On Thursday our Year 8 pupils had the chance to explore the delights of Twycross Zoo as part of Science’s Enrichment Week provision. 

The trip was an enjoyable one for staff and pupils as they had the chance to get to meet the animals and learn about their natural habitats.

With Zebras, Penguins, Giraffes and Gorillas there was something for everyone. Although we were worried the zookeepers would mistake our pupils for escaped animals, luckily this was not the case and the pupils were complemented by Twycross staff for showing all Etone Values across the day.

All that was left was for a visit to the gift shop for some goodies and for a safe journey home. Thank you to Twycross for hosting.

We are delighted to once again be features in this weeks edition of the Nuneaton News. This academic year we have been featured eight times, celebrating the enriching opportunities our pupils are receiving and the impact this has on our community.

This time our fundraising efforts have been highlighted as exceptional as we have raised nearly £6,000 on the past two years. In addition to this we have raised awareness for some very worthy causes both  locally and nationally, ensuring we are making a difference.

Check out the latest edition and keep up to date with future issues to spot us in there.  

To find out more about our charity totals click here: https://www.etonecollege.co.uk/charity-counter/

On Tuesday part of our Maths Enrichment Week activities involved our Year 7 pupils showing their Resilience and Numeracy Employability Skills as they took part in a challenge to build the tallest towers out of straws and masking tape.

The groups were very competitive with House Points on offer and Mathematics glory. As a result there were some extremely impressive efforts including our very own ‘Etone State Building’ inspired by the ‘Empire State Building’. With the clear winner below it was great to see the enthusiasm for Maths our pupils have. We can’t wait for the tomorrow.

On Monday a group of Etone pupils started their journey to France to Bernieres-sur-Mer where they will spend Enrichment Week taking part in activities designed to give them a full taste of French culture. With a midnight meet up prior to departure our pupils had the chance to wave goodbye to parents and families before getting some rest on the coach drive to the ferry. With the group in good spirits the journey over was a relaxing experience in the sunshine with some truly astonishing sites on the horizon.

After arriving at the border the pupils had a quick stop off in Behen to practice speaking French, recharge and climb to the top of the viewing tower for a 360 view of the surrounding towns. 

Once our pupils arrived at their home for the week it was time to check their bags in before heading to the beach to enjoy the sun set and relax with the excitement of the week still ahead. Stay tuned for more.

On day two of our French expedition our pupils woke up early to a traditional French breakfast provided by our hosts before heading to a local cheese factory to see how some of French’s finest exports are made. Did you know that France produces more that 400 different varieties of cheese. During the visit the pupils enjoyed trying four of the most famous Normandy cheeses and were taken behind the scenes to see how they were made. We know the pupils really enjoyed it and we were glad to Brie a part of it!  

After this there was a visit to Festyland themepark where pupils were able to enjoy going on all of the rides including rollercoasters, pirate ships and even spinning wheel! We hear it was a WHEEL-Y good time. 

All that was left was for our pupils to enjoy another relaxing evening on the beach re-creating our ‘Beach Pic’ from Enrichment 2022.

On day three our pupils woke up to a slight gust of wind as the travelled to some of the more poignant places on their journey. Pupils had the chance to roam the Arromanches landing beach, practising their French skills and buying souvenirs. There were sombre moments a pupils had the chance to consider the sacrifices made on those beaches and showed their respect, displaying all Etone Values in the process. 

Finally it was time to head off to the Bayeux Tapestry, the famous work of art which depicts the 1066 conquest of Britain by William, Duke of Normandy. Our pupils had the chance to spot key events including the famous Battle of Hastings which they were able to make links back to their History lessons. We know Miss Kelly-Smith would be proud.

On the final day we awoke to a wonderful French breakfast including pastries and brioche before heading to the coach for the long journey home. With a pitstop in the wonderful Honfleur there was a chance to get some last minute souvenirs and relax in the glorious sunshine before making the way to the ferry.

With a safe crossing it was time to head back to Etone College where our families were waiting. Thank you to all who took part in the trip and for being the very best Etoner’s you can be.

