Great Schools Trust

Only 2 days to go until Teacher Training Open Day takes place at King's Leadership Academy Bolton and there is still time to sign up.

Ready to take teaching seriously?
Choosing to become a teacher is a big decision and the right training makes all the difference.
Our Teacher Training Open Days are for people who want to feel confident about their next move, whether you’re:
✔ finishing university
✔ changing career
✔ returning to a long-held ambition to teach

By attending, you’ll gain:
✔ A clear understanding of what strong teacher training looks like in practice.
✔Insights into mentoring, support and development during your training year.
✔A step-by-step breakdown of the application process.
✔The chance to speak directly with experienced educators about career pathways and progression.

If teaching is something you’re genuinely considering, this session will help you decide with confidence.
Register for the session here: https://forms.gle/D1cNoFeboZQ6fdC1A

Thinking about teaching? This might be your moment.

If you’ve ever thought “I’d love to teach, but I’m not sure where to start”. You’re not alone!

Our upcoming Teacher Training Open Days are designed for graduates and career changers who want space to explore teaching properly, ask honest questions, and understand what great training really looks like.

This session will help you:
- Understand the routes into teaching available to you.
- Get a realistic picture of the training year and classroom experience.
- Learn what schools look for in trainee teachers — beyond grades.
Decide whether teaching is the right next step for you.

No pressure. No assumptions. Just clarity and guidance.

Find out more and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/epNqS-ya

Are you considering a career in teaching or thinking about making a meaningful career change?

Join us at King's Leadership Academy Bolton on Wednesday 21st January 13:00 - 14:00 for our Teacher Training Open Day
(September 2026 Start)

About the session:
We’re pleased to invite aspiring teachers to our upcoming Teacher Training Open Days, delivered in partnership with Kingsbridge SCITT.
These sessions are designed for graduates and career changers who want to explore whether teaching is the right next step for them. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what high-quality teacher training looks like, the support available throughout the training year, and how to build a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in education.

What you’ll gain from the session:
- A clear overview of the different routes into teacher training available to you, delivered in partnership with Kingsbridge SCITT.
- Insight into what high-quality teacher training looks like in practice, and how it prepares you for a confident, successful start to your teaching career.
- The opportunity to explore different school environments and cultures, and understand what it feels like to train in a values-led setting.
- Step-by-step guidance through the application and appointment process, so you know exactly what to expect.
- A clear understanding of the qualities and strengths we look for in trainee teachers, beyond grades and experience alone.

We’ll also explore what your training year looks like, including:
- High-quality, school-based training
- Academic and professional development
- Expert mentoring and coaching
- Assessment and progression into permanent teaching roles

This open day is ideal for:
- Graduates considering teaching
- Career changers looking to enter the profession

Register here:
https://lnkd.in/epNqS-ya

Whether you’re just exploring your options or ready to take the next step, this session will offer clarity and a chance for you to ask questions and meet new people in the profession.

It’s a real pleasure to see our students at King's Leadership Academy Liverpool engaging directly with medical experts from a Manchester hospital. Opportunities like this give young people a clearer understanding of where their learning can take them and help raise aspirations by connecting education with real careers in healthcare. We are grateful for all experiences that broaden horizons and support our students as they think about their futures.

Thank you to Manchester Hospital for giving their time and expertise to our students.

Our Year 11 students were incredibly lucky today to hear from a leading medical physicist from a Manchester hospital. An inspiring careers talk that brought science to life, showed real-world applications of physics and medicine, and opened students’ eyes to exciting future pathways within healthcare and STEM. A fantastic opportunity to learn from an expert at the cutting edge of their field.

InspiringFutures

We're please to share this years Christmas Newsletter with our community that showcases all of the extraordinary events and developments that have happened in all schools across our trust.

It’s been a busy and inspiring term across all our schools, and this newsletter brings together just a snapshot of what’s been happening. From new developments in our Credimus Ai work supporting teachers in the classroom, to the brilliant experiences, achievements and moments that our students have shared with their peers.

