which were demonstrated by Ibraheem Bhaijee, Simran Bilku, Halema Anjum, Neha Rajput and Yusra Kilic.

The team have not only been involved in the debating workshops held earlier this year, but they even came into school in the half term to prepare! As a team, they had to work collaboratively to prepare for two motions. We were proposition (for) the motion that we “support expelling bullies.” And we were opposition (arguing against) to the motion that the media “should not report on the private lives of public figures.”

We also had to participate in a random, unprepared and unseen debate. The topic was that “voters should pass a current and political affairs examination in elections.” We had to take a very tough stance and argue that voters SHOULD pass a test.

Needless to say, these topics are difficult for anyone of any age to ague. After each debate, we were given constructive feedback on the style and format whereby we had succeeded in creating succinct and poignant arguments.

It was a great relief to realise that we had, indeed, been accepted into the final debate! The final debate was (proposition) Ark Helenswood Academy and (opposition) Isaac Newton Academy on the same motion that we “should not report on the private lives of public figures.”

The final debate rested upon the shoulders of Neha as the first speaker, Simran as the second and Halema as our penultimate speaker. They had 3 adjudicators and had to debate in front of an audience of 80 plus people.

The fight was nothing but fierce. Both teams rebutted (argued) their corresponding sides with confidence and valour. The audience cheered and clapped as the speakers passionately and professionally argued their points.

By the end of the debate, the audience, students and staff were apprehensive about the resolve of the debate- the adjudicators made their decision slowly to increase tension and suspense and finally we found out the result. INA has come a very close second!

Our very sincere congratulations to the INA debating team for a job well done!

From left to right: Halema Anjum, Neha Rajput , Simran Bilku, Yusra Kilic and

Ibraheem Bhaijee.

8 INA Newsletter

Y7 ISAC STUDENTS VISIT OXFORD UNIVERSIT Y On Thursday 11th February the ISAC half

of Y7 visited Oxford University. The year half was split and visited Christ Church

College, Wadham College and New College Oxford. At the individual colleges student learnt more about university, courses available and then went on a tour of the college. Students were able to ask the undergraduates questions about what life at university was really like!

The group then had the opportunity to attend a Physics lecture in the afternoon. This was an exciting, heart-racing presentation with explosions, liquid nitrogen and lots of opportunities to see concepts come to life.

A big thank you to the colleges for hosting us and the Physics department for the talk.

We are excited about the NEWT half of Y7 visiting Oxford University in May!

Ms Alibhai-Watson

INA Newsletter 9

A Warm Invite to INA’s Awards Assemblies – Thursday 25th March 2016

On Thursday 25th March we will be holding our end of spring term awards assemblies. This is an important opportunity for the staff, students, governors and parents/carers to formally celebrate our students’ achievements at the end of the autumn term. There will be a separate assembly for each year group. Please note the times as follows:

Year 10 11.05-11.50amYear 9 11.05-11.50amYear 8 12.00-12.45pmYear 7 12.00-12.45pm

At the assemblies we will be presenting awards in recognition of students’ academic progress and attainment, personal progress and the development of their BRIDGES dispositions. Excellent attendance and punctuality will also be celebrated. It is also a great opportunity for you to see some examples of the activities and events your child has been participated in this term.

We believe that it is important that every student is represented by a parent at the Awards assembly for their year group and would like to invite one parent to attend on behalf of the family. If you would like to attend, please ask your son/daughter to collect a ticket for the awards assembly from his/her form tutor. Please request your ticket by Monday 14th March.

Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate very many additional family members. However, if you would like a second place, please notify the school office and we will do our best to allocate an additional ticket.

I look forward to seeing you on the 25th March.

Jo SpencerVice Principal.

Year 10 Geography GCSE visit to WalesThe next instalment is due on the 29th February. Below is a chart with

details of the remaining payments and their due dates.

If there is a problem meeting any of the deadlines above please contact Ms Balsdon.

Ms Balsdon, Head of Humanities

Date Non free school meals Eligible for free school meals

February 29th 2016 £30 £20

March 31st 2016 £30 £20

April 22nd 2016 £26 £16

10 INA Newsletter

Year Workshop at

Bloomberg

A selected group of Year 8 students had the fantastic opportunity to visit the London headquarters of Bloomberg LP, an international financial software, data

and media company on Monday afternoon.

As well as getting to see inside the offices of a prestigious company, complete with tropical fish tanks, artistic and creative breakout spaces and the complimentary Pantry area, students watched a presentation from the company’s founder (and former Mayor of New York), Michael Bloomberg.

This was quickly followed by an interactive and engaging training session from members of the Bloomberg sales team developing our students’ communication and presentation skills. Having seen and dissected good and bad presentations and heard the theory, our students got straight down to putting them into practice.

In small groups, students were given a product and had to prepare to sell it to the rest of us, thinking about all the ideas we’d met during the session. With only a short time, the small groups worked together to identify the features of their product, identify the benefits and rehearse their pitch.

Particular highlights from the pitches include Javin’s closing question, Annan’s holiday line, Umer’s use of the product to support the benefits he was outlining, and the final group with the strongest structure, introduced by Sisay and closed by Hafsa.

After each pitch, the Bloomberg sales team gave the small groups constructive feedback so that students can further refine their skills.

The workshop was interesting and engaging, demonstrated the power of a presentation in sales, and developed our students presentation skills, valuable in lessons and in interviews.

We hope this trip will not only benefit these students as they prepare and deliver presentations in school, but that it has encouraged our students to think about their future career and interviews.

