Through this first summer term, the English department have placed a strong emphasis on fostering inclusive thinking and respectful dialogue. Our Year 9 students have recently embarked on a powerful journey exploring the concept of freedom through the lens ofempowering speeches. The English department is proud to see how thoughtfully and passionately students are engaging with these complex and meaningful ideas.

We are currently guiding students to express their thoughts and perspectives on freedom—what it means to different people and how it can be experienced or restricted in various contexts. Ny understanding how to create a logical argument and structure their writing , they are learning to present their ideas clearly and with empathy, promoting a respectful and inclusive environment for discussion.

As part of their learning, students have been working together to create their own speeches that promote inclusive values. These agreements help shape conversations where every voice is heard and respected, ensuring that all students feel safe to share their views. By discussing real-world scenarios and historical examples, they are developing a deeper understanding of freedom in relation to equality, identity, and human rights. Students are also practising how to present their ideas in a professional and thoughtful manner. By using polite and inclusive language, and by working collaboratively, they are ensuring their arguments are well-reasoned, respectful, and considerate of diverse perspectives.

The Year 9s have embraced this important challenge with maturity and insight. We’re excited to see how they continue to grow as inclusive thinkers and empathetic communicators in the weeks ahead.

Year 7 and year 8 are celebrating an amazing success in the UK Maths Trusts’ Junior Maths Challenge. Two weeks ago, students completed an hour long set of maths challenges in exam conditions and have now received the awards. Our students did fantastically, achieving 9 silver certificates and 17 Bronze certificates! Congratulations to everyone who took part who all walked away with a certificate of participation. And especially to those who earnt one of the three awards.

Bronze awards were achieved by:

O. Davis 7B1

C. Farrell 7A1

K. Gabbidon-Frazer 7A1

A. Hall 7B1

M. Jaep 7A1

K. Lewis 7A1

R. Cartwright 8A1

D. Cartwright-George 8A1

V. French 8B1

L. Glasford 8B1

C. Hamshaw 8B1

S. Ismael 8B1

M. Jinks 8A1

C. Jones 8B1

T. Lancaster 8B1

H. McGann 8A1

C. Moulton 8B1

Silver awards were achieved by:

N. Buckler 7B1

C. Flint 7A1

A. Moore 7B1

A. Abaker 8B1

L. Connolly 8B1

A. Dale 8B1

L. Field 8B1

E. Griffiths 8B1

And K. Saho Saho 7A1 (who also achieved the highest score in the school)

The auditorium at Millennium Point was once again filled with excitement and pride as the third annual Matrix Pupil Awards Ceremony took place. Now a firmly established tradition, the event recognised outstanding academic achievements across all our schools while celebrating the unique talents and character of each of our pupils.

The evening was opened by CEO Lynsey Draycott, with Headteachers from across the trust taking to the stage to present awards to their proud pupils. Among the honours were five standout titles: Most Creative, Most Resilient, Most Selfless, Continuous Improver, and Most Enthusiastic — each highlighting the remarkable qualities shown by pupils throughout the year.

The ceremony also featured captivating performances from pupils who triumphed in our trust-wide talent competition. Their musical skills added an unforgettable touch to the evening and demonstrated the breadth of talent within our schools.

Special recognition was also given to pupils involved in our Combined Cadet Force and those who successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, celebrating their commitment, resilience, and leadership beyond the classroom.

The awards were presented by our Chair of Trustees, Sir Mark Aspinall. A big thank you to our special guest Beth who gave some very inspiring words.

A heartfelt thank you and congratulations to all of our award winners, performers, dedicated staff, trustees, parents and carers who made the evening such a success. A highlight video will be posted shortly.

Our Year 11 pupils have made an incredible start to their final GCSEs with our daily breakfast revision sessions. The boys have been taking advantage of our breakfast club that is also attended by their teachers to offer some last-minute tips and reassurance. The boys are well fed and watered before they go into their exams. We have been very proud of the mature and prepared manner our Year 11s have embraced their examinations and wish them well. 

