Senior Prefects Are Wonderful Ambassadors

17th November 2017Mrs D Curtis

We are very proud of our Senior Prefects here at St Edmund’s who hold roles of prominent responsibility.  A ballot is held each June when all students and staff in the academy vote,  thereby appointing a Head Boy/Head Girl/Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl to serve for the following academic year.

We would like students in the lower year groups to be setting their sights on appointment to these roles in years to come – thus holding a position in high regard and a valuable addition to one’s CV.

Some of the duties of our Senior Prefects include:-

  • Being Ambassadors for the Academy – they represent St Edmund’s and the student body at a variety of public functions during the academic year, including Open Evening for Year 7 and Year 12 and Presentation Evening
  • Greeting important visitors to the academy
  • Sitting on the Academy Council
  • Representing and speak for all students in the academy and support and prepare activities that encourage and support the learning of others
  • Raising money for Charity via many events throughout the year and regularly report to our Academy Committee on their progress to date
  • Organising and completely funding a Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party each year which is always a huge success
  • Acting as outstanding role models for all students at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy
  • Escorting students in the lower year groups around the Sixth Form Area and answer any questions they may have about progressing to the Sixth Form

They lunch with our Principal, Maggie Hughes and Academy Representatives (pictured here), fortnightly to discuss their progress and ways to move the academy forward and certainly make a very valuable contribution.

 

 

Pictured left to right:- Alisha Swali (Deputy Head Girl), Mrs Hughes (Principal), Will Tudor (Head Boy), Georgia Everiss (Head Girl), Tom Boyce (Deputy Head Boy)

 

Modelling Jobs Advanced Fee Fraud Alert

30th October 2017Mr M Jones
Message sent by
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)


The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have recently noticed that Fraudsters have been setting up fake adverts on social media (including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and job browsing websites to dupe people into believing they are recruiting for prospective models.

Once victims show interest in the job, the fraudsters contact potential victims on the false promise of a modelling career and subsequently advise the victims to come in for a test shoot.

The fraud can then potentially be carried out in two ways;

Firstly, the fraudsters can pressurise the victims in sending an upfront fee to book a slot for the test shoot. Once they have received the upfront fee, the victim will never hear from the fraudsters again.

The second possible method is that the fraudsters will take the advance fee that the victim sends for a photo shoot and arrange a photo shoot with the victim. After the photo shoot, the fraudsters will contact the victim after a few days and convince them that their shoot was successful and offer them a job as a model. The victim will then be asked to sign a contract and pay another upfront fee, usually to secure the modelling contract.

Fraudsters are also creating fake adverts for supposed modelling opportunities for children which do not exist. Fraudsters will inform parents or guardians that a potential career in modelling awaits their child. This tactic convinces the parent or guardian to sign up their child and send an advance fee.

The suspects will also convince the victim that in order to become a model, they will need to have a portfolio. The fraudsters will recommend a number of packages and stress that if a package is not paid for in advance, the process of becoming a model cannot continue.

Over a two year period (September 2015 – August 2017), an average of 28 reports of advance fee modelling frauds have been received per month by the NFIB. In August 2017, 49 Action Fraud reports of this fraud type were received and may continue to rise. The total loss in August 2017 alone was over £71,000.
Tips for staying safe:

  • Carry out your own research prior to paying any type of advance or upfront fee.
  • Be wary if you are asked to pay for a portfolio, as many legitimate agencies will cover that cost.
  • Don’t give your bank account details or sensitive information to anyone without carrying out your own research on the relevant agency.
  • If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Chaplaincy Commissioning Mass

27th September 2017Mrs D Ferris

Today 15 St Edmund’s students from St Edmund’s Chaplaincy team travelled to St Chad’s Cathedral, in Birmingham, along with other schools in the Diocese to attend the annual Chaplaincy Commissioning Mass.
Archbishop Bernard Longley being the main celebrant along with other priests from the Archdiocese. BCYS and Kenelm Trust led the music. Sinead Cullen Barrett of our Sixth-form Chaplaincy team gave a reading and two of our altar servers, Abigail Caron and Jessica Roberts, assisted the Archbishop and priests throughout the Mass.
Archbishop Bernard opened his homily by saying ‘Do not be afraid’ taken from the Gospel reading today. He explained to the students and congregation that he and the Lord understands that sometimes it can be hard to be different, to say you believe in God and thanked everyone for their commitment in making our schools a faithful caring example to others.
The Archbishop also spoke of the Bishops’ Synod in 2018 on ‘Youth, Faith and Discernment’ and asked us to listen to the words of Pope Francis , “So today, my friends, Jesus is inviting you, calling you, to leave your mark on life, to leave a mark on history, your own and that of many others as well.”
“So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven” taken from the Gospel of Luke.
During the Mass, Lay Chaplains of the Archdiocese were presented with the ‘Archdiocese of Birmingham Certificate of Lay Chaplaincy’ after 18 months of dedicated study. Mrs Ferris, our Lay Chaplain, received her certificate from the Archbishop. Mrs Ferris’s ministry to the community of St Edmund’s grows stronger and deeper. We are very proud of her richly deserved success.
All the students loved being part of the celebrations today. Mrs Hughes and Mrs Ferris are proud of our students for their commitment to Chaplaincy, the school and their faith.

