Witham: Academy building for a better future (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Witham: Academy building for a better future

4:50pm Friday 26th June 2009

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A secondary school has a lot to shout about.

Both of Witham's secondary schools have been on the up since they became academies last year and Maltings Academy, in Spinks Lane, has a number things to boast about.

Mike Barnett, publicity consultant for both Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy, said a public consultation about two proposed new school buildings was well received in the town.

"We were delighted with the keen interest shown by the local community in our proposals for two new schools," he said.

"We think around 200 people viewed the exhibition at Witham Library. As a result we are fine tuning the proposals before submitting them to Braintree District Council later next month.

"We are particularly pleased by the keen involvement of members of both Braintree Council and Rivenhall Parish Council when we were able to show the designs to them."

A photography student takes the best pictures in the region.

Year 10 pupil Ross Playle is the southern region winner of the Ward-Hendry Photography Competition 2009.

Freda Jackson, of the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust - which runs the competition, said: "There were a lot of entries for this region, and the competition was very high."

Ross's photographs will be featured in an exhibition at the Annual Academies Conference held on July 8 and 9 at Chelsea Football Club in London.

There will be about 350 people at the conference from academies across the country and Ross and Hayley Mead, Head of Art at Maltings Academy, will be among the guests.

Miss Mead said: "We got a leaflet through about entering so we spent a few lessons going round taking photos.

"We are really proud of Ross, it is the first year we have run the photography GSCE as a course and it's a great way to start."

The four winning pictures are automatically entered into the second part of the competition, to find a national winner.

Ross won an Oylmpus digital camera with accessories and, for the academy, a Ward-Hendry Photography story board project including a range of visual display boards.

If he wins the national competition he will win a Nikon D300 digital SLR camera with a host of accessories and prizes for his school.

A host of top artists were given awards for a selection of impressive coursework.

Youngsters studying GCSE and A-level art and design showcased their work at an art exhibition held at the Maltings Academy art department on June 16.

Year 12 student Jennifer Haines was among the talented teens who showed off her work to proud parents.

Pupils had to choose a theme for their coursework from sanctuary, discord, people, places, figures, faces and culture.

Jennifer picked 'people' as her theme and some of her work included a canvas painting of Audrey Hepburn and a biro drawing of Heath Ledger's the Joker from the recent Batman film The Dark Knight.

Hayley Mead, Head of Art, said: "We have some really hard working students and it's been a really successful year."

"We are looking forward to some very positive results in the summer.

"The art exhibition takes a lot of time to prepare but it is good to get two year groups together and give everyone a chance to see what they have achieved."

Youngsters will scrum down and shoot for goal as they take on sporty South Africans.

Rugby and netball players from Maltings Academy will be jetting off from Heathrow Airport on July 18 for a tour of South Africa which will take in cultural visits as well as sports fixtures.

Last week the two teams tried on brand new kits which will be worn on the tour.

The impressive attire was provided by the academy and with a bit of help from two parents who chipped in with almost £1,000 sponsorship.

Matt McGee, Sales Manager John Pease Peugeot, Braintree, said he was glad he could arrange £500 sponsorship through his company.

His daughter Jasmine plays in the netball team.

Darren Smith, Managing Director of Edge Construction, supported the tour, which his son Jack will be on, with a £400 donation.

He said: "I'm delighted to sponsor the kit and hope the kids benefit not just from the excitement of the trip and the sport fixtures but also the cultural experience."

The 26 pupils will visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and the Newlands Stadium, where the British and Irish Lions played rugby last night.

They will experience a game drive in Johannesburg, a trip to a museum and Zulu dancing.

Tom Garrard, Assistant Principal in charge of the academy's sport specialism, said the trip has a "packed itinerary" and it is a "once in a life-time opportunity".

He said: "The sport specialism of the academy has helped sponsor the tour and make it more affordable for the students.

"The new kit is amazing and the kids love it.

"The hope is either every year or every other year to run a tour like this, a major tour of maybe New Zealand or the USA."

Mr Garrard will be joined by three staff on the trip, Dominic Fenton, Leanne Dey and Anna Bennett, who all have excellent sporting pedigree.

The aim is to come home on August 1 having learnt about a different country and hopefully notched a win, or two, against the Springboks.

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