Welcome from our Principal, Mr Hacker

Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the first newsletter of the new academic year, with a special welcome to the parents and carers of our new Year 7 cohort who are joining our school community for the first time.
We have had a strong start to the term, despite the unusual circumstances last Friday. I want to sincerely thank the entire community for your incredible vigilance, care, and supportive messages, they mean a great deal. While very rare, events like this highlight the potential risks associated with social media and offer a helpful moment for reflection. Limiting children's access to social platforms is beneficial in the long run, but in the meantime, it requires all of us as adults to remain vigilant about their online activities.
The rollout of our new phone pouches has gone very smoothly, and our pupils have adapted remarkably well. I understand some parents and carers have questions regarding phone access during emergencies. Please rest assured that should an emergency ever arise, the school will always aim to provide accurate and prompt communication to you at the earliest convenience, once all details have been checked. Co-op Academy Walkden is a safe environment, and phone pouches further strengthen our site as a focused space for learning while reducing online distractions and distress. Thank you to everyone who has sent in messages supporting this initiative, we are confident it will foster a wonderfully positive environment this year.
Finally, we are thrilled to share the extraordinary achievements of our outgoing Year 11 pupils. Their overall performance represents the highest GCSE results in the history of our academy! These record-breaking results are a true reflection of our pupils' hard work, as well as the dedication of the staff who taught and supported them. A huge congratulations to the entire year group.
We’re all looking forward to a really successful year at Co-op Academy Walkden.
Best wishes
Matt Hacker