BBC School Report
This term Miss Milne’s English group are embarking on an exciting challenge. Students from 8M/1 will be making the news for real as they take part in BBC News School Report. Over the next few weeks the students will learn to be journalists with the help of the BBC. They will research their own stories, produce their own video reports and broadcasts, as well as edit their news reports before taking part in the Big Broadcast on Thursday the 15th of March on the national News Day.
We aim to publish the news by 1600 GMT on the News Day, so please keep checking the website to see how the students are getting on with their reporting skills!
Tobacco Factory
The tobacco Factory have arranged with Merchants’ Academy to present a production of ‘Belleville Rendez-vous’ an original stage adaptation of Sylvain Chomet’s Academy Award nominated animated film.
The production will be held on Wednesday 22nd February at 7.00pm in Medlock Hall
Everyone is welcome to attend this fabulous event, tickets are just £1.00 and are available from Breda O’Neill in Student Services.
FellSwoop Theatre presents….
Belleville Rendez-vous
Take a seat in the Belleville Rendez-vous, a 1950s cabaret bar and witness the fantastical and touching story of orphaned cycling fanatic, Champion, his grandmother and their corpulent dog, Bruno.
Inspired by the film, Belleville Rendez-vous tells the charming tale of Madame Souza’s fight to rescue Champion from the mysterious crooks that kidnapped him during the Tour de France. Joining forces with the ageing jazz trio Les Triplettes de Belleville, they hatch an ambitious plan to rescue him from his seeming state of peril.
Spanning countryside to metropolis, FellSwoop’s original stage adaptation uses puppetry, physical theatre, live jazz and bespoke sound effects to tell this touching comedy that has enthralled audiences around the world.
Winner of the NSDF Edinburgh Emerging Artists Competition 2011.
“Inventively staged, cunningly choreographed and brilliantly scored, this production dazzles with its wit and imagination” Three Weeks
“A gentle, charming, lively production” Bristol Evening Post
Fest Magazine ****
The List ****
A Younger Theatre ****
Three Weeks ****
Broadway Baby ****
Exams – March 2012
For our March 2012 Exam Timetable, please click on the following link:
Sports Fixtures 2012
Sports fixtures for the Spring term 2012 are now available.
To take a look at the girls’ fixtures please follow the link: Girls’ fixtures spring 2012
To take a look at the boys’ fixtures please follow the link: boys’ spring fixtures 2012
Charter Day
The Merchant Venturers Charter Day is celebrated each year on 10 November as was set down in the Charter granted by Charles 1 in 1639. After a service at the Cathedral the Merchant Venturers’ school children are given a bun and two shillings (10p) as they have for hundreds of years. Since the Academy opened in 2008 we have joined Colston School and Colston Girls’ at this historic event. (more…)
Columba 1400
Merchants’ Academy have worked with the charity Columba 1400 for the past 3 years in developing student and staff leadership skills. Each year a group of students and staff have travelled to Scotland to complete an intensive residential, including learning sessions up until 10.30pm at night. On their return, students are then encouraged to lead projects and activities that result in benefits to the Academy and the wider community. (more…)
Nairobi Visitors
On Thursday 1st December we had some visitors from Nairobi (Kenya) come to our school. The visitors had a lovely morning, so thank you to everyone for making it such a positive experience for them. (more…)
Dance Academy at the UDO National Final!
On Saturday 3rd December 9 girls from years 7,9,11 and 1 from 6th form performed at the National Hip hop school Finals in Blackpool. They won their division 5 months ago in Birmingham and so had to compete against 30 crews from across the country in the final. (more…)
All Age Academy
Governors at Gay Elms Primary School and Merchants’ Academy have agreed that the merger of the two schools to become an All Age Academy will be delayed. This will not now take place in September 2012 as initially planned. We are determined, in the interests of improving the educational opportunities for all pupils, to continue to work closely together in order to merge no later than September 2013.
To find out more please read our letter: Letter to Parents Feb 2012