This Week in the Academy - 1st May 2026 | King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy

Welcome to the academies weekly newsletter, rounding up the events of the past week and keeping you informed of coming events and information to support you and your daughter in school and beyond.

This week we have:

🎭 Moana Production – Well Done!
Latest Canteen Menus
Parents’ Evening Update
HPL Top Tips – Automaticity
10 Top Tips for Managing Exam Stress
Information from Handsworth Association of Schools

We hope you enjoy reading this weeks news!

🎭 Moana Production – Well Done!

A huge shout‑out to all the staff and students involved in the Moana production. Thursday evening’s performance was absolutely fantastic, and we could not be prouder of everyone who took part, both on stage and behind the scenes.

The talent, commitment, and teamwork on display made for a truly memorable evening. Well done to all involved—and thank you for putting on such a wonderful show! 🌺👏

Latest Canteen Menus

We’re pleased to share the canteen menus for the rest of the academic year for both the main school and sixth form, giving families the opportunity to plan ahead and discuss food choices with students.

The menus reflect our commitment to providing balanced, nutritious meals with a variety of hot options, lighter choices, and vegetarian alternatives available each day.

📄 The full menu cycle can be seen below:

Parents' Evening Update

Thank you to all Year 8 parents and carers who attended Parents’ Evening this week. It was a pleasure to speak with you and continue working together to support our students’ progress.

A reminder to Year 12 parents and carers that Parents’ Evening appointments are now available to book in preparation for Wednesday 13 May. We encourage you to secure your slots in advance via Arbor.

Thank you for your continued support.

HPL Top Tips - Automaticity

✓ Discuss with your child how the process of multi-tasking works – can they explain to you why we are able to do many things at once? Can they give examples of when this happens?

✓ Talk to your child about something you do which does not require active thinking – if you drive, this is a good example. The process that you have gone through to learn to drive means that you are able to do many things ‘automatically’ e.g., changing gears, signalling etc.

✓ Create a times table competition. Who can get the correct answers in the quickest time? You will find that perhaps sometimes tables are more embedded, or the answers comes more automatically than others. What is it that needs to be done to make them all equally automatic?

✓ Talk to your child about a new skill that they would like to learn and how long they think it will take to get to the point of automaticity. Try it!

✓ Talk to your child about some of the things they do which means they operate with some degree of automaticity. Playing games often mean that you are aware of several things at once and operate quickly within this. Many children will be unaware that they are using these skills and may need some prompting to think about how these skills are transferable into their learning in school.

10 Top Tips for Managing Exam Stress

Exam periods can place significant pressure on young people, affecting their confidence, focus and overall wellbeing. This guide explores supportive, realistic strategies to help pupils manage their workload, stay organised and maintain balance. From creating effective revision routines to designing calm study spaces, it offers practical ways to reduce overwhelm and build a sense of control.

It also highlights the value of active study techniques, creative revision methods and the thoughtful use of technology, including AI tools. With an emphasis on maintaining motivation and protecting mental health, the guide encourages a positive, sustainable approach to exam preparation that helps young people feel more confident and resilient.

Information from Handsworth Association of Schools

Please check out the information below provided by Handsworth Association for Schools to see if there is anything of interest for you and your family.