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25/03/24

We were privileged to welcome Susie Barnett BEM back to Burnt Mill Academy to speak to students about her remarkable life and her family’s escape from persecution.Students were asked to provide their thoughts on Susie's inspiring story pic.twitter.com/aECV7c60aC

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22/03/24

🏰 38 of our Year 7 students recently visited Castle⚔️ Students travelled back to 1066 Norman England. They explored the castle, roamed through the hidden village, wandered around the houses, and were fascinated by the animals that roam freely through the grounds. pic.twitter.com/pZyB3gi2OX

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21/03/24

🛥️ Isle of Wight, here we come! pic.twitter.com/6LeibdhAhh

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11/03/24

👏 Congratulations to Hannah Nunn who competed in the Schools Championships in Sheffield. 🥇 Winning all her fights and being awarded the gold medal, Hannah has been crowned Champion 2024 and we couldn't be prouder!🇧🇪 Next stop: Belgium to represent England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/LZ6Cac3TjW

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05/03/24

🥘 Students and staff experienced the Cajun flavours of New Orleans with our special Mardi Gras themed lunch 🥙🧂 pic.twitter.com/xYZcAhDDNo

05/03/24

🎉WELCOME Really pleased to have you on board to begin your journey

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02/02/24

It was great to see so many families at our Year 9 options event. Over 90% of the cohort were in attendance!Parents will have received an email with an info booklet and link to the options selection form. A reminder that option choices must be submitted by Friday 23rd February. pic.twitter.com/bAubusAY1k

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31/01/24

Year 10 students were given a tour of Parliament by 's office.For many, this will support their study of 'Theme B: Democracy in the UK' as part of their Citizenship GCSE.A huge well done to the students who all behaved beautifully and asked insightful questions. pic.twitter.com/c2X5RdScFw

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28/01/24

🧱 It's !🦖 Our club takes place every day at lunch time.Builds this term include Jurassic Park and Sonic the Hedgehog 🦔#LEGODay pic.twitter.com/JSN6RR9SM2

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26/01/24

💻 Keen coders from Y9 and students studying Computer Science in Y10 attended the 2024 . Some have already secured work experience placements as a result of engaging with businesses at the event and we met author !#Bett2024 pic.twitter.com/tUmuoP6OKj

19/01/24

BMAT have partnered with to provide School Centred Initial Teacher Training in Essex and London.Our programme offers PGCE with QTS at Primary and Secondary schools in Epping, Harlow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Newham.https://t.co/Rllv13cdOS pic.twitter.com/HgAkrpNCGz

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19/01/24

BMAT have partnered with to provide School Centred Initial Teacher Training in Essex and London.Our programme offers PGCE with QTS at Primary and Secondary schools in Epping, Harlow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Newham.https://t.co/Rllv13cdOS pic.twitter.com/HgAkrpNCGz

12/01/24

📢 We're Hiring! (Harlow, Essex) have a vacancy for a School Staff Instructor (SSI).📄 For a job description and application details, please visit our websitehttps://t.co/npMHqTvFaU

12/01/24

📢 We're Hiring! (Harlow, Essex) have a vacancy for a School Staff Instructor (SSI).📄 For a job description and application details, please visit our websitehttps://t.co/npMHqTvFaU

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18/12/23

🎄🍽️ We ended the term with a special Christmas lunch and presented prizes to the winners of our Christmas Bake Off competition 🍰🎅 We wish all our students, families, staff and the wider Burnt Mill community a wonderful festive period ☃️ pic.twitter.com/Txu5mGCSVO

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09/12/23

🧱 Club has produced another stunning piece!🙌 Well done, Oscar, in Year 8, for completing the Hogwarts set. pic.twitter.com/9Srxt8QiPF

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08/12/23

💪 Our ADT House Challenge was a heroic success!🦸 Students had to design superhero costumes and got busy putting their super skills together to create some amazing art pieces! 🥇 Congratulations to Cheshire House, who took the victory! pic.twitter.com/o6BKpH1idV

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29/11/23

It was fantastic to welcome back so many former Burnt Millers from across the decades for our reunion. We hope you all enjoyed one last look around the school ahead of the rebuild. pic.twitter.com/hRii7BUpea

16/11/23

Thank you to all the students, parents and staff who have contributed to the Shoebox appeal 🎁The team have been in to collect the boxes, and we're very proud of our BMA community 🙌🗞️ You can read more about the project on https://t.co/cX3Ha2yEqA pic.twitter.com/ituhpARuqT

15/11/23

‼️ Our Big Burnt Miller Reunion event is now fully booked ‼️We can't wait to see you all again 😃📨 If you have any photos, videos or memories you'd like to share, please email them to alumnibma.org.uk pic.twitter.com/EHC7J92DnN

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Burnt Mill first in Essex to commit to Army course

Burnt Mill first in Essex to commit to Army course

Posted: 28th October 2019

Attention!
One way of getting the attention of teenagers is to put them in front of an Army Regular.

Students at Burnt Mill Academy are opting for a unique course as an alternative to the traditional GCSEs.

A bespoke cadet course has been created for the school as it becomes the first in Essex to commit to it as a core option for students.

The course is now an option for students in Year 9 and above to select and includes Army training in –

  • basic first aid
  • field craft
  • drill
  • weapons

At the end of the one-year course, students achieve a BTEC Level 1. If they choose to take it for a second year, they will receive advanced training and a BTEC Level 2. After a third year, students can go into a senior role in the Army and train younger peers with an ILM Level 3 Award in leadership and management.

PE teachers Kerry Davies and Jamie Daly are now trained by the Army to deliver the course over 360 minutes each week.

School staff instructor John McFarlane, ex Army Regular, has joined Burnt Mill to support the course.

He said: “The students are coming on great. What is most improved is their attitudes. They are really positive, keen to learn and are putting in the effort.

“Each week, we appoint a duty student who has worked the hardest the week before. They are really keen to get that and are gaining confidence in speaking and giving commands in front of their peers. They are the fundamentals of leadership; they do not realise it, but they are starting to pick them up.

“Everybody is looking at this school now because of the commitment they have given to the cadets. What they are offering is so detailed; the course is unique to Burnt Mill. It is the only school in Essex giving this much time to the course.”

Students spend the day wearing their Army uniform and are looking forward to a calendar of events, including camping, visiting a shooting range and parading in front of parents.

A number of students with special educational needs and disabilities and those who need support with behaviour and emotional issues have opted to take the course.

Miss Davies, head of cadets, said: “We are seeing great feedback from teachers. The course has already helped one student with autism to grow in confidence. His mum has been emailing us regularly to say he seems really keen and is enjoying the course and that his behaviour has improved.

“We are seeing all students try really hard. They are arriving for lessons early, having ironed their own uniforms, and are ready to go. Seeing them improve week by week has been amazing; we did not expect to see that happen so quickly.

“It is something really good for the students who prefer practical lessons. We have got some really academic students taking cadets, as well. It is teaching them all life skills, while still getting a BTEC qualification which will help them to get into sixth form or college.”

Conrad, Year 9, was getting detentions every day when he was in Year 7.

He said: “The minute I heard about the cadets, I changed a lot. My dad said I wouldn’t be able to hack it because of my bad behaviour, so I wanted to prove him wrong. It teaches you discipline.

“I realise now it was a waste of time getting those detentions. I finish my homework on time now and spend more time with my family. I did not used to want to go home as I was always in trouble.

“I have been given an award by my form tutor as the most improved student. My mum was so proud, she started crying.”

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