On Sunday a group of our CCF Cadets travelled to the Lake District to take part in the annual Cadet Camp. After travelling over the pupils enjoyed a rest before waking up on Monday morning to the beautiful sunshine, a hearty breakfast and of course challenges for the day. Heading out onto the lake the pupils had the chance to take part in some canoeing having fun and splashing around. After lunch it was up into the trees for the High Ropes as our cadets channelled their inner monkeys to swing between the vines before heading to the canteen for a smashing dinner and to plan the next days expedition. Finally there was just time for a game or two of volleyball before retiring for the evening. 

On day two our cadets were extremely excited to get the chance to meet Coniston Mountain Rescue volunteers as they explored the equipment, processes and requirements to both be a part of the team and to ensure that when expeditions are completed they are done safely. There was lots of opportunities for pupils to try out harnesses, stretchers and even have a go with the lights and sounds of the rescue jeep. 

In the afternoon the cadets had the chance to complete the expedition they had previously planned, with a few amendments after the volunteers suggested adaptations. The team were fantastic and their map reading skills really came into use. Teamwork and Communication were at play underpinning our Employability curriculum. 

On day three our pupils split up with Group A having the chance to get stuck into rock climbing as the navigated a path up the mountain to achieve stunning views of Coniston Water. Not to be outdone Group B spent the morning Gorge Walking getting some fantastic pictures before having fun in the water with the canoes. After all of the excitement there was just time for an Ice Cream before retiring for dinner. 

On Monday a small team of our Year 10’s completing their work experience were lucky to be the first Etoner’s to step foot on the ground of the new build site. Fully kitted up with their safety gear and informed of all safety aspects the pupils had the chance to explore the recent structural developments, see plans for the site and find out a bit about the machines on the project and the jobs that surround it. Showing the full range of Employability Skills our partner Alcema were able to provide some food for thought on a very successful first day. 

Year 7 had a lighting start to the week as they joined Science for a day of fun as they explored what life was like in the world of Engineering. At Etone College our curriculum is broad and balanced, whilst our usual timetable lessons provide access to all areas, we also look to provide opportunities to further enrich. On Monday this is exactly what our pupils had the chance to do as they took part in workshops which enabled them to consider the many different careers possible in the world of Energy and Engineering. 

Taking part in the Energy Quest workshops with a team of fantastic facilitators our pupils had the chance to create circuits, use conductors and test out multiple materials to grow their understanding of electrical currents and energy. With the pupils able to consider the full process it takes to solve scientific problems. Starting with defining the problem, imagining, and planning a solution, creating and testing to finally sharing with the wider audience. Our pupils had a fantastic time and we would like to take the opportunity to thank Energy Quest for the fantastic day.

For Year 8 their Enrichment Week started with the fantastic opportunity to explore what life as an author is like when they were visited by Matt Gantry. 

Whilst Matt is a published author his inspirational story began in 2007 when his life changed forever following a serious HGV accident, resulting in multiple surgery and server nerve damage. In the following eighteen months Matt had to re-learn how to speak, walk and most importantly write again. 

Showing resilience and self belief, like our Etone Learners, Matt did not let his accident become the defining moment in his life and in 2012 he released his first novel on Kindle. With critical success and particular interest tin his story Matt decided his future would be as a writer. Starting to research his first paperback novel, The Gamer in 2018, Matt made contact with the US and UK law enforcement agencies to develop the themes of his story. Finally in 2021 Matt released his first paperback novel to success. 

Most recently Matt is working on his sequel, The Gamers whilst delivering inspirational talks to schools and colleges. It really was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to hear such a heartfelt story and consider what a career as an author could be like.

Sweden, Italy, Peru

We are delighted to announce that, for the third year running, Matrix Academy Trust has had another successful Turing bid.

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. It supports Global Britain by providing an opportunity for UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and training and schools sectors to offer young people  life-changing experiences.

This year, pupils in Year 8 from across Matrix schools will be visiting Sweden. Year 10 will be exploring ancient history in Italy. Year 12 students will be travelling around the world to Peru.

We chose ‘Far From Home’ as the name of our 2023-24 Turing project because we are committed to promoting an international outlook with our pupils. For our young people to be successful, we need to do whatever we can to broaden their horizons – and one way of doing this is to take them ‘far from home’. We will be making sure the pupils who are selected to go on these visits will be those that will benefit most from them.

More information about these opportunities will be shared in September.

Read our report on last year’s Matrix visit to Japan here: https://matrixacademytrust.co.uk/japan/

Find out more about the Turing scheme here: https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk