News and updates from Lionheart Educational Trust | Issue #07 | July 2024
Lionheart is 10!
This term we reached a special milestone: 10 years as a multi-academy Trust.
In April 2014, Lionheart welcomed two Birstall primary schools – Highcliffe and Riverside – to join founding school, Beauchamp College.
Now, a decade later, we are a thriving Trust comprising 16 schools across Leicester, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, but our mission has not changed. At heart of everything, is our drive to ensure that ANY young person from ANY background has an EQUAL chance to access educational and holistic opportunities to support them in being successful in whatever they choose to do.
To support us in delivering this mission, there have been many highlights over the last 10 years, including:
• The development of an ambitious curriculum that inspires and stretches inquisitive young minds.
• Investment of over £40m in capital projects to provide inspiring learning environments.
• Holistic opportunities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Lionheart Speaks.
• Alternative provision for students requiring an alternative educational pathway.
• Chromebooks and WiFi for all families disadvantaged during Covid-19 so no child was left unconnected at home.
• Over 100 students progressing to prestigious Oxbridge universities.
Welcome
As we reach the end of another academic year, I am thrilled to share our summer newsletter which highlights the dedication of our pupils who participated in a variety of opportunities, showcases a range of their remarkable achievements, and provides key updates from the summer term.
The months of June and July have been particularly jam-packed with trips, sports days and Lionheart events which see young people from across our schools join together.
I would like to congratulate our pupils for their incredible participation in the recent Lionheart Eco Rally, which came about following a Global Issues Curriculum lesson on climate change. Their commitment to environmental sustainability was inspiring, and it’s heartening to see our young leaders taking active steps to make a positive impact on our planet. As a result, we were immensely proud to see our pupils and staff feature on BBC News, bringing their achievements into the spotlight.
On the athletic front, our pupils have shown real talent and fair play in various competitions, both at school, Trust
Key dates
and district level. Their hard work and determination is commendable, and I look forward to seeing more victories throughout next academic year.
At the beginning of July, we embraced the spirit of diversity and inclusion at our very own Pride Festival. The event was a perfect mix of education and signposting, coupled with celebration. It was a vibrant testament to our school communities’ commitment to equality and acceptance, and I am proud of everyone who contributed to making it a success.
A personal highlight for me was the performances given at Lionheart Speaks – the result of our in-school oracy competition – showcasing pupils’ incredible talents in public speaking and knowledge of topics close to their hearts. Their creativity and confidence at such a young age was truly inspiring.
Of course, the success of our pupils is thanks to the expertise, guidance and teaching of our incredible staff across all Lionheart schools and central Trust. Our dedicated staff continue to excel, and I was proud to see the recipients of this year’s employee Heart Awards
acknowledged at an awards ceremony in July. These awards recognise those who have gone above and beyond in their roles, demonstrating exceptional dedication, passion and importantly, a pupil-centred approach.
Finally, it goes without saying how proud I have been to see pupils undertake their GCSE and A-level exams with commitment and maturity, ensuring they are carving a path for their future. Whether they are continuing their studies or moving into employment, I wish them all the very best.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Together, we are creating an environment where our pupils – your children – can thrive and succeed.
I hope you enjoy reading through just some of this term’s successes and I wish you a restful summer holiday – hopefully one where the sun shines!
Kath Kelly CEO of Lionheart Educational Trust
LET’s Dance 2024
In April, to celebrate International Dance Day, over 120 students from seven of our secondary schools laced up their dancing shoes and took part in the second annual LET’s Dance competition.
The young dancers certainly put on a show at The Cedars Academy’s Palmer Tomkinson Theatre, dazzling the crowd and showcasing a wide variety of styles and genres such as contemporary, classical and jazz.
The results
Juniors (Year 7 and 8)
Martha, Niamh, Josephine, Jemima, Ella and Katie (Sir Jonathan North)
Amelia and Una (Humphrey Perkins)
Lexi (Sir Jonathan North) AND Lauren, Paige and Tia (Cedars)
After each act had performed, the judging panel – Mike Gamble (Co-Head of The Newbridge School), Vanessa Glynn (Trust Expressive Arts Lead) and Lorrine Douglas (Schools and Community Co-ordinator for Curve Theatre) –scored them against four criteria; choreography, performance, musicality and timing, as well as Lionheart’s student values – resilience, resourcefulness, reciprocity and reflectiveness.
Inters
(Year 9 and 10)
Phoebe (Newbridge)
Millie (Castle Rock)
Isla (Martin High)
“There was some amazing talent on stage and it's brilliant that Lionheart’s created a platform for young people to share their creative ideas through dance,” commented Lorrine from Curve Theatre.
“It was great to see the support all the dancers showed each other, and the many parents, guardians and carers who came and cheered them on.”
