Minister of State for Skills wants ‘ladder of opportunity’ at post-16

Former chair of the education committee, Robert Halfon MP, gave evidence to the committee’s inquiry into post-16 qualifications, in his new role as Minister for State for Skills in the Department for Education. Current chair of the committee, Robin Walker MP, asked Halfon if there is sufficient data on future skills and if that data …

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust delighted by Ofsted evaluation results

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust (HSAT) is celebrating the judgement of ‘good’ for five of their schools. Their sixth school is yet to be inspected after joining the Trust, and received a rating of good during its last inspection. North East Specialist Academy Trust HSAT is a multi-phase, specialist academy trust with students from ages five …

One small packet of kindness can make a BIG difference

A North East Primary school is working to help keep homeless people warm this winter by supporting a recycling initiative that sees empty crisp packets turned into survival blankets. Pupils from Walbottle Village Primary School, in Newcastle, are showing their support for the ‘Iron Man’ by putting their empty crisp packets to good use. Iron …

Schools join together for Trust-wide carol concert

Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust held a Trust-wide carol service, which has been hailed a huge success. The service, featuring a choir and orchestra of pupil representatives from across the whole region. The trust has 30 schools across Sunderland, South Tyneside and East Durham. Christmas Celebration The service, at St Bede’s RC Church in South …

Ofsted Inspectors Praise ambitious leaders and teachers who maximise their pupils potential

Congratulations to Highfield Academy in Sunderland, who received a glowing Ofsted report.  Broadening Horizons Pupils in Highfield Academy do well across the whole school, "Children in the early years get off to a strong start," preparing them for a carefully planned, ambitious curriculum which meets the needs of every child.  Ofsted Inspectors highlighted the warm …

Northern Leaders Trust makes two top tier appointments

The start of the new year will see two senior roles being filled by Northern Leaders Trust (NLT) as the board of trustees continues to pursue a dynamic improvement plan for the two Newcastle secondary schools under its management – the well-known Kenton School and Studio West, a specialist Studio School in West Denton. Trust …

Secretary of State confirms dropping of the Schools Bill

The education select committee held an accountability session this week, hearing from the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP. This was her first appearance at the select committee since her appointment as Secretary of State. Committee chair, Robin Walker MP, asked Keegan where education sat in the government’s priorities, and also what her …

Ancient Egyptian artefact displayed at Teesside schools

St Joseph’s RC Primary, Middlesbrough, and Billingham South Community Primary, Stockton-on-Tees became the first schools to receive real ancient Egyptian artefacts on loan from the British Museum. The North East schools were chosen by the British Museum and Middlesbrough Museums project. Canopic Jar The British Museum pilot sees artefacts loaned to schools to allow these …

Trust gifts Christmas thank you to School Support Staff

Valour Multi Academy Trust has found a way to reward its school support staff this Christmas by giving staff a voucher of £200 to help them with their Christmas shopping.  Support staff including cleaners and cooks have received a £200 gift voucher for the Metrocentre to help them cover the cost of Christmas and to …

Bishop blesses new £1.8m school building and holds special service in new chapel

St Wilfrid’s RC College, in South Shields, welcomed Bishop Seamus Cunningham to bless its new £1.8m block of six classrooms, a new chapel and dining room extension. The school is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. Blessing St Wilfrid’s RC College received a visit by Canon William Agley and Father Jonathan Bowes from St …