Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy145 Bexley Road, Eltham SE9 2PTwww.scwa.org.uk

• Respect • Inclusion • Family • Collaboration • Perseverance

Crown Life May 2020

Brightening Up St Thomas’s Hospital “Dear SCWA,

All the amazing pictures are up in the staff room on the ward. The staff are overwhelmed by the talent and messages of support. It has really brightened up the room and made lots of people smile. Please say a big thank you to all who contributed and to you for arranging this.” Deborah Harker

National Skills Week - 20-24 May 2020Career Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) at Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy forms an essential aspect of every student’s personal education and future well-being. From as early as Year 7 students begin to consider life skills and potential employability.

It is our aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to make the right personal decision regarding their career progression.

To help them do this we were excited to invite your child to take part in the launch of National Skills Week, which started on 20 May 2020. Sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland - it was a fun way to build confidence and an important connection for everyone at this time. It was a great opportunity for everyone to showcase their skills - wherever they are.

Academy News Keep on Reading!SCWA’s PPE Contribution

Our Design & Technology team Ms Tolhurst and Ms Stewart, led by Head of Department, Ms McCogg have been in school producing face shields for the NHS. The shields have helped Health Care workers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital maternity ward, Eleanor Nursing & Social Care, Puddingstone Grange Care Home and Ashgreen House Residential and Nursing Home.

After a few issues, all manufacturing problems were quickly ironed out and a ‘Covid19-friendly’ production line with the required 2 metre distance was established. The Shields are made from polypropylene (a material that our students use for modelling) and clear PVC. So far 200 have been produced.

Plumstead Manor School in Greenwich and Eltham College have both been in touch to donate materials - a true reflection of community collaboration in such difficult times.

In such unprecedented times we are very thankful that our small act could help so many people on the frontline!

Thank a Teacher Day ‘Thank a Teacher Day’! took place on 20 May, thank you to Ms Gullan for all her hard work behind the scenes and to everyone that contributed to this amazing expression of thanks. Below is a random sample of the messages left. To view the full page please follow the link: Click here

Creativity Throughout these unprecedented times students have continued to share their astonishing artwork here is a random sample.

Artwork by Elwood Year 7

Artwork by Shayli Year 10

Artwork by Lauren C Year 10

Artwork by Ria Year 8 Artwork by Leo Year 7

Top Ten Tips for Students

Top Ten Tips for Parent/Carers

Arden Sixth Form NewsReflections On Home Learning During Lockdown:We are living in unprecedented times and I am certain that all of us at some point during the lockdown period have experienced challenges and feelings which, are difficult to describe using casual words. We are in uncharted territory and there is no question that it has been tough and yet it is also true that there are positives that we can take from this period. Most inspiring for me has been the increased sense of community, fortitude and resilience which I have observed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we have had to adjust quickly and within the school community both teachers and students been learning to work from home. It has been a difficult time and there may be further challenges to come, however, the students in Arden have demonstrated incredible resilience, perseverance and commitment to continue to learn as best as possible. Independent learning is the key to success in further education. Our students have been thrown in at the deep end however, by utilising the skills that their teachers have helped to nurture and develop we are proud to say that this is a challenge that the vast majority of our students are rising to. We continue to be available via online platforms to support our students.

We asked our students how they feel about their home learning experience:

“My general experience has been good. I have enjoyed the schedule of when our lessons will be uploaded, as it’s easy to keep up with. During this time, I have overcome the lack of motivation to actively revise while doing online lessons. I will be more motivated to make revision material as quickly as possible so that it’s easier to revise in the future. During my downtime, I have been making TikToks to show my friends, as I can’t see them. I have also been reading books in my spare time.”

“The general home learning experience has been very good. There is no panic for getting tasks done and I can take my time to understand something. I struggle being without teachers and asking for advice or clarification. In year 13, I will make sure I go the extra mile with completing all tasks and using my time wisely and being productive, by evening out my time properly with work and social time. I have been obsessed with running and cycling long distances to improve fitness. I am also improving my baking skills.”

“It has been ok, it has been quite overwhelming to do it at home as there are more distractions. Overall, I haven’t minded working independently but it is hard when it comes to time management and trying to separate school and home life so I would say I am probably more stressed. I’ve enjoyed a somewhat freedom to learn what I want, I don’t have to worry about certain health conditions etc. Being in the comfort of my own home.”

