Taunton’s MP, Gideon Amos, has praised the provision at The Sky Academy after visiting the educational facility in Priorswood.

Part of the Cabot Learning Federation, The Sky Academy is a specialist provision dedicated to supporting young people with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs and speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

It is committed to helping each learner to overcome personal and academic barriers — whether in the classroom or through a range of enriching experiences.

Mr Amos visited the Year 11 Art Exhibition and also heard younger students read poems they had written.

He said afterwards: “So many young students at The Sky Academy have made such excellent progress despite often very difficult circumstances.

“They had produced some great work, and it was really good to hear about the next stages of training and college they are moving on to after such a lot of GCSE success.

“Special educational need deserves more attention and funding so that more children who need it can get the kind of support that staff at Sky work hard to provide every day”

Gaby Long, Principal of The Sky Academy, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our Year 11 GCSE Art learners.

“The exhibition is a powerful reflection of their growth—not just academically and creatively, but socially and emotionally as well.

“It’s a celebration of their resilience, imagination, and the belief that they can achieve great things.”

Alfie Odam, who of the Year 11 students exhibiting his work, said: “The art was fun to attend to and do.

“All the staff have been very supportive to me throughout my journey at The Sky Academy.”

His proud mum, Diane, added: “The Art Exhibition was outstanding and the artwork from all the students was amazing. They should be very proud of what they have produced – as we are of them.

“The Sky Academy has been the best place for my son to grow and develop with all the amazing support and understanding that all the staff have shown him and us all as a family.”

Charlie Ennals, Art teacher and PD lead at The Sky Academy, said she was “incredibly proud of the Year 11 GCSE Art student.

“Watching their creative journeys unfold over the past year has been nothing short of inspiring.”

Herons’ Moor Academy is a ‘safe and nurturing environment’ with ‘high expectations’ for its pupils, according to Ofsted inspectors who have rated the school ‘Good’ in all areas.

Ofsted spent two days assessing the Weston-super-Mare school, during which time they met leaders from the school and its trust, spoke with parents and pupils, and carried out a ‘deep dive’ into a number of subject areas.

At the end of their analysis, inspectors concluded the school is ‘Good’ in all five key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and early years provision.

Inspectors heaped praise on its ‘clear and logical curriculum’ and the ‘strong relationships’ between children and staff which help all children enjoy a ‘strong sense of belonging’.

In her report, lead inspector Caroline Musty said: “The school is a nurturing and caring environment. It is a happy community where pupils and staff feel a strong sense of belonging. Pupils are kind and show respect towards staff and to each other.

“The school is ambitious for all its pupils. Staff share the trust’s vision of working together to support pupils to achieve lifelong success. The school knows its pupils well. It makes sure they get the help they need to be successful. Pupils are enthusiastic to share their knowledge. They work hard and are well prepared for their next stage of education.”

The report went on to highlight Herons’ Moor’s success in a number of other key areas.

On curriculum, Ofsted said: “School leaders, supported by the trust, have designed a clear and logical curriculum. It details the knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils will build as they move through the school. Developing pupils’ ability to communicate is at the heart of this curriculum.”

On pupil behaviour, the report said: “Staff have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and conduct. This starts in Nursery, where children listen carefully and follow routines. Pupils know the school rules. They follow expectations in and outside of classrooms. They move around the school in a calm and orderly manner.”

On SEND, it said: “The school has an accurate understanding of the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff identify these needs and give effective support. They provide pupils with adult support and adapted resources. This helps pupils with SEND access the curriculum and make progress towards meeting their individual targets.”

On pupil voice, the report said: “Pupils have a wide range of leadership roles. They plan and lead discussions with pupils across the school about current issues. This helps pupils to reflect on the lives of others.

“Pupils are active in the community. The eco council has worked with the local council to develop an area of land for planting. The choir sings in the local supermarket and to residents in a local care home. This helps pupils to develop their understanding of active citizenship.”

And on future aspirations, it said: “The school is ambitious for all its pupils. Staff share the trust’s vision of working together to support pupils to achieve lifelong success.

“The school knows its pupils well. It makes sure they get the help they need to be successful. Pupils are enthusiastic to share their knowledge. They work hard and are well prepared for their next stage of education.”

Additionally, Ofsted heralded Herons’ Moor’s ‘effective’ safeguarding, the ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback from parents and carers, and the ‘highly effective’ relationship between the school and its parent trust the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF).

Ofsted’s findings have been welcomed by leaders within both Herons’ Moor Academy and the CLF.

Georgie Tinker, Principal at Herons’ Moor Academy, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection. It is a true reflection of the hard work, dedication, and passion shown by our staff, pupils, and wider school community.

“This report affirms our commitment to providing a nurturing and high-quality learning environment where every child can thrive. We look forward to embracing the challenge of building on what we have achieved so far.”

Steve Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“Herons’ Moor is so important in the context of its community, and it’s great that some of its many strengths as a school are being highlighted in this report.

“Well done to the hard-working team – this outcome is a reflection of the excellent work they do every day. We’re all very proud of Herons’ Moor in our trust.”

Two of Bristol’s most successful education bodies are teaming up in a new partnership designed to give the city’s young people new pathways into careers, sport and the arts.

