Lionheart News - Issue 05 - December 2023 by LionheartEdTrust

LI NHEARTNEWS News and updates from Lionheart Educational Trust | Issue #05 | Dec 2023

Key dates AUTUMN TERM School Closes

Friday 22nd December 2023

Christmas & New Year Holiday

Monday 25th December 2023 to Friday 5th January 2024

SPRING TERM

A Roaring Collection of Results for Lionheart Pupils

n the summer, we were thrilled to highlight another fantastic set of examination results for A-Level, GCSE and equivalent qualifications, and also Year 6 SATs.

or undertaking apprenticeships.

Pupils worked incredibly hard all year; applying themselves in lessons, and with those undertaking keystage 4 and 5 qualifications revising in their own time and during school-led revision sessions. The results were a true testament to their perseverance and dedication.

Given the stricter post-Covid marking criteria for GCSE examinations in 2023, this was another remarkable achievement and further demonstrated our commitment to academic excellence.

Key Stage 2, Year 6 SATs Our Year 6 pupils shone when sitting their Key stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in May. Completing papers on Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling, Reading and Mathematics, the cohort of 2023 returned another outstanding collection of results, exceeding the national averages for both Age-Related Expectations and Greater Depth, firmly establishing our reputation as an exemplary provider of primary education. GCSE In the important core subjects – English Language and Mathematics – a brilliant 54% of students – across eight secondary schools – achieved at least a Grade 5. This ensured they were in highly advantageous positions to continue their education, either by studying A-Level and equivalent level three courses,

Furthermore, 22% of students achieved grades ranging from 7 to 9 in English Language.

A-Level Across Lionheart’s four sixth forms, A-level and equivalent level three results were incredibly positive. A stunning 21% of Year 13s achieved an A-grade average across their subjects, with 40% of Beauchamp College and 51% of Beauchamp City Sixth Form students then accepting places at Russell Group Universities to continue their studies. Students from Cedars Martin Sixth Form and The Castle Rock School also enjoyed success, moving on to study a wide range of courses at highlyrespected academic establishments, including the University of Leeds, Edinburgh University, the University of Bristol and De Montfort University. Not every student opted for the university route, however, with many

Training Day

Monday 8th January 2024 (closed to students)

School Opens

Tuesday 9th January 2024

School Closes

Friday 16th February 2024

Spring Half Term

Monday 19th February 2024 – Friday 23rd February 2024

School Opens

Monday 26th February 2024

School Closes Easter Holidays

Friday 22nd March 2024 Monday 25th March 2024 Friday 5th April 2024

SUMMER TERM School Opens

Monday 8th April 2024

Bank Holiday

Monday 6th May 2024

School Closes

Friday 24th May 2024

Summer Half Term

Monday 27th May 2024 – Friday 31st May 2024

School Opens

Monday 3rd June 2024

School Closes

Friday 12th July 2024

choosing to continue to learn while also entering the world of work. This was made possible through higherlevel apprenticeships, with examples of student pathways including a business apprenticeship at Bardon Aggregates and an apprenticeship to support a property sales and lettings career undertaken at Martin and Co. From primary pupils through to sixth form students, we are incredibly proud of the academic successes Lionheart’s young people have achieved this year, and our WATCH thanks is OUR FESTIVE extended VIDEO to staff, More details on parents and page three carers for supporting them every step of the way.

CEO UPDATE

Welcome

s we approach the end of a very long, action packed and successful term, I would like to share some of our highlights. As always, our students make me incredibly proud to lead Lionheart Educational Trust. We have seen them display their resourcefulness, reciprocity, reflectiveness and resilience many times over. Although it now seems a very long time ago, this was highlighted through the outcomes from summer examinations and assessments. Our Year 13 pupils achieved phenomenally well and have gone on to make exciting next steps, from Medicine to Architecture and from Digital AI to Literature, our young people have accepted places at some of the most competitive universities and leading companies. GCSE and end of Key Stage Two results were equally pleasing and have left our pupils with an excellent springboard for the next stage of their educational journey. Once again, we have welcomed Ofsted Inspectors in to our schools; Brocks Hill Primary, Broom Leys Primary and Beauchamp City Sixth Form have all been inspected. We have yet to receive the report for Beauchamp City but I’m delighted the excellent work at Brocks Hill was recognised with the highest grade of Outstanding and Broom Leys continues to be Good, with much improvement recognised by the inspectors. The rest of our newsletter gives you a flavour of the variety of the experiences we have been able to offer over the last term, including rugby, fundraising, international visits and a very poignant Remembrance Day. You’ll also find news of specific staff successes which we are really pleased to share with you. Our staff are a hugely important part of our success, and to that end

