Staff and students at Bristol Brunel Academy showed racism the red card at a whole school event. Staff and students were encouraged to wear something red in support of this initiative.

All money raised will be going to the Show Racism the Red Card, a charity founded in January 1996, thanks in part to a donation by then-Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

Throughout the day there were pop-up sessions at the start of each lesson where students could discuss the issues around racism. Themed PHSE lessons were staged for every year group across the academy.

At breaktimes and lunchtimes students had the chance to visit stalls where they could talk candidly to groups and organisations about racism. There was also a chance to buy cakes and sweets to raise money for the cause. Students could also take part in a raffle to win JD vouchers, with again all proceeds going to the charity.

Ahead of the event, students watched The Pursuit of Happyness at their culture film night. The film stars Will Smith and is based on a true story about single father Chris Gardner; evicted from their apartment, he and his young son find themselves alone with no place to go.

Event organiser Joshua Sterling, Associate Assistant Principal at Bristol Brunel Academy, said: “At Bristol Brunel we stand together. We pride ourselves on the ongoing work we do with the Halo Code, which protects and allows all students and staff with Afro-textured hair to wear it naturally, as well as working towards our Anti-Racist School Award to improve race equality in schools. The day allowed our students to show racism the red card, moving us one step closer to a world free from discrimination.”

ENDS

Two CLF academies, Begbrook Academy and Hanham Woods Academy, feature in the February edition of the Voices newspapers. Scroll down to find out more.

BBC Radio Bristol Breakfast presenter James Hanson visited Begbrook Primary Academy recently for his weekly slot ‘The Kids V The News.’ James visits a different local primary school each week to interview pupils about events and topical issues, for a piece that airs on his Breakfast Show.

Year nine pupil Kezia Tarzey, from Hanham Woods Academy, excelled recently at the Welsh Athletics Junior Open. Kezia claimed bronze medals in the 60 metres Sprint & 60 metres Hurdles, no mean feat when athletes from across the South West were taking part.

Hans Price Academy staged its annual stunning musical extravaganza for parents, carers, and families. More than 50 students from Years 7-11 took part, both on stage and backstage, with music teacher Rhiannon Greer and Carlo Hooper in support on stage.

This jam-packed show was a mixture of bands, solo artists, and instrumentalists performing, a varied setlist of heavy metal, pop, and classical music.

After spending six weeks rehearsing, Year 11 BTEC music students produced this show as part of their coursework. They will be assessed on the planning and delivery of the show.

An audience of around 250 watched the sell-out performance, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the music department to upgrade and widen the variety of instruments students can learn.

Carlo Hooper, Interim Assistant Principal, said: “Year 11 have shown incredible dedication and motivation across the last two terms to plan and deliver an incredible event.

“We relish every opportunity for student performances, and this was a particularly special event. All our students working together and supporting each other to produce one of our strongest shows yet.

“As always, we are extremely grateful for all the support given by staff, parents/carers, and the wider community for making this possible.”

Year 2 pupils from Minerva Primary Academy visited the SS Great Britain as part of their historians’ unit about the impact of the Victorian era on our lives today.

Pupils took part in workshops, enjoyed dressing up, and had a guided tour of the ship. They developed their knowledge of the Victorian era and the ship’s creator Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They discovered that there were very different conditions for rich and poor people on the ship. Pupils saw where passengers slept, where they kept their food, and they even saw a talking toilet.

They found out that there were cows, pigs, horses and chickens on the ship which were used for food, but they were very smelly! Pupils are now very excited to learn about other significant people as part of their upcoming history unit.

Slaney Mitchell and Laura McGuinness, Year 2 teachers, said:

“Year 2 had a fantastic experience on their recent trip to the SS Great Britain. The interactive nature of the ship meant that the living conditions could be experienced first-hand. Pupils particularly enjoyed dressing in Victorian clothes to take part in a mock launching of the ship. We gathered lots of knowledge about travel, trade, and industry to help us understand how Victorian inventions impact on our lives today. Thank you so much to all the staff and volunteers who made this an unforgettable experience for the pupils.”

ENDS

Year nine pupil Kezia Tarzey, from Hanham Woods Academy, excelled recently at the Welsh Athletics Junior Open. Kezia claimed bronze medals in the 60 metres Sprint & 60 metres Hurdles, no mean feat when athletes from across the South West were taking part.

In fact, Kezia is, 2nd in South West for 75m Hurdles, 3rd in South West for 60m Hurdles, 5th in South West for 60m Sprint, and 11^th in the UK for hurdles!

During this competition Kezia achieved two personal bests, as well as qualifying for the England Athletics National Championships in Sheffield on February 11 and 12th.

