Dear Families

We’ve reached the end of another busy term. As always, it’s a wonderful opportunity to look back on the experiences and achievements that have taken place across our academy. I continue to feel so proud of our students and the amazing things that occur at our academy every single day.

Cultural experiences
This term lots of students have enjoyed a range of cultural trips. Right at the start of the half term, our GCSE Drama students visited Nottingham Theatre Royal to watch The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As a drama teacher, I was delighted to join this trip alongside the Performing Arts team. More recently, we took all of Year 7 and Year 8 to the Nottingham Playhouse to watch the pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. The performance was fantastic and we all had lots of fun! I was proud of the feedback we received from members of the public about our students’ politeness, courtesy and exemplary behaviour! It’s always lovely to see our students representing the academy so positively.

Student leadership
This term we’ve been expanding the different ways students can develop their leadership skills outside the classroom. We already have a range of ambassador programmes, including Science Ambassadors, Reading Ambassadors and Art Ambassadors. We were delighted to appoint new Year 8 Reading Ambassadors as well as some enthusiastic Year 7 students who are already promoting reading across the academy.



This term, we also proudly launched our Language Ambassadors, who are supporting students who are new to English to help them become fully included in academy life. In 2026, we are looking forward to launching our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and extending our ambassador programme further, as we know student leadership plays such a vital role in our academy community.


Wider opportunities
In terms of wider opportunities, one of the highlights this term was seeing our Year 7 Book Club take their love of reading beyond the classroom. Students attended a talk with the author of ‘The Zombie Project’, a book they had been reading together. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and hear about their thoughtful questions.

As always, I have loved being involved in rehearsals for our upcoming school musical ‘Shrek’, which opens next term! Students have been fantastic, rehearsing after school, showing commitment and teamwork and supporting backstage by making props. Tickets will be on sale in January!


It has been wonderful to see participation in both our Halloween Art Competition and our Christmas Art Competition.


Many students took part in an Anti-Bullying Competition, responding to the theme of standing up to bullying through poetry, paintings and drawings. Our students’ creativity and effort have been a joy to see!


Ambition in learning
This term, we have placed a strong focus on how we can demonstrate our core value of ambition through the presentation and pride in students’ work. A wonderful example of this was the outstanding quality of science homework produced by Year 7 students during their learning about organisms. The care, effort and presentation demonstrated was superb and reflected our very high expectations.


Work experience
We continue to strengthen our careers programme and this term our Year 10 students worked with the British Army during careers insight sessions. These sessions focused on key employability skills, developing physical fitness and learning about life in the army. Our students were absolutely fantastic and clearly demonstrated our values of resilience and integrity.



Recognition
Recognising students for their hard work and positive attitudes is always a pleasure. 50 students were selected to enjoy an ice skating trip to Nottingham Winter Wonderland in Market Square, which was a fantastic experience. I think the teachers enjoyed it as much as the students!


We were also delighted to send a group of students to a Christmas basketball camp as part of our ongoing partnership with the Nottingham Hoods.


Celebration Day
We finished the term with our Celebration Day, marking the end of a great term and celebrating the incredible diversity of our whole academy community. It was a fabulous day and students were brilliant, as always.


Academy Parent Ambassadors
As you are aware, The Wells Academy is part of a group of schools called Greenwood Academies Trust (GAT). GAT is the organisation that is legally responsible for everything that happens within our academy. As part of our governance arrangements, each academy appoints two Academy Parent Ambassadors. We are looking to appoint new ambassadors. If you are interested in this opportunity, please read more information in this letter.

Looking forwards
As you know, next term is very important for our Year 11 students as they prepare for their next set of mock examinations. Teachers have prepared a wide range of revision resources, including Micro Mastery materials and additional revision resources available on the academy website. Students have been told what they should be focusing on in terms of revision, but we’d be really grateful for families checking in with Year 11s to ensure they are forming positive revision habits.

Return arrangements
Please remember, the academy remains closed until Tuesday 6th January 2026 when we reopen. As always, students are welcome to attend our Breakfast Club from 8am. Alternatively, students should arrive at 8.20am to ensure they are ‘In School, On Time’, before the gates close at 8.30am.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I would like to wish all our students, families and staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 6th January 2026 for another exciting term.

Best wishes

Mr G Coles
Principal