Pool Academy’s first show in a decade is only the start

Ten years is a long time for a school stage to sit empty. At Pool Academy the curtain is going back up, and the plans stretch well beyond the stage.

Pool Academy is building closer links with families and local primary schools through a run of new projects, led by a teacher who has taken on a new role to make it happen.

Lydia Day, Head of Expressive Arts, is now also the school’s Associate Assistant Principal Transition and Community.

📷Pool Academy's Head of Expressive Arts Lydia Day has taken on a new role as Associate Assistant Principal Transition and Community

Together Thursdays bring parents into school

One of the first ideas off the ground is Together Thursdays. Every six weeks, parents and carers are invited into school to take part in activities with their children.

The first session took place this week, with families painting side by side.

A say in school life

Lydia is also setting up working groups so parents and students can share their views and help shape school life.

The first parent group and student group have already met. A separate group for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is also planned.

Primary pupils invited in

The school is also developing stronger links with local primary schools. Year 5 and Year 6 children will be invited to take part in the Christmas show and to come along to a Halloween disco.

Primary pupils will also be invited in for singing and art workshops. There they will prepare a part for the Christmas show, where they will sing alongside the Pool Academy choir, and make Christmas tree decorations.

High School Musical Jr. and a cast that starts early

Meanwhile, rehearsals are under way for High School Musical Jr., the school’s first production in 10 years. Lydia is directing and choreographing it ahead of performances in March next year.

The show is helping with transition too. During transition days, Year 6 pupils took part in singing, dancing and acting workshops before being given the chance to audition.

Everyone who auditioned has been accepted into the production. So those pupils get to be part of the school community from the moment they join.

The school also plans to invite local primary school children to a special matinee performance. The aim is to give younger pupils a chance to experience the school and be inspired to dream big, one of its three core values.

“We’ve only just got started”

Lydia Day said: “This is a role I’m really excited to get stuck into. I want Pool Academy to be a place where our students, families and primary schools feel connected to what we’re doing and know that their voices are being heard.

“We’ve got lots already happening, from bringing our first school production in 10 years back to the stage to getting parents into school and working with our primary schools in new ways. I’m particularly excited about the opportunities we’re creating through expressive arts, because they give young people the chance to build confidence, work as a team, be creative and discover what they can do.

“We’ve only just got started, and there’s a lot more I want us to do.”

Tegen Thompson, Head of School at Pool Academy, said: “We want Pool Academy to be a school where our families and local primary schools feel genuinely connected to us. Lydia has brought huge energy to this work, and we’re already seeing new opportunities for students, families and our wider community to get involved.”

Tegen added: “We believe that high standards and strong community heart go hand in hand. While we hold our students to ambitious academic expectations, Pool Academy ultimately exists to serve our local community, ensuring every child receives the care, encouragement, and challenge they need to thrive right here where they live. Lydia’s role is vital in achieving this.”

📷Lydia with some of the cast of High School Musical Jr.