Month: February 2025
Y9 Options Evening- 19th March 2025
26 Feb 2025
Options Evening – 19th March 2025 6.00 -7.30 pm
Parents and Y9 students should attend the Options Evening to find out more about the wide range of subjects offered and the process itself. The evening will start with a short presentation about the guided pathway process and some top tips about option choices.
Option Booklets
Options booklets with the choices available to your child and key subject information will be given to all Y9 students in their Option Assembly. It can also be found at https://parkvaleacademy.org.uk/students/guided-option-pathways/
or https://parkvaleacademy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/new-Options-booklet-2025.pdf
Subject Information
During February & March, subject areas will provide students with subject-specific information about the courses they offer. Informative subject videos can also be found on the website. A range of taster sessions will be offered to students to allow them to experience a subject and find out more about what some subjects have to offer.
Option Forms
The actual forms outlining your child’s option choices will be distributed with the option booklets to each student in advance of the Options Evening. The final date for the submission of options forms will be Monday 24th April and final options will be confirmed in June/July 2025.
Unifrog – Careers Advice
All students should have received an email from Unifrog. This platform provides information to help students make their option choices. It has a range of information about career pathways and qualifications required. It also provides access to MOOCS, described as free, easily accessible, completely online courses that students may wish to take in their own time.
A drop-in session is also available in S1 after school on Wednesday with the academy’s experienced career advisor. Mrs Koppoe will also be present at the Options Evening on 18th March 2025 to offer career advice and any support you may require.
I hope you find this information useful. May I also take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your much-valued support and engagement with this important stage in your child’s education. Should you have any further questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate the academy.
Y9 PARENTS EVENING BOOKING SYSTEM: Parents Evening Wednesday 12th March 2025 4pm – 7pm
26 Feb 2025
Use the link to access the online parent evening booking system.
Please use the link below to book your appointments
https://parkvaleacademy.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/
Click here for a parents evening guide to using the system
Questions you may wish to ask at parents’ evenings
Jot down a list of questions and/or observations (not too many, though) on each subject in advance so you’re your appointments are focused and make the most of the limited time.
Some useful questions might be:
- Is my child’s progress in line with the teacher’s expectations?
- Has he or she done anything particularly well, or badly?
- What can he or she do to improve?
- Are they attending the extra revision sessions after school?
- How can I help as a parent?
- How can you help as his or her teacher?
- How much time should my child’s homework for this subject take?
- How much time should my child be reading for?
- What do his or her grades tell us about possible performance in important future exams?
- Does he or she contribute in lessons?
- How does my child get along with the other pupils in the class and the teachers?
Make a note on the night of the teachers’ answers – after a couple of hours whisking from one subject to another, it can be easy to forget or muddle the comments.
…And more questions
Most teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience, so ask for their guidance and suggestions on how you can help your child to do their best in the subject. If a teacher says something you don’t understand, ask for clarification. Parents are not expected to know all about a subject or a method of teaching.
Constructive criticism
Good teaching means identifying areas for improvement, so don’t be offended if you hear criticism of your child. This should always be constructive and designed to help them to achieve their potential in the subject. If your child is with you, try not to sound disappointed or negative – or tell your child off! Take the advice of the teacher as a positive step towards better marks in the future. Remember that it’s rarely helpful to compare your child’s performance to other members of the class, set or year group – what’s important is that they are achieving in line with their own capabilities, not those of others.
House Points [Sept – Feb 25]
25 Feb 2025
PVA Curriculum Plus- Co-Curricular February – April 2025
25 Feb 2025
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
English – Feeling Unwell
24 Feb 2025
Motivational Speaker 25th February 2025
23 Feb 2025
David Hyner
David will be at Park Vale Academy on Tuesday 25th February to present to all Year 10 and Year 11 students to empower them with resilience and inspiration. David is a unique motivational speaker and facilitator on goal-setting and purpose. He brings a sense of humour and authenticity to a subject he has been researching over the last 25 years.
He’s carried out 250+ interviews with top achievers and takes inspiration from this research to see how this learning, behaviour and wisdom can be applied to get better results for people and for businesses.
First and foremost though David is a Brummie. There is an ‘ordinaryness’ and a down-to-earthness that is a core part of who he is and what he offers the world. When David is in the room, you instantly understand who he is and what he stands for.
FUN, challenging and interactive delivery with a bullish nature that engages, educates and entertains his audiences the world over. David has presented to over 1.2 MILLION + people in the last 23 years. All delivered, of course, with a huge sprinkling of his infectious humour.
Over years of research, adventures and success, David Hyner has helped thousands of people to tap into the mindset of the worlds highest achievers and most effective performers, and use these principles to improve their own performance. He gives your delegates the inspiration to take MASSIVE action!
BAE Systems STEM Roadshow, in Partnership with RAF & the Royal Navy – 14th February 25
18 Feb 2025
The Roadshow visited Park Vale Academy to give Year 7 and Year 8 students an insight into the world of science, technology, engineering, and maths [STEM], exploring the science behind AI. The students were in awe of the robotic dog!
The content covered AI (all with a focus on the need for human skills):
- Utilising AI to generate song lyrics, music and an accompanying video
- Robotic dog demonstrations include voice control, completing a maze using LIDAR and sensors and speaking about what it can see,
- Using an avatar of a team member and ‘putting words in their mouth’ to demonstrate deep fakes and how to spot them
- Video demonstration of the current uses of AI
KS3 Poetry by Heart – Trust Competition
18 Feb 2025
Individual Academy Competition
- Half term 2 – November to December
- Set poems at KS2 and KS3
- Each academy must register via the website for the National Competition and for the free resources.
- Each Academy will run their own academy competition. This will formulate stage 1 of the competition.
- Coaching and practice for the winner to take place in January – February before the Trust final.
- TRUST FINAL – 10th March @ The Bolsover School
PE Uniform Change 1st June 2025
18 Feb 2025
Following a review of our PE uniform, we have decided to change the style of our PE t-shirt and long sleeved top with effect from 1st June 2025.
The new items will be available from both of our suppliers, Just Schoolwear and Schoolwear Solutions and will be slightly cheaper than the existing PE tops.
The old style PE tops will no longer be available from 1st June but students can continue to wear them until they need to be replaced; there is no need to purchase new items until such time, unless you would like to.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school.
PVA in Paris February 2025
7 Feb 2025
In the early hours of Wednesday 5th February 2025 , a large group of PVA students departed for Paris. The trip is part of the academy’s ambition to offer all learners a wide range of opportunities whilst at the Academy.
On the morning of the first full day in Paris students went on a boat tour along the Seine River. After lunch students visited the Eiffel Tower to enjoy the views of Paris. In the evening our students explored the Tour Maine-Montparnasse, also commonly named Tour Montparnasse, a 210-metre office skyscraper located in the Montparnasse area of Paris, France. Constructed from 1969 to 1973, it was the tallest skyscraper in France until 2011, when it was surpassed by the 231-metre Tour First. And the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
On their second day in the French capital, a tour of the Catacombs in Paris. An underground tunnel network stretching over 400 miles.