Eva McEvoy

Main entrance to Bloomberg LP’s London office in Finsbury Square

As well as providing financial software tools through it’s core-product, the Bloomberg

terminal, it includes a wire service (Bloomberg News) and a global TV network

(Bloomberg Television).

Our session at Bloomberg

Our session at Bloomberg

INA Newsletter 11

Well done to the following students who are this week’s Mathematicians of the Moment. Please collect a merit from Mr

Dukes

7I 130 7S 40 7A 130 7C 30 7N 330 7E 90 7W 230 7T

8I 8S 90 8A 500 8C 30 8N 100 8E 10 8W 8T

9I 9S 9A 890 9C 9N 1070 9E 320 9W 540 9T 1200

Here are the scores so far

12 INA Newsletter

The Mathematics department would like to encourage all students to enter next week’s Mathematician of the Moment competition. Have a look at the problem below.

Answers to be written on a Maths postcard to be placed in the Maths post box no later than 4.10pm on Wednesday 10th February. Good luck and may the best form win!!!

INA Newsletter 13

I N A B R I D G E S D e t e r m i n a t i o n

14 INA Newsletter

D e t e r m i n a t i o n

INA Newsletter 15

How we build learning power and develop character at Isaac Newton Academy

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton

The secondary BRIDGES programme commences on Monday 14th September. BRIDGES are habits of mind or learning characteristics that develop a student's character and learning power and enable them to grow into well rounded individuals and resilient learners.

On a two weekly cycle throughout the year, Year 7 and 8 students are introduced to one or two new habits of mind or learning characteristics that will permeate throughout the curriculum. This will take place through a range of interactive activities. In addition, the students will experience BRIDGES learning objectives in each and every lesson throughout Isaac Newton Academy. Year 9 BRIDGES lessons will focus on strengthening certain BRIDGES learning characteristics through exploration of PHSE topics and themes.

Each fortnight you will find top tips in the newsletter of ways of supporting your child to develop the BRIDGES habits of mind and learning characteristics within the home.

B R I D G E S

Regular attendance is a crucial factor in students’ educational development and ability to achieve their full potential.

At Isaac Newton Academy every student is set the target of 100% attendance. We know that attendance has a direct link to progress, and would urge you to really consider if a day off school is necessary.

Well done to 8T, 8W, 10N and 10W for achieving the 100% target as a tutor group last week. There are only 4 weeks until the shields are awarded again, every day counts!

Ms. Abbott-JonesLead Pastoral Leader

7A 99 8T 100 9E 98.9 10N 100

7W 98.9 8W 100 9I 98.9 10W 100

7I 98.8 8S 97.3 9A 97.2 10C 97.7

7S 97.8 8C 96.6 9T 96.7 10I 96.4

7C 97.3 8I 96.4 9S 93.5 10A 95.7

7E 96.6 8E 95.5 9C 92 10E 95.5

7T 94.6 8A 94.6 9W 91.3 10S 92.4

7N 86.4 8N 91.7 9N 89.8 10T 92

ATTENDANCE

Year 8 96.4%

Year 7 96.2%Year 10 96.2%

16 INA Newsletter

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10C 294 C 237 T 171 N 137S 215 A 224 N 102 W 112 T 191 N 215 E 97 E 92N 147 S 198 C 90 S 85I 142 T 194 W 89 T 84W 127 E 181 S 86 I 66E 44 I 164 A 55 A 51A 34 W 156 I 29 C 0

Praise &Recognition

Merits - a change has been made!

Jennifer ByrneYear 9 Pastoral Leader, i/c Praise and Recognition

Ahmed was well known for being kind, for helping others and for being extremely polite. He was also someone known for his hard work and absorption; the idea, therefore, is that the winner should be someone that encapsulated one of these qualities in that week.

Year 7: Adam Ali 7EYear 8: Joshua Abraham 8IYear 9: Gurjinder Kalher 9EYear 10: Rio Hoque 10I

Good Deed Feed

Charisma Patel, Raveena Matharu and Simran Larr (all in 10E) have all helped our new student Bianca settle in and find her way around during her first week at INA

Ahmed Al-Khafaji Award (Peer Commendation Award)

INA Newsletter 17

18 INA Newsletter

Key Dates for the Spring Term 2015: Secondary

Spring TermMonday 4th January - Thursday 24th March

Saturday 27th February Modern Languages and Linguistics Saturday Stretch: Cambridge University Monday 29th February Year 10 Jaguar Land Rover tripThursday 3rd March Year 10 Progress Meetings (2.30 -6.30pm). Years 7, 8 & 9 studying at home in the afternoonThursday 3rd March World Book DayFriday 4th March Year 10 Study Skill WorkshopFriday 4th March Year 9 Maths Exam Friday 11th March Guest speaker from Institute of Civil EngineersMonday 14th March Year 7 Progress Meetings (2.30 -6.30pm). Years 8, 9 & 10 studying at home in the afternoonWednesday 16th March UK Team Maths Challenge FinalsWednesday 16th March PE Spring SpectacularWednesday 16th March Natural History Museum Trip (Triple Science students)Thursday 16th March Natural History Museum Trip (Double Science students)Friday 18th March Year 9 Maths ChallengeFriday 18th March Year 9 Battle of the Bands Saturday 19th March Biology Saturday Stretch: Southampton UniversityMonday 21st March Year 8 Big Band CompetitionWednesday 23rd March Spring ConcertThursday 24th March Awards Assemblies. End of Term. Half day.

Summer TermMonday 11th April - Wednesday 20th JulyHalf Term 30th May - 3rd JuneINSET days: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June, Friday 8th July

INA Newsletter 19