we are always keen to have new additions, so if you are considering a career in teaching - in my opinion the most rewarding, wonderful career - and you want to make a difference, please get in touch. We have recently published our 2022-23 annual report, which is detailed in the newsletter and available to give you a more in depth look behind the scenes at our successes and challenges. If you find this interesting and would like to get further involved, we are currently looking for a range of governors to join our team. This voluntary role is hugely rewarding and makes a significant difference, so if you’d like to know more, please do watch the video

linked in this newsletter and get in touch for more information. Finally, as the term and calendar year draws to a close, I would like to end by thanking you once again for your ongoing support and championing your sons and daughters so effectively. I wish you a restful and enjoyable break with family and friends and on behalf of all our staff, we look forward to welcoming your children back in the new year. Kath Kelly CEO of Lionheart Educational Trust & Executive Principal of Beauchamp College

NEWS UPDATE

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Festive season fundraising

ith the festive season upon us, our staff and students donned their Santa hats and novelty jumpers, as they took part in the annual Lionheart video. They enjoyed singing and dancing along to the Shakin’ Stevens classic

‘Merry Christmas Everyone,’ and acknowledged the very worthy charities and organisations they have fundraised for this term. During the season of goodwill, our school communities once again gave generously, supporting those

less fortunate in both our local communities and further afield. To watch the video, click here What familiar faces can you spot?

Annual Report: A look back at 2022-23 across Lionheart

our family of Lionheart ur role as a multiSchools, giving pupils academy trust is opportunities to get ultimately to ensure involved in events such as that we are supporting Over £35,000 inter-school sports and Lionheart schools so was fundraised spelling competitions that your child/ren across Lionheart and spoken word can achieve to their schools performances. full potential from their education. While Our hot-off-the-press we focus heavily on annual report looks back teaching and learning, we on the 2022-23 academic year also, among many other things: and gives a flavour of our work in supporting your child’s school. • Consider their physical learning environment and invest in wide events and successful As well as our statutory buildings and technology Ofsted inspections. £1million financial accounts, • Enterprise for further 2022-23 was certainly was generated the report details revenue streams to fund pupil another busy year full the amazing work resources and experiences from facility hire of accomplishments. your child/ren • Provide training for staff to fees and reundertook; school continually develop, so that you You can browse invested into trips, fundraising know your child/ren are in the through the schools initiatives, sports care of the very best staff report at competitions, Trust• Increase collaboration across tinyurl.com/3z6efn4n 3

NEWS UPDATE

Ofsted success for two Lionheart primary schools

uring the Autumn Term, two Lionheart primary schools were visited by His Majesty’s Ofsted Inspectors with Broom Leys in Coalville retaining their existing Good judgement and Brocks Hill in Oadby securing Outstanding once again. In their first full Ofsted visit for nine years, Inspectors found Broom Leys to be a welcoming and caring environment, one where staff care deeply for the welfare of every single pupil; as a result, it remains a school where children feel safe and happy. Ofsted were incredibly complimentary of the school’s “ambitious” curriculum, noting that it “is progressive and considers children’s starting points.”

Broom Leys “The classrooms are a hive of activity and there is a real buzz of excitement as children explore the activities on offer,” the inspectors noted. “The classrooms are a hive of activity and there is a real buzz of excitement as children explore the activities on offer,” the inspectors noted. At Brocks Hill, Inspectors were full of praise for the quality of

Brocks Hill “Pupils’ achievements in all subjects are exceptional. The way the school goes about helping pupils to develop their strength of character is also exceptional.” 4

teaching, highlighting that pupils “receive a high-quality education across the curriculum.” Testament to both pupils and staff, the report said, “Pupils’ achievements in all subjects are exceptional. The way the school goes about helping pupils to develop their strength of character is also exceptional.” Leaders, staff and pupils work hard each and every day to achieve such success, and we are grateful for the support of our parent/carer community in helping to achieve these fantastic outcomes. You can read the full Ofsted reports on the school websites, or at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Staff members recognised for supporting academic and holistic development

Beauchamp City Sixth Form, Leicester City Meanwhile, at Beauchamp City Sixth Form, science teacher Dr Cameron Carpenter-Warren was recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, winning the Early Career Prize for Excellence in Secondary and Further Education.