Wellbeing SupportAs part of the home learning provision, wellbeing sessions are being conducted via google classroom. We post every Monday with general important information, a challenge of the week (for students and teachers) and either a study method, a small activity or food for thought. To complete the week, every Friday, we post a general knowledge quiz, just for a bit of fun!

Support for young people: https://www.childline.org.uk/Free telephone number 0800 1111https://www.nspcc.org.uk/https://www.kooth.com/

Mental health support including managing anxiety caused by Coronavirus:https://youngminds.org.uk/

Mental health support for teenagers including information on free apps to help with managing self-harm and anxiety:https://stem4.org.uk/

Year 11 to 12 TransitionStudents in Year 11 should now be thinking about the next stage in their educational journey. The transition from year 11 to 12 can be a challenging one, consequently it is highly recommended that students spend time preparing for sixth form study.

We strongly encourage all students who have applied to study at Arden to make full use of the website. Whether students wish to explore new subjects that they hadn’t considered previously or begin studying the subject that they have always wanted to pursue in the sixth form, the website is invaluable. You will find a selection of engaging tasks for each subject that aim to introduce students to the course. We have asked that students send any tasks they complete to transitionwork@scwa.org.uk as we would really love to see all the fantastic work that is produced. We would like to thank those students who have already started to submit work, the quality of the work submitted to date is highly impressive.

In addition to transition work, you will also find information regarding entry requirements and guidance on choosing the right choice to support students further. We are continually updating the website, adding lots more information including an overview of our co-curricular offer, careers support programme, student destinations and student testimonies, so that prospective students can get a real feel for what life as an Arden student is like.

An early reminder that Arden enrolment day takes place on Thursday 20th August. Members of the sixth form team look forward to welcoming our new year 12 students on the day. We will also have staff available to offer advice and guidance and support.

Year 12 - Thinking About The FutureYear 12 students were all encouraged to sign up to Pathways CTM - a platform that offers bespoke mentoring, opportunities and advice for future education and careers. If students have not signed up, they can via this link: https://pathwayctm.com/ - code: path19

A student review:“I took part in a webinar recently regarding NHS careers which was put on after the physical event was cancelled. This was very useful with lots of information and a couple of my questions I asked were answered. Since then I have attended numerous other webinars as well as a personal phone call from a member at Pathways regarding my future career choices and the questions I have. The woman who called me has been emailing me all sorts of useful information and other webinars which may be helpful for me to look at. They have also put me forward for future events and have provided their services to help with things such as university or apprenticeship interviews and UCAS statement help.”

UCAS applications have now opened for 2021 entries. We will be publishing the registration details on our google classroom for students to access with a view to getting the application process started. To date, students have been researching the courses they would like to study and have been asked to draft a personal statement. Support and advice is being given through google sclassroom and email. Students who are looking at apprenticeships, have also started their research. The personal statement supporting material, on google classroom, will be useful for apprenticeship applications too.

Key UCAS deadlines:19 May 2020 UCAS Undergraduate Apply opens for 2021 entry (buzzword: dreambig)8 September 2020 First day for receipt of completed applications.15 October 2020* Application deadline for courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, dentistry, and courses at the University of Oxford or Cambridge.15 January* Equal consideration application deadline.

London & The S.E. National Apprenticeship ShowOn 4th March Ms Green and Ms Francis took 30 Year 13 students, who wished to take the apprenticeship route, to the London and South East National Apprenticeship Show at Sandown Race Course. Although it was an epic journey to get to the venue, it was well worth it. Over 100 businesses had set up stalls providing information for apprenticeship courses including Virgin Holidays, IBM and Unilever.

The show was a great opportunity for students to talk to apprenticeship providers, find out about the opportunities on offer and when the application process goes live. In addition students were able to discuss the interview pro-cess and seek more general advice and guidance with regards to the training programmes from a number of professional sectors including IT, Legal, Finance and Business Administration.

