City Academy Bristol was alive with excitement as it hosted the Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour Festival, a special T1 rugby celebration event welcoming schools from across the Bristol area.

The morning festival was delivered by City Academy Bristol’s Rugby School Manager Theresa Bickell, with support from the RFU, and brought together 10 schools from across Bristol. In total, ten Year 7 girls’ teams and 9 Year 9 teams took part, engaging approximately 200 students in a vibrant celebration of rugby.

The event was made even more memorable by the presence of Bristol Bears Women players Delaney Burns, Holly Phillips and Rownita Marston‑Mulhearn, who attended as guests of honour.

Students enjoyed meeting the players, taking part in signings, selfies, and having their photos taken with the players and a unique piece of sporting silverware.

Adding to the excitement, the World Cup trophy, currently held by the England, was on display. England took centre stage in Bristol when they faced Wales at Ashton Gate, a match in which Delaney Burns featured, giving students a direct connection to the elite level of the women’s game.

Rather than focusing on scores, the festival was judged on values. Teams were assessed using the RFU’s TREDS values – teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship – alongside the Cabot Learning Federation’s HEART values, which promote high expectations, equity, all children, resilience and togetherness.

Following a morning of energetic rugby, Oasis Brislington were named Year 7 winners, while Yate Academy claimed the Year 9 title.

Theresa Bickell, Secondary School Engagement Co‑ordinator for the CLF and Bristol Bears Foundation, said: “It was fantastic to see so many students from across the Bristol area come together to celebrate rugby.

“The energy, teamwork and enthusiasm on display truly reflected our CLF HEART values, and we hope this experience inspires even more young people to get involved in the sport.

“The festival highlighted the power of rugby to bring young people together, inspire ambition, and celebrate the future of the women’s game.”

Year 9 students at Hans Price Academy took part in ‘Blunt Truth’, a powerful two-day knife crime awareness workshop delivered by the Violence Reduction Partnership, part of North Somerset Council.

The programme aimed to equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies to keep themselves and others safe.

Throughout the sessions, students learned how to safely challenge someone they know who may be carrying a knife, the medical implications of knife wounds, and what to do if they ever witness someone in need of urgent medical attention.

These discussions were grounded in real-life experience thanks to the professionals supporting the workshop: paramedics from the British Army, paramedics, local police officers and firefighters. Their insight helped students understand not only the risks but also the real-world consequences of knife-related incidents.

The workshops were interactive and eye-opening, encouraging students to think critically about personal choices, peer influence, and community responsibility.

One Year 9 student summed up the impact of the experience, saying: “It was shocking to see what could happen and although it was scary I feel much more confident about reporting something like this.”

School leaders thanked the Violence Reduction Partnership and all the emergency service teams who supported the event. Their expertise and honesty helped deliver an unforgettable learning experience that will stay with students long after the sessions ended.

Samuel Drew, Assistant Principal at Hans Price Academy, said: “This workshop gave our students a rare opportunity to hear directly from frontline professionals and understand the serious realities of knife crime.

“While the content was challenging, it was delivered in a way that empowered students with knowledge and practical skills, helping them feel more confident in making safe choices and supporting others in their community.”

Tewkesbury Academy is incredibly proud of the sporting achievements of former student Amelie Curtis, who continues to represent Wales at U19 level in women’s football.

Earlier this week, Amelie played a key role as Wales faced England in Switzerland in a UEFA U19 Women’s Euro Qualifier, securing a historic 3–2 victory — believed to be Wales U19s’ first ever win against England.

Amelie proudly features on the academy’s Sporting Hall of Fame Honours Board and stands as a fantastic example of where hard work, resilience, and dedication can lead.

This remarkable achievement highlights not only Amelie’s talent but also her commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch. She continues to inspire current students and the wider school community.

David Graham-Kevan, Head of Physical Education, said: “Amelie’s achievement is nothing short of outstanding.

“To represent your country at this level is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and passion for the game.

“We are immensely proud of her success and delighted to see her making history with Wales. She is a true role model for our students.”

Five Lime Hills Academy students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Clifton Coffee’s headquarters over three separate days to explore careers within the coffee industry. Thanks to our strong partnership with Clifton Coffee, students were able to gain first-hand experience across a range of roles and processes that keep this vibrant industry thriving.

During their visits, students took part in professional barista training, learning the skills needed to prepare high‑quality espresso-based drinks. They also discovered how coffee beans are sourced from around the world, before seeing the full journey from roasting and packaging to distribution. In addition, the group gained practical experience supporting the maintenance and servicing of commercial coffee machines—an essential part of the industry often unseen by customers.

