Former student and now professional rugby player Andy Uren returned to his old school Hanham Woods Academy to deliver an inspiring talk to students.

Andy, who used to play scrum-half for Bristol Bears but who is now plying his trade for Benetton Rugby in Italy, spoke to hundreds of students from Years 7-10.

With over 150 games played for Bristol, Andy was able to share insights from his playing journey from Bristol academy to first team. He spoke to students about resilience, working hard and the importance of getting good qualifications. Andy also spoke about the culture of respect at Bristol Bears and the impact that has had on him.

The session finished with a Q&A before Andy spent time signing autographs, posing for pictures and having one-to-one conversations with students. He left the PE department his final Bristol Bears rugby shirt which staff are going to frame and hang on display.

Curriculum leader for physical education at Hanham Woods Academy, Elliott Swanton – who used to teach Andy – said: “It has been great following Andy’s career since leaving Hanham Woods Academy and we really appreciate him coming in and encouraging the next generation to achieve their potential.

“Andy has been an inspiration with his performances on the pitch for Bristol Bears, but for many students the chance to meet him in person was clearly an exciting one.  Andy gave a motivational talk, encouraging all students to work hard and aim high.  Andy has grown so much as a person, and we all appreciate his continued support.  We wish him every success in Italy and beyond.”

An important prize has been awarded to a teacher at a school in Bristol at the Tes Schools Awards, one of the biggest nights in the UK education calendar which was held on Friday 23^rd June at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on London’s Park Lane.

 Sally Goodridge from Summerhill Primary Academy in Bristol has won Primary Curriculum Leader of the Year for her incredible work integrating PE into the school way of life.

Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Education’, the Tes Schools Awards is now in its landmark 15^th year. It celebrates the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and support staff across the UK.

Sally has used her passion for sport to rejuvenate the PE curriculum at Summerhill, where staff PE surveys showed that teachers lacked confidence in delivering the PE curriculum.

After taking over leadership of the subject, she created a bespoke learning package for all staff and used Sport Premium funding to bring expert sports coaches into school to co-teach and mentor teachers in PE.

Sally’s enthusiasm for her subject is spreading throughout the school. She launched a Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds approach across PE, PSHE and Personal Development, including a new active uniforms policy so that children are ready for physical activity at any point during the school day. The policy has helped Summerhill get an outstanding judgement from Ofsted for personal development.

Sally’s fresh approach to PE has seen participation in lunchtime and after school sports clubs expand markedly, with a big boost in the numbers of disadvantaged pupils taking part.

Now Sally is working on developing leadership outside the school and is sharing her expertise with PE leads across Summerhill’s parent trust.

Judge Amanda Wilson said: “This is an excellent example of how the impact is so much greater when something is truly threaded throughout a school. The way Sally has engaged the whole school community in these activities and evidenced their impact so well, is really impressive.”

Sally Goodridge from Summerhill Primary Academy said: “I’m totally blown away to have won this award! The work we’ve managed to carry out at the school is testament to the support we’ve had from the senior leadership team, as well as the trust we are a part of.”

Tes editor and chief judge of the Tes Schools Awards Jon Severs said: “With these awards we honour the education community, who we’ve served for nearly 113 years. This year has seen some incredibly high-quality entries.

“These awards showcase just how vital our education professionals are to every facet of this country. Teachers, leaders and support staff all play such an important role in schools: this is our chance to say thank you for all that they do.”

Five students from Year 8 at City Academy were lucky enough to be invited to Airbus to look around the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) which held an Engineering Open House Week (EOHW) as part of its ‘Engineer a Better World’ campaign.

The campaign aims to encourage students to discover how exciting the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) can be, and learn about the huge variety of creative and stimulating careers in modern engineering.

The day consisted of activities and site tours. Students were able to see first-hand how engineering and technology is applied in a range of STEM roles and jobs.

It was also a great opportunity to ask Airbus employees what life is like for those who work in the aerospace industry and explore potential pathways towards a STEM career.

Rachel Martin, Careers and Aspirations Coordinator said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain an insight into how aeroplane parts are tested and manufactured, and the intricate testing process each part goes through to ensure the safety of their customers.

“We had a fun time creating our own aeroplane cabin outlay for our customers.”

ENDS

Hundreds of Weston families joined a showcase of all that is great about their town at a unique festival held as part of Broadoak Academy’s centenary celebrations.

The school teamed up with a host of community groups and partner organisations for its Festival of Culture, a one-day celebration of the town’s talent and diversity.

The event ran from 11am-3pm at the Windwhistle Road campus on Saturday, and offered a wide range of displays, talks and hands-on activities for visitorn to try.

That included sports tasters with Weston Rugby Club and Uphill Juniors Football Club, while Cornish Gig Rowers who added a maritime flavour to festivities.

More artistic visitors were able to try some hands-on craft activities courtesy of Weston Artspace and an Afghan kite-making workshop.

Youngsters were able to engage with a team from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, while there was also a wide range of groups focused on promoting equality and diversity – values at the core of the Broadoak ethos, and supported by its parent trust the Cabot Learning Federation.

Those groups included North Somerset LSBTQ+ Forum, the Race Equality Network, the Multi-Cultural Friendship Society, Weston Polish Association, the Muslim/Mosque & Bangladeshi Community, the Hindu/South Asian Community Group and SARI.

Visitors – which included Weston Mayor Ciaran Cronnelly – were also able to enjoy music and dance performances, a wide range of international cuisine and even inflatables for youngsters.

It was a day of fun and excitement which celebrate all that is special about Weston – as well as Broadoak’s place within it over the past 100 years.

Danny McGilloway, Principal at Broadoak Academy, said: “The day was a huge success. It was heart-warming to see how the community came together to celebrate and enjoy the rich diversity Weston-super-Mare has to offer.

“It has only served to strengthen my pride in this town and the people who live here. Our community shares a wonderful spirit of cultural richness and love for each other, and our Festival of Culture proved that.”