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Welcome to the latest edition of the Beacon
This edition is focussing on our Trust-wide approach to Nurture to ensure that all pupils, especially those with additional emotional challenges, are educated in supportive and effective environments.
I hope you also enjoy reading about the news and updates from our schools and colleagues. It highlights just a few of things to celebrate as we come to the end of this term.
We are already one third of the way through this academic year(!) and 2025 brings some significant milestones for us as a Trust.
- We will be hosting our largest CPD event at Ashton Gate on Friday 14 February. You can read more about this, including the great line up of speakers, below.
- We are also welcoming new colleagues from Easton, Fishponds and St Mary Redcliffe Primary in Bristol into the the Trust from 1 January (see below). This is the beginning of a new Bristol Hub for us and it is going to be very exciting to be part of Bristol's long story.
Finally I want to take this opportunity to wish all colleagues a very Happy Christmas and a well deserved, relaxing, holiday with friends and loved ones. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication this year, and I know that 2025 promises great things for the Partnership.
Gary Lewis
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Why are we focussing on Nurture in the LSP?
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 Our schools have seen an increase in social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) over the last few years, particularly since the pandemic. Local authorities have reported a 200% increase in the number of Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) in the area of social and emotional and mental health. We are not alone as this is very much in line with the national picture. Recent news articles from the BBC have also outlined that schools nationally have seen a huge increase in the use of suspensions and permanent exclusions. We know that these can be symptoms of underlying unmet SEMH needs.
We also recognise that there is an increase in students who feel anxious or who struggle to manage their behaviour and emotions in the classroom environment where they have to share the attention of adults and peers. This is because they do not yet have the skills available to do this effectively.
Research says that children thrive best when they feel safe and have a sense of belonging so we have partnered with Nurture UK, a charity focused on improving the social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of pupils through a nurturing approach to education. By working together, and using their approaches, we can develop our knowledge and practice in this area.
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THE SIX PRINCIPLES OF NURTURE
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All LSP schools have a Nurture Champion trained in trauma informed practice and the six principles of nurture. Research tells us that when these six principles are evident in schools this will create the best environment for all children to flourish and feel that sense of belonging.
Our schools are working to further develop their graduated response to support social, emotional and mental health needs. School leaders have this area as part of their school development plan and will be working on specific areas which are relevant to their particular context, which, over time, will bring their school into alignment with the Six Principles of Nurture.
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We have also invested in training for key staff within all LSP schools to use the Boxall Profile Assessment Toolkit. These assessments help us identify appropriate interventions to meet individual pupils' SEMH need.
Part of this involves screening cohorts using a Boxall Profile, which enables a school to see the strengths and potential areas of development of specific classes or year groups.
Schools can then use this data to intervene as a whole cohort through adapting their curriculum, through PSHE delivery, or assemblies and the introduction of whole class targets. They can also be used to identify pupils who need more personalised or targeted SEMH support and intervention, for example referral to a school's Nurture Hub.
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Five of our schools have opened an early intervention Nurture Hub in partnership with North Somerset Council:
- Backwell School
- Yatton Schools
- St Andrew's CofE Primary School
- Portishead Primary School
- Gordano School
We are excited to see the impact of this work on our children and young people as it grows.
What is a Nurture Hub?
A nurture hub is a small group intervention which runs through part of the school day, to intervene specifically around SEMH needs. Students meet daily, in groups of around 10. The intervention will usually lasts for 12-20 weeks and is focused on ensuring children are able to access the classroom with all the skills necessary.
The space is set up as a home-style environment with kitchen and living-room style spaces and furnishings, encouraging social time and belonging. Students share meals and tasks that promote a sense of home and belonging, e.g. washing up, setting the table etc.
Alongside this, the teaching staff/lead practitioner will deliver planned activities, specifically planned to focus on the strands of the specific child’s needs. These needs are picked up from the Boxall Profile assessment tool.
