Twenty-nine Year 10 citizenship students from Weston’s Broadoak Academy recently embarked on an educational visit to the Houses of Parliament in London.

The students, many of whom were visiting these iconic landmarks for the first time, also enjoyed a walk past Big Ben and the London Eye, offering them a chance to experience some of the city’s most famous sights up close.

Upon arrival at the Houses of Parliament, the students were treated to an inspiring educational film about the rich history of the building in the Parliament’s Education Centre. They learned about the many trials Parliament has faced over the centuries, from being burnt down to surviving bombings and being rebuilt multiple times.

The students were then given the rare opportunity to tour the House of Commons and the House of Lords, retracing the steps of the sovereign’s ceremonial visit. They also explored Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the building, admired for its grand high ceilings and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Other highlights of the visit included the lobby where the four nations meet and the room designed by Queen Victoria, where monarchs are still robed for state occasions.

Georgia Wilde, Careers & Aspirations Coordinator for Broadoak Academy, said: “It was a truly wonderful and heartwarming experience. Many of the students said it was a day they would never forget. It has certainly sparked a newfound interest in politics and law for many who had little to no knowledge of it before.

“This educational trip was an unforgettable experience, leaving students with a deeper understanding of British politics and history.”

Winterstoke Hundred Academy pupils marked the start of the new school year with a special event to celebrate the award-winning facilities at their recently opened school.

The striking new school building, located in Locking Parklands, was delivered by North Somerset Council, working in partnership with project contractors, Kier, and the CLF.

It first opened its doors to students back in January, with its formal opening reserved for the new school year in September.

The event saw pupils lead tours around the facilities, showcasing modern classrooms and highlighting their favourite features to guests. Afterwards, they joined a tree planting ceremony as an apple tree was handed over to the school, signifying growth for the future and the fruits of investment in education.

Student Grace Hart, Year 11, said: “The new building is bigger, brighter and a great space to learn. It’s also quiet, which makes it easier to concentrate – it’s the perfect environment to be in and I’m very proud to be here.”

The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred – which now utilises its original site at Beaufighter Road for students in Years 12 and 13, as well as a  temporary home for Lime Hills Academy – has been designed to accommodate up to 900 pupils. It will help to serve the nearby local communities by increasing school capacity in the area as overall demand requires.

The expansion was also designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation, aiming for a much-sought BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for energy efficiency. The building includes sustainable features that classrooms keep cool in summer and warm in winter, as well as solar panels that generate energy for the school and the national grid.

Winterstoke Hundred Principal Matt Randle said: “It is a privilege to be working in our new purpose-built school buildings.

“The bright, open and vibrant design provides for excellent eco credentials in line with the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability alongside fantastic specialist spaces and classrooms.

“Our school is designed to grow with increasing demand from our local community as we aim to deliver a responsive curriculum that meets the needs of students and employers.

“We are excited to see the way our school is becoming a real hub for the residents of Weston-super-Mare.”

Picture caption: Pupils celebrate earning Plastic Free School status at Uphill Village Academy.

Young eco warriors at Uphill Village Academy who have worked tirelessly to protect their community from environmental harm have earned a national award for their school.

The team of green activists have led a whole-school effort to identify the plastics which were being brought into school, and worked to reduce them.

Pupils at the Weston-super-Mare school designed and led assemblies, newsletters and lunchtime activities to educate their classmates about the harm of single-use plastics, and encouraging them to use alternatives instead.

And this work was not limited to the classroom, with the children also encouraging their families to reduce plastic use in the home.

Their work has resulted in the accreditation of Plastic Free School status awarded by the organisation Surfers Against Sewage.

Plastic Free Schools is a pupil-led, ground-breaking programme designed to equip young people with the tools to understand the problems of single-use plastic.

It starts with conducting a single-use audit across the school and throughout the year works towards reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic from school, for good.

The programme also encourages the children to reach out to local businesses to encourage them to reduce the amount of plastic they use as well.

Uphill Village Academy teacher Mark Hancock, who co-ordinated the initiative, said:

“Our aim is to free where we live from single-use plastic: the avoidable stuff that’s everywhere. Things like plastic drinks bottles, disposable coffee cups, sauce sachets, bathroom plastics, excessive food packaging, takeaway containers, etc. The list is quite exhaustive! These are the things that are having a huge impact on our environment and which we can make changes in our lives to eliminate.

