Cabot Learning Federation

I am pleased to be opening and chairing this year’s CST Finance and Operations Conference tomorrow with my co-chair Catherine Hughes! It’s going to be a great day. #CSTFinOps #CST

Emily and Andy staff from Winterstoke Hundred Academy were truly honoured to be at the memorial service for Dr Paul Stephenson OBE. To read the full story on the Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury website please click on the link below.

Science, rugby and the arts – the early days of our Alumni 15 project have already showcased a wide range of fields in which former CLF pupils have gone on to enjoy notable success.   Today, we’re looking at another ex-student who has gone on to embark on a sporting career – Italian football forward Ephraim Yeboah, who is on the books of Bristol City.   Ephraim attended Summerhill Academy at a challenging time in his life, as he and his family looked to settle into a new life in the UK.   He credits the school with shaping the person he has become in adult life.   Still only 18, Ephraim has so far made 10 appearances for the Robins, and recently enjoyed a loan spell with League Two Doncaster Rovers to gain valuable first team experience.   And while he may still be in the early stages of his career, he has already proved popular with City fans who appreciate his pace and skill on the pitch.   Ephraim Yeboah   💡Where did you grow up?   I was born in Brescia, in Italy. My parents decided to move to Bristol in the summer of 2013 to pursue work opportunities. We lived in Whitehall, so I was local to the school. I attended Summerhill from Year 3 to Year 6.   💡What was your experience of school?   My time at primary school was difficult in the beginning. I was trying to learn a new language and make friends at the same time. I remember miss Redwood, who was my year 4 teacher.    💡What advice would you give to your younger self?   The advice I would give to my younger self would be to enjoy the process and focus less on the end goal.   💡How would your best friends describe you at school/today?   I think the way my friends would describe me as polite, charismatic and funny if I was to be in school today.    💡What impact has your time at Summerhill Academy had on you?   My time at Summerhill definitely shaped me into the person I am today. I met so many different people and we shared so many experiences together.   💡What personal characteristic do you think has helped you navigate your career?   My mentality and faith has definitely helped me navigate my career. I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything of what I achieved in such a short period of time without my faith, determination and my mindset. Andrew Bell

We are absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting this collaborative event with Lyfta Education.

A big thank you to the Bristol Parent website for publishing this story about Waycroft Academy. Year 5 pupils from Waycroft Academy recently enjoyed an inspiring and educational visit to the STEAM Museum in Swindon. The trip offered a unique opportunity to delve into the history of World War II, focusing on life during the Blitz and the experiences of evacuee children. To read the full story on their website please click on the link below. #pupils #academy #teachers #teaching #history #inthenews #inthepress #inthemedia #PRinSchools

He admits to being ‘naughty’ during his school days at John Cabot Academy – but now Tom Dewey FRSA is a renowned poet and playwright considered one of the most influential young people in Bristol.   Tom is the latest former pupil spotlighted in the Alumni 15 series, a project designed to help inspire current pupils by showcasing the successes of some of our schools’ past students. And today we are catching up with Tom Dewey, who tells us he remembers many of his former teachers – and feels ‘very fortunate’ to have attended John Cabot. Tom Dewey is a poet and playwright best known for his distinctive voice and prolificacy. Marrying surrealist imagery with multi-syllabic rhyme, his style produces literary dreamscapes which have been said to suggest ‘presence and absence, everything and nothing… Dewey is a young man under an old sun who catches its ancient light.’   He became the youngest ever regional spoken word champion in 2015, and his influence is much to be detected in the Bristol poetry scene.   Tom has achieved international media acclaim as a writer and performer. He has delivered a TEDx Talk on Mental Health, featured on BBC iPlayer, performed to a sold-out Roundhouse, closed the Bristol Old Vic's 250th Birthday Weekend and been named by Rife Magazine as one of the most influential young people in Bristol. 💡Where did you grow up?   I grew up in Easton, Bristol.   💡What was your experience of school like?   My experience of school was quite challenging, candidly. I had some behavioural difficulties, as will be confirmed by any former teachers (sorry!). I had a hard time fitting in, and was dealing with a complication or two in my personal life. Towards the end of school – maybe around Year 10 – I settled down a bit and managed to leave with OK grades.   💡Do you remember any of your teachers?   I do! I have very fond memories of, to name a few: Mr Bridges, Mr Dell, Mr Church, Ms Fudge, Mr Wilson, Mr Clarke, Mr Unwin, Mr Topham.   💡How did your time at school play a part in where you are now?   School was an especially formative time for me, particularly in the context of the difficulties I experienced in relating to other people and early encounters with my own mental health. I feel very fortunate to have attended John Cabot.   💡What advice would you give to your younger self?   Get a haircut, kid.   💡How would your best friends describe you at school and now today?   At school: energetic, insecure, strange, naughty. Honestly my close friends might land on similar words today.   💡What personal characteristic do you think has helped you navigate your career?   A built sense of self-belief and refusal to accept a naff life.   If you know of any past pupils who have gone on to notable success in their chosen field, please let CLF Partnerships Manager Andrew Bell know by emailing andrew.bell@clf.uk. Andrew Bell

