ADL Pupil Success- A Hug from ADL
Pupil ‘A’ came to ADL in a distressed state, would scream and shout and lie on the floor when faced with school. Staff used restraint to try and keep her in a school building. Complex mental health and attachment issues meant that even specialised settings thought twice. At ADL she managed to settle, re engage with learning, feeling safe, and secure. We recently heard she was going to attempt Mock Exams and sent her an ADL token (Pocket Hug). She has made it through the school doors an unbelievable achievement and has attempted her mocks with the ADL Hug placed clearly on the table letting her know we are right behind her.
Curriculum offer growing at ADL April 2025
ADL will be expanding their curriculum offer with KS3 Humanities and KS4 History being available from the start of the summer term. We welcome our new member of staff Louise Bentham to the team and know she will be a great addition to an already strong team of teachers.
Pupils Learn Sign Language January 2025
On January 17th, our staff delivered an enriching session on British Sign Language (BSL). The session was designed to introduce students to the basics of BSL, including the alphabet and key signs, to help them communicate effectively in basic BSL. It was a great opportunity for all members of ADL to enhance their communication skills and learn something new.
Impressive Science Results
We are thrilled to share some fantastic news from our 4.2a science class! In a recent end-of-unit assessment, an impressive 28% of our students achieved a grade 9, the highest grade possible. Additionally, 55% of the class scored a grade 6 or above, showcasing their hard work and dedication.
A significant factor in this success has been the use of Century Tech, which has proven invaluable in helping students revisit and master difficult topics. This innovative tool has enabled our students to reinforce their understanding and achieve these outstanding results.
Congratulations to all our students for their remarkable achievements!
POP24 – November 2024
ADL is thrilled to announce our participation in STEM Learning’s Protecting Our Planet Day (POP24) on November 12, 2024. This inspiring live-streamed event, brought to you by the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK) in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, is dedicated to empowering students and educators with knowledge and passion for Earth and environmental sciences.
POP24, hosted at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, featured a series of engaging sessions led by experts and researchers committed to protecting our planet. Highlights included live links to the ESA Climate Office team at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and interactive discussions on the latest climate research and sustainable practices.
Our team at ADL was excited to be part of this incredible event, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering STEM education and promoting environmental sustainability. During POP24, ADL participated in several key sessions:
- Introduction to POP24: Our team joined the opening session, where presenters Dallas Campbell and Professor Suzie Imber introduced the themes and highlights of the day. This session set the stage for an exciting day of learning and exploration[.
- Live Link to COP29: ADL was part of the live link to the ESA Climate Office team at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. This session provided valuable insights into the latest climate research and the goals of the COP29 conference.
- Interactive Workshops: ADL participated in interactive workshops focused on sustainable practices and the latest advancements in Earth and environmental sciences. These workshops provided hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for collaboration with other participants.
We believe that the insights and inspiration gained from POP24 will drive our ongoing efforts to create a sustainable future for all. Stay tuned for more updates on our initiatives and how we continue to support STEM learning and environmental stewardship.
ADL Celebrates Women Writers
Staff are supporting March’s Women’s History Month by having some little readings and/or descriptions about which female authors staff admire / enjoy / love etc added to the library card available to all pupils. So far, we have Jane Austen, Carol Ann Duffy, Mary Oliver, Nikita Gill and Danielle Jawando covered. The new library card initiative launched and run by Morgan Melhuish aims to encourage the love of reading. February’s offering includes valentines’ poems for all those that need a quick poem for their valentine sweetheart.
Welsh Pirates
On the 29th of November during the Enrichment session, ADL students were submerged into the world of Welsh Pirates thanks to an interactive presentation by the National Museum of Wales.
We went back in time and heard tales about the trade, booty and the battles of Wales’ most successful buccaneer – Barti Ddu. Students got to explore pirate objects and costumes and were able to recognise similarities and differences between people’s lives in the past and present and discover why Barti Ddu was one of the most successful, and unusual, pirates that ever sailed.
World Mental Health Day October 2024
ADL celebrated World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10, with a drop-down day of activities around mental health. Morgan Melhuish planned and led the day, which started with an online exercise session by Sarah Emson, Head of Maths. The day included a guest speaker, Harry Dozier, discussing our senses, self-care plans and self-care taster sessions, meditation, and a Mental Health scavenger hunt. Thanks to Morgan and the ADL team for an inspiring and thoughtful day.
ADL E-Safety Day – October 2024
ADL ran an E Safety Day this week lead by Helen Walker but delivered through the Maths Department with activities in lessons and followed up with an E Safety survey for the pupils. The survey results highlighted how important the online world is to our young people and that is has both positive and negative effects on their mental health. Interestingly they felt that it is their parents that need more education on E Safety and the online world rather than themselves! Respondents in the survey felt strongly they were receiving the education to keep themselves safe online.
MacMillan Coffee Morning – September 2024
On Friday 27th of September, ADL joined the many others around the country in hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning. This was a nice opportunity for some of our students to talk about experiences they have had with this very worthwhile charity, and it also gave us the opportunity to demonstrate some important life skills.
Unfortunately, Nigella was unavailable for our Zoom demonstration, so Ali stepped in and showed the students how to make a ginger and lemon cheesecake from a recipe on the Macmillan charity’s website. The students were treated to a real world experience a little less slick than ‘bake off’ but with ‘one that I made earlier’ appearing, and suggestions for adapting process and the recipe so everyone could have a go regardless of equipment and budget. They also learned that baking goes much more smoothly after you’ve paid ginger biscuit dog tax. Thanks to Ali’s parents for buying a cheesecake, and our generous partners at Crowe’s accountants, a donation will be made to Macmillan on behalf of Momenta.
