Some 174 students and teachers from Evergreen Primary Academy in Bristol experienced a day of joy and excitement at the iconic Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare. 

The Grand Pier generously provided all children and teachers with free unlimited ride wristbands and complimentary Mr Whippy ice creams, ensuring a day filled with laughter and thrills.

Avram, aged six, was just one of the many children who said: “This was the best day ever!”

Evergreen Primary Academy’s commitment to providing quality education and enriching experiences for all students, regardless of background, was evident in this special outing.

The Grand Pier, a beloved landmark since 1904, pulled out all the stops to ensure an unforgettable experience for the Evergreen pupils, after they were pulled out of the hat for the unique visit.

From thrilling rides to the sweet treat of ice cream, the children were immersed in the magic of this seaside wonderland.

This event not only provided a day of fun but also served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that businesses and educational institutions can have when they collaborate to support communities. 

The smiles on the children’s faces told a story of joy, wonder, and the creation of lasting memories on one of the world’s best seaside piers.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Headteacher Kerry Coote said: “Avram verbalised what so many of the children were thinking and saying – this was the best day ever! 

“We want to give a huge thank you to the Grand Pier and everyone involved in creating this incredible opportunity. 

“We also want to thank all of the fundraisers who have been helping fundraise for the transport on the day.”

‘Positive relationships’, a ‘kind and respectful atmosphere’ and an ‘ambitious’ curriculum have earned Bristol’s Minerva Primary Academy a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted.

The Fishponds school – part of the Cabot Learning Federation – was also praised by inspectors for its ‘calm and orderly’ learning environment, and its ability to help disadvantaged pupils to ‘flourish’.

Ofsted’s glowing endorsement follows a two-day visit from an inspection team, who met leaders from Minerva and the school’s parent trust the Cabot Learning Federation, spoke to staff, parents and pupils, and carried out a ‘deep dive’ into teaching and curriculum.

In a report published this week, Lead Inspector Kathy Maddocks confirmed Minerva had been rated ‘Good’ in all areas.

“Pupil mobility is high. The school manages this well and this helps new pupils to settle quickly.

“The school ethos, ‘learning, believing, growing, achieving’, is the focus of everything that happens.

“Pupils, including the high number of pupils who are disadvantaged, have complex needs and speak English as an additional language, are happy and flourish in the nurturing environment.”

On inclusion, the report said: “Expectations of all pupils are high. Pupils from different backgrounds work together in harmony, celebrating each other’s cultures and faiths. The school prepares pupils well to understand themselves as global citizens.

“Pupils are determined that everyone is welcome at their school and treated equally.”

On behaviour, it said: “Pupils feel safe. Relationships in the school are positive. There is a kind and respectful atmosphere across the school.

“During lessons, pupils focus well on their learning. They understand the school routines and follow them appropriately. This starts in the early years where children listen carefully and play well together. Consequently, the school is calm and orderly.”

On teaching, it said: “There is an ambitious trust-wide curriculum in place.

“In subjects such as English and mathematics the important knowledge the school wants pupils to learn is clearly set out. Children from pre-school onwards build on prior learning well. They become proficient so that they are ready for the next phase in their education.”

And on personal development, it added: “Pupils benefit from a wide range of well-planned enrichment opportunities. They enjoy their residential trips, visits to the pantomime and clubs.

“Pupils can apply for purposeful positions of responsibility. These range from school councillors to play leaders. Through this work, pupils support each other and develop their leadership skills.”

Minerva was also praised for its ‘effective’ safeguarding processes, ‘sensitive’ education on health and relationships, and the good progress made by pupils with special educational needs.

Jenny Harvey, Principal at Minerva Primary Academy, said:

“I am incredibly proud of our students and how they demonstrated our school values of safe, respectful, learning during the rigorous inspection by Ofsted. I was delighted that our ambitions for all children were recognised and that our Minerva Global Citizens curriculum is supporting and developing our children to be active members of our school and wider community.

“The inspection report states that Minerva Academy is at ‘the heart of the community’ – a recognition that the school values extremely highly.

“To be judged ‘Good’ in all areas is a testament to the hard work and dedication that all Minerva Primary Academy staff put in on a daily basis. It is a pleasure for me to lead such a wonderful team.”

Pic: Nic Hamilton

The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) celebrated a milestone event with over 2,000 colleagues from over 30 academies attending the CLF Summer Conference at Winterstoke Hundred Academy.

This annual event offered a unique opportunity for colleagues to network and engage with the latest in educational thinking.

The CLF Summer Conference is designed to be a dynamic blend of professional development, educational enrichment, celebration and fun activities.

This year, the event featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, Covid medical officer, Ben Smith, Ultra runner, Professor Sir Steve West, VC UWE Bristol, Nic Hamilton, who was the first disabled athlete to compete in the British Touring Car Championship and brother of Lewis Hamilton, and Lauren Chiren, CEO of ‘Women of a Certain Stage’, among many others, concluding with a performance from Lemn Sissay.

Throughout the day colleagues participated in various educational workshops and discussions that included, adapting teaching for learners with various SEND, child exploitation, knife crime, School Foodbank campaigns, classroom Science experiments, barriers experienced by Black and Black Mixed-raced students, to more physical activities that included Laughter Yoga, Pilates, Cross Fit, archery and climbing.

Pic: Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam

A highlight of the day was the celebration for our School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) trainees attending their graduation ceremony before embarking on their careers this September. CLF colleagues also collected peer-nominated ‘HEART’ awards in recognition of their exceptional work and contribution to the trust’s core values. A record number of over 1,000 HEART Award nominations were received this year.

