Waltham Toll Bar Academy offers 'golden ticket' to prospective pupils at open evening

A ‘golden ticket’ to a bright future was offered to primary pupils visiting Waltham Toll Bar Academy’s Open Evening.

Musical ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ will be its production next year and rehearsals were among the many activities giving visitors a flavour of the New Waltham academy.

Principal Nigel Whittle, in a presentation to visitors, highlighted the school’s motto: “We create opportunities and develop the confidence to excel – together.”

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“These are not just words but something that drives what we do every single day,” Mr Whittle said. “This school has a longstanding history for academic excellence. One of the highlights of our GCSE results in the summer was the big increase in numbers achieving grade 9s.

“But I imagine a pair of scales, with academic success on one side needing to be balanced on the other by personal development and enrichment. Ours is an unrivalled offer locally, with more than 60 extra curriculum clubs launched this week.”

These ranged from cheerleading to E-sports, baking to chess. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will follow the success of Matilda the Musical, the school’s first big production in many years, which played to sell-out audiences at Cleethorpes Parkway Cinema and Theatre.

Mr Whittle announced the formation of a new Outdoor Pursuits Department, promoted at the Open Evening by a popular climbing wall.

He also stressed the importance of partnerships created with external organisations, creating the “very best support” for the school’s children. He was proud to lead a big school.

“A large school can make the investment in better facilities and create more opportunities for everyone who attends,” he said.

“But we make a big school feel like a small one. We have a separate Year 7 playground and staff get to know the children really well. We use lots of praise and reward. Those small touches are really important and we know they are appreciated by parents and carers.”

A huge effort was put into transition from primary to secondary. Emily Robinson and Freddie Chappel, members of the Student Leadership Team, told visitors about the school’s supportive and welcoming environment.

Both had taken opportunities to travel abroad and, as Year 11s, knew they would be supported in their crucial exam year, with lots of additional revision sessions.

Year 7s Piper Lovesey, formerly a pupil at Tetney Primary, and Harvey Whittle, who used to attend Holton le Clay Junior School, had been at the academy less than two weeks but spoke about how quickly they had settled in and introduced a promotional film in which they starred.

Popular among children visiting the Open Evening was a cheerleading display. Professional coaches from local firm Fierce Elite Cheerleading put on a weekly extra-curricular club for academy students.

Former pupil Lydia Kuurstra, about to start her second year reading Psychology at the University of Lincoln, was a qualified cheerleading coach. “You can see that the children love it,” she said.

The climbing wall was conquered by dozens of children, including Taylor Dillon, a pupil at Grimsby’s Welholme Academy.

“It was hard in the end at the top but I was proud when I got there and rung the bell,” he said.

For those who missed the event, Open Mornings will be held at the school on October 1, 15 and 17 from 9am.

To attend, register by following the link from www.walthamtollbaracademy.co.uk