LATEST NEWS

The Tragic News of Khalid Mohammed's Passing

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Khalid Mohammed, one of our much-loved pupils. Khalid, aged 17, who was a valued member of our school community, and his loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.

Khalid will be remembered for fondly. His presence enriched the lives of those around him, and we are grateful for the time we shared together.

At this difficult time, our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Khalid’s family and friend.

We will remain in close contact with them, and we will respect their wishes about how we honour his memory.

We understand that this news may affect many of you. Support will be available for pupils and staff who would like someone to talk to. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to: Hamesh Rattu (Post 16), Lena Kapoor (Post 16), or Tammy Jenkins (Pre-16).

Together, we will remember Khalid with respect, gratitude, and love.

TERM DATES 2025-2026 (AGREED)

The consultation ended on 1 October 2023

AUTUMN TERM 2025

Thursday, 11 September 2025	Academy closes early at 1:50 p.m. for Open Evening
Friday, 12 September 2025	Teacher Development Day 3
Monday, 20 October 2025 – Friday 24 October 2025	Teacher Development Days 4 - 8

Half term: Saturday, 25 October 2025 – Sunday, 2 November 2025 (9 days)

Monday, 3 November 2025	Academy re-opens after half-term for all pupils
Friday, 19 December 2025	Academy closes at staggered times for Christmas break

Christmas+ Holidays: Saturday, 20 December 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026 (16 days)

THE ACADEMY PREMISES & SITE WILL BE FULLY CLOSED TO THE COMMUNITY (CONTRACTOR ACCESS ONLY) FROM 'WEDNESDAY 24 DEC 2025 TO DAY SUNDAY 4 JAN 2026' INCLUSIVE.

THERE ARE NO WEEKEND SHIFTS AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 2025-26.

AYR STAFF (WEEKDAYS) WHO NORMALLY WORK MUST TAKE (5 DAYS) ANNUAL LEAVE on 24, 29, 30, 31 DECEMBER 2025 and 2 JANUARY 2026.

THE ACADEMY WILL RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAY 5 JAN 2026. STUDENTS RETURN ON MONDAY 5 JAN 2026.

SPRING TERM 2026

Monday, 5 January 2026	ACADEMY OPEN FOR ALL YEARS
Friday, 13 February 2026	Academy closes at normal times for half term

Half term: Saturday, 14 February 2026 – Sunday, 22 February 2026 (9 days)

Monday, 23 February 2026	Academy re-opens after half-term for all pupils
Thursday, 19 March 2026	Teacher Development Day 9
Friday, 20 March 2026	Teacher Development Day 10
Friday, 27 March 2026	Academy closes at normal times for Spring break

Spring break: Saturday, 28 March 2026 – Sunday, 12 April 2026 (16 days)

SUMMER TERM 2026

Monday, 13 April 2026	ACADEMY OPEN FOR ALL YEARS
Monday, 4 May 2026	May Day 2026 (Bank Holiday)
Friday, 22 May 2026	Academy closes at normal times for half term

Half term: Saturday 23 May 2026 – Sunday, 31 May 2026 (9 days)

Monday, 1 June 2026	Academy re-opens after half-term for all pupils
Friday, 17 July 2026	Academy closes early for pupils

D. DRAFT TERM DATES 2026-2027

AUTUMN TERM 2026

Wednesday, 2 September 2026	Teacher Development Day 1
Thursday, 3 September 2026	Teacher Development Day 2
Friday, 4 September 2026	YEAR 7 & SIXTH FORM only (Induction & enrolment)
Monday, 7 September 2026	ACADEMY OPEN FOR ALL YEARS (& enrolment)
Thursday, 10 September 2026	Academy closes early at 1:50 p.m. for Open Evening
Friday, 11 September 2026	Teacher Development Day 3

Half term: Saturday, 24 October 2026 – Sunday, 1 November 2026 (9 days)

followed by 5 Teacher Development Days (No students in school)

Monday, 2 November 2026 – Friday 6 November 2026	Teacher Development Days 4 - 8
Monday, 9 November 2026	Academy re-opens after half-term for all pupils
Friday, 18 December 2026	Academy closes at staggered times for Christmas break

Christmas+ Holidays: Saturday, 19 December 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027 (16 days)

Subject Evening Review, Outcomes and Next Steps.

