On 7th December we saw the return of the St. Edmund’s Christmas Concert where a host of talented students from different clubs and groups got together to kick off the festive season with a bang! Orchestra set the bar for the evening with their wonderful medley of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the Suite from the Polar Express. The audience then got their first chance to join in by singing along to The First Noel before the Folk Band played a rousing set of Celtic tunes with the audience clapping along. The newly formed Rock Band then took to the stage with two fantastic numbers;7 Years and Mercy.  Y7 pupil Nicole Fajimeye was cool and confident in her role as lead singer and the band was extremely professional. The audience got back in the festive spirit with the Woodwind Ensemble’s rendition of Wonderful Christmas Time before solo performance from Christina Clifton and Sinead Cullen-Barratt -one of our ‘Killer Queens’ from our upcoming production of We Will Rock You with S. Peter’s. Finally the St. Edmund’s Choir took to the stage with a range of festive pieces; John Rutter’s Angel’s Carol, an alternative arrangement of Away in a Manger and the groovy Calypso Carol. The evening ended with all the performers joining in with the audience for We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The evening was wonderfully festive and a fantastic opportunity for our musical talent to showcase what they’ve been working on this term. Miss Baskeyfield and Mrs Roberts want to say a huge thank you to all the staff, parents and students for making the Christmas Concert possible. St Edmund’s will soon be starting preparations for their summer tour to Belgium!

Tom Springthorpe, former Deputy Head Boy in 2014/15 and currently studying for a degree in medicine at Manchester University,  joined our year 12 medics group on Thursday 1st December to share his experience and insight into university life.  There was an opportunity for a question and answer session and Tom advised the students how to make their UCAS applications stand out from the rest.

We wish Tom every success in his future career.

Congratulations to Sam Munger and Isobel Rafferty who came 5th and 6th place in the Bake Off Final at Highfields School this year.

Judging was based not just on overall appearance but on the quality of the actual Victoria Sandwich cake produced. You can see images of our star bakers engrossed in creating their designs and taking part in a cupcake decorating workshop, which was organised whilst cakes were cooling prior to decoration.

Mrs Bates, Food Technology Teacher, said “It was a very enjoyable event and I look forward to entering our students again next year”.

Armistice Day is on 11 November.  It is also known as Remembrance Day.  It marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, back in 1918.

The Academy will be holding a Remembrance Day Assembly to remember all the people who have died in wars, not just World War One.

More information about Armistice Day can be found at the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15492752

Please visit our library to find more literature about the wars.

Rowan Ridley,  a pupil from Uplands Junior School, came along to our recent Open Evening and, to her delight, found herself winning the Treasure Hunt and a copy of the Guinness World Records 2016.

Mrs Hughes, Principal, presented Rowan with her winning prize.  Rowan said, “I didn’t realise this school was so amazing.  I can’t wait to come, I want to come now”.

Mrs Hughes (left), Rowan Ridley (centre) and Mrs Ferris – Lay Chaplain (right)