cross our Trust, we are fortunate to have a fantastic collection of staff who, day in and day out, go above and beyond to support your child/ren; providing high quality academic teaching and holistic development opportunities. This term, though, two staff members have been recognised outside of our organisation, for the outstanding work they do. Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow-upon-Soar Kris Cross leads Humphrey Perkins School’s holistic development programme, providing students with a plethora of opportunities to evolve both inside and outside of the classroom; among those key initiatives is a Cadet Detachment. With over 30 years’ experience in this field, Kris has utilised key cadet values – courage, discipline, respect, integrity and loyalty – to further improve behaviour and promote positive engagement around the school. Participating students enjoy strengthening their teamwork and leadership skills, characteristics they

Pictured: Kris Cross

then transfer to the classroom. In recognition of the outstanding work Kris has done, he will now take up the position of Army Cadets National Command Sergeant Major. Alongside his role at Humphrey Perkins, Kris will now support over 1600 units – comprising over 41,000 young people – in the UK.

Cameron won this highly respected accolade for his important work in promoting a passion for chemistry. He has arranged trips to local universities - providing students with opportunities to use state-of-the-art facilities – and written two interactive murder mysteries, where students are required to complete analytical tests to identify the ‘murderer’. He has also hosted afterschool chemistry problemsolving clubs which heightened our students’ capacity for lateral thinking and broadened their horizons, as they tackle topics that extend beyond the national curriculum. Our staff are the backbone of our Trust and as such we value their achievements both inside and outside of work, acknowledging all they do to support our students. Congratulations to both Kris and Cameron!

NEWS UPDATE

Leicester Tigers partner with Lionheart schools

ollowing a successful grant funding application and development work behind the scenes by Lionheart’s Enterprise Team, we’re really pleased to announce our new partnership with Leicester Tigers Rugby Football Club! The funding will allow a dedicated Leicester Tigers Community Coach to work with Lionheart Schools’ young people and provide further professional development for staff to deliver Rugby training. Opportunities for all year groups will be created, working towards The Tigers’ aim of increasing participation in rugby in state education and underrepresented groups, alongside Lionheart’s drive to promote active and healthy lifestyles. Lionheart’s Subject Lead for PE, Rebecca Ardley, said: "We are really excited about our partnership with Leicester Tigers, getting more young people playing and enjoying rugby. Pupils in both our primary and secondary schools, as well as people from the local communities, will be

able to access a range of new playing and leadership opportunities, designed and led by experienced coaches. This partnership, with a successful club like Leicester Tigers, is a wonderful opportunity for our 14 Leicestershire schools." With the partnership only just launched, fast off the starting block are

The Newbridge School in Coalville who are offering afterschool rugby for all, with plans underway to offer tag rugby as part of their super-curricular offer, too. We look forward to updating parents, carers and pupils with further opportunities to participate as the partnership really gets underway.

Cricket competition

As part of our exclusive partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC), after the Christmas break, two brand-new competitions for all Lionheart pupils will be launched. Channelling both creativity and entrepreneurial flair, pupils will have the opportunity to design the club’s 2025 T20 match day kit and/or suggest new eye-catching merchandise to be sold in the official club shop. Information and worksheets for this extra-curricular opportunity, will be supplied to your child/ren after the Christmas break, with entries required by Friday 16th February. Cricket Club supporters will then vote for their

favourites at LCCC’s Lionheart T20 fixture on Friday 14th June, before winning entries are announced. We are incredibly proud of our exclusive partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club – one of Leicester’s key 6

sporting institutions – which allows us to provide Lionheart pupils with an abundance of opportunities all aimed at strengthening their wider development. Key an eye out for further information in January.

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

INTHEMEDIA BBC’s Any Questions? visits Oadby

id you hear the live broadcast of Any Questions? - the iconic BBC Radio 4 discussion programme – live from Beauchamp College in September?

Politics and History Teacher, Mrs Boyd. The event was a fantastic opportunity for the school’s politics, media and history students to see different elements of their learning in action.

Following a successful application made by the College, around 200 people were in attendance as BBC Scotland Editor, James Cook, and a panel of experts took questions from the audience, including Beauchamp’s

If you missed it, you can listen to the show online: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ sounds/play/m001qmpg

A-level success celebrated on BBC Asian Network

here was extra excitement for the former Year 13 cohort when they collected their A-level results at Beauchamp College in August, as they were greeted with BBC Asian Network on site, who were keen to capture the buzz of results day.

a journalist about their achievements and future plans, offering the radio station’s younger listeners a taste of life in post-16 and beyond.

