Positive relationships, an ambitious curriculum and a culture of mutual respect have earned Weston’s Broadoak Academy a rating of ‘Good’ from Ofsted inspectors.

In a first inspection since Broadoak joined the Cabot Learning Federation – and a first since Covid restrictions were lifted – the watchdog’s inspection team spent two days speaking with school staff, pupils and parents, while also scrutinising lessons and student work.

Inspectors heaped praise on a school ethos which enables pupils to feel confident and safe, engage in a wide range of activities linked to their talents and interests, and be proud to be part of the Broadoak community.

Leaders were heralded as ‘approachable’, with inspectors noting the efforts they have made to improve student attendance and attainment, as well as their focus on staff development and wellbeing.

Overall, Broadoak was rated as ‘Good’ in all inspection areas.

In her report, lead Ofsted inspector Kelly Olive, HMI, said: “Pupils feel a sense of belonging at Broadoak Academy. This gives them confidence and they feel safe. Pupils are proud to attend this school.

“Staff are aspirational for what pupils can achieve and the type of young person they can become.

“Most pupils exhibit a strong work ethic and are keen to do well. Pupils are passionate advocates against any form of discrimination.

“The school has a broad and ambitious curriculum, based on the shared vision of the multi-academy trust. Subject leaders have adapted the curriculum thoughtfully to suit the needs of pupils. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Parents of pupils with SEND are overwhelmingly positive about the progress their child makes and how well the school communicates with them.

“Strong, positive relationships between staff and pupils are characteristic of the school. Most pupils demonstrate a clear understanding of what is right and wrong and behave sensibly in social times. They are respectful towards each other and the environment around them.”

Inspectors were also positive about Broadoak’s careers education, which is ‘embedded within the curriculum’ and enables students to make ‘informed decisions’ about their future, and the school’s work to ‘grow pupils’ understanding of the fundamental British values’.

School leaders say they are thrilled with Ofsted’s positive verdict, and praised the hard work of staff which made the ‘Good’ judgement possible.

Danny McGilloway, Principal at Broadoak Academy, said:

“This is great news for the whole community. Our parents/carers, staff and students deserve this, and can feel proud that this community has a school that serves them brilliantly.

“I am delighted by this outcome, which is only possible due to the dedication of our wonderful staff, the unrivalled support of our loyal parent/carer body, and of course, the hard work of our fantastic young people – the students. Thank you, all, for the way in which you have contributed to making Broadoak Academy a very special place to work and learn.”

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

“Due to the period of the pandemic, Broadoak has had to wait a long time for this validation from Ofsted of the quality of provision at the school. Thank you to the staff and students who have worked so hard over recent times. This outcome is great news for the school and also the town; I am delighted for the local community.”

Picture caption: Broadoak Academy Principal Danny McGilloway and pupils celebrate the school’s ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted.

Staff and pupils at Summerhill Academy have welcomed Becks – who is a 12-week-old English show cocker spaniel – to the academy as their school dog.

Owned by Kirstie Coombes, Summerhill’s Assistant Principal, Becks will start his academy life by spending the first few months on the Kennel Club’s good citizen dog scheme training programme, before embarking on the Bark and Read programme.

This is a national project designed to help forge a love of reading in school children by utilising dogs as listening companions. Becks will be used to support students who have behaved in a positive way and if all goes well, Becks will be a qualified reading dog, spending some of his time in the library with students and will sit calmly while students read to him. The initiative will carry the motto ‘Books with Becks’.

There is a proven track record of benefits to having a dog in school. Students get a greater enjoyment from the school environment, their attendance improves, and they show a greater willingness to learn and participate. It also improves behaviour and social interaction, develops empathy skills, and gives students a sense of responsibility in the classroom.

Kirstie Coombes said: “Becks has settled in well to our school community despite only being here for such a short period of time; there is a positive buzz of energy and enthusiasm circulating around the building, and in the school playground at the beginning and end of the school day.

“He is naturally a very sociable and loveable dog and enjoys all the attention he is receiving, which is not only supporting the wellbeing of our students, but our staff members too. We have partnered up with Dogs Trust, who will be delivering workshops over the next month to educate children on how to stay safe around dogs.”

