At the John Henry Newman Academy we aim to provide opportunities for every child to develop not just academically but as a whole. We are lucky to work with a number of businesses, charities and local partners to provide our students with ways to learn new skills, develop their confidence and help our community.

We are currently running:

• The Apex project which focusses on sight screening for every child in the school which can then be used as an early intervention so that every child can access the resources in the classroom with ease.
• Spellbound schools in collaboration with the story museum to enhance our reading and writing. There are a number of projects running through this, such as ‘blue sky books’ where children develop their love of reading through creative outlets.
• Reciprocal Reading through the Fischer Family Family and Mike Treadaway (FFT)  to help develop our love our reading.
• Visits to the local Littlemore library to browse books and take some back to school with us.
• Exciting fixtures with other schools to show how brightly our lights can shine.
• Bikeability – a programme designed to suppor the children in staying safe while cycling through a hands on programme.
• Themed days in year groups to create immersive experiences and make real-life learning links.
• Educational visits linked to the classroom learning, including visits to museums, places of worship, historical sites, landmarks within our community and much more!
• House activities and competitions where the children join together with their house (Carroll, Wilson, Rowling, Dahl, Walliams or Donaldson) where the student leaders support their team to win competitions, get to know each other better and have fun.
• Visits to our local church twice a year to join in with Reverand Margreet to celebrate in our collective worship.
• The Mini or Junior Duke awards aimed at increasing children’s independence, confidence and resilience by giving them a non-academic platform on which to feel success and achievement.

We also provide opportunities to support our local community through the specialisms within our team here at JHN.

For parents and members of the community we are running:

• Stay & Play takes place on Monday and Tuesday mornings in the hall from 9-10:15am. The sessions are for 0-5’s and their parents/carers, no connection with the school is required. Sessions are very inclusive, everyone from the local community is welcome to join in the fun. Please join us for ride-on’s, mini trampolines, books, toys and more! Our Tuesday session is also attended by a representative from The Oxford Hub who is on hand to support parents with advice and guidance on a wide range of life’s challenges.
• We are currently hosting a family learning course, “Managing Feelings and Behaviour”. This is delivered by Abingdon and Witney College and involves 6 weeks of 2-hour sessions. It offers parents/carers the opportunity to learn some of the coping strategies to help guide your children through experiencing big feelings and emotions, that can, at times, feel overwhelming. We hope to expand what we can offer in terms of family learning once the Hub is up and running, so please keep an eye out!
• In collaboration with Homestart and Growing Minds we host a Slow Cooker group. This is a weekly group of around 8 parent/carers, running for 6 weeks. Families receive a free slow cooker on week one, then food for a family dinner for the remaining 5 weeks. Food is prepared in a fun and relaxed environment which is then taken home to cook for that evening’s family dinner. We have enjoyed meals such as Cowboy Casserole, and different takes on Hotpot and Chilli recipes. If you would like to register interest in joining, please email h.jamieson@jhnacademy.co.uk.
• Achieve Oxfordshire – a chance for children and parents to come along together on a Wednesday to learn about healthy lifestyles and how to exercise together.

Gallery

We had an absolutely fantastic time at the Wychwood pantomime! The children laughed from start to finish and couldn’t wait to tell us how much they loved it. A huge thank you to Wychwood School for having us, we had the best time!

Mural Painting in Littlemore

We’ve had an amazing experience working with @manimanson (The Big Orange M) and @alexsingleton (Birman) over the past two days. A dedicated team of Year 5 and 6 pupils have been working hard for months, planning a stunning mural design alongside a fantastic group of artists and poets. Every part of the mural represents Littlemore, with the children researching its history, character, and landmarks to create something truly meaningful. Their designs were inspired by a range of artists, including Henri Matisse, and are bursting with colour, creativity, and community spirit. Take a closer look—you might even spot a hidden JHN sign tucked into the design!

A huge well done to everyone involved. This artwork is a lasting celebration of Littlemore, and we couldn’t be prouder!

Peace Run Assembly and Torch Relay

A huge thank you to the Peace Run initiative for visiting our school today. The team gave a wonderful assembly on the importance of peace, harmony, and exercise, inspiring our children to think about how they can make a positive impact in their communities. The children also had the exciting opportunity to hold the Peace Torch, pose for photographs, and ask thoughtful questions about the global journey of the torch. Later in the day, six of our pupils proudly carried the torch to the underpass outside The Oxford Academy, where they met students from St. John Fisher to pass the torch on for their own assembly. Thank you to everyone involved for making this a memorable and meaningful experience.

Peace Run Torch Relay Through Littlemore 

Here are some fantastic pictures of the children running the Peace Run Torch through Littlemore, making their way to the underpass to pass it on to St. John Fisher. It was a powerful moment, full of unity, teamwork, and a shared commitment to peace. Well done to everyone involved—you truly represented our school with pride!

Mini and Junior Duke Programme

A huge congratulations to David, Ahmad, Ibrahim, Alexandra, and Zoya who have successfully completed their Junior Duke booklets! We are also incredibly proud of all the children who are continuing to make fantastic progress towards completing theirs. Your hard work, commitment, and perseverance are truly inspiring—keep it up!

Congratulations, to James, Harriett, Minhal, Bethany, Arthur & Zoya who have been completing their Junior Duke’s tasks. If you complete any tasks, bring your booklet in for your teacher and Mr. Surman to sign it. Well done everyone!