City Academy, Bristol has stepped in to support Barton Hill Amateur Boxing Club (ABC), offering the club use of school facilities so its talented team of young boxers can continue to train without disruption.

Barton Hill ABC, a well-known and long-established club, previously operated from the iconic Dug Out youth club – famously attended by street artist Banksy during his youth.

The building has recently been put up for sale by its current owners, Wellspring Settlement, leaving the club without a permanent base.

Thanks to an initial investment and generous support from City Academy, Barton Hill ABC will now be able to use a space at City Academy while a long-term, sustainable solution is sought for the club’s future home.

Boxing club leaders Carlton, Lee, Tom & Hassan said “City Academy’s support couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.

“Our boxers rely on consistent training, and without a place to call home we were facing real uncertainty.

“This partnership allows us to keep our young athletes focused, motivated, and progressing, and we’re incredibly grateful for the school’s belief in what we do.”

Now is the perfect time for Bristol’s young people to join Team Barton Hill. Whether they are looking for general fitness or to challenge for medals on the national circuit – the same circuit where champions like Katie Taylor and Anthony Joshua once competed – they are welcome.

No matter your current level or experience, all the club asks is that you have the willingness to learn, listen, and respect the team. At Team Barton Hill, everyone is treated as an equal and part of the family.

Ben Tucker, Principal of City Academy, said: “Barton Hill ABC has been an important part of this community for generations, and we weren’t prepared to see that legacy put at risk.

“By opening our doors, we’re helping ensure that young people continue to have a safe, positive and inspiring space to train.

“Supporting local organisations like this is at the heart of what City Academy stands for.”

Pictured left to right Ben Tucker, Principal of City Academy, Carlton Miles, Lead coaching Barton Hill, Donna Stark, Facilities Manager City Academy, Hassan Saddiq, Coach, RAJ Singh Coach, Lee Allen Coach.

A multi-academy schools trust based in Bristol transformed Ashton Gate Stadium thanks to an innovative new partnership with Bristol Bears Rugby Club.

Ahead of the Bears’ 5.30pm kick-off against Pau on Sunday, the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) took over the stadium, filling it with student-led entertainment, performances and pre-match atmosphere.

Bristol Bears had offered 3,000 free tickets to CLF schools to distribute to families and colleagues across the trust, and all were claimed within days, highlighting the excitement across the Federation.

The stadium came alive with contributions from students across multiple CLF academies:

• On the Bears Den Stage in the South Stand concourse, DJ Jems, a student from Bristol Brunel Academy, and Kian, from Digitech, joined the stadium’s official DJ to build the pre-match atmosphere.
• In the Lansdown Concourse, Leyton, an up and coming guitarist from Digitech entertained before the John Cabot Academy dance group delivered a high-energy performance that drew large crowds.
• Moments before kick-off, Rafa and Yahye, Post-16 students, took over the stadium microphone to announce the all-important team selection.
• Just seconds before the match began, Bryson, from Bristol Brunel Academy, walked out through the tunnel to present the official Match Ball at the centre spot.

A live Q&A session featuring Steve Taylor, CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation, alongside his son George who is a Bristol Bears player. The session took place at the Bears Den in the South Stand Concourse in front of both Bears and Pau fans.

Throughout the afternoon, artwork created by CLF students illuminated the stadium’s giant screens and featured across Bristol Bears’ social media channels.

Half-time entertainment was led by Angel, a Bristol Brunel Academy student, who captivated the crowd with a powerful vocal performance of ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ by Adele.

Tom Tainton CEO, of Bristol Bears, said: “Seeing Ashton Gate filled with the energy and enthusiasm of CLF students has been fantastic.

“Inspiring young people and building community connections sits at the heart of what we do and today showed just how powerful that partnership can be.

“We were proud to open our doors and share this experience with so many students and families.”

Andrew Bell, Partnership Manager for the Cabot Learning Federation, added: “This event was a celebration of our students, their creativity, their confidence, and their passion.

“Working alongside Bristol Bears gives our young people opportunities they’ll remember for years, and today they absolutely rose to the occasion.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support shown by the club and the Foundation.”

An academy was transformed into wild Bear Country for an afternoon of major sporting activity when City Academy sports leaders teamed up with Bristol Bears stars to deliver a memorable rugby session for Evergreen Primary Academy pupils.