Below you'll find photos of our Nurture Hub at Gordano School which opened in September 2024.
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Nurture Network Meetings
As part of our nurture provision, we have been running Nurture Network meetings where our Nurture Hub staff have a chance to meet and see the other hubs and connect with staff.
It is an opportunity to explore what is working well/challenges and have a protected space to explore this and create a plan moving forward. We always bring it back to the 6 Principles of Nurture. The sessions are spent exploring the Principles of nurture and how to continue to weave this throughout everything we do in the hubs.
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NURTURE HUB: PARENT FEEDBACK
"Hi [name] thankyou for update on [pupil] and all you and [name] are doing. Your space is so good for her to grow... She definitely has started [this year] with more confidence Nurture is there for her... She's also been talking about the things you have taught in Nurture and how they might relate to her , like neuro Diversity and it's coming from her which is fabulous. She is recognising patterns she can relate to and then talking about them. I think this is amazing."
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RESOURCE BASE AT WHITEOAK ACADEMIES
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Our Nurture Hubs are not the only specialist SEND provision which has opened in the Trust.
We are very excited to announce that our new speech and language resource base, ‘Woodlands’, is open at Whiteoak Academies. This is providing specialist language provision to a small group of Key Stage 1 pupils.
All pupils attending Woodlands have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are admitted via consultation with North Somerset Local Authority. The pupils are on roll with the mainstream school, and we work towards including them in as much of their cohort’s learning and extra-curricular experiences as is appropriate, aiming for them to be fully integrated into the mainstream class within two years of joining the resource base. The curriculum is carefully planned and led by the pupils’ individual EHCPs, allowing them to engage in the core subjects but with a deep focus on securing both receptive and expressive language skills. The Lead Teacher works closely with a speech and language therapist from North Somerset, developing the staff team’s knowledge and expertise around language interventions.
Woodlands is currently based within the main school but by the end of this academic year will have moved into a separate, purpose-built classroom, designed to meet the speech and language needs of 12 pupils from both KS1 and KS2. The resource base is a calm, nurturing learning environment, rich with bespoke language opportunities and the remit of creating independent learners ready to re-enter the mainstream classroom. It is already having significant impact for those pupils using its provision.
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Meet our Central Inclusion Team, who look after SEND, inclusion and Nurture across our LSP schools:
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 Debbie Coker - Director of Education (SEND and Inclusion)
Debbie’s role involves leading on the strategy around Inclusion and SEND, which includes Nurture.
 Suzy Divine – Lead Teacher SEND
Suzy visits schools and works with SENDCos and school leaders to provide advice and recommendations around SEND need.
 Louise O’Rourke – Advisor for Behaviour and Nurture
Louise is part-time and works with nurture hub leads and school leaders to support their journey with Nurture UK (more information below)
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MEET LOUISE: OUR NEW ADVISOR FOR BEHAVIOUR AND NURTURE
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Louise O’Rourke joined the LSP Central Team in September, working three days a week (from January this will change to four days) as our Advisor for Nurture and Behaviour.
All schools will receive three half-day visits from Louise, who will be supporting the work on aligning six principles of Nurture UK during this academic year. She will also be helping schools to develop their SEMH offer.
These visits will be with the lead for Nurture in each school/school leader as appropriate.
Louise will also offer support on the following:
- For schools with Nurture Groups, Louise will lead the network and support where needed to ensure that these groups succeed.
- Schools can request additional case work to review challenging cases (this may be charged though if in excess of core hours)
- Review of cases where pupil is at risk of Suspension.
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A NEW LIGHTHOUSE HUB IN BRISTOL
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On 1 January 2025, three schools will join Lighthouse Schools Partnership; they are Easton CE Primary School, Fishponds CE Primary School and St Mary Redcliffe CE Primary School (SMRP). They have previously been part of the Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust and are transferring as a result of DBAT’s decision to cease operations. This moment is a significant one for our Trust as from this point onwards we will be a partnership serving schools in the vibrant heart of a major city as well as a Trust that works with rural or commuter-town schools.
