We were delighted to be able to take seven ELAN  schools to Sidcot School to take part in our annual swimming gala. This forms part of a series of sporting activities that Sidcot School run with our schools throughout the year, including tennis, cricket, swimming and two gymnastics sessions.

 

The gala includes a range of races from front crawl, back crawl, breast-stroke and relay races and is tailored to support students of all abilities. Sidcot’s ELAN Sport Liaison, Lee Molland, organises and runs the event, accompanied by Director of Sport Matt Lloyd, Sidcot’s Sport Manager Martin Rogers as Lifeguard and Sidcot’s BTEC Sport students providing event and scoring support.

 

Each ELAN school selects eight students to take part and transport to and from the event is arranged by Sidcot.

 

Commenting, Louie, Year 6 at Walliscote Primary said, “It’s really fun for all of us to take part, especially for teamwork with our school friends but also for meeting people and making friends in other schools”.

 

Lee Molland, Junior School PE and Sports Lead at Sidcot added, “Because this is an annual event, we’ve really seen a marked improvement in the swimming ability of all the pupils across the schools. It’s a lively event and all the kids have a good, fun time. We really hope they enjoy themselves and that it encourages them to keep practicing their swimming!”

 

A huge thank you to our friends at Sidcot School for their ongoing partnership and opportunities as well as providing transport that enables these events to take place. Transport costs are a huge barrier to a lot of things and with Sidcot School removing this, it means that more children can have the chance to showcase what they can do. 

 

The ELAN schools that took part in this gala included Banwell Primary, Milton Park, Mendip Green, Walliscote Primary, Mead Vale, Bournville Primary and Locking Primary School.

Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) has implemented the Opening Worlds curriculum for history, geography and religion in KS2 across all its schools. This knowledge-rich programme is characterised by strong vertical sequencing within subjects and by intricate horizontal and diagonal connections. Opening Worlds is having a rapid effect on all pupils’ literacy through the systematic introduction and revisiting of new vocabulary; engaging story-telling and a highly inclusive

approach. Teachers’ practice has improved through training in the Opening Worlds evidence-informed, high-leverage techniques which are integral to the programme.

 

‘In nearly 30 years in education, I have never known anything to be so transformational. The curriculum naturally allows children to explore and understand what it means to live in a global society. It has empowered pupils, who otherwise may be disadvantaged, to engage in their learning as equals and we have seen pupils with special educational needs accessing the curriculum in a way we have never seen before. The impact on all pupils’ reading and writing skills has also been significant. They are reading and writing more regularly and at length. However, more importantly, they are reading and writing with enthusiasm because they are genuinely interested to learn more and they have important things to say!’ Penny Boardman, ELAN School Effectiveness Lead

 

The impact has been so significant that we would like to extend an open invitation to headteachers and deputy headteachers in North Somerset to see the curriculum being taught and learn a little bit more about its impact from the ELAN Extend-Ed Team.

 

Dates: 23 February 2024 or 8 March 2024 or 22 March 2024

Places available on each session: 3

Venue: Mead Vale Primary School

Time: 12:30 – 15:30

Overview of the session:

• • Introduction to the curriculum

• • Observe a geography lesson taught in Year 4 from 13:00-14:15

• • Exploring the impact

• • Question and Answer session

 

If you would like more information, please contact penny.boardman@extendlearning.org

To book a place, please follow the link ELAN and Opening Worlds curriculum

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Extend Learning Academies Network will be held at Locking Primary School on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 5:00pm for the following purposes:

1 Elect Chair for the meeting
2 Welcome, apologies and quorum
3 Disclosure of interests
4 Approve minutes of the previous AGM 07.02.2023
5 To receive the annual accounts of the company for the period to 31 August 2023
6 Any proposed changes to the Articles of Association
7 Any changes to the Funding Agreement
8 Appointment/retirement of Members, Clerks or Directors since September 2022
9 Appointment of external auditors of the Company
10 Trust business update from the CEO
11 Any motions which the Members wish to debate
12 Any business which the Trustees have asked the Members to consider
13 Any business the community has asked the Members to consider

All associated documents will be available in advance of the meeting. If you would like the Members of the Multi Academy Trust to respond to questions at the AGM, please submit these in writing to the Company Secretary at least 4 days prior to the meeting

By order of the Board
Sarah Edwards
Company Secretary
Email: office@extendlearning.org

Extend Learning Academies Network
Registered Address: 13 Lime Close, Weston-super-Mare BS24 8BH

 

Please let the Company Secretary know if you will be attending by emailing office@extendlearning.org.