Ultimately, despite the high standard, there could only be a handful of winners:
Seniors
(Year 11+)
Maycee (Castle Rock)
Year 11 Group Dance (Beauchamp College)
Olivia (Beauchamp College)
Overall Winner: Kayleigh and Keira (Sir Jonathan North)
Congratulations to the winners and a huge well done to all who took part. An electric crowd, comprising over 200 spectators packed out the theatre and cheered on all the acts as they performed their routines.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s event.
Lionheart Pride 2024: Celebrating Differences
We boast a diverse student body of more than 13,000 pupils, whose differences we recognise and celebrate across the academic year. Following celebrations of faith, culture and disability earlier in the year, the 2024 Lionheart Pride Festival took place at The Cedars Academy with Lionheart’s young people enjoying a joyous July day celebrating our LGBTQ+ community.
Pride is an opportunity for Lionheart staff and students who identify as part of the community - alongside their allies – to join together and celebrate, access useful information, and promote the importance of equality and inclusivity.
Inspirational speeches from Amy – a Year 13 student at Beauchamp College – George White – a local RE teacher and recent recipient of an inclusion award, and Dr Jenn Hobbs – a university lecturer and an expert on LGBTQ+ and queer politics, led the main stage throughout the day. Alongside Lionheart schools’ Battle of the Bands winners giving a range of musical performances, Drag Queen Story Hour provided further entertainment.
With fairground rides, festivalstyle food and face painting stalls all adding to the fun, inside the marquee pupils were able to read and buy LGBTQ+ literature, learn about representation in the curriculum and speak to inclusive employers such as the Fire Service.
The outcome of Lionheart’s ‘100 words’ pride competition was also announced on the day following the submission of short poems, songs and stories about what pride means. Amnique from Brocks Hill Primary School and Mila from Beauchamp College were named the winners, with both pupils having written poignant poems that highlighted the importance of accepting people, irrespective of their background.
As glittery, exhausted, yet smiling faces left the Cedars’ field, we knew that pupils were leaving educated, celebrated and heard; the key ingredients of another successful Lionheart Pride.
WATCH OUR LIONHEART PRIDE VIDEO HERE
WATCH OUR LIONHEART GAMES VIDEO HERE
A sizzling day of sport
On a scorching summer’s day, 300 young athletes from our eight Leicestershire secondary schools congregated at Saffron Lane Sports Stadium to compete in the annual Lionheart Games event.
Students - participating either as an individual or in team relays - took part in traditional athletics track and field events including long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin and running races, which ranged from 200m all the way to 1500m.
With the summer having finally arrived, our young people showcased resilience and determination by competing in warm conditions, as well as demonstrating confidence and impressive athletic abilities.
On the event, Lionheart PE Lead, Rebecca Ardley, said: “We had an absolutely brilliant day for the Lionheart Games 2024.
“The sun was shining and the students were absolutely excellent, both when competing in their
events and with their conduct and attitude throughout the day.
“Thank you to the 300 students, 20 sports leaders and many staff from across all the schools for their hard work and energy in
making the day such a success!”
Once again, the collaborative competition was a huge success, uniting students across our Trust through a mutual love of sport.
2024 Lionheart Games Winners
Junior Girls
Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College
Junior Boys
The Cedars Academy
Inter Girls
Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College
Inter
Boys
The Cedars Academy
Sportspersonship Cup
Judgemeadow Community College
Martin High shine in Ofsted inspection
We’re thrilled that Martin High School in Anstey has retained its ‘Good’ grading following a summer term visit from Ofsted, with Inspectors recognising the fantastic work of the school and its pupils.
Importantly, Inspectors reflected from their two-day visit that “pupils are happy to attend,” before praising the strength and variety of learning across all year groups.
“The curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils,” they noted, “At Key stage 4, pupils choose from a well-considered offer of academic and vocational courses.
“In all subjects, the curriculums are well planned to meet pupils’ interests
“The school is aspirational for all pupils to gain the knowledge and qualifications they need to be successful in future education and employment.”
and provide the knowledge and vocabulary they need to achieve well.”
The school was also celebrated for championing a strong extracurricular calendar with enriching activities that allow learners to develop outside of the classroom:
“There are many extracurricular opportunities available, including clubs, trips and visits.
Lionheart lead the charge on climate action
Through the Lionheart Global Issues (GI) Curriculum, we work hard to educate our young people about key topics that are prevalent in the world around them.
Having previously examined food poverty, women’s rights and, more recently, social media and mental health, this term our pupils explored climate change, examining both social and environmental implications.
As with all our GI topics, to consolidate classroom learning and encourage pupils to have a voice, we implement an element of social action. Therefore, in June, we held our first-ever Eco Rally at The Cedars Academy.
