Our Academy was buzzing with mathematical ambition on Tuesday, 24th March as Co-op Academy North Manchester welcomed pupils from all over the Trust for the ‘Hit the Mark: Year 9 Maths Revision Day’. It was a privilege to host such a high-level event, and it was inspiring to see the Trust’s top-tier mathematicians collaborating under one roof.
The day was designed to refresh pupils who are busy preparing for their upcoming exams. Grade 9 is where the academic journey really starts to warm up for our pupils, with GCSEs fast approaching.

Pupils were challenged with mastering the most difficult elements of the curriculum. The sessions were led by the Trust’s Maths Directors and the Specialist Executive Maths Teacher, providing competitors with expert insight and elite mathematical strategies.

The curriculum for the day focused on Functions and Vectors—two areas often cited as the hardest to master in the year 9 curriculum. Our pupils showed serious academic resilience as they rose to the challenge and worked through complex problems and abstract theories.

It wasn't all heavy lifting. Academy spirit and good-natured rivalry took hold as the day ended with a lively Maths Relay Competition. Our home team didn't secure a win this time, but the energy in the room was fantastic. The pupils left confident in the new skills in their tool belts.

“We were proud to see our pupils demonstrate real focus on competing and achieving the most challenging marks in preparation for their upcoming exams - with not long to go now!” - Mr. Jones, Head of Maths

We would like to thank our visiting specialists for their expertise and all the pupils from the Trust’s academies for making the day a success. At Co-op Academy North Manchester, working across the trust helps to ensure all students have every resource they need to reach their full potential.

At Co-op Academy North Manchester, we believe that being a part of our community means showing up, working hard, and looking out for one another. As we wrap up the Spring Term, we’re celebrating the pride that comes with doing the right thing and making sure our pupils are recognised for it.

Anyone who visits our courtyard on a Friday lunchtime will see a queue of pupils going right out the door. What are they queueing for? The rewards shop, of course! Mr. Greenfield's shop has become a Friday tradition that all of us look forward to.

There’s always smiles and excitement all round as pupils spend their hard-earned achievement points to pick out something special. The prizes have been flying off the shelves, including:

• Four way pens: They write in four different colours, and the pupils love them. What more is there to say? They never go out of style.
• Sticky notes: For the organised pupil. Proven to improve grades when used for studious revision.
• Water bottles: You may have noticed the sun’s been peeking through the clouds more recently. Summer’s on the way, so our pupils will need to stay hydrated if they’re to maintain peak concentration. As Mr. Greenfield says: “It is essential.”
• Ultimate study fuel: Year 11s often head straight to the Harry’s Chippy tokens for burgers, sausages, chips and more so they can finish their week with a delicious local treat. The rewards shop is open on a Friday after all.
• Chill vibes: We’ve also prizes pupils can take home for a well-earned chill out session. Snoodles, blankets and wireless headphones complete the package.
• Alarm clocks: The ultimate tool for hitting 100% attendance and staying ahead in the achievement race. Pupils who opt for this one early know exactly what they’re doing.
• Every kind of ball: Footballs, tennis balls, basketballs and netballs cater for every sporting taste, keeping kids active in the process.
• Just for fun: Squishie people, cuddly toys, a giant motorway set, a hot wheels car and more help pupils decompress after a hard day’s work.

For our superstars in years 7-10, we even arranged an afternoon of inflatable fun! It was a treat to see our most consistently well-behaved, attentive pupils let loose for a day's inflatable fun.

Our rewards system is our way of telling pupils who give their all that “we see you” when you arrive on time, follow the rules and live our ways of being. When pupils at North Manchester Co-op Academy give 100% effort, we make sure they know they’re appreciated.

Last Wednesday, March 18th, our Academy hall was transformed into a hub of cosmic discovery for our annual Science Fair. Our pupils proved that while they have their feet planted firmly on the ground, their eyes are trained steadfastly on the future.

The pioneering scientists were tasked with creating a presentation board on their chosen topic, and preparing a verbal presentation to go with it. They stood next to their words ready to inspire and amaze as they defended their hypotheses and explained complex phenomena. While these topics may sound daunting, our students did a great job of breaking down 'big science' into easy-to-follow explanations for every visitor.

The range of subjects on offer was stunning. Students took us on a journey through modern physics, including:

• The Future of the Sun: A wide-lens look at the lifecycle of our star. Our young scientist explored its eventual transition into a Red Giant and what that means for our solar system.
• Matter and Black Holes: A deep dive into the event horizon, explaining what happens to matter as it is pulled into a black hole. Conclusion? Black holes are stranger than you think.
• Phosphors and Radiation: A dazzling demonstration of energy conversion. Our presenter showed how specific materials can absorb invisible radiation and re-emit it as visible light.
• Why does radiation get weaker the further it travels?: An investigation into why radiation (and light) loses its intensity so rapidly the further it travels from its source.
• The Physics of Lightsabers: Turning science fiction into science fact, our presenter took on everyone’s favourite laser sword, and won. They explained why plasma blades and contained light beams couldn't work in the real world.

Clearly, the science pupils at Co-op Academy North Manchester aren't afraid to ask the big questions!

A huge thank you to the Science Department for coordinating the event, and an even bigger well done to our students. The future of STEM at North Manchester has never looked brighter.

On Friday, 6th of March we were delighted to welcome the expert team from Fish for Heroes. They joined us to share their passion for sustainable seafood and professional kitchen skills. Our Year 10 Hospitality and Catering pupils traded their usual utensils for filleting knives, oyster shuckers and fish scalers to learn how the professionals do it.

The session started with a demonstration of the art of the fish fillet. A fundamental, albeit fiddly, technique for any committed fishmonger. The session pushed a few of our pupils out of their comfort zone, especially when it came to handling the fresh produce. But once they’d familiarised themselves, there was no stopping them. Several pupils discovered a natural talent, and their confidence grew. Before the first hour was up, every student had rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in, showing focus and technical precision.

Skills on display included:

• Precision Filleting: Mastering the knife skills required to prepare fish with minimal waste.
• Professional Plating: Learning how to use colour and texture to create eye-catching restaurant presentations.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Understanding where our food comes from and how to make ethical choices in the kitchen.

Once our young chefs had mastered the prep, they plated up a series of restaurant quality dishes…And they looked as good as they tasted. The workshop highlighted a vital lesson in modern catering: that delicious, high-quality seafood dishes can be simple, inexpensive, and sustainably sourced.

A massive thank you goes to Fish for Heroes, and another to our year 10 pupils for their exemplary behaviour and willingness to try new things!