Feedback about our Academy

Whole School Music Showcase - Scissett does the Icons - May 2025

To Mr Cunningham and Crew!

I just wanted to take a moment to share some positive feedback. I’ve been more than happy to raise concerns when needed (as many of us parents are), but I think it’s all too easy to overlook the moments when we should give praise, and today definitely felt like one of those moments.

After this afternoon’s wonderful showcase with the children, I felt I had a duty to say something. It was truly heartwarming and a real credit to the school, the staff, and the children. Events like that don’t just happen, they take a great deal of thought, preparation and care, and it showed.

Mr Cunningham, I think you’re doing a fantastic job leading the school. Your way of engaging with both the children and the parents is something quite special. It’s clear that you’ve earned the respect of everyone and that’s no small thing. In my view, the recent outstanding Ofsted report is a true and fair reflection of the incredible work being done here, and we couldn’t be prouder that Theo attends your school.

Every teacher XXXX has had so far has genuinely contributed to his development and growth, and we’re especially happy with his current teachers, Mrs Lodge and Mrs Whittle. As parents, we see how they not only support XXXX's learning but accept and nurture him for the wonderful, intelligent, and jovial little person he is. He feels safe, seen, and understood and that means the world to us.

XXXX goes to school and kids club happy every single day, and honestly, that’s all we want. We see the love and effort that go into everything the school organises, and we just want to say we see it, and we appreciate it.

We shouldn’t have to feel lucky to have a good school, because all schools should be like this. But compared to the experiences many of our friends and family have had elsewhere, we do feel incredibly fortunate.

Thank you for all you do. Wishing you and the whole team a well-deserved, restful break.

Good afternoon,

I just wanted to express how much I thoroughly enjoyed the showcase this morning!!

The children (and teachers) did such an amazing job, it was amazing to watch and sing along.

I only wish I'd bought a ticket for this afternoon's performance!

Ofsted Inspection - April 2025

I would really like you to know, from a reception parents’ point of view, how exceptional Scissett Academy really is. As a teacher myself, I sadly was not able to collect my daughter today, but I would like to let you know, what I would have said, if I had been able to speak to you at the end of the school day.

Scissett Academy was our first choice school by far, despite us living in Emley (out of area); this was because from the first moment we stepped through the school doors, Mr Cunningham and all staff at Scissett Academy were so welcoming, kind and just amazing. Mr Cunningham took us on a tour of the school and we got to see the innovative learning that was taking place in every classroom. All of the lessons that we saw were so engaging, fun and challenging. Children were extremely happy, thriving and so well behaved. One particular lesson that stood out to me was in Year 1 where 30 children were stood up on the carpet and asked to spell ‘apple’ using robot arms. They did this incredibly well and in complete synchronisation with each other! The displays in the classrooms and in the hall were fresh, bold and eye catching. As a teacher I look for things like this! The work spaces were carefully thought out for learning activities. It was also clear to see that Mr Cunningham regularly popped into the classrooms to see what learning was going on, and staff just carried on as normal as we walked through their classrooms.

We were lucky enough to get a place at Scissett Academy and our daughter started in Reception, September 2024. When she started school she could just recognise letters and write down her own name. Since then she has made outstanding progress. With enormous thanks to Miss James and Miss Bray, our daughter can now read 24 page phonics books with very difficult words in, quite fluently and with expression. In addition, she can write full sentences that include connectives such as ‘because’. I truly believe that this is entirely down to Scissett providing the highest quality teaching. Our daughters’ grandparents can not believe the progress that she has made since starting school.

Since September, all parents have been invited into Scissett Academy to attend; a phonics workshop, reading afternoon, maths workshop and writing workshop. These workshops have been invaluable to parents like us. As a secondary trained teacher it has made a real difference to how we can support our daughter from home - thank you Scissett Academy. Mr Codling recently led a maths morning and we have started applying his concepts and ‘shut the box’ game at home, which has really helped our daughters’ understanding. The most recent writing workshop was also incredibly valuable, and again we have taken so much useful information away with us to support our daughter at home too (one principle that we use at home now is to not practice spellings in isolation, but within sentences).

We really hope that you too see Scissett to be the exceptional school that we truly feel it is.