After receiving their A-Level results, a number of Year 13 students spoke to

Beauchamp City teacher live on BBC Radio Leicester

n November, you may have heard a familiar voice on the local airwaves as Beauchamp City Sixth Form’s Dr Cameron Carpenter-Warren was interviewed live on BBC Radio Leicester, having won a prestigious award, as detailed earlier in this newsletter. Speaking to presenter Kelly Hinch, Dr Carpenter-Warren discussed the accolade he’d received from the Royal Society of Chemistry, who named him winner of the Early Career Prize for

promote a passion for chemistry among Beauchamp City students, including university visits, afterschool clubs and even writing murder mysteries. To listen to the whole interview – which starts at 40 minutes in – scan the QR code below. Excellence in Secondary and Further Education. He spoke about some of the initiatives he has introduced to 7

https://www.bbc.co.uk/ sounds/play/p0grq14q

SUBJECT SPOTLIGHT

Subject Spotlight Art & Design W

e recognise and value our creative subjects, ensuring all our pupils can thrive within them. We are keen to instill a passion for creativity in our pupils and regularly collaborate across our schools, exploring new ideas and research to design and deliver projects that are both engaging and relevant to our creative industries and advancing technologies. Pupils learn foundational knowledge and skills which we believe underpins the development of confident art and design practitioners and those all-important skills within design of independent exploration and reflection.

Specialist areas taught across our schools include Fine Art, Food Technology, Graphic Design, Textiles and Product Design (woods, metals, plastics). This suite of subjects 8

allows our pupils to experience a breadth of practical skills and gain knowledge of designing for users, understanding formal elements of art and much more.

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

We use the principles of EXPLORE, DEVELOP, CREATE and EVALUATE as our iterative process ensuring our pupils understand the cycle of design and how important each step is to reach a successful outcome. When pupils join our schools in Year 7, having experienced a variety of creative processes throughout primary school, they are introduced to challenging, fast-paced briefs that demand them to think carefully about the creative decisions they

make. They learn the fundamentals of working with the materials and different mediums in each area whilst also gaining knowledge of their origins and potential. Our pupils learn about the responsibilities of being a designer, chef, and artist through the research of existing practitioners, engaging them in different contexts - both historical and cultural. Pupils are encouraged to take pride in their work, which in turn impacts their studies across all subjects. 9

We celebrate our pupils' achievements, their individuality and their resilience through both the curriculum and extracurricular opportunities. Lionheart subject experts believe in developing inquisitive learners by giving them a range of practical experiences that allow them to improve, and effect change in the world around them.

SCHOOL ROUNDUP

SCHOOLROUNDUP Beauchamp City Sixth Form Student Islamic Society win regional award

his term, outstanding student fundraising efforts were recognised, as they won the highly significant award, ‘Best Theme Inspired Event’, from Islamic Relief, seeing off stiff competition from schools in Rugby and Loughborough. The student-led society won the award after they

hosted a charity week and raised a remarkable £878.97. Throughout the week, students sold sweets, doughnuts, plants and ran several activity-based stalls, all of which proved to be extremely popular. The final total raised reflected the generosity of the school community and will go a long way to improving the lives of children around the world, supporting access to food, healthcare and education.

Beauchamp College

Students enjoy holistic development opportunities

tudents really lived up to the college’s motto of ‘work hard, be kind’ this term, having participated in a variety of fundraising and holistic opportunities outside the classroom. Students hosted fundraising events for various important causes, with Year 10 House Captains and Year 12 House Ambassadors selling Pudseythemed accessories for Children in Need. Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper Day was also well-supported

whilst the Islamic society raised a staggering £2500 for charity. Alongside the excellent fundraising exploits, students broadened their horizons on memorable educational trips to Iceland, Sicily, and Spain, along with a Year 7 residential to an outdoor pursuits centre. Back in Oadby, the school fostered a sense of unity through the Tree of Hope, where positive messages were 10

collected to build a tree, addressing global concerns; a comprehensive Careers Evening hosted over 50 universities, businesses, and colleges; 200 students engaged in the Senior Maths Challenge, showcasing academic excellence; and sixth form students benefitted from insights shared by UK Parliament's Senior Education Officer Malcolm Smith. A busy and engaging first term to the year for all!