A team of four year 12 students from the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Post 16 has proudly secured runners-up position in the prestigious Ritangle competition.

Ritangle is an annual nationwide competition tailored for teams of students aged 16-18 who are currently pursuing studies in A-level mathematics, the International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, or equivalent qualifications.

The competition, which took place between October and December, attracts talented students from across the country to showcase their mathematical prowess without the need for knowledge beyond A-level maths. Of the 1,200 schools which entered, 153 schools were successful in submitting answers to the final question and of those there was one winner and 10 runners-up.

Despite the intense competition, the Cabot Learning Federation Post 16 team demonstrated exceptional skills and determination, earning them the one of the distinguished runners-up positions. This accomplishment reflects the dedication and academic excellence fostered within the Cabot Learning Federation Post 16.

Rachel Finlayson, CLF post 16 Maths Teacher, said “The students worked independently and really pushed their mathematical understanding to secure this amazing achievement.

“Their self-motivation and drive means they have achieved something they should be very proud of. I am very proud of them and look forward to seeing what they can achieve next year.”

Weston’s Winterstoke Hundred Academy has marked the new year by throwing open the doors to North Somerset’s first net zero school – while also confirming the appointment of a new Principal.

Winterstoke Hundred first opened in Beaufighter Road in 2020, but work has been taking place over the past two years to build a 900-pupil second campus at Locking Parklands.

That work – carried out by contractor Kier, to specifications set out by North Somerset Council and the Cabot Learning Federation, which Winterstoke Hundred is part of – is now complete, with students moving into their new classrooms this week.

The three-storey building has been carefully designed to meet rigorous environmental standards – making it the first fully carbon neutral school in the area.

Solar panels covering the roof will generate electricity inside classrooms and send power to the national grid, providing green energy for the school, as well as the wider community.

The 80,000sqm building also boasts a much-sought BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for energy efficiency and 10% biodiversity net gain, which will protect and promote plants and wildlife.

Heidi Clement, Cabot Learning Federation Head of Projects and Estates, said:

“The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred Academy is a major development and a huge financial investment that further enables our trust to meet the educational needs of young people and provide them with a fantastic environment to learn in.

“This project has been a four-year partnership between Keir, North Somerset Council and AtkinsRéalis, and I would like to thank them for their dedication and hard work throughout.

“The buildings and finish look amazing and will leave a lasting legacy for all those involved.”

Tony Searle, Executive Principal with the Cabot Learning Federation, said:

“We have worked tirelessly alongside our North Somerset Council partners to deliver an exceptional building on behalf of our community.

“With pupils now moving into the new buildings, we are excited about the educational opportunities that we will be able to afford our current cohort, and those who join the academy for decades to come.

“This investment in high-quality facilities and appointments reinforces our commitment to deliver the best possible education for our students.”

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Children’s Services, Families and Life Long Learning, said:

“Winterstoke Hundred Academy’s new building is designed to achieve some of the highest standards of sustainability, raising the bar for what can be delivered in our region. The quality of construction is clear just from looking at the school and we’re immensely proud of what we have been able to accomplish alongside our partners at CLF and Kier.

“Funded through Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, the Winterstoke Hundred Academy expansion provides new school places and facilities, meeting the needs of growing local communities. We look forward to celebrating the completed school building alongside pupils at a grand opening event later in the term.”

However, the new term marked a fresh start in more ways that one for Winterstoke Hundred Academy, with a new Principal taking up the reins.

Matthew Randle (pictured above) has previously taught at large secondary schools in Leicestershire, Somerset and Bristol.

Most recently, he held the position of Vice Principal with CLF Post 16 in Bristol, where he built significant experience in safeguarding and leading the quality of education.

Executive Principal Tony Searle added:

“Matthew Randle has been appointed following a rigorous national recruitment process. He was the standout candidate from a strong field of internal and external applicants.

“He excelled throughout the process, and the decision to appoint him was unanimous after he impressed panels with his technical expertise, strong moral purpose and commitment to ensuring a strong educational experience for all within the Winterstoke Hundred community.”