City Academy Year 9 and Year 10 sports leaders delivered a series of fun, non-contact T1 rugby drills for the primary pupils, supported by Bristol Bears players Simi Pam, Sam Worsley, Rownita Marston-Mulhearn and Kofi Cripps. Overseeing the whole event was Theresa Bicknell, Secondary School Engagement Co-Ordinator for Bristol Bears Foundation and City Academy.

The action-packed session saw pupils take part in activities designed to build teamwork, skill, fair play, commitment and dedication.

The event formed part of Bristol Bears Giving Back Day, during which players from the men’s and women’s teams spread festive cheer and inspire communities across the city during the Christmas period.

Bristol Bears Foundation CEO Jamie Skinner said: “Bears Giving Back Day is one of the most important dates in our calendar because it allows us to connect directly with people and organisations doing incredible work in Bristol. It’s about forging real links between the club and the city, using the power of rugby to bring people together, support those in need, and build a stronger, more connected communities.”

Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we have built through the Bears Giving Back Day initiative. It’s a day of volunteering for players and staff that underlines our commitment to our community, which is core to our club strategy. The players lead the way in organising fundraising, visiting schools, hospitals and community programmes – it’s so unique in professional sport. This year, it’s been fantastic to work closely with Bears Foundation to deliver even more hours and visits than ever before on one of the most special days in the Bears calendar.”

Andrew Bell, Partnerships Manager at the Cabot Learning Federation, which both City Academy and Evergreen Primary Academy are part of, said: “This event perfectly demonstrates the power of partnership across our trust and the wider Bristol community.

“To see our older students coaching, encouraging and inspiring younger pupils side by side with professional athletes, was incredibly special.

“Experiences like this build confidence, aspiration and connection, and we are grateful to Bristol Bears for helping create such a memorable day.”

Uphill Village Academy’s amazing choir enjoyed getting out into their local community this week, spreading festive cheer with a special Christmas performance at Manor Care Home.

In true holiday spirit, the choir delivered their Christmas extravaganza to delighted residents, showcasing a wide range of seasonal songs that kept everyone entertained until the very last note.

Their beautiful singing created a warm and joyful atmosphere – some residents sat and listened, while many others happily joined in for a festive sing-along.

A spokesperson for Uphill Village Academy said: “We are incredibly proud of our choir and the joy they bring to others.

“Visiting our local community is an important part of what we do, and seeing the residents smiling, singing along, and truly enjoying the performance made the event even more special.”

Students from Bristol Brunel Academy, Bristol Metropolitan Academy, Broadoak Academy, and King’s Oak Academy came together for an unforgettable career day at University of the West of England (UWE).

This event marked the culmination of the Enthuse Partnership, a collaboration between the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, designed to ignite curiosity and open doors to future opportunities.

The day was filled with hands-on experiences and thought-provoking activities, all centred around sustainability and green skills — vital themes for the next generation of learners and leaders.

Some of the opportunities available to students included:

• Explorer Dome: Students stepped inside an interactive planetarium-style dome to explore the We Make Our Future talk, which brought the challenges of climate change to life in a powerful and engaging way.
• Green skills workshops: From understanding renewable energy to experimenting with wind turbines, students gained practical insights into the skills that will shape tomorrow’s workforce.
• Campus tour: Experiencing university life firsthand gave students a glimpse of the exciting possibilities that higher education can offer.

This day wasn’t just about careers — it was about inspiration. By connecting young people with sustainability, innovation, and the vibrancy of university life, academies are helping them to see their future is not only full of opportunity but also responsibility.

This is part of a wider ambition to nurture a generation ready to tackle global challenges with creativity, resilience, and hope through the lens of STEM.

Craig Jordan, Careers Education, Employability and Enterprise (CEE) Lead for the CLF, said: “Today, was just example of how our careers staff work in collaboration to provide our students with tailored careers education, giving them a insight into sustainability from a careers and a social perspective.

“I would like to personally thank UWE and Louisa Cockbill and her team for hosting and delivering the day. A mention to Rhona Phelps at STEM Learning for supporting the enthuse partnership.”

And the day was a big hit with students, who praised the opportunities on offer.

Herbie, a Year 8 student at Bristol Metropolitan Academy, said: “I found it really interesting about how engineers are using their skills to help the environment.”

Georgia Wilde, Careers and Pathways lead at Broadoak Academy, added: “The immersive nature of the Explorer Dome was an incredible way to get the objective of the day across, hitting home to us all that we are all integral parts of a bigger picture with a complete sensory experience.

“The Wind Turbine workshop was interactive and exciting, and the tour was excellent at showing the many ways in which UWE is doing it’s part is being more sustainable.”