I am very excited and optimistic about the future for LSP as we take on our new responsibilities in Bristol. That the DfE and Diocese of Bristol have trusted us to do this work reflects our reputation as a mature and successful organisation with the capacity to serve the schools well. It also speaks to our track record as a Trust where Church of England schools can maintain and develop their distinctive character.
Having said that, we will have to change to be a great Trust for these schools as their context is different with all of them serving ethnically diverse communities and two of them working with large numbers of asylum seekers’ children. These are changes that we embrace and it is a privilege to be part of the very successful work that the schools are already doing.
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There are benefits too for our existing schools. Our Trust immediately becomes more representative of modern Britain as we expand into Bristol. There are opportunities for us in bringing schools together for cultural and sporting reasons and this will give all our children better opportunities to find out about different communities. As a large Trust we will continue to benefit from economies of scale and, once the joining costs have been absorbed, we will be able to increase our services to all schools or reduce charges. I am also conscious that there is a risk that we focus on the differences of practice rather than similarities: good teaching is good teaching, so we will have much to learn from each other. It is also the case that we face many of the same challenges, especially in meeting SEND needs, and that more services and closer collaboration will make us more effective and resilient.
The work with our new Bristol primaries is happening at the same time that our school improvement partnership with St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School (SMRT) is developing. The mutual sharing of practice is at the heart of this and it has been great to work with colleagues from SMRT on our Middle Leaders Quality Assurance Reviews. Once again we have much to bring and lots to learn.
In the coming year I anticipate that several additional Bristol schools will join Lighthouse Schools Partnership, perhaps leading to a hub of about seven schools. That number will give us the stake in the city’s education needed to ensure that we have an equal partnership with the Local Authority and Diocese. Growth of this order allows us to scale up, probably to the Trust’s fully mature extent, without the complexities and compromises of a merger.
Our colleagues from Easton, Fishponds and SMRP are already contributing to and sharing our work together as a partnership. They are very welcome and I look forward to 2025 as a positive inflection point in our story.
Gary Lewis, Chief Executive
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'GOOD' NEWS FOR FIVE LSP PRIMARY SCHOOLS
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 Since the last edition of The Beacon, in July, five of our primary schools have been inspected by Ofsted. The most recent inspections highlight the great work colleagues are doing in schools for our pupils.
With many of our schools in the Ofsted window this academic year, we will continue to update you all on their outcomes in future editions.
(Note: Since September 2024 one-word Ofsted judgements have been removed for all new graded inspections)
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'GOOD' START FOR NEW HEAD AT BISHOP SUTTON AND STANTON DREW PRIMARY SCHOOLS
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Following Ofsted inspections in July and October respectively, Federated schools, Bishop Sutton Primary School and Stanton Drew Primary School have both been graded 'Good' in all inspection areas.
Bishop Sutton was inspected just before their previous Headteacher Dieter Cook retired, and Stanton Drew was inspected within the first few weeks of Tim Eustace taking up his new post as Executive Head of the two schools.
After their inspection in July 2024, inspectors commented on Bishop Sutton's vision “where every child can dream, believe and achieve,” stating that it “can be seen through the ambitious curriculum.” They also noted that “pupils are engaged in their learning and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well-supported.”
The school's federated partner, Stanton Drew Primary School received their inspection in October 2024, and inspectors commented that the school is a place where “everyone is welcome” with a “culture based on nurture and care….. at the heart of the local community”. The pupils were described as “active citizens” and the staff as “proud to work for the school”. They also noted the highly effective introduction to school Reception pupils receive: “Children in the Reception Year make a strong start. The curriculum supports them to develop their knowledge in all areas of their learning. Staff consider carefully how to build the skills and knowledge that children need”.