What stands out most is the people. The commitment of our staff, the ambition of our students, and the strong sense of community that runs through everything we do across the Trust.

Thank you to everyone who contributed stories and helped bring this newsletter to life. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved this term and excited for what we’ll continue to build together in the year ahead.

King's Leadership Academy Bolton
King's Leadership Academy Liverpool
King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes
King's Leadership Academy Warrington
's Leadership Academy Wavertree
's Northway Primary Academy
King's Lander Primary Academy

Building confidence beyond the classroom.

King’s Adventure is our trust-wide pupil character and leadership programme, running from EYFS through to Year 11.

We’ve had an incredible start to this year’s curriculum, and we’re looking forward to sharing the many ways this programme supports and empowers our students.

A huge thank you to our King’s Adventure Team for making this programme so exceptional:
Mr M Brown
Mr D Doherty
Mr T Edwards
Mr S Mansfield

Thank you Peter Dowd MP for the Bootle constituency, for joining us at our Breakfast Club at King's Lander Primary Academy and for recognising the work our team is doing to support families.

We are proud to share that King’s Lander Primary Academy offers a free, extended one-hour Breakfast Club every morning, available to all children in the school. Breakfast Club provides our pupils with a fantastic start to their day, offering space for fun, creative activities, homework socialising and of course breakfast! In a relaxed environment right before their lessons begin.

Thank you, Peter, for acknowledging the team’s work at Lander, and thank you to Lizz, representative from Morrisons, for your kind donation.

If you didn't already know, our incredible Safe Guard Lead, Steven Panter is the host of his very own podcast channel, "The Great in You".
The Great in You is all about creating space for honest, meaningful conversations. Steven talks with people who’ve faced real challenges, shining a light on important life experiences so many of don’t always speak about.
You can listen to his episodes on Youtube or Spotify now!

The Great in You Podcast Welcome to The Great Schools Trust: The Great In You podcast with Steven Panter. Each episode delves into the personal experiences of the guests, many of whom have faced significant challenges and traumas. These experiences have not only shaped their lives but have also fueled their desire to make a...

How is your school using the power of AI to give time back to your teachers?

If you’re interested to find out just how we're leaning into new technologies, join us on Saturday 28th February for our first AI in Education conference of the year!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/manage/events/1086348350159/details

Attendance in Schools.

Yesterday, King's Leadership Academy Liverpool shared some great information about attendance and child absences in schools. Attendance is a huge part of our Credimus Culture framework and something that we strive to work upon every day.

They shared:

🍎 Attendance:
When Should Your Child Stay Home and When Are They OK to Come In?

Good attendance is vital for learning, confidence and long-term success. We know it can sometimes be hard to judge when a child is well enough to attend school, so here is some clear guidance to help:

Your child should stay home if they have:
- A high temperature and feel unwell
- Sickness or diarrhoea
- A contagious illness such as chickenpox
- Been advised by a medical professional to rest or isolate
Your child is usually OK to attend school if they have:
- A mild cough or cold
- A sore throat
- Headache or tiredness
- Mild discomfort that can be managed with rest, hydration or over-the-counter medication (if appropriate)
- feeling a little queasy

Even small absences can quickly add up to lost learning, so if your child is generally well enough, they should be in school. Being here every day helps them keep up with lessons, stay on track and maintain good routines.
...

If you work in education and want a clearer picture of our Credimus Culture framework or some practical ideas to boost attendance in your own school.
Come and join us on Wednesday 26th November at King’s Lander Primary Academy for our half day workshop. Details below:
https://lnkd.in/eqJYHC3r

This month, we have been proudly celebrating UK Black History Month. The 2025 theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” is a tribute to the resilience, strength and commitment to progress that defines the Black community across the globe.

This theme invites us to honour the leaders, activists and pioneers whose contributions have shaped history, and to look ahead to a future of empowerment, unity and growth.

At Great Schools Trust, we are proud to be a welcoming and inclusive community, where diversity is celebrated and every voice is valued.