This year, United Learning, in collaboration with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), has launched an exciting pilot programme across 14 of our secondary academies to enhance the coordination and delivery of rugby union activities and ultimately encourage more young people into the sport. Driving the initiative are United Learning’s newly appointed Rugby Union Specialists, James Wright and Alex Wilson, who are respectively working with academies in the North West of England and along the South coast.

As the new academic year gets underway, we spoke to James and Alex who told us how they hope to benefit students and staff through their role and why it’s so important – now more than ever – that we encourage our young people into grassroots sport.

Year 13s at Sheffield South East Sixth Form – which is based at Sheffield Park Academy – are celebrating after receiving their A Level grades today, with the vast majority securing university offers and apprenticeships of their choice.

Students at Shoreham Academy are once again celebrating an excellent set of university offers, as Sixth Formers receive their A Level grades today.

Today, Sixth Form students at Kettering Buccleuch Academy are celebrating after securing places at some the UK’s top universities, with two students on their way to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Last month, almost 4,500 primary pupils across the Group joined together for a series of virtual singing and body percussion assemblies as part of Green Love.

Last week, teachers from over 20 secondary academies across United Learning took part in an inspiring webinar focused on supporting students’ personal development.

This term, over 60 primary and secondary schools across United Learning are taking part in a special music and performing arts project to raise awareness about climate change.

Avonwood Primary School in Bournemouth has received a highly encouraging Ofsted report.  The inspection, which was carried out as part of the process to establish Avonwood as a stand-alone school, highlighted some particular strengths of the school and confirmed that the school is likely to meet all the relevant standards when a full inspection is carried out.

This half-term, pupils from across United Learning’s primary schools went head-to-head in the annual StorySLAM competition to be named best storyteller.

The Department for Education has today announced its national network of 81 new teaching school hubs (TSH), which will include several United Learning academies. These hubs will provide high-quality professional development to teachers at all stages of their careers – from initial teacher training (ITT) and early careers support to national professional qualifications (NPQ).