Live music to raises awareness of bullying and mental health
Students in Years 7 and 8 at King James I Academy have been treated to a live music performance and Q & A session with Sunderland-born singer songwriter, Tom A Smith. The performance was organised by the school as part of their extensive personal development programme, which includes raising awareness about mental health, the impact of bullying and online safety.
At the event, Tom shared some of his own experiences with bullying and mental health, before playing a short acoustic set of his original music. This was followed by a candid Q&A with the audience and a rousing encore to bring the session to a close. Not only was the event a thought provoking experience for students in terms of understanding the importance of good mental health, but hearing about Tom’s passion for music and his determination to succeed was also inspiring. Students heard how 21-year-old Tom had been performing live since the age of eight years old, performing at open mic nights with North East legend Sam Fender. He has since played most of the major UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Leeds and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and is now making waves in the UK’s music industry. He was also hand-picked to support artists such as Catfish & The Bottlemen and Courteeners, and was personally invited to open for Sir Elton John at Hyde Park. Recently, it was announced that Tom will star as Dave Stewart from the ‘Eurythmics’ in ‘Ebony McQueen’, an upcoming musical semi-autobiographical film which is based on Stewart’s life in the 1960s and 1970s. It’s fair to say that students were excited to have seen a star in the making.
Armistice Day at King James
Students and staff across King James I Academy have paid tribute to those who lost their lives in conflict at a special Armistice Day service. Whilst a small group of veterans, student cadets and special guests gathered at the Academy memorial garden to listen to a reading from Head Teacher, Simon Whitehead and ‘The Last Post’ played by Sixth Form Mentor, John Middleton, students in all classrooms were able to watch a remembrance video, which was specially created by the Academy’s Media Department. This included a recording of Laurence Binyon’s poem, ‘For the Fallen’, read by pupils in Years 7 and 8 and a variety of archive photographs from WWI and WW2. This allowed all students to participate in the service using the power of technology and therefore appreciate the importance of remembrance.