Arden Sixth Form News

Lessons from Auschwitz ProjectIn the weeks before lockdown was announced, 2 of our Y12 History students - Josh and

Alice - completed the Lessons From Auschwitz Project. This is a government-funded project for students from across the country to give them in-sight into the realties of the Holocaust by using a ‘hearing is not like seeing’ approach. Here Josh and Alice share their experiences:

“Last term we were lucky to have the opportunity to be able to go to Auschwitz in Poland with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Before our day trip to the concentration camps, we attended a seminar about pre war Jewish life and was lucky enough to hear Manfred Goldberg (a Holocaust survivor) speak about his experience at a concentration camp.”

“On the 25th of February we went on the day trip to Poland and after landing in Krakow we set off to Oświęcim (the Nazi German town previously known as “Auschwitz”), we explored the Market Square and discussed more about pre war Jewish life. We then made our way to have a tour of Auschwitz I, where we gained a deeper understanding of life inside the camps as well as seeing the mass belongings of the victims. We also were able to walk through a reconstructed gas chamber - this enabled us to see the horrific conditions that the innocent people had to experience. This was a very emotional and eye opening part of the trip. Later in the day, we arrived at Auschwitz Birkenau, and here got to see the disgusting conditions of how, particularly the Jews, were treated. We saw the cramped living space; for example, in one small space would be rows of toilets where there would be no privacy, completely dehumanising the victims. We also got a deeper understanding of the mass of people that were deported to the camp on trucks from all over Europe. To end what was an emotional day, a Rabbi led a moving ceremony to mark the end of our trip, and pray for all the lives that were lost during the Holocaust.”

“After the trip, we had a follow up seminar where we planned our next steps project. We reflected on our experience and together have created a display based on the middle floor of Arden, and reflected on what we learnt on our trip. Our aim from our display and experience is to teach others about the loss of lives and mistreatment of innocent people and that these people aren’t just statistics but are humans like us. It was a lesson that will remain with the both of us for life, and we hope that others also get the opportunity we were lucky enough to have.”

Year 13 - Thinking about the FutureWhilst we acknowledge that these are very strange times and society is not functioning as it normally does, we are still encouraging Year 13 students to be planning for the future as best they can. Many of our year 13 students have applied to university and the vast majority have had all their offers and made their firm/insurance choices, which is really positive news. A couple of students are still waiting for offers due to interviews being cancelled in response to Covid-19. If you are concerned about this, please contact UCAS on 03714680468 or the University directly - they will be happy to help you.

Students who have applied to university should be completing student finance applications online click here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance. I understand that there have been some technical difficulties with the site. I would urge you to continue to persevere, as it is a lengthy process and the deadline for ensuring that funds are available when you start your course is Monday 25th May.

Stationers’ Mentoring SchemeSCWA is in a unique position to benefit from a huge range of opportunities offered by our Trustees, The Worshipful Company of Stationers’ and Newspaper

makers. Over the course of this academic year, twenty Year 12 students have taken part in the Stationers’ Mentoring Programme. The scheme involved business leaders who volunteered their time to offer support and guidance on a wide range of education and career focused areas. Following a speed networking meeting, students were matched with the mentors that they felt would be most beneficial to them. Students have

been in regular contact with the mentors over the course of the academic year, and the intention is for these links to continue when schools return to normality. Below you will find some student reflections on the programme to date:

“The Stationers' mentoring program has been really helpful for me in my journey progressing through year 12 and planning my future. After choosing the mentor that I felt fit me and my goals most, we began meeting on a regular basis to discuss school, university and career choices. This support was great as I felt I was given a better insight on the world of universities and a better understanding of how to effectively search for them. My experience was especially great as my mentor helped me consider new careers and even gave me an insight to his own. Overall, I feel the mentoring program is a great way to support students and would love to continue” Kiera - Year 12

“The Stationers’ Mentoring Programme has helped me massively with narrowing down career choices, CV writing, interview techniques and many more assets which paints the picture of my future ahead of me. Each Stationer specialises in a wide range of careers, which allows you to match the mentor you bond with the most during the quick interview process. The interview has a ‘speed dating’ type style and allows you to highlight the mentor that you have an immediate connection with. Having that strong bond with your mentor, will allow you to progress to your maximum ability. There is a lot of discussion of what YOU as a student would like to do for a career, and there should be no pressure in making decisions, the stationers are all warming people to talk to, and have amazing experiences which could make you stand out from the rest. My mentor and I have a great bond talking about current affairs, both of our interests and things we like to do for fun which makes the overall experience extremely worthwhile. It’s an outstanding opportunity and could possibly make a huge impact on your future, and you will certainly learn something new” Alfie S - Year 12

