Lipson Co-operative Academy

YEAR 12 students visited Plymouth Marjon University to attend the Ted Wragg Trust Health and Wellbeing Conference.

The morning consisted of four engaging sessions focused on health, wellbeing and preparing for life beyond Sixth Form. Students learned how to stay safe on nights out, including awareness of drink spiking, and received practical advice on living independently after Sixth Form.

They then took part in a carousel of workshops covering a range of important topics. Through Young Enterprise, students explored mortgages, credit cards and personal finance, with some of their questions set to be featured during Martin Lewis' Big Money Assembly on June 15.

Students also learned about HPV and ovarian cancer, before taking part in an exciting self-defence session where they developed Thai boxing skills. A special thank you to our own Theo Jones for helping to demonstrate techniques alongside the team from Hybrid Gym. Congratulations to Dylan O, Alex P and Felipe V, who were the winners of the Thai Boxing Challenge!

Following lunch, students attended a PSHE showcase and had the opportunity to engage with a range of organisations from across Plymouth, including Plymouth Marjon University, Clean Our Patch, Samaritans, Citizens Advice, Plymotion, The Children's Society, The Zone, SHiP and the NHS.

We would like to thank everyone involved in making the day such a valuable and worthwhile experience for our students. We are already looking forward to next year's conference!

💙 🫂 🫶

OUR Year 10s grabbed the chance to attended an Opportunity Plymouth Career programme Celebration Event at Plymouth University.

Opportunity Plymouth is a ten-week pupil mentoring programme delivered by trained University students as mentors.

Sessions aim to enhance aspirations, skills, and preparations for students' post-16/careers options, whilst also boosting self-esteem, communication and engagement in school.

The Celebration Event offers students a chance to tour the campus, hear about university life, receive a talk about post-16 options and be presented with their certificates.

💙 🫂 🫶

CANNOT wait for this year's summer show, celebrating the hard work of our GCSE and A-level Art and Photography students.

This year, we have been lucky enough to have an exceptional cohort, so a visit to admire their acheievements will be well worth the time.

💙 🫂 🫶

WE are delighted and proud to share with you our excellent OFSTED report following the recent inspection – the first visit to Lipson since the new framework was introduced in November 2025.

The inspection took place in late April, and we are pleased to report that we were graded 'Strong' in three of the seven categories assessed and achieved the 'Expected Standard' in the remaining four.

This is a magnificent achievement for everyone connected with Lipson – our students, staff, families and wider community. It currently represents the highest set of gradings awarded under the new-style OFSTED scorecard to any non selective secondary school in the South West.

The new OFSTED framework sets a notably high bar for schools. Achieving the 'Expected Standard' requires high quality and consistent practice, while a 'Strong' judgement recognises areas of particular excellence.

The inspectors were particularly impressed by the dedication of our staff to every single pupil, recognising that the warm relationships between teachers and students are the foundation of Lipson’s continued success in recent years.

The full report has now been published and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/lcaofsted2026.

However, we want to share some of the highlights, as they truly deserve celebration and provide an opportunity to recognise just how special the staff, students and wider Lipson community are.

• “Pupils are proud to belong to the ‘Lipson Family’. Happiness, warmth and kindness permeate the corridors and classrooms. Pupils know that adults care about them.”

• “Staff demonstrate an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child is safe, happy and successful” and “love working” at the Academy. “Many describe Lipson as their forever school.”

• “Pupils behave well in school. They rise to the high expectations set by leaders. They engage positively with learning in lessons. Pupils are well mannered and friendly.”

• “Students are aspirational for their futures, inspired to consider their ‘dream job’ and work hard to achieve their goals.”

• “Parents are very positive about the school and have confidence in the leaders and wider staff to support, challenge and care for their child.”

• “Alongside academic qualifications, they successfully develop life skills and leave as more confident and resilient individuals. They are well prepared for adulthood.”

Finally, we would like to thank you for the support you provide day in, day out. Together, we will build on the positivity of this report and continue to make Lipson an even stronger and better place for your children to learn and thrive.

A SCRUMPTIOUS top-three finish for our student Academy bakers in the 2026 City College Plymouth NextGen Bake-Off.

Our tasty trio made a food illusion cake of a vanilla Victoria sandwich cake filled with homemade rhubarb jam and a clotted cream custard frostin, shaping this into a fondant icing plant pot complete with chocolate soil and coconut grass and carrots.

Organisers said all the students should be incredibly proud of their efforts, creativity, and enthusiasm throughout the competition, and they represented their schools exceptionally well.

"We would also like to commend all of the students on their behaviour during the day," they said. "They were a credit to their schools and conducted themselves brilliantly from start to finish."

💙 🫂 🫶

NEARLY there...

💙 🫂 🫶

AND...we're back.

We could not let the moment pass without mentioning how proud we are of our Academy Band and Senior Choir, who performed the Plymouth Lord Mayor’s Choosing Reception at the City Council House last week.

Our talented students performed for members of the council and invited dignitaries, including Plymouth MP Luke Pollard, at the special event, which celebrated Councillor Kevin Sproston being chosen as Plymouth’s new Lord Mayor for 2026–27.

The students showcased their musical skill and professionalism throughout the reception and were even given the exciting opportunity to hold the city’s ceremonial mace, making the occasion even more memorable for everyone involved.

We are incredibly proud of all the students who represented the Academy so brilliantly and would like to thank for inviting us to be part of such a prestigious civic occasion.

💙 🫂 🫶

HAPPY half-term! Especially for those Year 11s and Sixth Formers who will be revising!

Here's the plan...

💙 🫂 🫶