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ST MARY'S PUPILS 'OUTSTANDING' BEHAVIOUR & ATTITUDES
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HIGH DOWN JUNIOR
CELEBRATES RETAINING 'GOOD' OFSTED RATING
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Following an inspection in October 2024 Ofsted has graded St Mary’s CofE Primary School in Portbury as Outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes and Good in the other four inspection areas.
Inspectors commented that “pupils love coming to school. Teachers expect pupils to achieve well in their lessons and relationships between staff and pupils are strong”.
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Following an Ofsted inspection in November 2024, High Down Junior School has successfully retained its ‘Good’ rating.
The inspectors commented that “Pupils are happy and enjoy their learning” at High Down Junior School and “the excellent pastoral support team assists anyone who is having a tricky time”.
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THE 'GOOD' FEELING CONTINUES AT BACKWELL CofE JUNIOR SCHOOL
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Finally Backwell Church of England Junior School is our most recently inspected school (November 2024) and they also secured judgements of 'Good' in all areas.
The inspectors noted the “strong ‘family feel’” of the school, where “pupils behave well”, “staff provide caring support” and “everyone is treated as an individual”. The high expectations set for pupils and strong subject knowledge of teachers ensures that “Pupils learn a lot and are well-prepared for their next stage of education”.
Headteacher, Nick Webster, said “I am pleased that the inspection team recognised the friendly, supportive and welcoming feel of our school. Ofsted’s judgement shows how the hard-work and dedication of the school’s staff is ensuring a nurturing and engaging educational environment for our pupils.”
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YATTON PRIMARY: REBUILD UPDATE
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We are delighted to confirm that the rebuild of Yatton Infant School has started and is on track to be completed by October 2025.
Planning permission has been granted and our construction partners are currently on site in the mobilisation phase. We are delighted to be working with local contractors Bray & Slaughter and Coreus Group on this project and we will share progress and updates with our neighbours as the build progresses.
We're excited to be able to share some of the artist impressions (see below) which visualise how the school and inside spaces will look once the build is complete.
We are also very grateful to the Department for Education’s RPA scheme for funding this rebuild. Our families in Yatton will benefit from a new build that will deliver a fantastic environment for Teaching and Learning.
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LSP EARLY APPLICANT DAY 2024
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Prospective Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry students from across the Trust’s four sixth forms joined together at Gordano School on 18 September 2024, for the Lighthouse Schools Partnerships Early Applicant Day. The aim of the event was to provide students with valuable insights and guidance on applying for these prestigious higher education pathways.
Students from Churchill, Gordano, Chew Valley and Backwell Sixth Forms attended the day, which included sessions on creating a Personal Statement, Entrance Interview Preparations, Career Pathways, and an opportunity for a Q&A with speakers and industry professionals. The Early Applicants Day is one of the benefits of each of our Sixth Forms being part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership; students benefit from collaboration across all four Sixth Forms, working together and learning from like-minded students, with similar interests and aspirations.
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GORDANO SCHOOL DISCUSS THEIR CULTURE OF SPORTS EXCELLENCE ON BBC RADIO
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Recently Radio Bristol visited Gordano School, where they interviewed Head of PE, Emma Harradine and two of their school's elite swimmers, Jamie and Sam to talk about their experiences and successes of the sporting provision at Gordano School, and the journey of their amazing swimmers as they head on the road to the ESS National Swim Finals.
You can listen to the recording by clicking on the link below (20m30s in):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0k24tx8?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
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 Lighthouse Schools Partnership held the first Business Breakfast of this academic year on Wednesday 20 November at Churchill Academy and Sixth Form. Over 100 Business Partners and education colleagues attended the successful event.
Our main speaker at the event – Simon Lawrence OBE, General Manager of the National Trust Bristol Portfolio – provided an interesting and insightful reflection on the principles and values of ‘Servant Leadership’ that he has learnt throughout his military and diplomatic career.
A big thank you to everyone who attended this morning - and an extra special thank you to our speakers.