Kezia who competes for the Bristol & West Academy, first became involved in athletics at the age of 11, around three years ago. Kezia started while in primary school and took part in lots of different competitions, competing in various disciplines, but now specialises in sprint and hurdles.

Kezia’s mum & dad said, “Kezia thoroughly enjoys her athletics and is so committed to being her best. We are so very proud of Kezia and her achievements.”

Kezia said: “I would like to thank my family and my coaches for their support, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Steve O’Callaghan, Principal at Hanham Woods Academy, said: “We are exceptionally proud and honoured to have Kezia as one of our students and we are excited to be part of her journey in athletics.”

With the backing of North Somerset Council’s Children’s Services for the delivery
of the new SEND school, the Department for Education (DfE) have submitted
plans for Lime Hills Academy’s permanent site in Langford.

If planning permission is granted Lime Hills Academy, which opened in temporary accommodation in
September last year, will have places for up to 65 children and young people in year 1 to 11 (age 5-16),
with primary SEMH needs (Social, Emotional Mental Health needs).

Currently there is no special school provision for pupils with a primary diagnosis of SEMH needs within
North Somerset and 19% of local children with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) have to travel
outside of the area to school.

Lime Hills Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation and aims to ‘level up’ educational
outcomes and keep children engaged in learning through specialist facilities and learning
programmes. The site enables opportunities for vocational studies and outdoor sports with a
closer connection to nature in a calm and sustainable environment.

The following key sustainability and biodiversity supporting aspects have been incorporated into the
design:
– low maintenance electric air source heat pumps replace use of gas boilers
– use of photovoltaic panels (PVs) across roof space
– maximising of daylight penetration in design to reduce use of artificial lighting
– minimisation of construction waste and ensuring a high percentage of what is generated is
diverted from landfill through reuse or recycling
– solar gains are kept at a manageable level allowing comfort to be achieved without the use of air
conditioning
– effective surface water management, incorporating swales
– reduction of CO2 emissions through incorporation of high insulation standards
– reduction of water use in building facilities
– additional trees will be planted, whilst existing trees and hedgerow will be maintained
– introduction of habitat areas as well as bird and bat nesting boxes and bug hotels
– compliant with latest building regulations and the DfE’s standards of Be Lean, Be Clean and Be
Green.

The architects have created a place of sanctuary for those with acute needs whilst also responding to
comments made during consultation from neighbouring properties to provide a sympathetic building
orientation and more sustainable landscape design. Lime Hills Academy will support the local economy
and bring new jobs to the area. The site benefits from being adjacent to both Langford and Churchill with
facilities designed for community use outside school hours.

Parking and drop-off for the school will be contained within the site and an off-site method of construction
will help minimise disruption to neighbours. All vehicular traffic will arrive and depart via Pudding Pie Lane
only. The teaching day will also be split between primary and secondary pupils so that trips are spread
throughout the day to reduce impact on the local network.

Lis Jolley, Lime Hills Academy Principal said, “In its new purpose-built home, Lime Hills Academy will
create an environment, a workforce and a curriculum experience which enables children and young
people with social, emotional and mental health difficulties to develop the skills, resilience and selfawareness
to be successful at first at school and then in later life.
“The setting will have a range of carefully designed spaces which will enable group interaction, safe
spaces for retreat, those which facilitate academic learning and those which are more therapeutic in
nature.

“A key strength of Lime Hills Academy is that it sits within the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), a mature
multi-academy trust achieving above average outcomes for children with below average starting points.
With 22 academies and a mission to “consistently deliver excellent educational experiences for pupils
aged 3-19, improving their life chances and serving the communities of which we are a member.
“As a result of the learning undertaken at Lime Hills, upon graduation children we be able to benefit from
and contribute to their immediate community because their education has enabled them to better
understand themselves and their connection to the world around them.”

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Executive Member for Children, Young People, Lifelong learning and Skills at
North Somerset Council said, “Lime Hills Academy is currently supporting 22 pupils from their temporary
accommodation in Nailsea. We are looking forward to the DfE delivering their permanent site as part of
our joint commitment to providing local schools and supporting those with social, emotional and mental
health needs. This is part of our strategy to ensure that all children should have the opportunity to attend
a good school within North Somerset where they can learn, grow and develop.

“Across North Somerset we are increasing the number of special school places from 368 prior to
September 2022 to 498 places by September 2024. We are also looking to create 50 additional places in
new Resource Bases and 80 places in Nurture Groups across the district from September 2023 to further
meet the needs of our children and young people. Lime Hills Academy will provide around 65 of these
additional specialist school place with closer access to high quality specialist education for these pupils
and reduced home to school journey times for many.”

For more information about the proposals you can visit n-somersetsendschoolplans.co.uk or visit the
Council planning portal here and look for planning application no 22/P/2920/FUL.