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Brocks Hill Primary School

Anti-Bullying Week

n November, the pupils at Brocks Hill Primary School confronted an important subject head on, discussing, educating and raising awareness of bullying, during Anti-Bullying Week. The week began with ‘Odd Socks Day’ and, upon arriving into school, children and staff tossed their shoes to one side and showed off a vibrant collection of socks.

The pupils enjoyed being able to express themselves and appreciate what makes each other unique. To celebrate this year’s theme “Make a Noise” about bullying – the School Parliament invited every class to write an anti-bullying poem, with each pupil contributing a line. This resulted in some incredibly emotive and thoughtful work.

Broom Leys Primary School Glorious gold music award

n November, Broom Leys Primary became only the second school in the county to be awarded the Leicestershire Schools GOLD Music Mark this academic year. The Gold Music Mark is presented to schools who work hard to develop and deliver an outstanding music curriculum that strengthens pupils’ knowledge. Assessors from Leicestershire Music were highly complimentary of the curriculum at Broom Leys, noting that it “reflects a wide breadth of experience at a highly ambitious level.”

Over half the pupils in Key Stage 2 are currently learning a musical instrument, either through wholeclass lessons in Year 3, or via individual lessons in Years 4, 5 and 6. Musical choirs – who practice year-round and traditionally perform at Christmas and Summer concerts – also remain extremely popular with the children. Many of the school’s musical opportunities are arranged by Year 3 teacher and music lead, Mrs Goldring, with the assessors noting: “It really looks like you put your heart and soul into music.” 11

Across the week, key assemblies were held, with teachers emphasising the importance of speaking out and highlighting when banter becomes bullying. Years 2, 5 and 6 also enjoyed participating in face-to-face workshops with NSPCC volunteers. It was a highly informative week and one the children approached with empathy and maturity.

SCHOOL ROUNDUP

The Castle Rock School Connecting with the community for Remembrance Day

rt, education and community spirit were all weaved together at The Castle Rock School this November, as they acknowledged Remembrance Day. Talented Year 12 student Jack created a stunning dress made up of dozens of meticulously crafted poppies, with each one symbolising the lives lost and the courage shown by countless soldiers during conflicts past and present. Local veterans and community leaders from the Royal British

number of important questions and enjoyed participating in discussions, learning more about the impact of mass conflict on individuals and societies. Assemblies were also held to explore the significance of remembrance and the whole school came together to participate in the two-minutes’ silence. Legion visited the school and shared personal accounts of previous wars. Students listened intently, asked a

It was a highly informative and emotive week as the school connected with its local community.

The Cedars Academy Coaching programme makes positive impact

ixth Form students at The Cedars Academy have undertaken emotions coaching this term, using their new skills in compassion and leadership to support students in Key Stage 3 and 4. Under the expert guidance of Ms Philpot and Mr Moralee – both of whom are qualified to train young people to become coaches – a group of Year 12 and 13 students were taught how to emotionally support younger students navigate the intricacies of school life with a caring and understanding approach. Equipped with newly acquired skills, sixth form students began using their expertise to support their peers in Key Stage 3 and 4. From mastering the art of emotional control to dealing with

friendship dynamics and managing schoolwork related anxieties, Sixth Formers have been there to lend a helping hand, with weekly meetings taking place in the school library. Attendees have shared how the coaching sessions have had a positive impact on their 12

overall wellbeing, highlighting its effectiveness in fostering a supportive school community. As a result of the programme’s success, Ms Philpott and Mr Moralee will train a new group of coaches in the new year, ensuring that even more students can benefit.

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Hallam Fields Primary School Resilience shown on residential trip

n November, the Year 6 Owls enjoyed visiting The Pioneer Centre in Shropshire for their first ever school residential trip. The week was jam-packed with a variety of exciting activities that allowed the children to improve confidence and learn new skills – like how to make their own bed! The pupils enjoyed archery and participated in a range of teambuilding activities on the first day,

bravery in navigating the high-ropes, supporting and guiding each other around the daunting course.

before ending the evening with a dance around the campfire. The only way was up on day two as the children showed immense

For the remainder of the week, pupils learned how to fence, abseiled down vertical walls, zoomed down the zip-wire, handled some exotic animals and even took the nerve-jangling leap of faith! Fully embodying the 6Rs, the children took away new-found confidence and life-long memories.

