May 2012 Dear Parents/Carers, SUMMER HALF TERM NEWSLETTER 2012

Girls Site: Brookside Road, Moston, M40 9QJ T 0161 681 4678, F 0161 684 8946 Boys Site: Hinchley Road, Blackley, M9 7FS T 0161 681 1592, F 0161 681 8190 www.mcmacademy.co.uk

Principal: Mrs H J Phillips

I am writing to inform you that the Academy will close for one week for the summer half term at the normal time of 2.55 p.m. on Friday, 1st June 2012. From Wednesday, 6th June Friday, 8th June we will be holding Revision Sessions for Year 11 pupils in the Academy. Year 11 parents will receive a separate letter giving details of these sessions. In addition to this our community facilities will be open as usual. As we complete the first half of this Summer term 2012 I wanted to update you on aspects of our work and ask for your support to help us to improve standards further. Ofsted You may be aware that there has been some recent press coverage about MC&MA and OFSTED judgements. I would like to reassure parents that OFSTED expressed confidence that the Academy leaders are already on the right track to make the required improvements. They found a great deal of evidence that we have put into place a number of measures that have already had a positive impact particularly in raising achievement, improvements to teaching and better attendance. Since my appointment as Principal of both boys and girls academies in May 2011 I have accelerated the Academy improvement plan and developed the management of both academies. The improvements seen show our interventions are working but we are not complacent. We are moving in the right direction and will achieve more highly in 2012. I lead a very dedicated team of staff who work tremendously hard to provide the best education for our students. We are all committed to working with everyone involved with the Academy to make the necessary changes changes that can only be good for our students, for their experience in the Academy and for their future when they leave it. This is our Academy and we all want it to thrive. Academy New Build meeting I would like to invite you to a meeting to discuss arrangements for the girls and boys co-location in our new Academy. The meeting for parents of girls will be held on Wednesday, 20th June at the girls site. This meeting will be divided into two sessions one at 6.00pm and one at 7.00pm. You will be informed about which session to attend after the half term holiday. The meeting for parents of boys will be held at the boys academy on Thursday, 21st June 2012 at 6.00pm. You will have an opportunity to see a 3D fly through of the building which brings to life the facilities and learning environment that we will offer. You will also be able to hear our plans for creating Schools within a School and how we intend to organise our students and their classes from September. We will of course answer any questions you may have. This is an important meeting for you to attend and I hope that you will be able to join us.

Science College

Uniform We continue our push to improve uniform standards. As ever the reaction of the vast majority of our students, with the support of their parents, has been really positive and they wear their Academy uniform properly. There are still a few students, however, letting themselves and the Academy down. We have a significant problem with the wearing of incorrect footwear. Clearly the wearing of brightly coloured footwear is not part of Academy uniform and yet were having to challenge this problem everyday. Please support us by ensuring your child leaves the house dressed properly for the Academy. As a reminder footwear worn should be plain black, it is that simple. Behaviour for Learning This term has also seen us working with staff and students to develop our expectations for classroom behaviour. I have inserted below the rules that have been agreed. The leadership team and other colleagues regularly drop into classrooms to ensure that they are being adhered to and challenge those students who are not complying with the rules. It is very much a team approach to ensure that the learning environment is as it should be.

Classroom Behaviour Expectations.

1. Be ready for learning; Be on time, Be properly dressed, full academy uniform, Be properly equipped. Listen carefully and follow the instructions given by any adult in the room. NO mobile phones, MP3s or headphones. Remember; See it, hear it, lose it. No eating in classrooms. Respect the academy environment and resources. Swearing and inappropriate or disrespectful language will not be tolerated at any time. Students should put their hand up when they are asking/ answering questions and respect the contribution of anyone else in the room. Students must remain focussed on their work at all times, participate fully in the lesson, do their best and ask for support when they feel they need it.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

We are in this together so, lets work as a team and respect each other.

Science College

Free School Meals

In Manchester, it is recognised that there is a high percentage of Free School Meal entitlement across the city. Not all children that are entitled to Free School Meals are currently taking up the offer. In order to encourage uptake, The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a Pupil Premium. For every child registered MC&MA gets 600 this year. With this money we could help to raise the academic achievement of your child. Please register as soon as possible to make sure your child and others in their academy dont miss out. How does it work? 1. First, check if you qualify it is not just if you are unemployed, so please look at the list below. 2. Registering is really quick and easy if you think you qualify, contact: Benefits Service: Revenues & Benefits Unit, P.O. Box 3, Manchester M15 5BA benefit.enquiries@manchester.co.uk. Telephone No: 0161 234 5003 3. If you want your child to have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime thats great they will get the free meal (saving you more that 350 a year) extra benefits and the school gets 600 extra. 4. If you dont want your child to have the school meals they can continue as normal as long as you qualify and are registered the academy will still receive the pupil premium. Do you qualify? You can register your child for Free School Meals if you get any of these benefits: Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed 16,190 Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Pupils can also register for Free School Meals if they get any of these benefits themselves.

Science College

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continuing support and to wish both you, and your family, a very enjoyable and safe half term. The Academy will re-open on Monday, 11th June 2012 at the normal time of 8.30am. Yours faithfully,

H. Phillips Principal

Science College