Matthew Randle, new Principal at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, said:

“I’m very excited to be starting my role as Principal of Winterstoke Hundred Academy. I’ve been really looking forward to welcoming our students into the new building and starting to work with the local community.

“It’s an incredible building and we feel very lucky to be moving in to our second site. This is a significant investment in education in North Somerset which will enable us to build on our curriculum and really excel in many specialist areas as we work towards a full capacity in September. Our existing site on Beaufighter Road has only been in operation since 2016, so

all students from Year 7 to Year 13 will be able to experience excellent learning in state-of-the art facilities.

“We’re really looking forward to growing our links with the community over the next few years, and if people would like to come and see what we do at Winterstoke, and how we do it, they will be very welcome to visit our buildings and see the school in action.”

Bristol’s Summerhill Academy has topped the city’s performance tables in the latest SATs – and secured a place among the top 50 schools in the country.

The Key Stage 2 Performance Tables reflects Summerhill’s consistent pursuit of educational excellence and the positive impact it has on the academic success of its pupils.

Summerhill outperformed thousands of schools across the country to achieve a remarkable 49th position nationally.

The achievement in the KS2 Performance Tables underscores Summerhill’s ongoing efforts to create a positive and enriching learning environment for pupils throughout the academy.

School leaders say they are now looking forward to building on this success in the coming academic years, as it aims to maintain its position among the top-performing schools in the country.

Academy Principal Chris Barratt said: “We are so proud of our amazing children who have achieved so well. We have a great team here in school who work incredibly hard to provide pupils with the best life chances possible. We serve a fantastic community and look forward to continuing our work into the future.”

Proposals to build North Somerset’s first specialist school for students with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs have won unanimous support from planners.

North Somerset Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee voted today (Wednesday) to approve an application to build the new Lime Hills Academy at Ladymead Lane in Langford.

It will be the district’s first permanent SEMH school, as the current Lime Hills Academy is operating from temporary buildings in Nailsea – and is struggling to meet the ‘urgent’ demand for its specialist provision from across North Somerset.

The new site will enable Lime Hills – part of the Cabot Learning Federation – to more than double its capacity from 29 to 65 students, aged 5-16. For many, this will mean a welcome end to hours-long daily journeys to specialist schools outside of the district.

Lis Jolley, Headteacher of Lime Hills Academy, said: “Lime Hills urgently needs a permanent home which will allow an increase in student numbers.

“At present, vulnerable children can find themselves ‘stuck’ in inappropriate provision or travelling hours every day to school because places at Lime Hills cannot be made available.

“But every child deserves the opportunity to be taught appropriately and to reach their potential within their own community, in a safe environment suitable to their needs. Without this, children can feel misunderstood and rejected by the system and excluded from their communities.

“This multi-million-pound Department for Education investment will provide a purpose-built, modern and welcoming school with impressive sustainability credentials for the communities of Churchill and Langford to share and use.

“By working together, it is possible to deliver a school and a site the local community can be truly proud of.”

The two-storey development will include specially-designed teaching rooms, plus sports and dining halls. The site will also feature sports pitches, outdoor play space, and dedicated parking and drop-off areas to minimise traffic impact on nearby roads.

North Somerset Council planning officers said: “A lack of SEND school facilities and places both locally and nationally means the need for a new SEND SEMH school is substantial.

“There is currently a significant shortfall in SEND provision in North Somerset, which means the local authority is required to send children to neighbouring districts to meet their special education needs. The length of journeys and absence of local provision can have a negative impact on behaviour, anxiety, and outcomes for the pupils concerned.

“The proposed SEND school will allow the children to be educated locally, reducing travel costs and improving educational and social outcomes.”

The application was supported by others throughout the district’s education community.

Justin Humphreys, Chair of Secondary Heads in North Somerset (SHINs), was among those to log formal statements of support with the planning authority.

He said: “The Lime Hills Academy is an essential component within education delivery in North Somerset.

“The number of students within secondary schools in North Somerset reporting significant SEMH needs continues to increase, with a number of cases beyond the resources and environment of current schools.

“The specialist provision provides much-needed support for those with acute SEMH needs and we look forward to celebrating the success of the students attending Lime Hills Academy in the future.”