Year 10 students and parents attended an information evening which detailed new GCSE and BTEC courses and launched the new academy's eLearning scheme.

Parents of students in Year 10 filled the academy theatre to attend a recent information evening with Mr Jordan, Mr Stott, and other key staff. The aim of the session was to support the parents and students embarking on new GCSE and BTEC courses, and to launch the academy's eLearning scheme.

The goal of the eLearning scheme is for students to use ICT in the academy in the same way they will use it in the outside world, and to promote strong independent learning habits that students will take with them into the world of work. The benefits of eLearning include personalisation, interactivity and engagement; it can help teachers tailor teaching to students' individual abilities and learning styles, engage students actively rather than passively and enable students to practise real world experiences.

The academy's scheme brings together the use of Frog (our virtual learning environment) and a personal tablet device. It is a genuine collaboration between parents and the academy and the response from parents who attended was very positive. If it goes ahead, this will be third year group in the academy to have access to the scheme and we hope to extend it to more students before the end of the year.