On a delightful, sunny day, over 1000 young people from all our Leicestershire schools sampled a host of educational activities designed to inspire and strengthen their collective understanding of climate change and wider ‘green’ issues.
At the centre of the event was a main stage, on which pupils were treated to an abundance of live acts, impassioned speeches on climate change and musical interludes. Elsewhere, our young people enjoyed penning letters to parliamentary leaders, constructing placards with their own climate change messages and creating bee bombs; they even used recyclable materials to build sculptures, flower arches, hedgehog shelters and birdhouses.
“Pupils enthusiastically take on responsibilities in school, such as representing the school council. Many pupils get involved with community and charity projects.”
Visit www.martinhigh.org.uk to read the full report.
WATCH OUR ECO RALLY VIDEO HERE
A number of stalls were also set up on the field, sharing information about energy saving and growing food, whilst activist charity Greenpeace also attended.
Former Martin High pupil, Ian Bursnall, also known as ‘The Skint Cook,’ who shot to fame on the television show ‘Jamie Oliver's Great Cookbook Challenge' in 2022, made an appearance too, giving a live cooking demonstration to teach pupils how to make use of leftover food, thus reducing food waste.
Putting the importance of climate change into sharp focus on the day, pupils left further inspired to play their part in combating the issue.
Glowing Ofsted report for Hallam Fields Primary
The Ofsted success continued this term with Hallam Fields Primary in Birstall also receiving a ‘GOOD’ judgement overall from His Majesty’s Inspectors, who were glowing with their description of the school, its staff and pupils.
Having been graded as Outstanding in three of five inspection areas –including behaviour and attitudes and personal development – the school was described as “inclusive and highly ambitious” and a place where pupils interact “with high levels of respect and courtesy.”
The “aspirational” core curriculum, was celebrated with Inspectors praising the “strong reading culture”
“The school’s work to develop pupils’ character is exemplary”
and describing maths lessons as “ambitious and well-sequenced;” phonics outcomes for younger pupils were also considered “strong.”
Inspectors noted that children “demonstrate positive attitudes and commitment to their education” whilst also up-holding “exceptional” behaviour and shining with their enthusiasm for learning. One pupil said to an Inspector “All the teachers
Two Derbyshire schools join Lionheart
Expanding our Trust's reach into South Derbyshire, we recently welcomed Mercia Academy and Newhall Junior School, in the Swadlincote area, to the Lionheart family.
Both schools are at exciting stages of development, with
new buildings scheduled for construction to enhance the learning environments for pupils.
Mercia and Newhall pupils will now benefit from our innovative and enriching curriculum and enjoy opportunities to meet children from other schools through our
Lionheart to open new forest school in Coalville
To satisfy a growing demand for school places, Leicestershire County Council has selected Lionheart to open a brand new twoform entry forest school in South East Coalville in August 2025.
Greenstone Primary – a name which references a layer of granite discovered in the local area – will be situated at the heart of Swinfen Vale, a new estate comprising 2000
houses. It will initially open only to Early Years children aged four to five and will offer a blend of innovative forest school methods alongside a traditional education.
Parents wishing to apply for a place at Greenstone are invited to attend an open event on 8th October 2024.
Visit www.lionhearttrust.org.uk/ greenstone
are really nice at Hallam Fields. They always help us in our lessons and they teach us really well. Our school is just a really nice place to be.”
Recognising the incredible work of the school’s Senior Leadership Team, Inspectors described the school as being “very well led and managed.”
Read the full report at www.HallamFields.org.uk
Trust-wide collaborative events.
We are looking forward to working with staff, pupils, parents/carers and the wider school community over the coming months.
Thrilling evening of T20 cricket
As part of our exclusive partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC), our young people and their families were able to enjoy a thrilling event at the Uptonsteel County Ground in June, with the opportunity to also take part in a series of moneycan’t-buy matchday activities.
On what was a warm and inviting evening, our LET’s Dance 2024 competition winners – Kayleigh and Keira from Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College – first cranked up the atmosphere with an energetic pitchside routine that really got the party started.
With excitement at fever pitch, 20 Lionheart flag-bearers made their way out onto the pitch to form a guard of honour as the Leicestershire Foxes walked out for their T20 clash with Lancashire Lightning.
The event also marked the climactic finale of the kit competition, where pupils had been invited to design a new T20 jersey for LCCC’s 2025 season; another hallmark of the fantastic partnership Lionheart schools have with the cricket club.
Around a thousand entries were whittled down to a final five:
• Owen, Year 6, Broom Leys Primary School
• Vaneesha, Year 4, Broom Leys Primary School
• Amber, Year 6, Highcliffe Primary School
• Maya, Year 10, The Castle Rock School
• Shameer, Year 12, Beauchamp College
Prior to the first ball, and with proud friends and family watching on, the kit designs were displayed on the ground’s big screen while the Lionheart finalists explained the ideas behind their designs, to the crowd, and what it would mean to them if their concept won. Supporters were then invited to vote for their favourite.
