New partnership extends Star’s aspirational network

Star has extended its partnership network of leading colleges, universities and employers to support more of its pupils to secure aspirational post-16 opportunities with world-renowned educational institutions and blue chip companies.

Star schools provide personalised support to enable pupils to identify and apply for prestigious opportunities to further their education and careers, including scholarships, internships and apprenticeships.

The Aspire Programme aims to close the inequality gap by giving pupils in Star schools wider access to a world-class education and first-class career opportunities. Bursary and scholarship opportunities will provide a pathway into highperforming FE and HE institutions for the brightest pupils.

In its latest initiative, Star has partnered with leading independent school, City of London Freemen’s School. The network will initially see two Star schools, Bay Leadership Academy and The Valley Leadership Academy, partnering with the co-educational independent school in Surrey to raise aspirations for pupils. It will also support them to apply to the country’s highest-performing sixth form institutions, including fully-funded bursaries at City of London Freemen’s School.

Star nominated for national award

Star has been named as a finalist in the MultiAcademy Trust (MAT) of the Year category of the MAT Excellence Awards.

Presented by Optimus Education, the national awards recognise the achievements of multi-academy trusts across the country and their impact on pupils, staff and the communities they serve.

Star has been shortlisted alongside five other trusts in recognition of its impact on reducing attainment gaps, driving social mobility and Star’s contribution to system leadership. This shortlisting follows a string of exceptional accolades that have recognised Star’s exceptional pupil outcomes and its wider impact on the educational landscape, which have included a Pearson National Teaching Award and a National Schools Award.