The Academy marked the end of it's first academic year with a big celebration on Wednesday for students, staff and guests.

A celebration assembly reviewed a fantastic year with a presentation of photos of highlights throughout the year, including the Year 11 leavers enjoying their prom the week before. Mrs Carr was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers from staff and students, and new Head Student Lucy Jenner led everyone in a rousing round of three cheers.

A major surprise for Mrs Carr was the presentation of a magnificent tiered cake, which had been prepared in top secrecy by Year 7s in the Consumer Technology department. Made of 300 Victoria sponge cup cakes with lemon sauce and each hand-decorated with home-made sugar daisies and butterflies, they were displayed on a six-tier stand, again made by Year 7s with their teachers in Design Technology the day before. Every student was then given a cup cake by Mrs Carr to take home at the end of the day.

After the assembly, students formed giant number 1 outside for memorable and striking photos taken from the top of the sports hall, and then released SKA-branded balloons with the names attached in a competition to see which manages to travel furthest. If the tags are returned by their finders, a prize will be awarded for the balloon found furthest away from Blackhurst Lane.

Mrs Carr, Academy Principal, said: "It was a wonderful way to celebrate the many achievements of our first year, and reflect on the progress we have made. The sense of pride and togetherness of the whole Academy communitywas really tangible, and it was great for the students to leave for their summer holidays on a real high."

Jokingly, she added:"I pride myself on working hard to know what's going on right across the Academy, so with the surprise presentation of the beautiful cake, it was a wonderful way to find out that clearly I don't! I see I'll have to keep a closer eye on Year 8 and their teachers next year!"