 

GCSE Success

24th August 2017Mr M Jones

St Edmund’s students are celebrating fantastic GCSE, BTEC and VCert results this year.

78% of our 2017 Y11 examination candidates achieved the new GCSE grades 9 to 4 in Mathematics and 74% in English.  Grade 4 is equivalent to grade C and grade 8 equates to A*. Grade 9 is the highest grade and St Edmund’s students are among the very best of the small percentage of those awarded grade 9 nationally.

54% of students today receive news that they hold A*, A, or the highest new grade 9 when they open their results.

Our highest achieving students are Summa Bains; 9,8,7, 5A*, 2A. Akash Paul; 9,8,7, 2A*, 5A. Sabrina Agbonmare; 8,8,8,7A. Amir Muhammed 8,6,6, 2A*, 5A.

Students have done particularly well in GCSEs Art, Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Italian, Mathematics, Music, Polish, Product Design, RE and Russian.

Principal Maggie Hughes said:

Our students fully deserve their success, given the effort they have invested in their learning and progress. Once again, I commend the students and staff for working in close partnership to secure these outstanding outcomes. Five years of commitment and dedication have been worthwhile

This is the first year that students are awarded number grades in GCSEs Mathematics and English. I am particularly delighted that our students have achieved grade 9s in both these subjects.

Our students, their families and St Edmund’s can be justly proud of Y11 2017. With so many of our students attaining such high standards I look forward to welcoming them to continue their education at St Edmund’s when they join our successful Sixth Form next month.

Maggie Hughes
Principal

Aspiring Medic Sixth Form Visit

20th March 2017Mrs D Curtis

On Monday 20th March Zoe Johnson, who is currently in her third year at Cardiff University studying Medicine, came to talk to our students on the Excellence Programme in Year 11 and 12.

Zoe gave students an insight into what life is like as a medical student, as well as advice on applying to university, personal statement writing and gaining work experience. Students left with a better understanding of what was required of them to study Medicine and other pathways they could take in this career field.

Students enjoyed the presentation and individuals were able to speak to Zoe afterwards about their career pathways and were given advice. Year 12 student Magdalena Kot said, “It was very eye opening to what medicine requires from you and it is very useful for anyone who wants to go down that route”.

We would like to wish Zoe good luck with her studies and thank her for taking time to share her career with us, it was a great experience and has inspired many students!

Vacancy for Clerk to the Board of Directors

16th March 2017Mrs D Curtis

An exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a Clerk to the Board of Directors working across our five academies within the Bishop Cleary Catholic Multi Academy Company.  We require a highly organised and hardworking clerk to provide quality support service to the Board of Directors, associated committees and PA Support to our Business Director.

Scale Point 31-34 (£27,394-29,854) pro rata to term time working

37 hours a week – Permanent

 Closing Date:  Friday 31st March 2017  

For more information please do visit our Vacancies section or click on the link below.

http://www.stedmundscloud.co.uk/jobs/clerk-to-the-board-of-directors-2/

Sixth Form Valentine Sweet Success

16th February 2017Mrs D Curtis
This valentine’s day marked our first official “Sixth Form Valentine Sweet Sale” which was a complete success – selling out of our super sweet stock in minutes!
 
Students were able to buy chocolate hearts, lucky bags of sweets and boxes of valentine chocolates for their loved ones. Memorable photos were taken of pupils and students, holding our giant valentine heart created by Megan Chell. 
 
Thanks to all the hard work of the sixth form students we managed to raise £104.20 for the British Heart Foundation! 
Article by Holly Harvey (Year 13).
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Students in the photograph:
Year 12
Sahibpreet Singh
Gabriela Zelawska
Year 13
Holly Harvey
Megan Chell
Isobel Casey
Deanna Cresswell
Niamh Young

Express & Star Editorial Rings St Edmund’s Success

10th February 2017Mrs D Curtis

Editorial from Express & Star Thursday 2 February 2017:-

CONTINUING UPWARD TREND OF SUCCESS FOR ST EDMUND’S

Following publication of the school league tables on 19 January, St Edmund’s Catholic Academy were very pleased to see that they are continuing their upward trend of success in Wolverhampton.