The winner – to be announced over the summer - will get the opportunity to travel to a Surridge Sport factory, where they will see their design make the transition from paper to fabric and become the shirt that the Leicestershire Foxes will don next season.
A huge thank-you to Leicestershire County Cricket Club for their support and for giving our pupils such wonderful opportunities. We look forward to continuing this partnership throughout the next academic year.
Pictured: The final five designs submitted by Lionheart pupils.
Lionheart Speaks!
We were completely overwhelmed with the impressive performances at this year’s Lionheart Speaks evening on Wednesday 26th June.
For the second year in a row, talented and passionate orators from across all 14 Lionheart schools in Leicestershire delivered phenomenal speeches to a stunned audience at the Y Theatre.
Borne out of our drive to simultaneously boost opportunities for pupils to act on social issues that matter to them and provide a platform to develop oracy as a powerful communication tool, Lionheart Speaks has developed into a very special event.
The Global Issues Curriculum has been used as inspiration again and this year learners have explored a broad range of issues such as food insecurity, the climate crisis and the potential impact social media can have on mental health. This curriculum, taught in personal development lessons and via assemblies, takes our learners
beyond the traditional academic subjects and beyond the school gates to explore a range of societal issues and their impacts locally, nationally and worldwide. This means our learners have time to think deeply, research widely and develop mature and informed opinions about the world around them.
As an offshoot of this, we invited pupils to participate in communication workshops to explore the spoken word and how their voice can be used to evoke positive change. Pupils then selected topics they felt strongly about and were supported by their teachers to research and,evelop effective speeches using a range of rhetorical devices. Speeches were then practiced before performing to their peers and their teachers.
School staff chose finalists to represent their school at the Lionheart Speaks event at Leicester’s oldest theatre; the perfect intimate venue for the young performers.
This year participants raised the bar even higher, educating their
audience on issues including the impact of racism, gender inequality, victims of war, homelessness and why we need to eradicate bullying.
Maximising on the theme of the power of communication – also cementing our drive for inclusivity - a group of learners, guided by our Hearing Support Unit based at Beauchamp College, led an amazing version of the Greatest Showman Hit ‘This is Me!’, performed using British Sign Language. This special addition elevated the evening to a new level, leaving the audience to reflect upon how we share what matters to us with everyone in our community, removing barriers and providing equity of opportunity. The sentiment of the song signed to the audience was very emotive and reminded us of the strength and power of all our young people and the promise they hold to make a difference to the future.
All involved had an amazing night and we can’t wait to plan Lionheart Speaks 2025 and see what the next cohort of learners teach us!
INTHEMEDIA
Eco Rally features on local radio, regional news and online
With climate change a topic on everyone’s lips, there was great interest from the media in our Lionheart Eco Rally event that took place in June.
Dilan Savjani – Science Teacher at Judgemeadow Community College, and Trust Director of Personal Development Curriculum – was interviewed live on BBC
Radio Leicester by Kelly Hinch, the week before the event.
Then, on the day of the rally, both the BBC and Evington Echo attended to capture the hive of activity taking place. They interviewed students and staff, commenting how impressed they were by the passion and eloquence of students when talking about climate change.
You can read more about the Eco Rally on page 7.
Listen to the pre-event interview – which starts at 19:00 – here www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/ play/p0j251r9
See the Eco Rally feature on BBC East Midlands Today here tinyurl.com/2p8xt25s
Recognising our employees
F
ollowing a successful debut last year, we were thrilled to once again roll out the Heart Awards throughout the 2023-24 academic year.
Set up to acknowledge the
selfless contributions of employees, our peer-to-peer awards scheme celebrates our three core staff values; positive, professional and pupil-centred.
This year, 314 employees – both
individuals and teams – were nominated, underscoring just how much of our staff go above and beyond daily.
In July, we crowned our winners. They were:
Andy Green, Year 2 Phase Lead and PE Teacher
Andy Green, Year 2 Phase Lead and PE Teacher
Riverside Primary School
Riverside Primary School
For being an exceptionally gifted and positive teacher with a heart of gold. He oozes positivity and enriches the lives of staff and pupils at Riverside, whilst going above and beyond in his role as PE coordinator, impacting the life and ethos of the school.
Heather Smith, Cover Manager, The Castle Rock School
Heather Smith, Cover Manager, The Castle Rock School
For her unwavering positivity, tenacity and dedication to the school. Heather is a beacon of light in the workplace and one of Castle Rock’s unsung heroes.