Finally, thank you to Aspens for providing a wonderful breakfast buffet that was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
If you are interested in becoming an LSP Business Partner or would like further information about the Business Breakfast please email businesspartnership@lsp.org.uk.
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Over the summer we ran an Art Competition for pupils across the Lighthouse Schools Partnership.
The Central Team were blown away by both the quality and number of entries we received, which made deciding the winners a difficult job.
Congratulations to the well deserved winners (below) - we hope you enjoy your book tokens.
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Art Competition Results 2024
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Primary Winner
Amara, Year 4 at Whitchurch Primary Schools
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Secondary Winner
Charis, Year 9 at Backwell School
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Primary Runner Up
Lucia, Year 6 at Churchill Primary School
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Secondary Runner Up
Abby, Year 9 at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
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From canvases, to watercolours, collages to models (with working lights!) we now have some fantastic artwork on display in our offices.
Thank you so much to all the children who took time to show us their amazing creativity.
You can see lots of the other wonderful entries on our website:
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On Friday 25 October, almost 300 of our Primary Teaching staff attended our Primary INSET Day at St Peter's CofE Primary School.
The focus of the day was on developing our understanding and practice of teaching primary writing, and included a session on Early Writing from Kirsty Godfrey, OFSTED English Lead. Kirsty's session finished off with a Q&A, giving staff a great opportunity to ask an expert about early reading and writing.
The rest of the day included case studies and workshops on Writing Progression and Writing Sequence, and group work focused on Writing Unit planning.
The day provided a wonderful opportunity for our LSP Primary Teaching staff to ‘flourish together’. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day a success.
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LSP TRUST TRAINING DAY - 14 FEBRUARY 2025
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ADVANCING EQUITY, UNLOCKING POTENTIAL CONFERENCE
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We look forward to our LSP Conference on Friday 14 February 2025. The title Advancing Equity, Unlocking Potential and theme for the day has been chosen as a crucial focus improving outcomes for economically disadvantaged pupils. The conference highlights our shared priority and commitment to ensuring every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed. Addressing the persistent disparities in educational achievement is not only a moral imperative but also central to our Trust strategic vision.
Key pupil-facing staff will be in attendance and we have a fantastic line up of contributors during a full day to unpick the challenges we face in our region and schools alongside the practical steps we can develop to overcome the barriers that we need to diminish the gap that stubbornly persists for our priority pupils. In the afternoon we will work with the Teach Like a Champion (TLAC) team to focus on curriculum and pedagogy in our classrooms.
Further information will be sent to those identified to attend this conference in the coming weeks and we are excited to be hosting this large-scale event at Ashton Gate Stadium.
Venue capacity means that it is impossible for us to incorporate all staff (we have nearly 2000!) at Ashton Gate. Whilst unavoidable, this is a real shame, and we are absolutely committed to ensuring that we invest equitably in development opportunities for all colleagues. The focus on disadvantage at the Advancing Equity, Unlocking Potential conference, whilst one step removed for many non-pupil facing colleagues, is an absolutely key strand of our Trust strategic plan and so we don’t want to lose the opportunity for everyone to consider how they can contribute.
We would like to hold an event for all non-pupil facing colleagues in the new academic year. Our initial thoughts are to provide some input on improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and young people, targeted at the roles of those attending, and to hold a series of specialist workshops for groups of staff (such as site staff, admin or data teams for example). We will be back in touch with further ideas in due course but would welcome your input on how we can make this a rewarding and valuable event for all. Please email any thoughts or ideas you may have to the Lighthouse Learning Team.
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WEST 100 - APPLICATIONS OPENING SOON
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The West 100 Programme is a unique opportunity for school leaders aspiring to become headteachers in the next three years. This unique programme, delivered in partnership with the Reach Foundation, is designed to equip you with the leadership skills, knowledge, and network you need to succeed at the helm of a school. By joining, you’ll gain valuable insights, collaborate with experienced leaders, and access resources that will accelerate your career growth. In the first two cohorts of West100 we have had four delegates from LSP schools.