As an oversubscribed secondary academy, with a steadily growing Sixth Form, they feel they are on the threshold of outstanding.

Their vibrant Sixth Form, where 100 per cent of students last year were successful and 18 per cent of grades achieved were at A* / A, currently has 110 potential students signed up for admission in September 2017 and the number is still growing.

Acting Head of Sixth, Miss Roach commented ‘Our light and airy Sixth Form area, combined with choice of courses on offer, make St Edmund’s hard to resist.  We look forward to welcoming our new students later in the year’.

In years 7-11 the Academy is oversubscribed year on year with steadily improving results following the good Ofsted inspection in March 2016.

Mrs Hughes, Principal, added ‘Our continued upward trend is due to the sheer hard work of our students, staff and stakeholders.  Since we moved to our new location on Compton Park nearly four years ago, we continue to grow as a close community based on our strong Catholic ethos.  All our students are valued and nurtured to achieve their utmost potential’.

Please pay them a visit – they are sure you’ll like what you see!

Y9 Careers Event

30th January 2017Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s, with the support of Carol Codner, Education Business Advisor, held a Careers Fair earlier this week following a school review of careers, enterprise and employability activity.

There were 24 exhibitors from both industry and education who came together to showcase the opportunities available to students after completing their studies at St Edmund’s.  Members of our Sixth Form also joined the exhibition and shared valuable information, guidance and the benefits of completing A Level’s at St Edmund’s.

All exhibitors gave practical advice, careers guidance and information to students in Years 9,10 and 12. Feedback from students and staff, following the event, was very positive. Exhibitors thoroughly enjoyed the event.  They were so impressed with our students. The commitment to the task, the quality of the questions asked and how polite and well-mannered they were.  

Nigel Moorhouse, Enterprise Adviser, commented, “I think it’s wonderful to see that St Edmund’s has embraced the Careers and Enterprise Company initiative, through working with Wolverhampton City Council and UTC to feature careers guidance within the school and preparing young people for the world of work.  In today’s event 350 students have been exposed to 24 different organisations, including local employers, colleges, universities and training providers.  The response and enthusiasm of the students has been overwhelming in their thirst to find information about careers.  This is the third event that I have been involved with and it is a big well done to Mr Katumba and his team for their efforts and organising this important event.”

Rebecca Ward from Walsall College said, ” The key thing to remember is whatever route is chosen after GCSEs, whether it’s A Levels, BTECs or an Apprenticeship, students need to work hard to achieve good pass marks in their GCSEs to unlock the doors to their future”.

Many thanks to all exhibitors for contributed to this highly successful event.

St Edmund’s Sixth Form, Army, Royal Navy, Halesowen College, City of Wolverhampton College, Dudley College, Walsall College, University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University, Edge Hill University, Cardiff University, Staffordshire University, NHS, GTG, Performance Through People, Access to Music, Juniper, Sixteen25,  Carillion, Babcock, Wolverhampton Homes, The Way, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Mint and  Games Design Digital Media.

 

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Spiritual Sanctity: St Edmund’s Day Mass

15th December 2016Mr N Sohker

20161130-IMG_9206

By Leah James

On the 30 November St Edmunds had their St Edmund’s Day Mass. This was to mark the School’s patron saint and the end of the Year of Mercy.

Blessed Edmund Campion was an English Roman Catholic  Priest and martyr, canonised in 1980 by Pope Paul VI.

Monsignor Mark was delighted to be supported by Fr Paul Whieldon, Fr Pawel Bielak and Fr Simon Baker who was visiting from Birmingham, also concelebrated. The mass took place in the Kristian Thomas Sports Hall. The St Edmund’s Choir, who had been practising for weeks, sang the psalm and other songs which was very angelic. In his homily, Father Mark talked about reaching the end of the Year of Mercy. The Altar Servers were very pleased to welcome seven new altar servers from Year 7.

At the end of the mass head teacher Mrs Hughes presented, Monsignor Mark with an Italian hamper and a bouquet of flowers from the school. This was to mark his 25th year since his ordination into priesthood and to say thank you for his chaplaincy work with the school.

To celebrate the end of the Year of Mercy, Miss Mifflin and some Year 10’s, put together a mosaic picture of Jesus, which is now hanging in the Peace Garden. Monsignor Mark blessed and unveiled the picture in the Peace Garden.

St Edmunds Catholic Academy would like to thank all the guests who came to the mass and to those who took part. Especially, to those who read the readings and bidding prayers: Saffron Sadiq, James Johnson, Niamh Young and George Bryant.