King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy

🎤 Good luck to our three finalists in the Speak Out Challenge 2026! A huge congratulations to Awesta A, Maddison M and Joshua M, who have reached this year’s final and will be speaking about topics they are passionate about. The final takes place this evening at George Cadbury Hall - we wish them the very best of luck! 🌟

🌍 To mark , our Year 9 pupils will be exploring the story of the Windrush generation through Small Island. As part of their learning, they will watch Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Andrea Levy's acclaimed novel, deepening their understanding of the experiences, contributions and legacy of those who helped shape modern Britain.

🎉 Our Year 6 Transition Days are almost here! We can’t wait to welcome our new Year 6 pupils to our academy next week. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet staff, make new friends and start becoming part of our school community. We look forward to meeting you all! 💙

🚀 Careers Spotlight 🚀
Today’s career focus: AEROSPACE ENGINEER

Aerospace Engineers design, develop and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and other aviation technologies. They use science, maths and engineering to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions that help us travel through the skies and explore beyond our planet.

From designing more efficient aeroplanes to developing technology for space missions, Aerospace Engineers play a key role in shaping the future of aviation and space exploration.

This career is perfect for someone who:
✈️ Is fascinated by aircraft, rockets and space
🔬 Enjoys science, technology and engineering
🧠 Loves problem-solving and innovation
📊 Has strong maths and analytical skills
🤝 Works well as part of a team on large projects

Did you know? Aerospace Engineers have contributed to everything from commercial air travel and military aircraft to satellites, Mars rovers and missions to the Moon!

🚀✨

🏆 Housepoint Update! Another fantastic week of pupils demonstrating our values, working hard and making positive contributions across the school. Congratulations to Barber House, who continue to lead the way! 👏 A special shout-out goes to Cierra W (9-BAR), who earned an incredible 62 housepoints last week – a fantastic achievement and a reflection of her consistent effort, attitude and commitment! 🌟 Keep up the great work everyone – every housepoint counts! 💙

🌟 Staff Champions of the Week! A huge congratulations and thank you to Mrs Darling and Mrs Fotheringhame for the incredible work they do behind the scenes to support exams, assessments and data across the school. Your organisation, care and attention to detail make such a difference! 👏

🎉 Winner of the Week! Congratulations to Amelia-Rose C (9-ZEP), nominated by Mr Wynne for the fantastic progress she has made in Maths! 📚➕ Her understanding has improved significantly, and her hard work and determination are really paying off! 🌟 Keep up the excellent work, Amelia-Rose! 👏💜

✨ Miss Duckworth was delighted to attend the invite-only Potential Awards Unlocked Leadership Evening, connecting with employers and professionals from a range of sectors!

These valuable partnerships help create opportunities for our pupils through employer encounters, mentoring and career guidance 🚀

📸 Networking today, creating opportunities for tomorrow!

📚✨ A valuable day of professional development for Miss Duckworth, who completed an extension of her Careers Leader training with the IncludED Careers Network. We're excited to apply new insights and best practice to further strengthen our careers programme and support all pupils in their future pathways! 🚀🎓

💧Keeping our staff refreshed and hydrated on a warm Thursday! ☀️ Our staffroom hydration station was stocked with bottled and infused water options to help keep the team feeling their best throughout the day 🍋🍓 A small gesture that goes a long way! 💜