Highcliffe Primary School Olympic swimmer puts pupils through their paces

n October, the pupils of Highcliffe Primary were incredibly excited to welcome ten times British Champion and Olympic swimmer, Joe Roebuck, to their school. Joe – who has also competed in European and Commonwealth events – put the children through a challenging physical workout as part of a fundraising event, and to encourage them to be more active. Sampling a taster of the training regime that saw Joe reach the semifinals of the London 2012 Olympics, the pupils – and staff – completed press-ups, star jumps, burpees and the ‘spotty dog’ exercise all against the clock. They all demonstrated tremendous resilience to complete the workout in an impressive time.

The children had an amazing time, with one Year 4 pupil saying, “It was fun, tiring and exciting; we would love to do it again!”

An incredible £4378 was raised by pupils, in sponsorship for the event, which will be used to fund further enrichment opportunities to support their physical and mental wellbeing.

SCHOOL ROUNDUP

Humphrey Perkins School Respect shown on Remembrance Day

ack in November, the Humphrey Perkins school community came together to mark Remembrance Day in its own special and unique way. On a crisp, Autumnal morning, 900 students gathered on the playground, where Holistic Development Leader Mr Cross and the 50-strong Army Cadet unit hosted a uniformed remembrance ceremony. Mr Cross and Vice Principal Mr Khakhar gave heartfelt speeches, acknowledging the resilience and

bravery of soldiers who have fought in conflicts past and present. As the clock struck 11, staff and students bowed their heads and impeccably observed the traditional two-minutes’ silence. The poignant sound of ‘The Last Post’ – played

by a Year 10 student – filled the air as, collectively, the school reflected and remembered. It was another unforgettable event that perfectly reflected the character of Humphrey Perkins; a small school with a big heart.

Judgemeadow Community College

Sensational Sicily trip

ack in October, 30 students from Judgemeadow Community College enjoyed a magical threeday residential trip to Sicily. Upon arriving, the Key Stage 4 cohort had fun exploring the island’s diverse landscape – traveling to Alcantara Gorge and the historical amphitheatre at Taormina – and learning more about its rich cultural heritage, which built upon their classroom learning.

On the second day, students travelled to Mount Etna and Colata Lavica, two live volcanoes situated just off the east coast of the island. They learnt about the famous 1992 eruption, studying the lava flow and even taking a cable-car to see the craters up close. The following day, staff and students took a scenic boat trip at Giardini Naxos and visited the historic Aci Castello ruins.

Beyond the geological wonders, students indulged in the delights of Italian cuisine and enjoyed an evening of bowling, fostering camaraderie. The sensational experience not only supported the students with their Geography studies, it also provided them with memories of the island’s cultural treasures and natural beauty that will last a lifetime.

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Martin High School Students enjoy a magical Harry Potter experience

The Year 9s then visited some of the film’s most recognisable sets – including Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank and Platform 9 ¾ – handled precious props, saw special effects in action and sampled some delicious butterbeer, which certainly got their taste buds tingling!

or their reward trip this term, Martin High School’s Year 9 wizards leapt on their broomsticks and flew to Warner Bros. Studios in London where they toured the Harry Potter film set. They gazed in awe at the iconic Great Hall which – just like the film – was illuminated by hundreds of floating candles and lit Christmas trees. They attended a costume design workshop, where they were able to see some of the original outfits used in the

films and learn more about how each character’s costume was carefully designed to reflect their personality.

It was a magical day; students behaved impeccably and had fun understanding just how the famous books were brought to life on screen.

The Newbridge School Extensive co-curricular offerings at Newbridge

ew co-curricular activities have been welcomed with overwhelming interest at The Newbridge School this term. The broad new offering has been renamed co-curricular because the school believe everyone should access a club or activity to broaden their holistic development – so there’s nothing ‘extra’ curricular about it! As part of their commitment to ensure every student can enjoy an activity outside of classroom learning, over 30 clubs have been set up by staff across breaktimes, lunchtimes and afterschool, with a diverse offering so that there is something for everybody. Alongside the traditional Rugby, Football and Dodgeball teams, innovative initiatives such as Street Art and Mindfulness clubs have been founded.

There has also been ample opportunity for some of these clubs to compete against other schools, both locally and nationally. The Debate Club took part in a recent competition against Loughborough Grammar, whilst the Year 8 football team also triumphed in the local district league.

Students have discovered new passions and skills through this exciting array of activities on offer and can’t wait to see what new clubs the spring term may bring. It has been fantastic to see students sharing their incredible talents this term!

