Principal’s Update
Published: Fri 12 September 2025Dear Parents/Carers,
It’s great to see all the students back at the academy full of positivity and ready for the new school year, especially our new year 7 and year 12 students. We’ve been particularly impressed by their attendance and punctuality – we know that September is a really important month for setting good habits (see here for the Education Minister’s comments on this) and we also know there is a direct link between good attendance and good grades at school.
Our Communication Hub – My Child at School (MCAS)
Following a change to our management information system, we now use MCAS (My Child At School) to communicate with you. You can either use the smartphone app or the web browser. If you have not already accessed these please click here for instructions. We know that there have been some issues as everyone adapts to the new system. Do please give us your feedback or get assistance by emailing: communication@thecityacademy.org
Appointments during the school day
Please note that medical and dental appointments must be made at times outside the school day or during the holidays wherever possible. In the unusual circumstance where this is not possible (such as a specialist hospital appointment), proof of the appointment must be provided to the attendance team in advance (attendance@thecityacademy.org). Without notice and evidence, the absence will be unauthorised. Students must catch up any work they miss – it is their responsibility to organise this. Any lesson time missed has a negative impact on children’s experience of school and should be avoided as far as possible.
Meet the Head of Year and Tutor – Years 7, 8, 9, and 10
We are pleased to invite parents and carers to our Meet the Head of Year and Tutor events. These evenings provide an excellent opportunity for you to meet your child’s Head of Year and tutor, and to take part in open discussions where any queries or concerns can be addressed. We strongly recommend all parents/carers attend. See below for the dates for each year group. Further details and reminders will be shared through the My Child at School (MCAS) app, so please ensure you are checking regularly.
Library & Morning Routine:
The library is open daily from 7:30am for students who wish to study or read before school. Morning Sports Clubs also start at 7.30am every morning (see timetable here) and students attending these must wait at the community gate. If a student arrives after 7.30am they will not be allowed to attend the club. Main gates open at 8.20am and all students are expected to be lined up in the playground by 8:39am, in full school uniform.
Italy Music Trip
At the beginning of the summer holidays, 56 lucky City Academy students experience a fantastic trip to Lake Garda, Italy. During the trip, they performed in two concerts, showcasing their talents to an international audience (who were very impressed). They also had the opportunity to visit Venice, spend the day at a theme park and experience Italian food and culture. The trip was a great success and our students represented the academy very impressively. See a selection of photos of their performance below.
Dates to remember:
Year 7 – Meet the HoY & Tutor evenings – Wednesday 17th September 2025
Student Photo Day (Year 7/10/ Sixth Form) – Friday 19th September 2025
Year 8 – Meet the HoY & Tutor evenings – Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Year 9 – Meet the HoY & Tutor evenings – Wednesday 24th September 2025
Sixth form – Meet the tutors – Thursday 25th September 2025
Year 10 – Parent meeting: KS4 study – Thursday 2nd October 2025