Please find our Pentecost 2025 Newsletter below. 

In Social Sciences, a large part of our curriculum is intended to give our students the opportunity to develop analytical and evaluative skills.  In Religious Studies this is seen in both key stage three and key stage 4 though debate style responses that the students are invited to engage with in a considered way. In key stage three we use the 'flipped coin' strategy, where in lessons students are invited to present different arguments on a physical 'flipped coin' to help them see how the different arguments are being presented.  The strategy is then built upon in key stage four, where some students need to analyse and evaluate a wider range of arguments by introducing the jigsaw piece strategy.  This strategy enables students to see how different arguments can be used to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to support the different religious points of view on the topics we are discussing.  

Nestled within the corridors of the National Church of England Academy lies a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation – the Art, Design, and Technology department. Here, students are not just taught skills and knowledge; they are encouraged to explore, create, and push the boundaries of their imagination.

Following an extensive period of review and evaluation, predominantly taking into account logistics for individual academies, travel ramifications for students and the impact on accessibility to post 16 for those students, it is proposed that Hucknall Sixth Form Centre will be phased out over the next two years.

The Holgate Academy and Queen Elizabeth’s Academy, both part of the Diverse Academies Trust, and The National Church of England Academy, part of the Minster Trust for Education, jointly run Hucknall Sixth Form Centre.

It is proposed that, with effect from September 2025, The Holgate Academy and the National Church of England Academy will each offer an 11-18 curriculum – including a comprehensive range of post 16 courses – on site, within their own academies. For the purposes of post 16 study, Queen Elizabeth’s Academy will be included within The Holgate Academy offering.

The transition will be carefully managed by a project board to ensure that the quality of education provided throughout is consistently of the highest standard, and any disruption to students will be kept to an absolute minimum.

We are confident that this move is in the best interests of the partner academies, students and staff, allowing academies more autonomy over timetabling and the structure of their academy day, and enabling students to remain in a familiar environment to pursue post 16 studies with teachers they know, whilst also taking advantage of the enrichment and leadership opportunities available.

Each academy will ensure that the parents and carers of their students are kept fully informed throughout the transition process. In the meantime, you may find the information below useful.

Timeline

• 2023/24 – years 12 and 13 students will complete both years of their post 16 studies at HSFC.

 

• 2024/25 – year 13 students will finish their studies at HSFC. Year 12 students will complete their first year at HSFC and their final year of studies will be concluded at their home academy in 2025/26.

 

• 2025/26 – year 13 will return to their base academies to complete their studies and will be joined by a new cohort of year 12 students, who will study all of their post 16 courses at their base academy.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is this happening?

We feel that, having closely examined the logistics of running an off-site post 16 centre, it would be more beneficial for our students, academies and staff to gradually return post 16 studies to take place on-site within those academies.

2. What impact will this have on my child who will be starting their post 16 studies in September 2023?

In 2023/24, years 12 and 13 students will complete both years of their post 16 studies at HSFC.

3. What impact will this have on my child who will be starting their post 16 studies in September 2024?

In 2024/25, year 13 students will finish their studies at HSFC. Year 12 students will complete their first year at HSFC and their final year of studies will be concluded at their home academy in 2025/26.

4. What impact will this have on my child who will be starting their post 16 studies in September 2025?

In 2025/26, year 13 will return to their base academies to complete their studies and will be joined by a new cohort of year 12 students, who will study all of their post 16 courses at their base academy.

5. What subjects will my child be able to study post 16?

Each academy reviews its post 16 programme annually. All our academies aim to offer a broad curriculum, including both academic and vocational options, in line with our areas of subject specialism and student interests. You can view the current subjects available at HSFC on the website: www.hsfc-ac.org.uk.

If you have any further questions or queries about this proposed change, please contact us via email at: KBooth@nationalacademy.org.uk

Please click here to book your tickets for the Academic Transition Evening on the 22nd November 2023, 6:30pm-7:30pm.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/academic-transition-evening-tickets-755717991857?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*99udvi*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTg1ODMwNzQyMy4xNjk5Nzk0NDE5*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTY5OTc5NDQxOC4xLjAuMTY5OTc5NDQxOC4wLjAuMA..