Yorkshire Wildlife School Trip (Year 1 and 2) - March 2025

FAO: Headteacher

Hello, my name is Mick and I drove your students and staff to the above venue.

I am writing to compliment your students on their excellent behavior whilst travelling. There was not any shouting or screaming which can be a distraction to driving.

Your staff were spot on, polite and courteous and truly professional.

In the past 12 months the best school I have had the pleasure to drive to an external activity.

Thank you once again.

Mick Tye

Coach Driver

Ultimate Coaches

Star Worship - January 2025

I just wanted to feed back how lovely the Star of the Week assembly is. Today was my first time attending and it was such a pleasure to be there and see all the positivity in the hall for the whole school. It made me really proud to be part of this fabulous school community.

There were so many opportunities for the children to receive praise for their good work which having not yet attended a star of the week assembly I had not appreciated.

Thank you so much for this special occasion. I can’t wait for the next one!

Stable by Starlight Nativity Production - December 2024

"Wonderful! Some very special memories made"

"A lovely, magical and inclusive for all nativity. The stage design was amazing too! So impressive to watch"

" Wonderful performance by all the children. Beautiful signing and dancing and lovely loud and clear voices. It was great to see all children have a turn on stage"

"Such an enchanting nativity! We thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance. Well done teachers too. A perfect start to Christmas - Thankyou"

Year 5 Collective Worship - June 2024

"The Worship made me feel inspired about the day ahead because the children were positive and confident. It made me think about facing everyday challenges with a positive mindset"

"The Worship made me feel inspired and proud because of the confidence of the children. It made me think about how we can help children to overcome challenges"

Whole School Music Performance - Scissett Does the Movies - May 2024

"What a fantastic show! Every year group was amazing and a real pleasure to watch. They all did brilliantly"

"Incredible performances from every single child"

"That was senstional Scissett! It was incredible to see every child singing their hearts out and remembering all those words - WOW! You had an amazing energy which made us all happy. Thank you!"

"From the meaninful song choices, to the choreographed dance routines and of course the amazing singing. What superstars!! Best so far. Thank you to all the teachers too. Impeccabl behaviour and outfits too"

"Truly sensational. It never fails to make my heart smile how wonderful this school is ❤️ The smiles of the children tell the story!"

Year 2 Collective Worship - April 2024

"All the children did amazing, so lovely to be able to come and see"

"Great Worship, really important message we will all take away"

"All the children were confident and a credit to the hard work all th staff do with them. A great topic and very relevant"

Collective Workship Crew - Collective Worship: Love - March 2024

"Very inspirational and a good lesson for all to think about and learn. Thanks to all staff and pupils"

"Inclusive, fun, interactive assembly, great message"

"Very good message to everyone at the school"

Year 4 Collective Worship - February 2024

"Another excellent collective worship. So wonderful not only talking about co-operation but demonstrating it in an amazing, inclusive way. Thank you Year 4"

"All the children did amazing. Really workd as a 'team'. Well done Year 4"

Understanding and Supporting Anxiety Parent Workshop - March 2023

"Really helpful. Great calming strategies to deal with anxiety in children"

"Excellent variety of resources to refer to"

"I now have a better understanding of triggers and techniques to use"

Reading Afternoon - Autumn 2022 - Quotes from parents

"Thank you for inviting us into school, a very useful afternoon"

"Very useful. Glad I came, gave me some ideas of what to do at home"

"It has been very helpful and good to get some more information to help when filling out the reading book. Also good to know the exception words"

"The session has been very helpful as sometimes it was a bit daunting when the blending wasn't coming along. After the session I felt equipped with the information I needed to help my child"

"Excellent advice and tips given to help motivate and support us at home! Thank you Miss James for all your hard work!"

"The session was very informative and helpful. We are enjoying watching Evelyn's reading develop at home too, very proud! Thankyou!"

Quotes from parents

"We are really grateful for all you are doing in working incredibly hard"

"Really reassuring and positive in uncertain times"

"I would like to thank all the staff for all the work they have put into making school a safe and happy environment. All staff are doing an amazing job and both my children are happy"

"Very calm and organised with a lovely smile and a warm welcome."