SCHOOL ROUNDUP

The Pioneers' Centre

Riverside Primary School

Pumpkin picking

Riverside enjoy sporting successes

his term, students from The Pioneers’ Centre, Lionheart’s new Alternative Provision centre, made positive links with the local community as they visited Broom Leys Farm and picked their own pumpkins ready for Halloween. Students were excellent role models for the centre; they loved the opportunity to participate in a school trip, and on return to the centre, carved their own pumpkins and displayed them outside for all to see. Undertaking a carefully crafted, bespoke curriculum with tailored intervention schemes and therapeutic support, the students have also made strong academic progress during the Autumn Term and look forward to more exciting community collaborations next term.

upils at Riverside Primary School have worked up a sweat this term, participating in a variety of sporting activities and events.

Both the mixed boys’ and girls’ football teams have continued to flourish in their respective leagues this year. Showcasing tremendous teamwork and a highly entertaining and effective style of play, brilliant goals were scored and some memorable victories were achieved in the run up to Christmas as they enjoyed qualification to League One. It has also been fantastic to see so many pupils participating in cross country races at Mallory Park this term. The children gave their all, showing outstanding determination to finish the race in the fastest time. Thanks should also go to parents and carers who sacrificed their Saturday mornings to go and watch! It has certainly been an action-packed term and the pupils have loved the opportunity to get involved in numerous sporting events outside of the classroom.

Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College Students enjoy inclusive curriculum

tudents have enjoyed learning about different cultures and religions this term, thanks to an inclusive curriculum. Among their learning, they have strengthened their understanding about important festivals such as Navratri, Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Parkash Purab and Hanukkah. They sampled food from themed menus and created some beautiful artwork celebrating these significant events, while learning about the meaning behind the festivals.

other schools in the country. They emphasised the importance of inclusivity and explained how it has been weaved into the Sir Jonathan North curriculum, broadening students’ horizons and making them more culturally aware. Such is the extent of the school’s commitment to diversity, this term, Assistant Principal Nicola Coton and Humanities Lead Hannah Monk were invited to speak at a national inclusivity conference, sharing their work with 16

Students will look forward to celebrating more religious festivals and different cultures in the Spring Term, with a big celebration at their iconic Culture Day later in July.

GET INVOLVED

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

GETINVOLVED

Teaching: The profession that creates all other professions

re you contemplating a career change? Or maybe someone in your family is a recent graduate, or soon to graduate? At Lionheart, we offer a training programme for those seeking a career in Primary or Secondary School teaching and are currently accepting applications to start in September 2024, with financial support up to £29,000* whilst training. A career in teaching is rewarding in every sense of the word; you can play an important role through sharing your expertise and inspiring young people, while reaping benefits such as a competitive salary, generous pension and opportunities for progression.

As a Lionheart Teach trainee, you’ll spend time at one of our partner universities – Nottingham Trent or Leicester – and undertake your two teaching placements within our 14 Leicestershire schools, where we’ll offer dedicated support that will enable you to flourish. Last year 100% of our trainees successfully qualified, with 55% securing a teaching role within one of our Trust schools. Want to know more? Join us on Thursday 1st February from 5-7pm at Beauchamp City Sixth Form where you can learn more about teacher training, explore opportunities, and have your questions answered. 17

Book your place: https://www. lionheartteach.org. uk/news-events/ news-events/ Our school experience programme and summer internships also give prospective trainees the chance to gain work experience and decide if a career in teaching is right for them. Find out more on our website www.lionheartteach.org.uk *subject dependent – see our website

GET INVOLVED

Lionheart careers – can you help?

an you help us inspire Lionheart’s young people as they start to consider their future careers? We are always looking for people and businesses – from around Leicestershire or further afield – to help provide our students with an understanding of industry sectors, job roles and specific employers.

This could be through giving a careers talk, small group mentoring, exhibiting at a careers fair, hosting students on work experience in your workplace, or supporting with mock interviews and CV writing. Feedback from businesses who have supported our careers programme to date reported multiple benefits,

including professional development of their employees leading to improved retention and an opportunity to shine a spotlight on a sector or role to support future recruitment. To register your interest, fill out a short survey which can be accessed here tinyurl.com/wms3jjrc

Calling all alumni!

ositive role models can have a huge impact on a young person’s life and, centred around this thinking, we therefore know how powerful school alumni can be in inspiring current school pupils as they make choices for their future. Did you know..? Research undertaken by FutureFirst showed that less than 50% of 15-year-olds they surveyed thought ‘people like me’ will be successful and that having relatable

role models is one of the keys to turning that around. Therefore, across our Lionheart Schools we are actively seeking former pupils – both more recent and from some years ago – who can share their success story and inspire the next generation, so they believe ‘they can be who they see’. Did you attend (what is now) a Lionheart School? Do you have older children who once did? Perhaps family and friends are former pupils? 18

If you’re happy to share your story, which will be used to inspire current and prospective pupils, please get in touch initially by completing our short form: https://forms.office. com/e/WYvGxax5xp We also have opportunities for former alumni to support our wider careers programme, with expressions of interest also made through the form.

