One lucky Wallscourt Farm Academy pupil earned a special surprise this term – courtesy of Aspens Services Catering.

Aspens is the firm which provides catering services across the trust, and it marked Census Day with a special competition for pupils.

A sticker was placed underneath plates at all Aspens Services-catered sites within the CLF. Pupils who found a sticker were invited to write their name and academy on it to be entered into a prize draw.

The draw attracted over 200 entries from pupils across the federation. The winning name was drawn by Martin Thomas, Estates and Facilities Director, who selected Jude, a Year 1 pupil at Wallscourt Farm Academy.

Jude won a brand-new bike and cycling helmet, much to the delight of staff and pupils.

Becky Neale, Student Engagement Manager at Aspens Services, said: “It was fantastic to see such a high level of excitement from all the pupils taking part in our Census Day competition. Seeing Jude’s face light up with his new bike and helmet was a perfect moment, and a wonderful way to celebrate a successful day.”

Martin Thomas said: “It’s always wonderful to see the excitement and smiles on pupils faces when we hold fun activities like this.

“We hope the new bike encourages Jude to enjoy being active and exploring the outdoors safely.”

Pictured

Jon Tilley -Operations Manager Aspens

Becky Neale – Student Engagement Manager Aspens Services

Heidi Clement – Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities Cabot Learning Federation

Hans Price Academy has made a huge donation to the life-saving RNLI charity’s Weston-super-Mare branch, following the school’s highly-successful fireworks night.

The event – held in school grounds – brought together families, friends and members of the local community for an evening of celebration and fundraising. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who attended, an impressive £1,645.66 was raised.

A group of students recently visited RNLI Weston to present the cheque on behalf of the school. During their visit, they had the opportunity to chat with the amazing volunteers who give their time to help keep people safe along our coastline.

Students were inspired to learn more about the courage, teamwork and commitment shown by RNLI volunteers. The visit highlighted just how important community fundraising is in supporting vital equipment, training and rescue missions.

The RNLI is a lifesaving charity whose volunteer crews are on call day and night, heading out in all conditions to help anyone in trouble at sea. From rescuing swimmers and boat users to promoting water safety in the community, their work is vital in a seaside town like Weston.

Liam James from Hans Price Academy said: “We are incredibly proud of our students, staff and wider community for coming together to raise money for such a fantastic charity such as RNLI Weston. Supporting this charity means a great deal to us as a coastal community. It was a wonderful experience for our students to present the cheque in person and learn more about the lifesaving work the RNLI carry out.”

Hans Price Academy would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the fireworks night and everyone at the RNLI. The academy looks forward to continuing to support local charities that make such an important impact in our community.

In addition to their classroom learning, pupils at Uphill Village Academy recently took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, the world’s largest annual garden wildlife survey.

Organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Big Garden Birdwatch plays a vital role in tracking UK bird population trends and helping conservationists understand how wildlife is faring across the country.

During the activity, pupils explored the school grounds equipped with binoculars, carefully observing, identifying and recording the wide variety of birds they were lucky enough to spot.

This hands-on experience brought learning to life, encouraging pupils to develop their observation skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for nature and the environment.

The event proved to be a truly memorable experience for everyone involved, combining outdoor learning with an important national conservation initiative.

A spokesperson for Uphill Village Academy said: “Taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch gave our pupils a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature while contributing to an important nationwide project.

“Experiences like these help to inspire curiosity, responsibility and a lifelong respect for the natural world.”

Students at City Academy have been meeting every Thursday over the past few months to create the school’s first-ever City Academy Newspaper.

The project has empowered students to develop content they genuinely care about, resulting in a vibrant mix of articles, puzzles, comics and book recommendations.

Year 11 students played a key role in supporting the editorial process, helping to edit and re-draft peers’ work, while staff collaborated to format, print and distribute the first edition.

The newspaper’s launch on 4 February was met with huge enthusiasm across the school. Students were spotted around the building unable to take their eyes off the pages – rumour has it one student was even asked to stop reading their copy during a lesson.

Demand has been so high that additional copies have already been requested.

With the success of the first edition, City Academy is excited to continue riding the wave of journalism as work begins on the upcoming second edition.

Selina Dowsing, Teacher of English at City Academy, said: “This project has given students a real voice and a genuine sense of ownership over their writing.

“Seeing their excitement when the first edition was released reminded us how powerful it is when young people are trusted to create something meaningful for a real audience.”

A group of Year 6 and 7 learners from Sky Academy recently enjoyed an exciting educational visit to Pizza Express in Taunton.

The visit aimed to introduce learners to a range of careers within the food and hospitality industry while providing valuable hands-on experience in a real working restaurant.

During the session, learners were given the opportunity to make their own pizzas from scratch, choosing from a variety of fresh ingredients before enjoying their creations together.

The experience allowed them to develop practical skills, teamwork, and confidence, while also gaining insight into the day-to-day roles involved in running a successful restaurant.

A spokesperson from Sky Academy said: “This visit was a fantastic opportunity for our learners to explore potential career paths and learn in a fun, engaging environment.

“Experiences like this help bring learning to life and inspire our students to think about their futures with confidence and curiosity.”

Sky Academy would like to thank the team at Pizza Express Taunton for their warm welcome and for providing such a memorable and enriching experience for the learners.

Year 3 pupils from Waycroft Academy had a fantastic day at We The Curious, the interactive science centre and educational charity located on Bristol’s harbourside.

Pupils explored the exhibits with great enthusiasm and curiosity, engaging in a wide range of hands-on activities that supported their current science learning.

From experimenting with interactive displays to investigating how things work, pupils showed real excitement and interest throughout the visit.

As part of the trip, they also took part in an exciting light and shadow workshop. During the session, pupils carried out a range of experiments, including using a prism to split white light into the full spectrum of colours. They were fascinated to see how light behaves and especially enjoyed discovering the science behind rainbows.

Pupils represented Waycroft Academy brilliantly, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating excellent behaviour and teamwork throughout the day.

A spokesperson for the academy said: “Trips like this bring learning to life.

“Pupils were fully engaged, curious, and enthusiastic all day, and it was wonderful to see them making such strong links to their classroom learning.

“We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Waycroft Academy.”