Academy News

Match Report – Tuesday 14th January

Clevedon 1, Churchill 5

The Academy Chess Club dominated Clevedon in the Southwest Regional Quarter Final of the National Chess Knockout competition, securing an impressive 5-1 victory. The team— Gigi, Tom, Bryn, Adam, Isaac and Edward —delivered a stellar performance.

Bryn, Adam, Isaac, and Edward all showcased their skill with excellent games, while Gigi and Tom demonstrated their class on the top two boards, outplaying Clevedon’s strongest players. This win propels Academy into the semi-final, scheduled for February, with the draw yet to be announced.

Our next challenge is a four-board tournament at Bristol Grammar on Monday 27th January. With 50 teams entered, the Academy is fielding three teams—stay tuned for a full report on how they perform!

For those inspired by the team’s success, Chess Club runs every Tuesday lunchtime in W6, led by Mr. Skeen. All players are welcome to come along and improve their game.

Our Year 9 students took a significant step toward their futures this week as part of our annual Careers to Curriculum Day. Designed to help Year 9 students prepare for their upcoming GCSE choices, the day offered a hands-on look at various career options and pathways.

With nine career pathways to choose from, students had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of career choices.  Each pathway was packed with engaging activities to give students a taste of the possibilities ahead.

Students who chose creative pathways tried their hand at journalism, fashion design, and media marketing, while others explored trades by plumbing a sink and learning how a bike is constructed and how to maintain it—learning valuable life skills.

The digital technology pathway allowed students to dive into game testing and code-cracking. Those passionate about environmental roles, travel, and tourism tackled conservation challenges and disaster management.

In the healthcare-focused pathway, students explored NHS careers, practised dentistry and midwifery, and debated real-world medical ethics. Meanwhile, the social sciences pathway introduced students to criminology, sociology, and political campaigning, even simulating a courtroom session.

The day also featured a special visit from Matt Lord, Regional Executive Chef for Compass Catering, as well as Chef Ashley from a Michelin Starred restaurant. Students attending Chef Matt Lord’s workshop with Compass, who provided all the ingredients, made a pizzetta and chose their own fillings from pepperoni, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, and basil. The session with Chef Ashley involved an insight into what working in a Michelin-starred restaurant is really like (very different to the TV portrayal!), as well as lots of practical advice about pathways into a huge range of different chefing careers. Students then tried their hand at food marketing, creating social media campaigns to sell pancake stacks (which they all enjoyed feasting on afterwards!). Chef Matt Lord gave great pathway insight into the catering world and all the opportunities the catering profession provides. The workshops were an invaluable opportunity for the students, who left feeling more inspired.

The day allowed musical students to explore music theatre and technology, experimenting with roles as directors, producers, and performers while producing their own music.

We hope our students left the day inspired and informed, better understanding the exciting possibilities ahead. A huge thank you goes to Matt Lord, Compass Catering and everyone who contributed to making the day such a valuable experience.

Cerys has reached an incredible milestone by earning her Gold Award in Guides, the highest honour a Guide can achieve. Through dedication and hard work, she completed all six theme awards, showcasing her commitment and determination.

As she moves forward, Cerys is embarking on new adventures with Rangers while stepping into a leadership role as a young leader with Brownies. Congratulations to Cerys on this outstanding achievement and best wishes for her exciting future in Guiding!

On Tuesday, Year 13 A-Level Law students visited Bristol Crown Court for an inspiring and educational experience, gaining a first-hand understanding of the criminal justice system.

During the trip, students observed live court proceedings, including criminal trials and sentencing hearings, which brought classroom learning to life. The visit offered a unique opportunity to witness the roles of key legal figures, such as judges, barristers, and jurors, in action.

This real-world exposure deepened the students’ understanding of criminal law, courtroom procedures, and judicial decision-making, providing valuable context to their academic studies.

The visit was a fantastic way to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering students a deeper appreciation of how the legal system operates in practice. It proved to be an enriching and memorable opportunity for the students, furthering their knowledge and inspiring potential future careers in the legal field. A great way to start Term 3! 

We would like to invite Year 9 students and families to attend an in-person event at the Academy on Thursday 23rd January, from 4:00pm to 7:30pm, at the Academy.  

The evening will comprise a number of different components designed to give you access to all of the information required to support discussions about options choices:

• There will be an opportunity to hear from school leaders about the options process via talks taking place throughout the evening in the Academy Hall.

• The subject fair will provide an opportunity to talk to individual subject teachers about the course content, assessment and opportunities available within each subject.  This will take place across Stuart and Lancaster buildings as well as in the Pool Hall.

• There will also be subject based parents’ evening appointments where you can discuss your child’s progress with their subject teachers to support the options process.  

To book your subject appointments, please use the SchoolCloud software.  You will be able to book online from 6.00pm on Monday 13th January.

For any queries, please contact Gail Woodley at gwa@churchill-academy.org.

We look forward to welcoming you!

On Wednesday, 34 Year 10 students took part in a dedicated Further Maths GCSE Day at the Academy. The event was supported by visiting Maths students from Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as Year 12 and 13 students who volunteered their time to assist.

The day offered Year 10 participants the opportunity to focus on Further Maths with expert guidance from teachers and older students. Many were inspired by the chance to learn about studying Maths at university, particularly at Oxford and Cambridge, and explored pathways to these prestigious institutions.

A special thanks goes to the visiting university students, our sixth formers, and the hardworking Year 10 mathematicians for making the event a success.