Led by Executive Director of Post-16, Susan Sharp, the visit saw 168 students and 17 staff members travel over 650 miles to experience academic life at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and Peterhouse, Cambridge. More than 80 of the students were from Spencer Academies Trust sixth forms, alongside learners from the wider Spires collaboration with the Redhill Trust.

Hosted at Portland Spencer Academy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire schools and Brackensdale Spencer Academy for Derby and Derbyshire schools, the events provided an opportunity for colleagues to reconnect with one another and refocus on the shared purpose that sits at the heart of our Trust - delivering the very best for children and young people.

As the academy’s biggest and most ambitious production to date, the show builds on the strong tradition of performing arts at Heanor Gate. Performing Arts colleagues have led rehearsals for more than 50 students from across all year groups, with many evenings spent refining performances and preparing every detail ahead of an exciting week of live theatre.

After eight and a half years of exceptional leadership, Paul moves on to exciting pastures new, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Reflecting on his time at Spencer, Paul described the role as “the most professionally humbling and enriching experience of my career,” noting that the Trust has been “part of my identity” and “part of my sense of purpose.”

The day opened with a lively and engaging question-and-answer session with Fiona Hallam, Trust Head of Safeguarding. Pupils were keen to learn more about Fiona’s role and her journey within the Spencer family, asking thoughtful questions about everything from her favourite foods and holiday destinations to her love of Formula One.

Juliet began her visit with Bispham’s School Council - made up of two elected representatives from every class, all of whom prepared speeches as part of their campaigns. Pupils were eager to share details of their current whole-school referendum on whether Labubu dolls should be allowed in school, and Juliet was impressed by their understanding of democratic processes.

Paul West, Chief Executive, opened the day with a powerful introduction, charting the evolution of our IT service from an outsourced managed provider to a fully in-house service. This shift has given us greater control, capability, and flexibility - enabling us to deliver smarter, more responsive IT services for both students and colleagues.

The visit recognised Heanor Gate’s outstanding work in supporting white working-class (WWC) pupils to achieve beyond national expectations. National data shows this group of students - defined as pupils eligible for free school meals and of white British ethnicity - often face some of the poorest outcomes across the country. However, at Heanor Gate, WWC students make more progress at Key Stage 4 than the national average, marking the Academy as one of only a handful of secondary schools nationally achieving this success.

This year, 72% of entries across the Trust’s eight secondary schools achieved grade 4 or above in English and Maths, while 54% secured grade 5 or higher. The Trust’s Attainment 8 score, 49.5, also exceeded the national average from 2024, alongside a rise in the number of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc - those entering qualifications in English, maths, sciences, a language and either history or geography), now standing at 43%, and the Average EBacc Point Score, 4.45.

The session brought together representatives from primary academies across the Trust to discuss the impact of their work and how they have helped shape change in their schools and communities over the past year. The Pupil Parliament is made up of two pupils from each primary school and provides a platform for children to have their voices heard on key issues, with steering groups centred around the environment, community, teaching and learning and SEND and inclusion.

Staff, pupils, and families at Millside Spencer Academy are celebrating this week following a highly successful Ofsted inspection, which praised the school’s exceptional culture, strong leadership, and the outstanding behaviour and personal development of its pupils.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a reception to thank public sector workers in the garden of 10 Downing Street.

Inspectors praised the school for creating a happy and safe environment where pupils thrive. The report highlights Highfields’ high ambitions for all children and acknowledges the strong progress the school has made in a short space of time.

Twelve students who have shown remarkable dedication across the ASTRAL framework were invited to a special afternoon tea with Paul West, CEO, and Susan Sharp, Executive Director of Post 16. The event, held at Spencer Place, recognised students who have embodied the spirit of ASTRAL through consistent commitment, leadership, and contribution to their school and wider communities.

Heanor Gate Spencer Academy has today been named a Top 10 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2025. The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded by T4 Education in the wake of COVID in 2022 to share the best practices of schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes.

Being shortlisted is a remarkable achievement - one that reflects both personal dedication and the collective effort of an entire department. For Charles, it's a moment of recognition not only for his innovative leadership in the classroom but also for the deeper vision he's championed: to make PRE a subject that’s relevant, inclusive, and transformative for students.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, we sat down with Charles to hear more about his journey - from his surprising career beginnings to his philosophy of teaching, his department’s evolution, and what this national recognition means to him and his school community...

Tanya has played a pivotal role in overseeing and developing catering services across the Trust, ensuring thousands of students received nutritious, high-quality meals every day. Her leadership and commitment have left a lasting impact on our schools, staff, and pupils alike. We sat down with Tanya as she reflected on her journey, the joys and challenges of her role, and what lies ahead in retirement…

Excitement filled the room as pupils reunited with familiar faces and welcomed new representatives who joined in place of those who couldn’t attend. Each pupil proudly received their Trust Pupil Parliament badge, symbolising their important role in shaping the future of their schools.

James took on the 26.2-mile challenge following months of dedication and training, crossing the finish line at 4 hours and 24 minutes!

The Green Flag award is an internationally recognized accreditation that honours schools demonstrating their dedication to environmental awareness and sustainable practices. Rosecliffe’s success is a testament to the hard work and passion of both pupils and staff in integrating eco-friendly initiatives into everyday school life.

Bispham Spencer Academy is a flourishing primary school known for its high standards of teaching and learning, strong community ethos, and commitment to ensuring that every child reaches their full potential. Recently rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, with ‘Outstanding’ recognition for personal development, the school shares the Trust’s values of excellence, inclusion, and innovation in education.

The theme of the day, ‘Belonging’, emphasised the importance of inclusive and supportive environments for both pupils and colleagues in our academies. Through an engaging program of keynote speakers, workshops, and real-life stories, the event reinforced the Trust’s values of Aspiration, Partnership, and Responsibility. 

Representing their peers, two pupils from each Spencer primary school join the Parliament, meeting once a term to tackle the issues that matter most to them, with steering groups focusing on key themes including the environment, community, teaching and learning, and SEND and inclusion.

This is a truly remarkable achievement following the Academy’s starting point with the Spencer Academies Trust when they academised and joined the Trust back in April 2021, following their previous inspection as Brackensdale Primary School, which rated the school as ‘Inadequate’ in 2019.

The school welcomed MP Baggy Shanker, alongside Local Councillor, and former student, Gurkiran Kaur, who cut the ribbon to formally unveil the new building. Staff, students, local politicians, governors and guests from the Spencer Academies Trust were also in attendance on the day.

The day saw pupils take part in a range of activities, including pumpkin-carving, face-painting, penalty shootouts and burying a time capsule of artwork, along with performances from the children in the school hall. Children also dressed up in creative costumes, with themes ranging from classic witches and superheroes to imaginative DIY designs, adding a special touch to the community celebration.

The day was held at Ashwood Spencer and was an opportunity for our sixth formers to develop their leadership and communication skills through planning and leading their own workshops.