Steve O’Callaghan, Vice Principal at Lime Hills Academy, has completed an extraordinary feat —running 30 gruelling miles across the rugged terrain of the Brecon Beacons in a time of 7 hours 30 minutes.

Steve is no stranger to endurance challenges, having previously completed many 50km, 50-mile and 100km trail races over the past 10 years. His dedication to long-distance running continues to inspire both students and colleagues.

The event was organised by Off the Tarmac (OTT), a Wales-based company specialising in trail running events and coaching for trail and ultra-marathon runners.

OTT’s events take place within the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park, offering athletes the chance to test their endurance and mental strength in one of the UK’s most demanding landscapes.

Steve also took on this challenge to raise money and awareness for Talk Club, a UK-based charity and mental fitness community for men.

Talk Club helps men open up about their feelings and improve their mental well-being through peer-to-peer groups, physical activities, and therapy.

Reflecting on his achievement, Steve said: “Running through the Beacons was both brutal and beautiful.

“I wanted to show that looking after our mental fitness is just as important as our physical health.

“Talk Club does incredible work helping men open up and support each other.”

Year 4 pupils from Evergreen Primary Academy had an unforgettable day at Ashton Gate Stadium.

From a VIP tour of the home of Bristol’s rugby and football teams to a powerful conversation about what it means to Stand Up to Racism in sport, our learners were inspired to think big and act kindly.

The visit offered a brilliant mix of learning, teamwork, and making a difference encouraging pupils to reflect on inclusion, respect, and the power of sport to bring people together.

A spokesperson for Evergreen Primary Academy said: “Our pupils came away feeling inspired and empowered.

“Experiences like this help them see that kindness, respect, and teamwork matter both on and off the field.

“We’re so grateful to Ashton Gate for such a memorable day.”

Students at Digitech Studio School in Bristol were given a unique opportunity to showcase their musical prowess in support of their school.

The students were invited to compose a brand-new piece of music to replace the current ‘on hold’ track on the school’s phone system.

The initiative launched in October, when a competition was opened to all music students in Years 10, 11, 12, and 13, inviting them to create the perfect piece of ‘on hold’ music.

The winning composition will feature on the school’s phone system for the remainder of the academic year, and the talented student behind it has also received a £20 Amazon Gift Card and 25 House Points.

After receiving 25 outstanding entries, Digitech’s Music Department carefully shortlisted seven very different and creative compositions. Each shortlisted student received chocolate and five house points in recognition of their achievement.

The shortlisting panel, made up of music staff, scored each entry out of 10 in the following areas:

• Creativity
• Technical/compositional merit
• Suitability as ‘on hold’ music

This gave each song a total possible score out of 30.

The shortlisted entries were then put to an online vote, open to students, staff, and families over five days. With more than 250 votes cast, every piece received lots of positive feedback and support. However, one winner emerged above the rest — entry 3, created by Leyton of Year 12, who secured 31.2% of the total votes.

Leyton’s winning piece stood out for its fresh, upbeat tone, strong compositional skill, and consistent dynamics — all essential ingredients for great on-hold music. He met every part of the brief and is a truly deserving winner.

We’d like to say a massive thank you to every student who entered. Each participant received a congratulations postcard to recognise their hard work and creativity.

All seven shortlisted pieces were of an incredibly high standard and would have made perfect on-hold music. Huge congratulations to Alex, Freya, Natalia, Nathan, Ozzy, and Ben for your fantastic work — the music department can’t wait to hear what you create next!

A special mention also goes to Year 10 music students, who collectively submitted the most entries and had the highest number of shortlisted pieces.

Sam Eason, Deputy SENCO & Teacher of Music, said: “This project was a fantastic way to showcase our students’ creativity in a real-world context.

“We’re so proud of Leyton and all the entrants for their professionalism and musical flair.”

Pic; left Juliet French and right Olga Kotovich 

Winterstoke Hundred Academy has been selected by the British Council as one of just 100 schools across the UK to take part in a landmark groundbreaking international project celebrating 100 years of UK–Ukraine relations.

As part of this initiative, the academy has been partnered with Balta Lyceum No. 4, based in Balta, Odessa, with Ukrainian teacher Olga Kotovich leading collaboration from the partner school.

The British Council project aims to promote reading for pleasure and foster cultural connections between young people in the UK and Ukraine through shared learning and creative exchange.

Earlier this year, teachers from both nations travelled to Poland to take part in joint training sessions, collaborative planning, and cultural exchange workshops designed to strengthen school partnerships and inspire future projects.

Since forming the partnership, students at Winterstoke Hundred Academy have exchanged welcome letters with their Ukrainian counterparts and have also written to Ukraine students on a range of cultural topics including how Halloween is celebrated in the UK.

Currently, students are producing a video tour of the school to share with their partner class in Ukraine.

They have also chosen a bilingual English Ukrainian book to read together as part of the project, encouraging language learning and shared enjoyment of storytelling.

Looking ahead, the school hopes to organise a live online meeting between students and teachers in both countries, to continue building on these international links.

Juliet French, Head of Faculty for Languages at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said: “This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with their peers across Europe and to develop a deeper understanding of different cultures.

“Through reading, language learning, and creative collaboration, our young people are discovering that stories and ideas can build bridges, even across borders.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this initiative and excited to see how it grows.”

Monkton Wood Year 8 and Year 9 students had a wonderful time exploring the beautiful region of Cantabria in northern Spain.

The visit provided a fabulous opportunity for our students to practise their Spanish, bring their classroom learning to life, and immerse themselves in the culture, history, and everyday life of Spain.

Among the many highlights of the trip was a visit to Los Picos de Europa, a stunning mountain range stretching for around 20 km and forming part of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain.

Students also enjoyed a day at Cabárceno Nature Wildlife Park, a unique zoo and nature reserve located in Penagos, just 17 kilometres south of Santander, where they had the chance to see animals from around the world in a semi-natural environment.

Head of Languages, Donna Lees, said: “This trip was an incredible experience for our students.

“It gave them the chance to see Spanish language and culture in action, far beyond the classroom.

“Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to engage with everything from local traditions to everyday conversations made us very proud.”

More than 50 students at Monkton Wood Academy have successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

These outstanding young people demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience, and teamwork throughout their DofE journey, taking part in a range of activities, from adventurous expeditions to volunteering projects and skill-building challenges.

Rebecca Purnell, Associate Assistant Principal, said: “This celebrations evening was a fantastic way to recognise your achievements and present your well-deserved certificates.

“We’re excited to see where you decide to take it next — whether that’s completing the Silver Award, becoming a young leader, or representing Monkton Wood Academy at the next Ten Tors.”

Monkton Wood Academy extends heartfelt congratulations to all 51 students on this remarkable accomplishment. Their determination and spirit truly embody the values of the academy and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.