The Academy
On Wednesday 27th January Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy was officially opened. It had been decided that the Academy would also have a PHSE day for our students as part of the proceedings. Invitations went out to the Chairman of Ormiston Trust, Peter Murray OBE, members of Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) with their Director of Education, Nigel Revell and Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, they were all invited to send the day with our students and staff and to officially open the Academy.
Our sponsors Ormiston Trust were delighted that the Teenage Cancer Trust had been invited to the official opening. The Academy, previously Tividale Community Arts College, opened in September and is one of the newest academies to be sponsored by Ormiston Trust. Our sponsor, felt that it was it’s very important for the official opening day to have meaning and purpose- more than just a ceremony, it is a way of letting the students know that they are cared for as part of the Ormiston family.
Ormiston Trust we’re no stranger to the Teenage Cancer Trust, having previously invited them to open their Gateway Academy in Thurrock. The event was a great success, and one which evoked mutual empathy, maturity and honesty amongst staff and students.
Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy or OSCA as it is affectionately called invited TCT to be the main structure of our PSHE focus day. Our objectives for the day were to involve students and staff in to thinking about how lives are affected by people being diagnosed with cancer. The lead up to the day involved several meeting with representatives from TCT, going through resource packs to pick appropriate material for students in different year groups. The resource packs contained ample material that could be used in order to meet the learning outcomes connected to PSHE and Citizenship.
Students in years 7 and 8 decided to focus on creating a poem and drama sketches portraying the stigma sometimes attached to cancer. My form looked at a poem entitled ‘Peace at Last’, describing a person’s thoughts and feelings after being diagnosed with cancer. Nigel Revel (TCT) came into the classroom and explained what Neil was thinking at the time he wrote that poem because Nigel knew him quite well. The students were engaged, listening intently to the explanations given and matching it to what they had annotated next to each line. Once the students understood the content of this poem, they worked in groups to create their own poems.
We left the class to work within the groups that we selected and we gave regular time updates to the class because they would have to present their work to their peers before lunch. Each group showcased their work to the class and we voted to nominate the group we felt should showcase their work to TCT and Lord Jones. This happened throughout the Academy, each tutor group was represented in the final showcase to the dignitaries whilst the remaining students completed an evaluation for the day.
The showcase went extremely well, with Years 7 up to the 6th Form presenting the work they had undertaken throughout the day to all the dignitaries, this was watched by all Year 7 students and all the representatives of each year groups who were also showcasing their work.
I believe that because we approached this day with a single focus, it helped to concentrate everyone’s mind on this subject, students and staff. We also legislated for students who may find this issue difficult by having staff readily available to tend to students who required some help. The students were magnificent, embracing theme of the day and judging by the feedback the students really enjoyed the day.
Working with the Trust’s education team was a very rewarding experience and brought much value and understanding to our Academy. The caring and thought provoking work the students produced highlighted the fact that they have many concerns about cancer and the affects it has on their families and friends and the need to be able to discuss this with others.
Teenage Cancer Trust gave our students and staff, an important message about dealing with cancer and its affects which were about positivity, facing challenges, living life to the full and also about taking care of yourself and others. Their learning materials are comprehensive and engaging, ensuring that an event can run over the full day, bringing the Academy together as a community and encouraging openness. Inviting the Teenage Cancer Trust into our Academy demonstrated a shared philosophy; placing young people at the heart of the organisation.
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The Academy would like to thank Teenage Cancer Trust, Peter Murray, Nigel Revell and Lord Jones for their help and support in making this an event to be proud of. Thanks also to all the students and staff who worked hard in organising the day and for their hospitality shown to our guests during their visit.