A big thank you to the Bristol Parent website for publishing this story. Pupils from Frome Vale Academy had an unforgettable experience at the Bristol Beacon as they attended a breathtaking concert featuring the renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. #pupils #academy #teachers #performingarts #music #concert #inthenews #inthepress #inthemedia #PRinSchools For all the details please click on the link below.

Year four pupils at Evergreen Primary Academy really enjoyed their PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic) sessions, thanks to the involvement of two staff members from the Bristol City Robins Foundation. During the sessions, pupils engaged in meaningful discussions about the concept of inclusion and why it is a positive force in their school and community. They also explored the harmful effects of discrimination and how it can negatively impact individuals and society. A spokesperson for the academy said: “Inclusion is an essential value for young people to understand and practice. “It’s been inspiring to see pupils at Evergreen Primary Academy approach these topics with such enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. Helping them recognise the importance of kindness and respect in their daily lives is wonderful.”

Many of you will know Ellis Genge as a rugby star who has found fame and success with Bristol Bears and the England Rugby international team – but a handful of colleagues will remember him as the perennially late-to-school ‘joker’ who attended John Cabot Academy in his formative years. And although Ellis has gone on to enjoy significant success in the sporting arena, he remains a friend to his former school, and the wider CLF – as evidenced by his recent support for Lansdown Park Academy.   That is what makes him an ideal inclusion in the trust’s Alumni 15 network, a showcase of successful former pupils designed to help inspire high aspirations among current and future pupils. Today, we continue showcasing the network a short Q&A with Ellis. 💡Where did you grow up? I grew up in Knowle West, I went to Knowle Park Primary School. I spent a lot of time playing football with my mates; I thought I was going to be a pro football player.   💡What was your experience of school like? Average to poor. I don’t think the school environment suited me. I was fortunate that there were a few teachers who ensured I had the opportunity to play rugby. That helped me stay engaged. 💡Do you remember any of your teachers?  Yes lots, and I keep in touch with a few now. They like their rugby! 💡What advice would you give to your younger self?  Don’t climb the pillar between B wing and C wing – it doesn't end well!   💡How would your best friends describe you at school/today? At school: loyal, joker, late.  Now: loyal, antisocial, early.   💡What personal characteristic do you think has helped you navigate your career?  Headstrong, stubborn and never took no for an answer.   If you know of any past pupils who have gone on to notable success in their chosen field, please let CLF Partnerships Manager Andrew Bell know by emailing andrew.bell@clf.uk. Andrew Bell

Staff and students from Hans Price Academy recently visited Somewhere To Go, a charity in Weston-super-Mare that provides vital day and night services 365 days a year. The organisation supports rough sleepers and vulnerable adults in need, offering a warm, safe refuge, hot food, showers, clean clothing, and a listening ear. This story made front page news on the Weston Mercury print edition and the story ran on page three, please see below. #students #teachers #academy #charity #fundraising #frontpage #inthemedia #inthepress #inthenews #PRinSchools