Bina Varia, Head of English Humphrey Perkins School
Bina Varia, Head of English Humphrey Perkins School
For being a brilliant and dedicated Head of English. Bina led the school to its highest ever results in English in 2023. Her inspirational leadership, excellent coaching, and care for staff and students have a lasting impact.
Chris
Chris Goodchild, Science Teacher, Beauchamp College
Goodchild, Science Teacher, Beauchamp College
For his outstanding dedication to student achievement. Chris has created evidence-based resources and provided personalised support, going above and beyond to ensure students have the tools to excel and to reach their full potential.
For smoothly and expertly managing the Trust’s lettings and events service. Rita’s dedication, professionalism, hard work and warm personality have significantly increased bookings, generating additional funding for schools.
Tracey Harrison, Teaching Assistant Endeavour at The Cedars Academy
Tracey Harrison, Teaching Assistant Endeavour at The Cedars Academy
For her calm and positive demeanour which has been instrumental in building bonds with the hardest-toreach students, significantly enriching their lives. Tracey’s work has contributed to Endeavour’s strong attendance rates and academic progress.
EYFS Support Team
EYFS Support Team
Broom Leys Primary School
Broom Leys Primary School
Who work together brilliantly to support pupils with the highest needs, staying motivated and positive despite challenges. They have researched and effectively implemented a new intervention and their proactive approach has resulted in significant progress for pupils.
Science Technicians
Science Technicians
Judgmeadow Community College
Judgmeadow Community College
Who balance multiple responsibilities with incredible organisation skills and consistently prioritise the needs of the department, ensuring science lessons are well prepared.
Thank you to our independent judging panel who all gave up their time voluntarily.
Subject Spotlight Geography
Underpinning a lifelong ‘conversation’ about the earth as the home of humankind.
Geography subject experts across Lionheart work collaboratively on a clear common goal: to inspire awe and wonder about the world. We teach our students to apply knowledge and conceptual understanding to new settings and through enquiry and problemsolving activities prepare them for life in the 21st century. Our aim is that students think geographically about the changing world, become critical thinkers and knowledgeable, skilful and responsible citizens who care about the future of our planet. So, when developing our geography curriculum to be taught to secondary aged pupils across Lionheart schools, our expert teachers examine and explore our shared values to build
a modern, relevant and issuesbased curriculum with sustainable development at its core, beginning a meaningful dialogue about the earth as the home of humankind.
We believe that students need a sound understanding of the world that they live in and should understand how our physical and human world interlink knowing
that human action can have both a positive and negative impact on the physical environment. We want our young people to be prepared with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make sense of their world and to face the challenges that will shape our societies and environments at the local, national and global scales.
In Geography, learners study countries and regions which are instrumental players in global affairs, and they are also able to apply learned concepts to more familiar settings within the UK and their home county. Our students learn geography that is directly relevant to people’s lives and the world of work and change, so that they are able to recognise that the past helps explain the present but is current and futures oriented.
Our aim is to deepen students’ geographical understanding through looking at the many contemporary challenges that surround them such as climate change, food security and energy choices.
Through our curriculum, students are also able to build on wider concepts such as:
Relational thinking - how we see the world depends on our perspective.
Proximity and distance - how technology has in some ways eroded the friction of distance – literally, shrinking distances.
Geography serves vital educational goals; it promotes thinking and decision making that will help our learners to live their lives as
knowledgeable citizens, aware of their own local communities and the way this links to the global setting. Our geographers are using maps and mediated images of people and place, numerical data and graphical modes of communication. They are getting to grips with the geographic information systems that underpin our lives; modern skills which make geographers methodically adept and employable.
In so many ways, Geography is enriching our pupils as it enhances transferable key skills and helps them to understand how respectful interactions with their environment and the people who live alongside them is imperative for a positive and healthy future and that they can continue the conversation about their earth for generations to come.
SCHOOL ROUNDUP
Beauchamp City Sixth Form
A vibrant celebration of cultures
The sixth form was awash with joyful energy in April, as the school community came together to celebrate Culture Day.
An annual occurrence, this fantastic event provided the perfect platform to celebrate the diversity in the
school community, learn from each other, and demonstrate respect for one another's heritage.
Staff and students wore traditional clothing, proudly waved a plethora of colourful flags that stretched right across
Beauchamp College
Dazzling design exhibition
The design building at Beauchamp College was transformed into an exhibition space worthy of professionals this term, as the exceptional talents of both GCSE and A-Level students were showcased at the Summer Exhibition and Design Awards.
Attendees marvelled at innovative projects, stunning artwork and impressive design pieces, with each unique creation reflecting students’ hard work and creativity.
A fantastic opportunity to celebrate student achievement in art, graphics, product design, food and textiles, the event also acknowledged the skill, innovation and dedication they demonstrated whilst creating their work.
