Month: September 2023
Year 9 Tutor Reviews – Tuesday 3rd October 2023. School closes 2.05 pm on this day.
18 Sep 2023
Good morning,
A reminder that PVA has year 9 Tutor Reviews Tuesday 3rd October 2023. There will be an early finish for all students at 2.05 pm on this day.
These meetings add to our partnership work with parents in helping to secure outstanding results for students. During the review week all parents and students should attend a 20 minute face to face meeting.
Review meetings are an opportunity for parents to come into the academy to meet with their child’s tutor to discuss their pastoral development and set agreed targets for the year ahead. Later in the year there will also be a subject based parents’ evening where parents will have the opportunity to speak to their child’s subject teachers about their progress in their subjects,
Y9 Think CAREers Performance at PVA 29th Sept 2023
17 Sep 2023
Choose to care: an engaging, drama-based presentation to inspire young people to consider a career in health and social care [NHS]. The Labour market information shows that this is a growing area for jobs. For example, the nursing workforce is projected to grow by 7.5% over the period to 2027, creating in excess of 73,200 jobs. In the same period, 54.9% of the workforce is projected to retire, creating 536,200 job openings. Labour Market Information.
THIS DRAMA PERFORMANCE HELPS STUDENTS SEE BEYOND THEIR CURRENT VIEWS AND INSPIRES THEM TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN HEALTH [NHS] AND SOCIAL CARE.
The aim is to challenge stereotypes and give students a much more rounded view of the variety of jobs available so they can decide for themselves whether there’s a career in healthcare that’s right for them. Students will learn about the diversity of opportunities available to them in the NHS and explore the fascinating world of healthcare.
PVA Curriculum Plus- Co-Curricular Offer from November 2023
15 Sep 2023
Co-curriculum refers to the activities and learning experiences that take place in school alongside the academic curriculum. Academic attainment is a key element of school life and it is complemented by a broad and enriching co-curriculum to provide a rounded education. Park Vale students should aim to participate in at least two clubs a week.
See our timetable for clubs and activities on offer in our Curriculum Plus booklet
The Complete Destinations Platform- Helping students find their future
15 Sep 2023
Parent Launch Presentation [PDF] Parent login code: VAAZparents
In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next step after school, and after much research regarding the best online careers platform, the academy made the decision to use a system called Unifrog. Unifrog is the complete destinations platform – a one-stop-shop for students across KS3, KS4 and KS5 regardless of their interests or academic ability. It is the only place where students can compare every university course, apprenticeship and FE course in the UK as well as university in 30 other countries across the world. This is alongside getting access to labour market information and advice on careers and subjects for all routes.
The platform can be accessed at the following link: www.unifrog.org.
Key features of the platform include:
| Section of the platform | Examples of what students can do | Suitable age range |
| Quizzes | Finding their interests, personality type, preferred work environment, and skillset. | Years 7-13 |
| Exploring pathways | Explore careers, career sectors, subjects, sign up to free webinars, explore MOOCs and courses, and find wider reading materials. | Years 7-13 |
| Recording what you’ve done | Record their in-class and extracurricular activities, record examples of their skills, and see the record of CEIAG events the school has added to their accounts. | Years 7-13 |
| Searching for opportunities | Find scholarships, activities, and bursaries to support their HE journey. Find and compare degrees in the UK and overseas, live apprenticeships, and FE courses. | Years 10-13 |
| Application materials / Making applications | Write their CV, cover letter, Personal Statement, and more. Track their applications and record their Post 16 / 18 intentions. Students in year 12 – 13 can access support with University & Apprenticeship applications, as well as many useful guides to support them with higher education. |
Unifrog brings all the available information about careers, universities, apprenticeships and all other post 16 and 18 pathways into one, user-friendly, platform. All students in Years 7 – 11, now have access to this excellent website. Students can log in using their school email address and password and they can do so from any computer, tablet or smartphone.
Students are able to make the best, informed choices about their future by navigating through the many features that Unifrog has to offer. They simply log in, complete a number of activities, such as their interests and personality profiles and their current thoughts about which pathway they may choose – which can be updated regularly depending on the students’ choices at any one time.
Additionally, the platform helps students successfully apply for these opportunities by writing their personal statement, applications and CVs and guiding them through the process, allowing teachers to give live feedback.
The platform has now grown to encompass apprenticeships and Further Education colleges in the UK, as well as US and Canadian universities, and degrees taught in English in Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
We encourage Parents/Carers to use the platform with their son/daughter to support them through the process of deciding next steps. The login for Parents/Carers is VAAZparents and this will allow access to www.unifrog.org/code It’s as simple as completing the required fields and clicking ‘Sign up’.
Students should access Unifrog via RM Unify
Park Vale Dance Academy Free Taster Sessions – Be part of something!
10 Sep 2023
Elevate Education – Parent Webinars
9 Sep 2023
We recognise that your children enter a particularly demanding time in year 11 as they prepare for their GCSEs and it can be difficult as a parent to know how to support them.
Park Vale Academy has partnered with Elevate Education to provide you with regular guidance and advice about how you can support your child to revise and prepare effectively for their exams.
Use the link below to register for their free monthly webinars and support your child.
https://get.elevatecoaching.info/uk/schoolwebinar
19th September 2023
3rd & 17th October 2023
14th & 28th November 2023
12th December 2023
CURRICULUM PLUS – PE CO-CURRICULAR
8 Sep 2023
All students should aim to participate in co-curricular activities.
Student Leadership Conference 7th September 2023
7 Sep 2023
Tomorrows leaders inspired by today’s
A group of Park Vale Academy students joined the Student Leadership Conference at Nottingham Trent University. The aim of the conference was to raise aspirations and develop leadership skills of young people in our community, empowering them to design and deliver a project in school.
This year’s conference theme, chosen by our young people is ‘Sustainability into action to transform our world’ with the seminars linked to the United Nations’ 17 sustainable goals.
Y7 Welcome Evening 6pm Wednesday 13th September 2023
6 Sep 2023
Parents and our new Year 7 students are warmly invited to our Year 7 Welcome Evening on Wednesday 13th September 2023. Doors will open at 5.45pm and the evening will officially start at 6pm lasting for approximately 45-60 minutes.
We look forward to seeing you again at this event.
Fantastic Exam Results
4 Sep 2023
Congratulations to all of our Year 11 students for an amazing set of exam results this year. They are easily the best in the academy’s history and bear testament to how hard the students worked – not just last year – but during their whole time at Park Vale.
In particular, there were a couple of “stand-out” individual performances: Chloe Widelska who achieved nine grade 9’s and Ashdon Bernard who achieved four grade 9’s, four grade 8’s and a Level 2 Distinction. Between them, they have set a powerful example of what it is possible to achieve at this school and clearly have bright futures ahead of them.
So, well done to the entire Class of 2023: we wish you all the best for the exciting opportunities that now await you.
