frAward recognition, developing rowing skills and working more closely with our families: this week's principal's round up

I hope you all had a wonderful break over the half term. It's always a joy to share these round ups of what we have been up to at Dixons Fazakerley. I am immensely proud of our students for taking up the opportunities outside of the classroom to further their learning and development and our community for supporting our work and providing meaningful feedback.

As well as updates on what we have been up to, this week, we are also launching our local academy board and we would love you to be involved.

On 28 January, we held the first meeting to set up our local academy board for our three Dixons secondary schools in Liverpool at Shino’s Coffee Lounge. The academy board will meet regularly to support the work of all three academies, hearing directly from principals at least three times a year and contributing to key aspects of school life. Members will help strengthen the experience of students, families and staff, while also supporting strands of improvement in each school.

We are seeking a diverse mix of voices from across our school communities. If you are interested in joining the local academy board, please email the academy at DFAinfo@dixonsfa.com and we will be in touch.

Please see below a round up of our recent events and news.

Year 11 Students shine at the Oxford Schools Debating Competition
Four of our Year 11 students proudly represented Dixons Fazakerley Academy in the Northwest round of the prestigious Oxford Schools Debating Competition — one of the largest and most respected school debating events nationally. They demonstrated outstanding confidence, critical thinking and communication, competing with professionalism and composure throughout the day. Their commitment to after-school preparation was evident, and they were superb ambassadors for our academy. We are incredibly proud of the way they embodied our values of respect, determination and integrity.

Rowing adventures: getting to grips with boats and blades
This week, a group of students took part in a hands-on rowing experience, developing skills both on land and on the water. Students learned how to prepare and launch a boat safely, handle equipment correctly and practise the fundamentals of rowing technique. The session promoted teamwork, resilience and physical confidence, while giving students access to a sport many would not otherwise experience. Opportunities like this broaden horizons and help our young people discover new strengths and interests.

Parent-Friendly Schools Standard Award
We are delighted to share that Dixons Fazakerley Academy has been awarded the nationally recognised Parent-Friendly Schools Standard. This accreditation celebrates schools that build strong, meaningful partnerships with families. It recognises the consistent work of staff across the academy to communicate openly, involve parents and carers, and work collaboratively to support every child’s success. We are proud of this recognition and grateful for the trust and partnership of our families.

Events like these capture what we are working to build together at Dixons Fazakerley. We want our students debating confidently on national stages, discovering new passions on the water, and feeling the support of strong family-school partnerships around them.

The Parent-Friendly Schools award and the launch of our Liverpool local academy board both point to the same belief: schools work best when they are rooted in their community and shaped alongside families. We are committed to listening, improving and building something lasting for our young people.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the academy. When school and community move forward together, our students benefit most.

Nick Hughes