The exhibition was a testament to the incredible talent that has been nurtured at Beauchamp, with staff looking forward to seeing the continued growth and success of their students in the future.
the globe, shared aspects of their native languages and enjoyed a range of music and dance.
A huge shout out to the Student Leadership Team – and to Miss Leech – for organising such a wonderful and enriching day for all!
Brocks Hill Primary School
Culinary collaboration
Young bakers served up a host of tasty dishes in the kitchens of Beauchamp College, this term.
As part of their topic on the Great Fire of London, Year 2 children enjoyed baking their own bread, under the expert guidance of
Beauchamp staff. Thankfully, there was no fire, just lots of delicious bread for all to enjoy!
The cooking continued a few weeks later as Year 6 pupils made a collection of tasty tacos, which they gleefully ate afterwards!
Broom Leys Primary School
Not only did both these experiences develop the pupils’ culinary skills, but, for the Year 6s especially, it gave them a glimpse into life at secondary school.
It was fantastic to see two neighbouring Lionheart schools providing the children with a collaborative, valuable experience.
Creating the scientists of tomorrow
I
n May, Broom Leys Primary School was awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) by the University of Hertfordshire. Thanks to Miss Gaskin and Mrs Minness, Broom Leys were one of only 198 schools to be awarded the PSQM in May, 2024.
A year-long programme, the PSQM helps teachers to develop the skills and confidence to teach innovative and imaginative science lessons that spark pupil interest and ignite a life-long passion for the subject.
Throughout the year, the awarding body evaluated the quality of science teaching and learning and conducted interviews
with pupils who explained what they enjoy about the subject.
“We love learning about science,” a Year 6 child remarked, whilst a Year 5 pupil added, “I have really enjoyed
science this year, especially where we link our experiments to the real world.”
A child in Year 3 then concluded: “I love taking science outside! We can all get involved and have a go.”
The Castle Rock School
Blossoming eco creation
Year 7 students unleashed their creativity on producing a floral masterpiece to form part of a recycled material garden exhibit at the Lionheart Eco Rally.
Students collected plastic bottles and bags and, working in their Design lessons, cut, painted and glued the materials to a wooden pallet to create a vibrant design fit for display at an art gallery!
Staff and Year 9 students tweaked the final project before it was taken to the rally at The Cedars Academy in June where it sat alongside
It remained in the temporary garden for a week, before
The Cedars Academy
Success at Paralympic Festival
Agroup of students travelled to Loughborough University in April to take part in the School Games Paralympic Festival.
Cedars’ young athletes participated in a range of Paralympic sporting events and competed against 200 other students from schools across Leicestershire.
returning to Castle Rock, where it is now displayed in the Design department, making the school environment a welcoming place to learn and grow.
Alongside Boccia – a precision ball sport played indoors – pupils were fortunate enough to try out Wheelchair Basketball.
This proved challenging at first, with the students finding it difficult to manoeuvre the wheelchair and control and pass
the ball. However, they persevered and soon got the hang of it, working together brilliantly as a team.
Amidst strong competition, students performed admirably and, at the end of the day, were presented with the ‘Best in Games’ award.
creations from fellow Lionheart secondary schools.
Hallam Fields Primary School
Young Tree Champion
Following entries into the Young Tree Champions Speaking Up for Trees and Nature Competition, a fantastic five Hallam Fields pupils were selected as national finalists, with Year 2 pupil, Neha, chosen as one of this year’s winners.
An annual UK-wide educational programme, the competition invites pupils to record passionate and creative speeches about the importance and beauty of trees and nature.
Neha was crowned Key Stage 1 winner, with The Tree Council saying they “loved Neha’s entry and were particularly impressed by her positive tone and cheerful delivery.”
As a reward, Neha was invited to an awards event at St. Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. There, she was officially presented with an award and performed her speech
Highcliffe Primary School
Fundraising extravaganza
Showcasing their entrepreneurial flair, Year 6 pupils organised, planned and hosted a fundraising extravaganza during the Summer Term.
Tasked with raising funds for their end-of-term ‘Fun Day,’ pupils demonstrated fantastic resourcefulness by creating items to sell, including jewellery, key rings and drinks. Alongside this, they offered hair-braiding and nail painting.
They set up stalls around the playground and invited members of
the school community to support their venture. They were only too happy to help!
There was also an academic element to the scheme, with the children using their numeracy skills
in front of a live audience!
What a fantastic achievement for Neha and all pupils who recorded entries for the competition.
to calculate costs and project profits.
Pupils loved every aspect of the event and sampled the fruits of their hard work through a rewarding celebratory event at the end of the school year!
Humphrey Perkins School Mentors in Violence Prevention
Across the school year, 42 Year 10 students have benefitted from participating in the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) project, undertaking training and subsequently delivering workshops to Year 7s; the latest during the summer term.
