Y11 Walking Talking Mocks- w/c 9th November 2026

18 Oct 2026

English/Maths/Science

What is a Walking Talking Mock?

A Walking Talking Mock is a  fully guided, interactive exam experience to take the guesswork out of exam papers. It is a teacher led exam session where students are guided through every question, step by step.

For many students, their worries stem from having to sit silently in a large hall. By practising in this environment in a supported way, a student’s confidence can often increase as their fears are replaced with familiarity.

Furthermore, these mocks are the epitome of modelling. 

Rather than seeing students slump their heads on exam desks after five minutes, there is a sense that passing is possible when they have a clear example of what to do.

Teachers can cover all manner of things during a walk, talk mock session to help guide students to success, such as:

• Finding the focus of the question by highlighting the keywords
• Considering the percentage of marks per question.
•  Working on careful time management.
• Understanding the skills and methods required for each question and how to construct a successful answer.

Year 8 Tutor Review Week – w/c 23rd November 2026 – School closes 2.10 pm.

18 Oct 2026

A reminder that PVA has Year 8 Tutor Reviews will take place week commencing Monday 23rd November 2026. There will be an early finish for all students at 2.10 pm on that day to accommodate these review meetings.

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,

Year 8 Review Meetings – Week commencing: Monday 23rd November 2026

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, this is happening on 7th July 2027 from 4.00 – 7.00pm.

How to book a review meeting with your child’s tutor

Your child will be responsible for making the appointment with their tutor for you. We are aware that not everyone can attend at this time of the day or on that day, please indicate the time that you wish to attend and ask your child to tell their form tutor who will confirm. A message confirming the date and time will be sent to you via Class Charts.

Where will the meeting take place?

Meetings usually take place in the Main Hall if they are taking place on the day that we close early. Please arrange to meet your child at school and they can bring you to the dining room via main reception. If the meeting is taking place at another time, please come to reception and your child’s tutor will meet you there.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s form tutor.

Year 11 Mock Exams Commence 16th November 2026

18 Oct 2026

Y8 Capital One Visit – 4th November 2026 – Supporting Communities to Prosper and Succeed

18 Oct 2026

A group of Year 8 students will visit Capital One in Nottingham on 4th November 2026. Capital One Pathways Programme. This FREE program provides students with valuable, hands-on experience in a professional workplace, including interactive career workshops, employability skills sessions, and insight into careers in technology and finance.

Employability

Investing in the development of young people to be the best they can be is an important focus for Capital One They work alongside primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities, to help their future workforce understand what it takes to succeed in business. Through office visits Capital One aim to increase aspirations and confidence for successful working lives.

Y11 University Workshop with Cambridge University – Peterhouse 12th November 2026

18 Oct 2026

https://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/access-and-outreach-programmes

Peterhouse Outreach is committed to providing young people with the information and support necessary to make competitive applications to university. In particular, they seek to encourage and enable students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds to access the University of Cambridge and higher education more widely.

The Peterhouse Outreach Team aims to develop relationships with schools and individuals, helping teachers to encourage and aid young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply to higher education and the University of Cambridge.

Our Year 11 students will learn about what studying at the University of Cambridge is like and how this opportunity is available to everyone.

Our Alumni https://parkvaleacademy.org.uk/about-us/our-alumni-network/

Life at Peterhouse

Peterhouse is a small and vibrant College with about 75 students in each undergraduate year and about 475 students in total. Peterhouse has a uniquely friendly and welcoming environment and is close to the main Arts, Engineering, and Science faculties and five minute’s walk from the city centre. Peterhouse has a diverse student body, and the only thing all our students have in common is their commitment and ability for their subject and the drive to work hard. 

There is a wealth of information about Peterhouse on this website, including the current Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student Handbooks, or you can download a PDF of the Peterhouse college prospectus which has similar information. 

Curriculum Plus – Get Involved with New Exciting Activities

17 Oct 2026

Panto Trip – 3rd December 2026

12 Oct 2026

Alumni Inspire Year 11 Students at Park Vale Academy

4 Oct 2026

Inspiring Current Students

Our alumni are a powerful example of what can be achieved through determination, hard work, and ambition. By sharing their personal journeys, successes, and challenges, they provide inspiring role models for our current students and demonstrate that great aspirations can become reality.

On 29th September, a group of former Park Vale Academy students returned to speak at our Year 11 Assembly, sharing their experiences since leaving school. Their stories highlighted the importance of resilience, perseverance, and seizing opportunities, while encouraging students to believe in their own potential and future success.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our visiting alumni Kai, George, Nuha, Lola, and Dameanna for taking the time to inspire the next generation of Park Vale Academy learners. Their insights and encouragement were greatly appreciated, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.

Y7 Gothic Writing Trip at Newstead Abbey – Friday 9th October 2026

3 Oct 2026

This will introduce students to key aspects of Gothic writing through discussion, short Gothic texts, writing prompts and creative activities.

The session weaves literary texts together with stories from Newstead Abbey’s history and its residents, brought to life through a tour of selected spaces and rooms within the house. An excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture and design, Newstead Abbey is filled with atmospheric spaces, intriguing histories and ghost stories. The session also explores Lord Byron’s connections to the Gothic, including his association with vampire literature.

The session explores:

• The Fantastic
• Terror vs. Horror
• Classic Gothic tropes and conventions
• Examples from Gothic literature

Students then have the opportunity to develop their own piece of Gothic writing, before sharing their work in the atmospheric cloisters — the oldest part of the house.

Geography Fieldwork – Rivers Trip w.c 5th October 2026

3 Oct 2026

Groups of our Geography students will visit Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre at Newark as part of their GCSE studies week commencing 5th October 2026.