The Cabot Learning Federation – which runs 35 schools across the South West – is joining forces with Clifton College in an exciting initiative to boost access to facilities and opportunities for young people throughout the city.

The two bodies have pledged to share their expertise and resources to enhance children and young people’s school experience, which can help elevate attendance, ambition and aspiration of learners.

The CLF and Clifton College will collaborate on:

• Employability and careers. Sharing connections and enhancing opportunities across the city.
• Youth leadership. Creating opportunities for young leaders to support learners across the CLF and at Clifton College in areas such as reading, writing and dance.
• Performing & creative arts. Collaborating towards a showcase event at a city centre venue, a huge celebration of art, photography, dance and singing. Access opportunities with partner venues across Bristol.
• Sports fixtures and experiences. Opportunity to schedule representative fixtures for CLF invitational teams to play against Clifton College, facilitating joint training sessions and providing access to sports facilities.
• Sharing venue spaces. Together, the CLF and Clifton College have a wide range of spaces across the city and will work together to maximise the use of these spaces, supporting a range of activities for our young people and the community.
• Water sports. In collaboration with AA Watersports, the CLF and Clifton College are excited to be working to raise awareness of water sports among young people. In an initial pilot, a cohort of Clifton College students who are training to become instructors, will coach Year 7 & 8 learners from CLF to sail. This will help students develop key skills such as teamwork, communication and resilience.

Leaders from both the CLF and Clifton College say they are excited to be working together to help deliver new opportunities for Bristol’s next generation.

Steve Taylor, CEO of the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“Schools and educational organisations across our city are increasingly coming together to collaborate on ways to support all of our children and communities, sharing their expertise and resources. With that in mind it is both timely and exciting for us to develop such a positive relationship with colleagues at Clifton College.

“Bringing together and amplifying the best ideas from both organisations will create the potential to positively influence the experiences and futures of the children and young people across Bristol and beyond.

“This is a great opportunity to connect areas of our city; we’re looking forward to co-creating a range of meaningful activities, events and experiences that enable collaboration amongst children and young people from diverse communities across Bristol.”

Melvyn Roffe, Chief Executive of Clifton College Education Group, said:

“This is a marvellous example of educational organisations identifying new ways of working to maximise the opportunities and excellence we deliver as individual organisations. This collaboration will allow us to deliver the best, not only for our pupils, but for the communities of Bristol.

“We are very proud of our Bristol location and the diverse, cultural and inspiring community we have been part of during our 163-year history. This region is an incredible place to live and this collaboration accentuates every opportunity that Bristol offers from water sports to creative arts and everything in between.

“As educational providers our priority is to prepare children for a rapidly changing modern world and I am particularly proud of the focus this partnership has on employability and careers. Offering young people the opportunity to lead and support others will give them invaluable experience and strong foundations for their future.”

Students at Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Post 16 marked Pride Month with a vibrant and meaningful celebration, organising a ‘dress in bright colours’ day and a bake sale to raise funds for the charity Mermaids, which supports gender-diverse young people and their families.

The event, which was entirely student-led and promoted, brought colour and energy to the college community.

Through their efforts, students raised over £50 on the day — a testament to their commitment and enthusiasm.

Thanks to the overwhelming number of sweet donations, the bake sale will continue, providing an extended opportunity to raise both awareness and further funds for Mermaids.

Andrew Buck, Assistant Principal at CLF Post 16, said: “It’s inspiring to see our student leaders take such proactive steps to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and support an important cause.

“Their passion and teamwork are what truly make our community shine.”

Jessy Heyburn, a talented Year 10 student at Monkton Wood Academy, has claimed an impressive victory at the 2025 Portimão Box Cup Portugal, winning a gold belt by unanimous decision in the final bout.

Representing Blue Flames ABC, Jessy was placed straight into the final, where she boxed over three intense rounds. Demonstrating both adaptability and tactical skill, Jessy stepped out of her usual fighting style and achieved a decisive result.

“I boxed a different style to what I normally do and had a good outcome for it,” said Jessy. “I am really pleased with my success.”

A spokesperson for Monkton Wood Academy added: “We are incredibly proud of Jessy’s outstanding achievement on an international stage.

“Her dedication to both her sport and her education sets a fantastic example for students across the academy.

“She continues to embody the values of hard work, resilience, and ambition.”

Gilbert Martin, a Year 11 student from Digitech Studio School, has been making waves in the world of stunt scooter riding, recently taking home top honours in the Scoot GB national final and placing 15th out of 100 international riders at a global competition in France.

Gilbert, who started riding at the age of 13, was first introduced to the sport by friends. Since then, his passion has grown into a daily commitment, practising every day of the week at both Adrenaline Alley – Europe’s largest indoor skate park, located in Corby near Peterborough – and locally at Bradley Stoke, Winterbourne and Dursley.

The teenager has also competed worldwide in Germany, Arizona, Austria, Switzerland.

Speaking about his journey, Gilbert said: “From when I started 3-4 years ago, I never thought I would be where I am today. The peers I looked up to back then, I’m now competing against.”

Tracey Roberts, a Teaching Assistant at Digitech Studio School, praised Gilbert’s dedication to the sport. She said: “Gilbert’s commitment is truly inspiring.

“His progress and success are a testament to his determination and passion for the sport. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s achieved.”