MVP aims to create a culture that motivates everyone to challenge all forms of abuse and violence. Sessions explored the role and responsibility of ‘the bystander’, utilising case scenarios to help Year 7 students feel able to be brave,
speak up and report bullying, and spot abuse. The Year 10s involved were mature and took their roles seriously, thereby providing some important messages to the Year 7s.
It was also clear from the professional presentation this year’s MVP mentors gave to Governors and the Leadership Team, that those involved recognise it has created effective steps towards developing an anti-bullying ethos that encourages everyone to be an active bystander.
What an amazing project to pioneer at Humphrey Perkins! This year’s hard work needs to be championed as the school looks to further develop the MVP in the new academic year.
Judgemeadow Community College
Clean Air Day 2024
I
n June, students transformed a road adjacent to the school into a lively hub of creativity, as they emphasised the importance of air pollution and encouraged the community to use cleaner methods of transport.
Local primary school pupils were invited along and – alongside the
Judgemeadow students – had fun engaging in a variety of activities. They used fluorescent colours to decorate the road in natureinspired street art, conducted an experiment to investigate the impact of air pollution on trees, attended Eco Workshops, played games of football and cricket
in the road and undertook an outdoor ukulele lesson hosted by Leicestershire Music.
The day was a resounding success, bringing the school and the community together and promoting the importance of sustainability and healthy living.
Martin High School
Unearthing history at Beaumanor Hall
Agroup of Year 9s had tremendous fun taking part in a recent Time Team style archaeological dig at Beaumanor Hall in Loughborough this term.
Learners laced up their boots, pulled on their gloves, and set about the site with shovels and forks. Despite settlements being recorded there for centuries, nobody had investigated Beaumanor like this before.
Under the watchful eye of Professor Carenza Lewis – famed archaeologist and presenter of the iconic Time Team television programme – the children shone with their enthusiasm
and organisational skills, despite the mud, rain and cold weather!
Not only did they discover remains of 17th and 18th-Century buildings, they also found old artefacts from World War Two from when
Mercia Academy
Summer fundraiser
At this year’s summer markets event, Year 7 students raised a staggering £500 for their chosen charity, Wonky Pets – a rescue service dedicated to supporting local animals.
This initiative formed part of the RISE programme which teaches students about the importance of business, economy and finance.
In the weeks leading up to the event, they used their acquired knowledge to meticulously plan the day; creating publicity materials, sourcing items to sell and outlining the full itinerary.
Consequently, their peers were able to engage in a host of activities,
Beaumanor was an intelligence base reporting back to Bletchley Park.
Martin High’s young people had enormous fun and enjoyed learning more about the rich history of Beaumanor Hall.
such as tug of war, splat the teacher, bracelet making, penalty shootout, book stalls, a pinata, tombola, chocolate fountain and many more.
Students were magnificent and their efforts have gone a long way to ensuring the local rescue group – run solely by volunteers – are supported.
Newhall Junior School
Going for gold!
Pupils at Newhall Junior School were treated to a Sports Day with a difference at the end of June as, rather than the school fields, they competed on Shobnall Leisure Complex’s athletics track.
On a warm afternoon, the children worked up a sporting sweat and took part in multiple running races and field events, including javelin, discus, long jump and triple jump.
The Red Team were named overall winners; however, staff were incredibly proud of the attitude, effort and exemplary team spirit demonstrated by all the children.
The competition didn’t stop there, though. After the pupils finished their events, it was time for the spectators to take centre stage in
The Newbridge School
the parents’ and carers’ race, much to the delight of the watching children!
A day to remember for all involved.
United through a celebration of cultures
Hosting their first ever Culture Day in June, students came together to celebrate the school’s rich diversity.
Throughout the day, teachers shared presentations that revealed information about their respective cultures and backgrounds. Students enjoyed getting to know more about their teachers and learning about Pakistani, French, Welsh, Punjabi and Mauritian customs and traditions.
Students also expanded their palate by sampling delicious food from a host of cultures. They feasted on samosas at break time and gorged on a special Caribbean lunch menu that
featured jerk pulled chicken or pork, savoury rice and a pineapple dessert.
A highlight of the day was a lunchtime cricket match that saw the students take on the staff. It was a spirited contest in which the students shone with their skill
and teamwork, defeating their teachers by a landslide margin!
Overall, the day was a resounding success filled with learning, laughter and food, with students having broadened their horizons and deepened their cultural understanding.
Riverside Primary School
Sensational Sports Day
Over 400 children – from Foundation Stage to Year 6 – had an amazing time taking part in the annual Sports Day competition in June.
With a large crowd of parents watching on, the epic competition –led by Mr Green and the Riverside PE Champions – saw pupils participate in multiple events designed to build upon the skills they had developed in PE lessons, such as running, jumping and throwing.
