It was a pleasure to showcase our facilities, introduce visitors to our dedicated staff and give prospective students a taste of the opportunities and experiences available at the Academy. There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the evening, with visitors taking part in a range of engaging activities across our departments.

Our student volunteers did an outstanding job guiding families around the Academy, proudly showcasing our facilities and sharing their own experiences of lessons and school life. Staff were also on hand throughout the evening to answer questions and speak with parents and students.

Each department provided interactive activities for visitors to enjoy, including:

• Science – hands-on experiments, including colourful flame tests and electrical circuits.
• Art – visitors were able to paint ceramic gargoyle and monster figures, as well as create monoprints.
• Catering – freshly made pizzas and delicious cinnamon buns prepared and served for our guests.
• English – a mystery object creative writing challenge and a fun Shakespearean insults activity.
• PE – opportunities to try table tennis, badminton and basketball.
• Maths – interactive whiteboard and shopping list challenges to put problem-solving skills to the test.
• Music – visitors had the opportunity to play instruments using movie soundtrack scores
• SEND and Safeguarding – teams were available to speak with parents and provide guidance and support.

The evening was a wonderful opportunity for families to experience the sense of community at the Lower Academy, while our students played an important role in helping visitors feel welcome.

We were delighted to receive such positive feedback from families and look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students to the Academy in September 2027.