News Posts

Dear Families,

Thank you for all of your feedback regarding our uniform consultation. It has been great to read the 276 responses received so far. We will keep the feedback form open for another week to ensure everyone has the opportunity to share their views. Once the consultation is complete, I will update you on the outcomes and we will produce an FAQ section on our website to address specific questions raised during this process.

World Book Day

It was lovely to see so many staff dressing up as their favourite book characters yesterday to mark World Book Day 2026. The costumes sparked fantastic discussions, and it was brilliant to see such enthusiasm from students about the stories they are currently enjoying.

Mrs. Raven, our Librarian and Literacy Leader, delivered assemblies this week on the power of reading. She shared how reading supports mental health, provides an escape from daily pressures, and develops critical thinking. One key statistic stood out:

• Reading 20 mins per day: Exposes a child to approx. 1.8 million words per year.
• Reading 2 mins per day: Exposes a child to approx. 8,000 words per year.

Please continue to support your child with their daily reading. By committing to just 20 minutes a day, you are ensuring they have the vocabulary and comprehension skills to open doors for whatever path they choose in the future.

Prison, Me, No Way!

This week, students participated in workshops provided by the charity “Prison, Me, No Way!”, funded by the Rushden Rotary Club, for which we are extremely grateful. Students engaged with content focusing on county lines and the impact of drugs, and they encountered the "mobile prison cell" to experience the reality of what a prison cell feels like.

This is a hard-hitting experience that highlights the reality of criminal behaviour and the impact poor choices can have on an individual and their loved ones. We have hosted this workshop for a number of years and look forward to continuing this partnership with the Rushden Rotary Club in the future.

Year 11 Mocks

Our Year 11 students have been doing a sterling job over the past two weeks. We are incredibly proud of their conduct and the mature way they are looking forward to receiving feedback. We have one more week of exams to go; teachers are working hard behind the scenes to get all papers marked and feedback prepared for the final push toward GCSEs. As many students approach the end of their BTEC courses, we will ensure no time is wasted by providing additional revision materials for those subjects immediately upon completion.

Thank you all for your continued partnership and support. We hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing all students on Monday!

Yours sincerely,

Mr. J. Firth

Principal

Dear Families,

This week, I have been delivering assemblies to students to provide updates on the significant work happening behind the scenes. Our focus was on several key areas:

• B Block: Ongoing work regarding the move to temporary classrooms for the new academic year.
• TOVE 10: Celebrating a decade of our Learning Trust.
• Student Experience Survey: Gathering vital feedback from our learners.
• Uniform Consultation: Sharing proposals for our school dress code.

B Block Updates:

On Friday, we welcomed our local MP, Gen Kitchen, to the academy. We provided an update on our repair scheme and discussed what support the Government can provide. We are currently working to arrange a visit from the Schools Minister, Georgia Gould MP, so she can see the condition of the school firsthand and understand the impact on both our community and the wider network of 15 schools within the TOVE Learning Trust.

TOVE 10: A Decade of Difference

TOVE Learning Trust turns 10 this year! To mark this milestone, all schools in the trust are launching projects to celebrate the impact we’ve had on our communities. We are challenging our students to come up with 10 different challenges to participate in. This will serve as a platform to raise money for 10 local charities, fostering teamwork and school pride.

Student Experience Survey:

Student voice is central to life at Rushden Academy. This year, we launched a termly survey to give students the opportunity to share feedback on the topics that affect them most. Following a positive response last term, we are aiming for even higher engagement this time around. Students will receive a Google Form via their school email next week - please encourage them to take part.

Uniform Consultation:

Over the past few months, we have been developing a consultation programme regarding our school uniform, with strong support from our Governors and staff. We are now ready to gather feedback from students and the wider community.

Details of the proposed changes will be explained in the video version of this newsletter. Next week, all students and parents will receive an email containing a link to a Google Form to share their thoughts. We have listened carefully to your initial feedback and believe these changes represent a positive step forward for our families.

Finally, please remember that this week’s printed newsletter is our "bumper edition," featuring extra notices and a deeper look at everything happening at Rushden Academy this month.

We hope you all have a lovely weekend, and we look forward to seeing all students on Monday.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. J. Firth

Principal