The arts were well represented with live performances from CLF Voices, a scratch choir, a staff dance ensemble, and a scratch music ensemble, who all performed on the day.

Various exhibitors set up stalls to share information about their organizations, providing colleagues with valuable resources and networking opportunities.

Alison Fletcher, Director of the CLF Institute and chief organiser said: “This summer conference had our largest attendance and biggest programme to date for our trust and was the first time we have held this in Weston-super-Mare, where we have six schools.

“We kept a close eye on the weather as marquees were pitched on the field at our new Winterstoke Hundred Academy site at Locking Parklands! The calibre of our keynote speakers and breadth of specialist input generated excitement amongst deliverers and delegates alike. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to and participated in this conference.”

King’s Oak Academy’s Year Nine Duke of Edinburgh students were recently invited to Kingswood Fire and Rescue Station for an engaging and informative session on water safety.

This visit followed a comprehensive water safety presentation the students had previously received from Avon and Somerset Fire and Rescue.

During their visit, the students had the opportunity to showcase their new-found knowledge by delivering an impressive presentation to the on-duty team at the fire station. The presentation was well-received and was followed by a lively Q&A session, allowing the students to further engage with the fire and rescue team.

In addition to the presentation, the students were treated to an exciting tour of the station. They gained a firsthand look at the operations of the fire station, from the moment an emergency call is received to the dispatch of fire trucks and the deployment of various equipment essential for emergency response.

Eleanor Salvage, all-through teacher of health and the school’s Duke of Edinburgh lead, said: “It was a fantastic experience for the whole group who had a fantastic day – albeit slightly wet on our return.”

The visit was not only educational but also provided a unique insight into the vital work of the fire and rescue services, leaving a lasting impression on the students.

An initiative designed to give students and understanding of democracy and a voice in their school community has been held by the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF).

The Pupil Parliament brings together representative pupils from each CLF academy to discuss important issues and topics identified by the students themselves.

Twenty-five children from KS1 to Post 16 pupils spent time connecting,

co-constructing, and exploring their aims, aspirations, and thinking together about our collective responsibility.

The Pupil Parliament included two significant areas of focus –

• Looking after the world – climate action: With the support of CLF Eco Leads, students explored ways to promote environmental sustainability.
• Looking out for each other – inclusion and diversity: Pupils delved into themes of inclusivity and diversity, highlighting the importance of these values in their communities.

Pupils and students offered some really useful and insightful feedback on the World’s Largest Lesson and the Big Ambition themes.

The World’s Largest Lesson promotes use of the sustainable development goals in learning so children and young people can contribute to a better future for all.

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, published The Big Ambition, compiling the voices, views and experiences of children about their lives and aspirations.

Pupils also gave feedback and reflections on the TED talk they watched delivered by Cole Blakeway with the theme of We Are All Different – and THAT’S AWESOME! Which further explored inclusion and diversity.

At the end of the session, all the Pupil Parliament representatives were given their Big Parliament badges, some wildflower seeds and teamwork bees to plant, grow and flourish – representing the work of the Pupil Parliament across the trust.

CLF Education Director Susie Weaver said: “It has been my absolute privilege to lead the Pupil Parliament group over a number of years – gathering feedback from our learners on their experiences within and beyond our trust is crucial.

“I am really pleased with the strides we have made in securing pupil participation right across the trust.”

The CLF’s outstanding sporting provision is being cited as an exemplar for the nation’s schools to learn from in a new campaign by the Youth Sport Trust (YST).

Earlier this year, the trust’s PE programme earned the Outstanding Multi Academy Trust Practice Award at the 2024 Youth Sport Trust Awards.

At the time, the judging panel praised an ‘inclusive’ trust-wide physical education provision which is designed to ‘improve the life experiences of all students’.

Now, the organisation has featured the CLF as a case study in its new campaign Well School Trusts: Principles in Practice – Building a Strong Trust Through PE, Sport and Play.

A YST spokesperson said: “This guide, on how to implement the principles of a strong trust, brings welcome focus to how we use the power of PE, sport and play as an enabler, a unifier and source of hope.

“Its practical examples and self-reflection tools will support school trusts in exploring how you might embrace the philosophy of a Well School Trust as we all strive to ‘lead well’ and address the increasing physical, emotional and social challenges faced by our students and staff.

“This toolkit uses practice examples from across the country of school trusts who are putting PE, sport and play at the heart of their Well School Trust approach and delivering on the strong trust principles.”

The YST citation praised the high quality of the CLF’s PE practitioners and curriculum, as well as the impact of its community partnerships and annual series of Big events.

It said: “The CLF believes that by working together they can accelerate school improvement and embed excellence in their academies. In doing so, they can create more opportunities for the lifelong success for their students.

“The Federation exists to promote their life chances and to deliver excellent educational experiences for those pupils in their academies now and in the future.

“Through PE, school sport and physical activity, the CLF ensures that all pupils receive high quality and inclusive education, promoting a positive relationship with physical activity to develop the holistic characteristics to live successfully in society.

“Pupils leave the CLF with skills and characteristics developed through participation, which enables them to be active for life.

“They are provided with a sense of belonging, a positive sense of identity and understanding of how the physical, psychological and social benefits of physical activity can support their wellbeing through life.”

James Mooney, CLF Senior Curriculum Leader for Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity, said: “We are proud to have our work showcased in the new Youth Sport Trust’s Well School Trusts: Principles in Practice toolkit as we all strive to address the physical, emotional and social challenges faced by our students and staff.

“We are building a strong trust and driving school and trust improvement by unlocking the potential of every child through PE, sport and play.”