The PE Champions were excellent role models for the school. They set up the events for the day and supervised the younger children, giving them plenty of
encouragement. Former Riverside pupils, now at The Cedars Academy, also returned to support as ‘Young Leaders.’ They helped score some of the events and ensured the day was a success.
After the children had finished, it
was time for the highlight of the day – the parents’ race! Once again, the parents/carers were terrific sports and the event provided spectacular entertainment!
It was a great day that highlighted the unity of the school community.
Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College
Students tread the boards at Curve Theatre
IIn July, students from Year 7 to Year 9 took to the stage at Curve Theatre to perform their own musical number ‘Stereotype Tango,’ to the tune of well-known Broadway musical, Chicago’s ‘Cell Block Tango’.
This was the culmination of many months of preparation, working with both Curve and Kitty Benford – a Theatre Director and Speak Up Artist - as part of the Leicester Hub celebrations. During the process, students collaborated with songwriters, choreographers
and musical directors to ensure their final performance was slick and professional.
Alongside their performance, students also enjoyed designing and creating their own graffiti art, while Year 10 student, Isobel, gave a speech as the Leicester Regional Representative and was talent spotted by The National Theatre!
The project continues next academic year, so keep an eye out to see what the students bring to the stage next time...
TRUSTIMPROVEMENTS
We’ve been busy investing and improving…
This term has once again seen the implementation of new technology and the redevelopment of facilities at schools across the Trust – all designed to strengthen the learning experiences of our young people.
Here’s a list of projects that we completed during the Summer Term and a rundown of what we will be doing during the holidays, ready for next academic year:
IT and building projects completed during the Summer Term
New IT servers were installed to increase performance and security.
The refurbishment of a set of school toilets was completed at Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College as well as the toilets in Year 2 at Broom Leys Primary.
Building projects planned this term and scheduled for over the holidays
Both the Drama and Applied Learning Centre blocks will have new boiler and heating systems installed, whilst extensive work on refurbishing the roof will also commence over the summer.
Full renovations of PE changing rooms and showers are planned.
Z Block will be comprehensively refreshed with a new carpet alongside full redecoration, creating a warm and welcoming environment.
A new temporary building has been under construction in recent months, and will continue over the summer, with completion for the start of the new academic year. Students will enjoy a range of facilities, from IT suites to state-of-the-art science labs.
The new 3G sports pitch will be completed at the end of July and ready for pupils – and wider community members – to enjoy at the start of the new academic year. The school will also have a new fire alarm system installed throughout the lower site, new boilers fitted in the Drama Block and enjoy a full refurbishment of the toilets in the Design Block.
The toilets in the Main Block will be fully refurbished.
The school playground at Riverside Primary School will be fully resurfaced and re-marked, greatly enhancing pupils’ recreational space.
A bungalow on site will be fully restored and ready for pupils to use later this year.
IT projects scheduled for over the holidays
To improve overall IT performance and strengthen security, new servers will be installed at both schools
WiFi networks will be replaced, improving the speed of the internet for staff and students.
State-of-the-art interactive screens will be installed in classrooms to improve the learning experience for the pupils.
Outdated pupil laptops will be replaced with newer, faster models, allowing the children to work more efficiently.
Printers in every school will be replaced to improve performance and dependability.
The network infrastructure will be replaced to improve speed, coverage and reliability.
IT security.
Replacing outdated devices, students will receive either new iPads, Macs or computers, to use in new academic year.
A staff laptop and computer refresh will be undertaken, providing a number of staff in teaching and associate roles with faster devices.
A new firewall will be installed to heighten
Pictured: This term, work has continued on the new 3G pitch at The Cedars Academy and the fully refurbished toilets at Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College
UPDATESFORPARENTS/CARERS
Secondary School Open Evenings
I
f your child is scheduled to start secondary school in August, 2025, you must apply for their place – via the County Council website – by 31st October 2024. This September, our schools are each running open evenings where you can have a look around, meet staff and students and get a flavour for what they offer.
To book visit: www.lionhearttrust.org.uk/openday
Beauchamp College, Oadby
Wednesday 11th September, 2024
The Castle Rock School, Coalville
Thursday 19th September, 2024
The Cedars Academy, Birstall
Thursday 19th September, 2024
Judgemeadow Community College, Evington
Thursday 19th September, 2024
Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow-upon-Soar
Thursday 12th September, 2024
Martin High School, Anstey
Monday 16th September, 2024
Mercia Academy, Swadlincote
Thursday 26th September, 2024
The Newbridge School, Coalville
Monday 23rd September, 2024
Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College, Knighton
Thursday 12th September, 2024
If you’d like to contact us, offer any feedback about this newsletter, or tell us what you’d like to see in future issues, please email info@lionhearttrust.org.uk