Year 12 Young EnterpriseBusiness students in year 12 have the opportunity in year 12 to form a team and take part

in the Young Enterprise run by Mr Sandhu. This year our year 12 team created and sold their own soaps. They created the business from scratch, developed their product and took it to market - literally! At an event in Spitalfields market they sold their product, making good sales. They were commended for their efforts and were even asked for an order from a local retailer. They worked really well within a team and the judges were very impressed with their efforts.

For those students who are looking for apprenticeships, over the next few weeks our independent careers advisor, Jas Mato, is aiming to contact all Year 13 students who are still looking for Post 18 opportunities to offer one-to-one advice and guidance. In the meantime, we encourage you to spend some time updating your CV, learning how to write a covering letter and working on your interview technique so you are fully prepared. There is lots of guidance online to help, for example: Reed employment: How to write a CV, Barclayslifeskills offers a range of support and guidance once you register, Top 5 questions used in apprenticeship interviews click here: https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-write-a-cv/

and Top 7 interview questions click here: https://classroom.google.com/u/0/w/MTU0Nzk3MTI4NDVa/tc/NTU0ODM4MzMzOTla.

Additionally, all Year 13 students should also have signed up to Pathway CTM whilst at school (Pathway CTM registration click here: https://pathwayctm.com/register/ password: path19). Pathway CTM are continuing to provide support for students who are seeking apprenticeship opportunities and are also hosting a range of webinars for a wealth of different industries. Please access your account or contact PATHWAY CTM using the following link Contact PATHWAY CTM click here: https://pathwayctm.com/contact/. or contact them on 02080590710. The National Careers Service are also available for support and guidance. Please contact them using the following link National Careers Service click here: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ or contact them on 0800 100 900.

Arden Life before Lockdown

Future!

UK University & Apprenticeship Search FairOn 28th February 130 Year 12 students and staff attended the UK University and Apprenticeship event held at the Emirates Stadium. As well as browsing the numerous university and apprenticeship provider stalls our students had conversations with ambassadors who advised on courses, university life and the steps to take if they wished to take the Apprenticeship route. Students also had the opportunity to attend the organised seminar on Student Finance. Students were able to take away prospectuses as well as the odd freebie of course and spoke highly of the information they received, stating that they felt more informed on choices to make next academic year.

Academy Notices

To view recent letters below please click the link:

https://scwa.org.uk/academy-life/letters/

National Skills Week Letter

Election of Parent Governor(s) Nomination

Covid e-voucher Letter

Examination Grading - Summer 2020 Letter

Ofqual Summer 2020 Grading Letter

Change of School Day 2020-21 Parent/Carer Consultation

Letter from Sue Pandit, Chair of Governors

Hub Model Letter

Coronavirus Letter

To view recent information from Leigh Academies Trust please click the link:

https://scwa.org.uk/tag/covid-19/

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For Academy news,celebrations and events

Useful Website links

Parents’ Evenings As you know, due to current circumstances parents’ evenings for Year 7 and 10 have been cancelled. We understand that, now more than ever you will be keen to speak to your child’s teacher about their progress and would like to assure you that as soon as we are able to, these will be prioritised when we return in the new academic year.

A Message from all the Staff at SCWAWe miss you all and are looking forward to the day we are all together again. Until then keep focused

on your studies and above all keep smiling!

Stationers’ Crown Woods AcademyAspire, Strive, Thrive,

Relentlessly pursuing excellence...

We strive for excellence, driven by a fundamental and unshakeable belief in human potential.

We have the highest expectations and aspirations, inspiring innovation, creativity, and a lasting love of learning.

We are an inclusive and caring family, with a culture of respect, dignity and celebration, where everyone feels safe and valued.

We nurture, enrich and empower all members of our community, challenging them to be the very best they can be.

We work together, with confidence, perseverance and resilience, to transform lives and enable all to thrive in an ever-changing world.

We are proud to serve. We are Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy.

Values Respect Inclusion Family Collaboration Perseverance