KEPIER PROM 2017

100% Attendance for 5 years!

From Left to right: Emily, Christopher, Mr S Bisset, Jack  Stephanie

Four very special Learners at Kepier School achieved a rare commendation this year at their Leaver’s assembly. They all maintained 100% attendance for their five years studying at Kepier, never a day off in all of their secondary education. Mr Bisset the Senior Pastoral Leader for the School’s attendance said; ‘This is an exceptional achievement by any standards and while we appreciate not everyone is able to achieve this reward due to their personal circumstances this is a story of superb willpower, resilience and a drive for achievement. Something struck a chord with me when I discovered that the only day Stephanie (pictured to the right) had to be absent from school in five years was to attend her Grandfathers funeral. There were so many powerful stories like this one where other learners came close to achieving this award. Some of our runners up only missed out by three days. It’s a great credit to our school to have learners with this sort of commitment inspiring other younger learners to follow in their footsteps. I have no doubt these learners and many others like them will go on to achieve great things applying the same attitude they have devoted to their School attendance to their future education and later careers.  

Kepier Summer Concert

On Monday 10th July Kepier hosted it's annual Summer Concert featuring around 60 learners from across all our year groups, including some of our Year 11 learners who have just left us but came back to take part in the event.

In front of an audience of around 150 people, the school orchestra and choir performed a range of classic and modern songs and orchestral pieces, and as always put on a brilliant show.

Head of Music at Kepier John Hall said "this is always a great night, and it's lovely to see those who have just left us coming back to perform, and the newest members of the orchestra and choir getting to perform in front of an audience for the first time. They all put an awful lot of work into rehearsing for the event, and should all be immensely proud of themselves."

Year 7 Reading Challenge

To encourage one of our Year 7 coaching groups to become more involved in reading, a 'million words' challenge was set for them.  With the help of our Literacy Coordinator Miss Sood and their Form Tutor Mr. Mason; and with the promise of edible rewards! - the learners encouraged each other to read more and take book quizzes which they did at break and lunchtimes, as well as at home.
With over a million words now read, our Principal Mrs. Cooper has now set them a two million word target in Year 8, something we are sure they will achieve!

Mr. Mason said "I'm extremely proud of the effort they have all made to read more, and it's lovely to see how much they have enjoyed it."

The Stephenson Trail Project

Learners from Kepier worked alongside tutors Stephanie Sykes, Dawn Routledge and Margaret Daglish from MBC Ceramics on a heritage inspired fused glass workshop to commemorate the importance of The Stephenson Trail in the Coalfields area of Sunderland. Participants learned about the important part the local area played in the history of locomotion in mining, as well as taking part in practical glass cutting and design activities. Learners engaged in work on how to use inclusions in glass, and learned about the chemistry behind glass fusing. Each learner created an individual glass tile, which will be fused alongside over 350 more individual pieces to create a steel, fused glass and light coal tub installation to commemorate this rich element of our local heritage. The project has been made possible by funding from The Sunderland Strategic Initiatives Board.

Young Writers Competition

Five learners from Kepier have been successful in a national 'Young Writers' competition, having submitted short stories around the theme of 'Fictional Worlds'.

Miss Cassidy, Teacher of English at Kepier said "as part of Kepier Academy's dedication to foster a love of writing in our school, a number of learners were recently entered into a national competition organised by Young Writers.  Learners were challenged to create a fictional world before writing a mini saga, a story in just 100 words, inspired by their world. Our entries ranged from tales of alternative, dystopian realities to a saga that explored ideas surrounding time. Five learners from the school have been selected to have their work published and also received a certificate in recognition of their efforts.'

Photographed with Miss Cassidy are Jake, Keira, Kieron and James, together with Principal Nicky Cooper.