A group of students, who are now in Year 8 have been getting creative in an after school Arts & Crafts Club run by Miss Thwaites and Mr Graham.

The club was launched last year as a way for students to socialise and enjoy expressing themselves through art. Kiera I, Tia G, Tilly W, Brooke B and Mia J, pictured here, started by painting stones with positive messages and images to display around our Academy grounds.

They then went on to produce bespoke resin key rings, coasters and dog tags, all made to order and sold to staff and students, with money raised from sales being donated to Stray Aid. This local charity, which is based in Coxhoe, helps to nurture, retrain and rehome unwanted dogs and cats. Stray Aid was suggested by Miss Thwaites who is passionate about both animal welfare and fundraising to support charitable organisations.

Miss Thwaites has also recently adopted a dog from Muts Rescue, a charity in Romania. Nushka is a one year old Hungarian Visla/Labrador cross who was found abandoned and starving in the mountains. She was taken to the rescue centre for medical treatment before being put on the Muts website for adoption; this is where Miss Thwaites saw her photo and instantly fell in love. Following a long journey in a transporter, Nushka arrived in the UK and her new forever home where she settled immediately. Miss Thwaites is impressed by her calm and gentle nature and aspires to Nushka having a future as a therapy dog at King James.