This unique opportunity not only broadened students’ understanding of the coffee sector but also helped them develop confidence, teamwork and hands-on technical skills. Our partnership with Clifton Coffee continues to provide valuable insight into real-world careers, and we are proud of the students for embracing the experience with such enthusiasm.

Steve O’Callaghan Deputy Principal said: “Opportunities like this bring learning to life in a way the classroom alone cannot.

“Our students not only gained valuable insight into a thriving local industry but also developed practical skills and confidence that will support them in their future careers.

“We are incredibly grateful to Clifton Coffee for their continued partnership and for inspiring our students to think ambitiously about their next steps.”

It was a spectacular, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production of Mary Poppins Junior that wowed audiences at Hanham Woods Academy.

Mary Poppins Junior is a 60-minute musical adaptation of the classic story, focusing on the troubled Banks family in 1910 London.

When magical nanny Mary Poppins (played by Sophie Frost, Year 11) arrives, she transforms the misbehaved Jane (played by Naomi Dyson, Year 8) and Michael (played by Ruby Blight, Year 7), teaches the distracted parents to value each other, and shows that ‘anything can happen if you let it’.

With a cast and crew of more than 70 students from Years 7-11, this amazing production had been in rehearsals since October 2025 with students dedicating months of hard work to bring the show to life. There were five performances, all played to packed houses.

From acting and singing to technical support and stage management, the production was a true whole-school effort, showcasing the depth of talent and commitment across the academy.

Caitlin Simmonds, Drama and English Teacher, said: “This production has been nothing short of an extraordinary team effort.

“Our students have shown incredible dedication, creativity and teamwork throughout the rehearsal process and performances.

“We are immensely proud of what they have achieved, Mary Poppins Junior has truly captured the imagination and spirit of our school community.”

A Bristol secondary school which was widely criticised over the postponement of an MP’s visit has seen its decision-making vindicated and allegations of antisemitism rejected by an independent inquiry.

Bristol Brunel Academy had invited Labour MP Damien Egan to speak to pupils about democracy and his role as an MP back in September, but postponed the visit on safety grounds after learning of a potential public protest over Mr Egan’s visit.

The visit was rescheduled – initially for December, before both the school and MP instead agreed on a February date – but before it could take place, Bristol Brunel found itself at the centre of a media storm amid inaccurate reports it had ‘banned’ Mr Egan because of his Jewish heritage.

Mr Egan had previously visited six schools within the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), of which Bristol Brunel Academy is part.

An urgent Ofsted inspection cleared Bristol Brunel’s leadership of showing any discrimination or political bias in its culture and teaching – and now an independent inquiry into its decision-making and the wider culture has also concluded there is ‘no evidence of antisemitism’ within either the school or CLF.

The inquiry, which took place over the course of a month and was led by former Association of School and College Leaders president Dame Joan McVittie, included extensive interviews within the school and other relevant bodies, as well as a detailed review of training materials and trust policy documents.

Dame Joan McVittie concluded the decision to postpone Mr Egan’s visit had been taken solely to protect students, staff and the MP amid the uncertainty of the planned protest – and there was ‘no evidence of the influence of lobbying groups on the decision makers’.

In her report, Dame Joan McVitte said:

“The threat of a protest where there were so many unknowns – information about the size, which groups would be involved, and the risk of local activists joining – created a significant risk to students and the MP.

“The overriding priority for school leaders in any decision must always be safeguarding children and the health and safety of all those on their school site including visitors.

“From the evidence I have gathered I conclude that the decision to postpone on the 5th September was based solely on safeguarding concerns for students and the MP.”

Additionally, the report concluded that the core values of Bristol Brunel Academy and the CLF – which include tolerance, inclusivity and the rejection of discrimination – are supported through detailed EDI training and ‘a wealth of wisdom and challenge’ from governors and trustees.

Dame Joan McVitte said: “The evidence I found during my visit and in the contact I have had with senior leaders in the trust leads me to conclude that for them these are ‘lived’ values. They are role models for staff in the trust.

“In addition to their behaviours which embody the core values they also provide guidance and training for staff to help them understand and implement the law and guidance around their duties as educators and carers for young people.

“The evidence I have gathered leads me to conclude that the decision to postpone was based not on the MP’s religious beliefs or links to Israel but on a desire to protect him from potential abuse and harm as a consequence of this.”

The inquiry offered several recommendations around future political visits to schools within the CLF and across the country.

These include adherence to parliamentary protocols which suggest giving no advance community notice of MP visits, as well as closer working between schools, police, local authorities and the Department for Education (DfE) when making decisions around sensitive visits.

It also recommended that the DfE or parliamentary authority offer improved guidance and security for schools planning visits, and for MPs’ constituency teams to carry out deeper checks on social media prior to visits by MPs and where necessary alert school leaders to community tensions.