“The children have been passionate about making these changes and have been fantastic advocates. They have also encouraged their families to make changes in the homes, too, which is a great.”

Picture caption: Pupils celebrate earning Plastic Free School status at Uphill Village Academy.

Minerva Primary Academy pupils enjoyed a fabulous afternoon contributing to the upkeep of their school.

The Bristol students took part in a community jobs session, working together to tidy and improve key areas of the school.

The outdoor learning area, playground, and library were given special attention, with pupils enthusiastically taking on tasks to enhance these spaces. Their hard work has ensured that these areas are clean, organised, and more welcoming for the whole school community to enjoy.

A spokesperson at Minerva Primary Academy said: “It’s wonderful to see our pupils taking such pride in their school environment and working together to make a real difference. Their teamwork and dedication have truly shone today.”

The school continues to encourage a strong sense of responsibility and community spirit, and this afternoon’s activities highlight the importance of teamwork in keeping Minerva Primary Academy a happy, safe, and inspiring place to learn.

A talented young artist from Monkton Wood Academy has triumphed over thousands of other students to be named the winner of the Cabot Learning Federation artist of the year competition.

Year 9 student Elsie Ryder’s outstanding line drawing, a unique blend of an everyday scene and famous artwork, impressed audiences, earning her the top spot through an online vote.

Her work had been displayed in an online gallery alongside art created by students from other CLF students between Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Elsie said: “This is an amazing surprise! I am very passionate about art and have worked so hard on this piece. I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award.”

Created as part of her Key Stage 3 Art lessons, the impressive piece took Elsie approximately 10 hours to complete. The inspiration for her artwork came from the celebrated self-taught landscape and portrait artist Ben Hughes.

Elsie’s passion for art is set to continue, as she has now chosen to pursue the subject at GCSE level.

Working across the Cabot Learning Federation’s (CLF) Arts curriculum network, this initiative was created to help showcase all the wonderful artwork being produced across the federation.

All academies had the opportunity to put forward their own Artist of the Year, with finalists’ work displayed digitally in an online exhibition. CLF staff, students and the wider community were invited to visit the virtual gallery and vote for their winner.

The gallery earned 14,000 views and 1,250 votes were cast.

In recognition of Elsie’s achievement, she was presented with a personalised leather art roll by Steve Taylor, CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation.

Heather Essadiq, CLF Curriculum Curator for Art and Design, said: “The wide range of work produced, at such high standards, is a testament to the creativity and hard work of CLF students. One collective community, supporting and raising the next generation of artists.”

Howards Motor Group visited Haywood Village Academy this week to celebrate the products that the company has helped finance for the school. Representatives from Howards were delighted to see the school put the £2,500 donation to use, pupils across the school with a variety of resources for outdoor play and classroom activities.

The donation enabled the purchase of iPads, which Key Stage 1 students have been using enthusiastically. Children shared how the iPads support their learning, with one student explaining, “We play TTRS Rockstars and Numbots on these to help with our number skills!” The school’s HVA radio pod DJs were excited to receive new headphones, and the outdoor play area saw an upgrade with new footballs and clipboards for drawing and note-taking. One Year 4 pupil eagerly demonstrated his goalkeeping skills using the newly acquired rebound ball equipment. In addition, Pre-school facilities were enhanced with new furniture, including storage units for loose parts and a much-needed changing table.

Mr Jacob Hollings, Retail Operations Manager for Howards Toyota, stated the Group’s commitment to investing in local communities: “Supporting local schools and initiatives like this is incredibly important to us. With a strong presence in Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Dorchester, and Taunton, we take pride in our long-standing history of giving back to the communities we serve. Whether through donations to schools, local sports clubs, or other causes, we stay committed to making a positive impact.”

Chris Lee, Managing Director of Howards Motor Group, added: “Our Howards Family Charitable Partnership Programme was set up to ensure that we are contributing to the well-being of our communities in meaningful ways. By supporting local schools like Haywood Village Academy, we’re helping to create environments where children can thrive both academically and personally. It’s wonderful to see the immediate impact our donation is having here.”

Mr Jones, Principal of Haywood Village Academy, expressed his appreciation for the support: “It’s widely known that school budgets can be very challenging, so we are hugely appreciative of this generous donation from Howards Motor Group. The new equipment will positively impact the children’s school experience. We feel very supported, and it has been fantastic to be visited by Jacob so that he can see how resources like these can enhance the children’s day.”