Our reading rewards vending machine continues to be a focal point of our weekly celebrations on a Friday lunchtime in the new year. Pupils from all year groups are considered and selected for a range of approaches to demonstrating our TURVES Values, representing the school and attendance at extra-curricular clubs.

Winners this week include:

Y7 A Corberley – responsible in the community - helping a younger pupil in need.

Y8 L Bashford - responsible in the community – helping a younger pupil in need.

Y9 D Hayden - Consistently upholding the TURVES Values

Y10 S Fazlishbluiski - for representing our school in the Speaker’s Trust Speak Out Challenge

Y11 B Abaker - outstanding and consistent approach to GCSEs

Our commitment to improving literacy continues with a focus on developing creative writing this year. ‘Young Writers’ is a national competition that offer multiple opportunities for pupils to submit a range of creative writing from poems to mini sagas. We encourage all pupils to enter but target specific year groups to mirror some of the content in their curricula. The most recent competition ‘Grim Tales’ invited pupils to write their own take on fairy tales using their creative imaginations. We’re seeing more and more entries each time and we have had 28 pupils published from across all year groups. Well done to everyone who entered!

Our reading rewards vending machine continues to be a focal point of our weekly celebrations on a Friday lunchtime in the new year. Pupils from all year groups are considered and selected for a range of approaches to demonstrating our TURVES Values, representing the school and attendance at extra-curricular clubs.

Winners this week include:

Year 7: K Brown: A polite and respectful pupil who puts in outstanding effort day in, day out. A real pleasure to have part of Boulton house.  

Year 9: O Davis-White – Reliable, mature and efficient a great re addition to the house. Thank you for coming back Oscar.  

Year 10: J Jackson is a CDM in the Austin team – keeps the team organised and settled –consistently performs with merit.  

Year 8- R edge, for his excellent behaviour record and effort so far this year in English and science.

This week, our students demonstrated exceptional maturity, respect, and community spirit during the VE Day assemblies, reflecting the very best of the Turves Values. Their thoughtful attention, impeccable behaviour, and genuine engagement with the themes of remembrance and gratitude honoured the significance of the occasion. By showing such strong respect for history and resilience in understanding the sacrifices of others, they have made us all incredibly proud. Their actions this week serve as a powerful example of how the Turves Values guide and shape a caring, thoughtful school community.

This half term, the boys (Year 9) have been exploring the theme of freedom writing, studying influential figures such as Malcolm X and Harvey Milk and examining the impact their speeches had on audiences of the time. Drawing inspiration from techniques like direct address and repetition, the boys have started crafting their own speeches centred on the idea that silence is not enough—we must be actively anti-racist. These pieces will be presented in class, allowing the boys to apply the oracy skills that are deeply embedded in our curriculum.

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible success of our very first Trust-wide Spelling Bee – a vibrant event that brought together pupils from all our schools, in a showcase of linguistic talent, nerves of steel, and community spirit.

Over 40 brilliant spellers from Key Stages 2 and 3 took to the stage, each tackling an impressive word list of more than 150 challenging entries. From phosphorescent to megalomaniac, cantankerous, chihuahua, frittata, and hieroglyphics, the competition tested not only vocabulary but also memory, focus, and composure under pressure.

The atmosphere was electric, with supporters gripped from start to finish, watching each round unfold on the edge of their seats. In an extraordinary finish, two winners were crowned – a testament to just how high the standard was. Huge congratulations to our co-champions: one from Etone College and the other from Bloxwich Academy Primary.

Both of them had to complete the tie breaker, spelling as accurately as possible a fearsome word which they had not been told in advance: ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM. Both of them spelled it correctly!

This inaugural event marks the beginning of what we expect to become a favourite in the Matrix events calendar. A huge thank you to all the pupils, staff and supporters who made this possible. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Spelling Bee!