Applying to join the West100 Programme
We'll be sharing more information about the programme at our two online information events on Monday 16 December 7.30-8.15pm and Tuesday 14 January 7.30-8.15pm. Click on the button below to sign up to these information events:
We are eager to support potential headteachers to apply for the programme and may be able to offer sponsorship towards the cost of the programme. Please contact Janine Ashman for more information and register at one of West100 sessions detailed above.
Or if you're ready to apply, please do so here:
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Across two cohorts we are now delivering eight NPQ programmes for staff within and beyond Lighthouse Schools Partnership. It is fantastic to see the quality professional development participants are receiving and the impact on their own practice. We are particularly delighted to be delivering the new NPPQ SENDCo which is now the only way to obtain the SENDCo qualification.
We are looking forward to receiving applications for Cohort 8 when we will be delivering NPQH and NPQ SEND. Places on both these programmes are fully funded. Information on how to apply for these programmes will be posted on our dedicated webpage: LSP CPD for Staff, in due course.
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We wish to congratulate and thank the following people for the contributions they have made to our Trust:
25 years' service
Denisre Orton – High Down Juniors
Suzanne Ellis - Backwell Secondary School
Catherine Withers - Backwell Secondary School
Kay Keane – Gordano Secondary School
Catherine Brown – East Harptree Primary School
Jonathan Walford – Chew Valley Secondary School
25 years' service & Retiring
Steve Lines – Backwell Secondary School
Nigel Downing - Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
20 years' service & Retiring
Shan Woodley - Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
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We would also like to say thank you to all the staff, trustees and governors who make such a positive difference to our schools and pupils. We are so grateful for you all.
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The health and wellbeing of our staff is very important to us. From 1 December 2024, we are proud to offer you all access to a new employee wellbeing support programme.
This is delivered by School Wellbeing, part of Schools Advisory Service and includes:
- free to access, confidential, clinician led telephone helplines
- physical and mental health support plans and practitioners
- mindfullness, personal training and nutritional support plans
- dedicated App for these services, including referrals
Find our more about what is on offer by visiting the LSP Reward Gateway or click here to view the brochure.
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NEW BRANDING FOR GORDANO SCHOOL
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Gordano School are very fortunate to have the talents of Josh Williams in their Reprographics Department. Josh has ensured the smooth running of the school's busy reprographics department for the past 13 years along with Repro Technician Judy Plaster and has recently added his graphic design skills to their offer. By bringing this in-house, along with the purchase of new printing equipment, it has enabled budgets to be spent more effectively on the production of the branding elements that Josh has designed, instead of outsourcing.
As part of the overall rebranding, Josh was tasked with improving the look of the school site with eye-catching branding, inspired by the colours associated with the six school house teams. This included signage for key areas which has been very beneficial for new Year 7s and the school vision of Dream Big, Do Your Best and Give Back has been emblazoned across a previously unadorned wall to inspire students.
The next exciting phase of the site branding includes working in conjunction with Heads of Faulty to produce creative and informative displays, further way-finding signage and corridor branding with key messaging supporting the school vision.
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WINFORD PRIMARY PLANT TREE IN GOVERNOR'S HONOUR
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GOLDEN VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL VISITED BY BRISTOL OLD VIC
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With the help of their Chair of Governors, John Miles, council representatives at Winford Primary School planted a plum tree in front of the school. This tree has been planted in gratitude to Sonya Clark who was a governor at this school for 40 years and who retired last year. The staff and students are grateful to all who serve the school and community and particularly grateful to Sonya who saw the school through so many changes.
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Years 1 and 2 at Golden Valley Primary School enjoyed a fabulous performance from a troop of very talented actors.
The performance, which was based on traditional fairy tales, inspired the children and will form the basis of some written work they will do in English. It was a fantastic morning for everyone involved and great for the children to share such an exciting and engaging experience.
