Attendance Matters

It has been fantastic to see our classrooms filled with such energy and enthusiasm throughout January. We are particularly delighted to share that our ongoing focus on attendance is having positive results and we would like to extend our thanks to all our parents and carers for your unwavering support in this area.

We understand that the darker mornings and colder weather can occasionally make the journey to school more challenging, but this brilliant start sets the tone for the terms ahead.

By working together to ensure our pupils are present and engaged, we are giving them the best possible opportunity to achieve their full potential.

We look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the rest of the spring term.

Festive Fun at Springwell Special Academy

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome so many families and friends to our school this Friday. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our pupils' hard work and showcase their fantastic achievements from the past term.

The atmosphere was truly magical, made even more special by visits from our local councillor, some cheeky elves, and even Santa himself! Thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for these festive activities.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from everyone here at Springwell Special Academy!

Festive Teamwork in the Creation Lab

Creativity has been blooming in the Creation Lab this week! Every student has crafted their own individual tree. In a wonderful display of teamwork, these have been positioned together to create a beautiful collective Christmas tree for each class.

These collaborative Christmas Trees are now proudly on display in the classrooms. All the classes have absolutely loved working on this festive project. It is a brilliant way to celebrate the season together!

🤖 Curiosity Pupils' Amazing Recycled Robots!

Take a look at the incredible robot creations built by our pupils in Curiosity!

The children successfully applied their design skills, creatively using a range of recycled materials. They carefully selected items based on properties like strength and texture to construct their frames and features.

From initial design to final detailing with paints and glitter, the pupils showed fantastic ingenuity. The aim to 'Use a range of materials creatively' was wonderfully achieved. Well done to everyone for producing such imaginative and eco-friendly robots!

Welcoming Barnsley FC for Mental Fitness

We were thrilled to welcome Barnsley Football Club to school to deliver the Movember ‘Ahead of the Game’ programme. This expert-backed initiative teaches young people how to understand mental health and build mental fitness. It empowers our students to know exactly who they can talk to when facing challenges in sport and life. A huge thank you to Barnsley FC for visiting us and showing our young players that their community truly has their back!

🎨Kendray Pupils' Creative Aztec Journey!

We are delighted to showcase the impressive work from our pupils at the Kendray site!

Their recent project has been a deep dive into ancient history, focusing on Aztec sunstones and the meaning of their intricate symbols. The children also dedicated time to studying beautiful Aztec patterns. They explored these designs brilliantly, using our tuff tray as a creative canvas with vibrant paint and chalk.

We are incredibly proud of their focused effort and hands-on approach to learning. Excellent job, everyone!

🌟 Pupil Voice on Anti-Bullying Week! 🌟

It was wonderful to see so much positive engagement from our pupils throughout Anti-Bullying Week! The energy and participation in all the activities were truly fantastic.

We recently gathered feedback from pupils on this important topic, and we are absolutely delighted with the results. A brilliant 95% of pupils that responded confirmed they know exactly where to find support within school if they are feeling upset or worried about bullying.

This is a powerful testament to our whole-school commitment to creating a safe, caring, and supportive environment for everyone. Well done, team!

Meeting a Legend: Ed Clancy Inspires Staff and Pupils

We were incredibly lucky to welcome Olympic Gold Medal Cyclist Ed Clancy to our school! Ed visited to sign the artwork in the Pride Key Stage, which depicts him cycling to honour his achievements as a fellow Barnsley lad.

Staff and pupils were captivated by his advice and stories of success. It was amazing to see his track bike, and we even had the privilege of holding his Olympic medals. It was a truly inspiring experience, and Ed has definitely gained a few more fans!

🍓 Culinary Excellence in 'Pride'!

Our KS4 pupils have truly raised the bar in the kitchen this week! Following the exacting standards of Heston Blumenthal's recipe, they masterfully created a stunning raspberry soufflé.

This ambitious bake required precision, with pupils successfully tackling three core components: a delicate custard base, a perfect fluffy meringue, and a vibrant raspberry coulis. We are incredibly proud of their focus and teamwork. The final result was not just a technical triumph, but utterly delicious!

Well done, everyone—a brilliant achievement!

A Journey to Ancient Times: Courage Topic Update!

Our 'Courage' half-term topic, 'Everyday Life in Ancient Times: Voices and Visions,' is sparking brilliant historical exploration!