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

Make a difference: Get involved in your child’s school community

e are currently welcoming both parent and community governors to challenge and inspire our family of schools, so if you’re keen to get involved and make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Becoming a governor – an incredibly rewarding voluntary role – provides an opportunity to make a real difference to the education and life chances of young people in your local community. Governors play a vital role in ensuring that schools provide a high-quality education for all students and operate effectively and efficiently. We are seeking to recruit people who can bring experience and leadership to support and challenge our academies. We offer training and support to help governors fulfil their role successfully. “Rewarding,” “fulfilling,” “a privilege,” “inspiring” and “impactful.” These are just some of the words our existing governors have used to describe their experiences. If you’re keen to play your part in helping the future generation, contact LHT-Governance@lionhearttrust.org.uk and register your interest in becoming a governor. View our video by scanning the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/p53ycwtb

What is involved? • Attendance at four meetings each academic year, which are typically two hours long and take place in the evening, either online or at the school. • You will discuss how the school is performing and provide critical input on how this can be improved, acting as the link between the school and the community.

• You may be required to sit on interview panels and provide input when schools are looking to recruit figures of seniority e.g. a new Headteacher.

The benefits • A sense of fulfilment associated with giving back to your community. • The opportunity to acquire new skills and hone existing skills in a different environment. This can include teamwork, problemsolving and negotiation. • Add new skills and experience to your CV, supporting your personal career goals.

• Participation in school and Trust-wide events; from judging competitions to attending culture days. • Access to training courses. • Free gym membership at Lionheart Fitness in Oadby.

Who can get involved? There is no strict criteria to get involved and, for us, diversity in governance is essential; all we ask is that you are over 18 and are willing to fully commit to the role. We welcome individuals from a range of backgrounds understanding 19

that multiple viewpoints bring a convergence of knowledge and allows our schools – and your children – to profit.

TRUST IMPROVEMENTS

ISSUE 05 | DEC 2023

TRUSTIMPROVEMENTS We’re busy investing and improving...

his term, as part of our commitment to innovatively enrich the educational experiences of all our students, and support staff, our Estates and IT teams have completed a wide range of projects, which have included:

Buildings The redevelopment of The Pioneers’ Centre – our new Alternative Provision in Coalville, for Lionheart students – was completed at the end of the Autumn Term, ready to welcome students into their permanent school building in January.

To emphasise our commitment to promoting sustainability – electric vehicle charging points have been installed at six of our schools; Broom Leys Primary, The Cedars Academy, Highcliffe Primary, Judgemeadow Community College, The Newbridge School and Sir Jonathan North Girls’ College, with more coming soon.

Energy efficient LED lighting has been installed at Brocks Hill Primary, The Cedars Academy, Riverside Primary, Hallam Fields Primary, Beauchamp College, Humphrey Perkins School and Martin High School with plans to complete work at our remaining schools by the end of the academic year.

An under-used classroom at The Castle Rock School was transformed into a state-of-the-art music suite with 24 workstations and a wide range of Apple iMacs, to greatly enhance the teaching of music at the school.

IT and Technology The servers and staff laptops at Humphrey Perkins School enjoyed a full refresh, improving network performance on site and ensuring the IT facilities remained cybersecure. To support their in-class learning, eight new laptops were provided for SEND students.

At The Cedars Academy, 10 new audio-visual projectors were installed in classrooms, improving the teaching and learning experience for both staff and students. Laptops have also been fully refreshed to boost performance and improve capacity.

Both The Castle Rock School and The Newbridge School enjoyed new digital signage this term, strengthening communications with students. A large interactive mobile screen was also introduced at Castle Rock and was used in a variety of lessons to heighten the teaching and learning experience.

The Auditorium projector at Judgemeadow Community College has been completely refreshed, with the enhanced audio and visual capabilities having considerably improved the delivery of performing arts shows and other events.

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