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WELLBEING FOCUS AT HIGH DOWN SCHOOLS
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High Down's Wellbeing Ambassadors have now been selected for this academic year and are already hard at work making sure that wellbeing around High Down remains positive. The school has an ongoing project to encourage less use of devices to improve our mental health by having more opportunity to connect with others in person, rather than online. This project will continue throughout the year.
This term, each class's Wellbeing Ambassadors are creating worry boxes so that all children in school have an alternative way to express any worries they may be experiencing. Throughout the year they will be keeping their 5 steps to wellbeing in mind for everything we do and ensuring all children become familiar with these steps. In addition, they have also begun a Friday Yoga club (see photos above) – the perfect way to get in a mindful mood on a Friday morning.
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RAVE REVIEWS FOR CHURCHILL ACADEMY & SIXTH FORM CHRISTMAS CONCERT
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The Churchill Academy & Sixth Form Christmas Concert was a resounding success, wowing the packed audience at The Playhouse in Weston-super-Mare. The students brought energy, humour and their high level of musicianship for all to share and kick-start the Christmas preparations.
 The Big Orchestra, Concert Band, Brass Group, String Group, Woodwind Group, Soul Band, Guitar Group, and our KS3 and Senior Choirs delighted the audience with some classic film scores, rock and pop songs, show tunes and Christmas melodies, before they were treated to a sneak preview of the forthcoming junior production of We Will Rock You, directed by our Sixth Form performing arts students.
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GORDANO SCHOOL STUDENTS RAISE OVER £1000 FOR CHARITY
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Gordano School students are proud to announce that they have raised over £1000 through various charity fundraising initiatives since the start of the school year.
Nearly £300 was raised for the 2024 Poppy Appeal by students which helped to contribute towards the incredible £50162 raised this year from Portishead, Pill, Portbury and other surrounding areas.
Read Full article
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CHURCHILL ACADEMY YEAR 7 STUDENT SHOWCASE
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WRAXALL'S NEW OUTDOOR LEARNING CLASSROOM
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Churchill Academy & Sixth Form Year 7 Windsor students gathered to share some of the work they are most proud of since joining the Academy.
Students brought along sturdy bird boxes, challenging algebra, colourful artwork, creative writing and more. It was great to hear the students talk about the work they had created, celebrate each other's achievements and reflect on how far they’d come since joining the Academy in September.
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Staff and students at Wraxall Primary School have been busy preparing their new outdoor learning classroom. Situated outdoors, but right in the heart of the school it is equipped with new greenhouses, planters and picnic benches and the children are really looking forward to using their new space. Gardening activities will be beginning in the new year, with school grown crops returning and a school farmers market stall being run by the children once produce has grown! The classroom space makes use of the school's fantastic views and is a perfect space for the children to take part in science lessons and enjoy reading surrounded by nature.
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GORDANO A LEVEL STUDENTS EXCEL IN MATHS CHALLENGE
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Gordano School is celebrating the success of 34 A-Level students who took part in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. Seven received Gold certificates, 11 received Silver and 12 received Bronze which is a huge achievement.
Ellie Siegle, Max Appleyard, Joe Roome, Stanley Godbehere from Year 13 and Megan Aitken, Daniel Chiu and Oliver Hammond from Year 12 received Gold certificates and qualified for the Senior Kangaroo, known to be exceptionally challenging.
Four of our exceptional girls also participated in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, with Saskia Peden, Ellie Siegle and Freya Pritchard all receiving merit certificates and Haiyi Wang a Distinction.
UKMT is established to advance the education of children and young people in mathematics. They support thousands of young people in the UK and beyond to improve their problem-solving and maths skills.
Lou Blundell, Headteacher at Gordano School said ’we commend all students involved in this challenge for their hard work, ambition and commitment. They should be so proud of their accomplishments’.
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Thank you for reading this edition of the Beacon. To stay up-to-date with all our news, job vacancies and Trust-wide opportunities, please feel free to follow us on social media.
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