Students are following the Aztec legend of Tenochtitlan by co-constructing city up brick by brick. Starting with the eagle on a cactus holding a snake, as prophesied by the God, Huitzilopochtili, the Aztecs built homes, temples, floating gardens and finally an aqueduct and roads to the mainland. A majestic city until the Spanish invaded. Now it's hidden beneath Mexico City!


❤️ Hands-On Science Success in BTEC Sport!

What an incredible practical session for our BTEC Sport students in 'Pride'! To truly understand the cardiovascular system, students moved beyond the textbook and into their hands for a fascinating heart dissection.

This hands-on approach allowed them to identify and examine the different structures of the heart and their unique functions, bringing their learning to life. It was wonderful to see their high level of engagement and focus as they explored this vital part of human anatomy. Fantastic work, everyone! We love seeing such deep, practical learning.

🌟 Cadets Shine at Remembrance

We celebrate the dedicated service of our staff member, Second Lieutenant AS, and pupils, LH & HP, who represented the school with the Army Cadet Force on Remembrance Day.

Second Lieutenant AS played a key role in the Wakefield City Centre Parade, leading and directing the squad. Meanwhile, Cadets LH and HP successfully paraded in Fox Valley. Their impressive involvement has allowed them to complete their 1 Star Community Engagement syllabus. We are incredibly proud of their discipline and commitment to honouring the fallen.

Oracy Day Success: New Opportunities Unlocked!

What a wonderful Oracy in Action Day our students enjoyed in the local community! Our pupils were incredible, confidently engaging representatives from the Police to the community café staff.

Their superb speaking skills and impeccable manners truly made an impact. We are thrilled to share that the café was so impressed they have invited us back for exciting sessions, including a cooking workshop and an amazing seaside trip!

This day proves that developing Oracy creates fantastic, real-world opportunities for our pupils.

Hands-On Learning for Global Handwashing Day!

Our pupils had a fantastic time marking Global Handwashing Day with a series of fun and educational activities!

Understanding why hand hygiene is so important—especially as we head into flu season—was the key message of the day. From using paint and pepper to making creative posters, the children explored how to wash their hands effectively.

They not only had a lot of fun but also learned valuable, lifelong lessons. We're proud of our pupils for championing good health habits!

Come on you REDS!!!

A Day to Remember: Barnsley FC Visit

What an afternoon! We were thrilled to welcome two players from Barnsley Football Club to school. Our pupils were completely engrossed as the players answered brilliant questions about their experiences.

The excitement continued with a fun 'kick-about' during our after-school club, followed by a signing session for shirts and scarves! A massive thank you to the players and Barnsley FC for this unforgettable visit. These inspiring moments are exactly what we strive to offer our pupils!

Splash of Nigerian Colour

We are absolutely thrilled to share the stunning artwork created by our pupils in Courage! As part of their studies on the brilliant book, The Other Side of Truth, pupils explored the vibrant beauty of Nigeria.

Their finished pieces are truly a joy to behold. The artwork is exceptionally vibrant, reflecting a wonderful enthusiasm for the topic and showcasing an amazing level of talent. Well done to all our young artists for such lovely pieces of artwork.

Learning brought to life

Our Courage phase pupils at the Highfields site have been working on a truly inspiring project! As part of their reading of the novel ‘The Other Side of Truth’, they have constructed incredible models of rural Nigerian villages. This hands-on activity has deepened their understanding of the challenges faced by the book’s characters. We are so impressed by their creativity and the empathy shown in their work. A wonderful example of learning brought to life!

A Special Harvest at Kendray

What a fantastic achievement for everyone involved! We are delighted to share the wonderful news of our first beetroot harvest from the new green space at Kendray. The children have worked incredibly hard to cultivate this area, and their efforts have truly paid off.

What's been happening at Springwell?

April 4 2025
Our pupils had a fantastic time on their sunny visit to Whitby yesterday! From exploring the historic streets to enjoying the seaside atmosphere, it was a memorable day for all. #Whitby #History #SeasideFun

April 4 2025
Huge shoutout to our fantastic young people volunteering their time and energy at @BarnsleyFoodBank. Their commitment to helping others in our community makes us incredibly proud. #BarnsleyFoodBank #YoungVolunteers #MakingADifference

April 4 2025
What a match! Congratulations to both our team and Joseph Norton Academy for their spirited efforts today. We're delighted with the 6-1 result, and commend all the players on their conduct throughout. #GameOfTheKeepers #Respect

March 28 2025
Fantastic day out! Our students had a brilliant trip to London on Wednesday, topped off by an amazing guided tour of Westminster. Huge thanks to @ukparliament for making it so special! #LondonTrip #Westminster #StudentExperience