In June and July 2024 we consulted on how we conduct our subject evenings. Thank you to all of the staff and parents and students that took part in the review. In total we had 151 responses.

Here are the outcomes of the review and the next steps which will start from September 2024.

Subject Evening and School Cloud Consultation Outcomes

74% of staff, 53% of parents and 50% of students said they prefer online school cloud subject evenings and gave many good reasons for this. Therefore, each year group will have one school cloud subject evening each year.

26% of staff, 46% of parents and 50% of students prefer in person face to face and gave many good reasons for this. Therefore, there will be face to face subject evenings for parents and staff to meet to discuss their child’s progress. Year 11 and 13 raising achievement evening will now be in person, face to face. In addition, on that day, other year groups will be able to make in person, face to face appointments to see their class teachers.

Other in person face to face events will remain such as the year 7 and 12 Transition Evening, Year 9 Curriculum Evening, Year 11 Future Focus Open Evening, Year 11 Future Focus 1-1 meetings

87% of parents would like more appointments and to meet more teachers. Therefore, we will change the appointments to 8 minutes which will give 22 appointments.

63% of staff and 89% of parents say that parents should be able to make appointments. Therefore, 12 of the appointments will be allocated to parents to make. There will be a window of one week where parents will be able to make appointments with class teacher s first. The following week teachers will make their appointments.

Ideally staff and parents would have preferred to keep 10 minute appointments but they also wanted more appointments and so appointments will be 8 minutes.

Prior to the next subject evening further guidance will be issued for the smooth running of these subject evening with parents and students for example; Parents commented on the use of technology and welcomed a phone call if at the time the technology did not work for one reason or another. Therefore all teachers will be ask to ensure they have the contact details of their class prior to subject evening and the means to make a call if the parents is not able to connect on school cloud and has technical difficulties.

It is important that a range of parents have the opportunity to meet with the class teacher and therefore there will be a requirement for staff to meet a variety of students. Teachers must make appointments with students to praise, students that are neither excelling or struggling and all students with an EHCP as well as those that are not making expected progress.

Here is a schedule of contact opportunities over the course of an academic year. Those in white are on school cloud and are virtual opportunities. Those in blue are face to face, in school opportunities.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and carers that these evenings are meetings between parents or carers, the teachers and the student and not older brothers and sisters.

Year group	Subject Evening	Other evening	Other evening	Other evening
Year 7	Subject Evening. May, School Cloud	Year 7 Transition evening (tutors). October, in person	Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person Parental request
Year 8	Subject Evening. March, School Cloud		Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person Parental request
Year 9	Subject Evening. December, School Cloud	Year 9 Curriculum Evening. February, in person	Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person Parental request
Year 10	Subject Evening. January, School Cloud		Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person Parental request
Year 11	Subject Evening. November, School Cloud	Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person	Year 11 Future Focus Open Evening. October, in person	Future Focus individual meetings. March, in person.
Year 12	Subject Evening. May, School Cloud	Year 12 Transition evening. October, in person	Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person Parental request
Year 13	Subject Evening. October, School Cloud	Raising Achievement Evening, February, in person

CLICK HERE FOR HELP WITH THE COST OF LIVING (PDF)

OTHER LINKS

FORM TUTORS LIST (SEPT 2025)	TERM DATES 2025 - 2027
PUNCTUALITY EXPECTATIONS	UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS
SCHOOL & EVENTS CALENDAR	MOBILE PHONE EXPECTATIONS / CONFISCATION