CET News

Celebrating our successes

CET News

You will find all of CET’s latest news stories below.

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CET Inclusive Sports Event

29th October 2024

On 21st October, all Cumbria Education Trust (CET) secondary schools gathered to compete in the inaugural CET Inclusive Sports Event, hosted by William Howard School (WHS). Tracey Croucher, Inclusion Lead at WHS, along with Debbie Davies from Panathlon facilitated the event, bringing the Panathlon Xtend Multi-Sports activities and training a group of WHS Year 9 Sports Leaders to manage each of the eight stations. Seven teams participated in total: two from The Whitehaven Academy, two from Workington Academy, and three from William Howard School. For several hours, students rotated through the various activities, accumulating points for their teams under the guidance of the Sports Leaders. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and encouragement as students cheered one another on. All

Our Schools Shine in the Cash For Kids Sports Challenge

23rd October 2024

This year, four of our primary schools – Caldew Lea Primary School, Newtown Primary School, Petteril Bank School, and Yewdale Primary School – enthusiastically participated in the Cash For Kids Sports Challenge. The challenge, which runs across Cumbria for a month in September and October, encourages schools to raise as much money as possible. Schools not only keep all the funds they collect but also compete for additional cash prizes. The top fundraising school wins £5,000, with second and third place receiving £2,500 and £1,500, respectively. Our schools went all out, coming up with brilliant and innovative ideas! They had initiatives such as Break The Rules day, Wear Odd Shoes day, 1001 miles in one day sponsored walks and the

Three Staff Members Win Golden Apple Award

22nd October 2024

Celebrating Excellence in Education At Cumbria Education Trust (CET), we continuously strive for educational excellence, and we could not be prouder to see our staff’s hard work and dedication recognised at the latest Golden Apple Awards. This annual award ceremony, in which CET is a proud sponsor, is to celebrate outstanding educators and staff who have gone above and beyond in their roles, significantly impacting students and colleagues alike. We are thrilled to announce that three exceptional members of our community have been honoured with this year’s Golden Apple Awards. 1. Nigel Youngman – Best Education and Learning Leader Nigel Youngman is the Headteacher at The Whitehaven Academy (TWA) and has been instrumental in the significant school improvement journey that

Join Us for an Unmissable Professional Development Opportunity!

4th October 2024

Building on the insights shared by Steve Farndon at Shaping Our Future, Cumbria Education Trust, in collaboration with Ambition Institute, is excited to offer two exclusive teacher-educator events designed to elevate the quality of professional development across Cumbrian schools. Led by Steve Farndon, Instructional Coach and Associate Director at Ambition Institute, these sessions will provide practical tools and strategies for educators to collaborate, learn, and drive real change within their schools. Save the Dates – we encourage you to attend both: 24th October 2024 – 2pm to 5pm 1st May 2025 – 2pm to 5pm Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust, Penrith SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE! We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Sam Sims, author of the EEF Professional Development guide, will

Shaping Our Future 2024

26th September 2024

Cumbria Education Trust (CET) held its second Shaping Our Future conference, which brought together educational leaders, local authorities and industry experts on Thursday 19th September 2024 to explore the intricacies of the educational landscape as it stands. Held at The Halston, Carlisle, the event featured a series of high-profile keynote speakers and a panel discussion that addressed critical issues we face as an sector, forward thinking ideas and thought-provoking insights into how we can shape tomorrow’s world for our young people. The conference provided an opportunity for over 170 attendees to collaborate, share knowledge and discuss strategies – an ideal setting to network and make connections across Cumbria. As the attendees started arriving at the conference, Workington Academy Theatre group

Welcome to our 2024 ITT cohort

23rd September 2024

At the beginning of term, we welcomed our 2024 Initial Teacher Training (ITT) cohort. To start their teaching journey on a high, they gathered for the CET ITT induction conference, at Newtown Primary School, bringing all trainees together for the first time. As they are set to embark on an exciting journey into teaching, they will play a crucial role in shaping the future generations and we are thrilled they have taken this first step in their career. The CET ITT Induction covered a wide range of learning theories and teaching strategies, and the trainees had lots of engaging and insightful discussions with their mentors, coaches and each other. Jo Daulby, ITT Lead, commented, “What a wonderful group we have,

GCSE Results Day 2024

22nd August 2024

CET schools across Cumbria have welcomed back Year 11 students to receive their GCSE results today. The Whitehaven Academy, William Howard School and Workington Academy have been celebrating the dedication and hard work of their students, along with all of the staff who have helped our young people reach this milestone. The Whitehaven Academy Nigel Youngman, Headteacher, expressed his gratitude and pride in the students’ accomplishments today, commenting, “It has been an absolute joy to see students, parents, carers and staff come in to share the successes of the students. This wonderful year group have embraced every opportunity they have been given from the moment they joined. After lots of hard work, every single student has something to be proud

A Level Results Day 2024

15th August 2024

Across the county, Sixth Form students collected their A-Level results today, marking the end of their secondary school journey. For students at West Coast Sixth Form—a collaborative venture between The Whitehaven Academy and Workington Academy—and William Howard School, this day was not just about grades but a celebration of years of dedication, hard work, and resilience. Our schools opened their doors early this morning, welcoming back students eagerly awaiting their results. Teachers and staff were on hand to congratulate the students. West Coast Sixth Form Mark Bedford, Headteacher at Workington Academy, said, “Results this year demonstrate yet again the resilience of Cumbrian youngsters and their dedication to their studies. Today is about celebrating some of the incredible achievements of our

CET Statement: Recent Unrest

9th August 2024

In light of the recent unrest across the country, we are deeply saddened by the violent and disruptive actions that have affected our nation. We remain committed to our core values of respect, responsibility, and resilience – respect for our communities, responsibility for our actions, and resilience in the face of the troubling events of recent weeks. We encourage everyone within our community – staff, parents, children, and beyond – to prioritise safety and be cautious of misinformation circulating on social media. As a united community, we will stand together peacefully and respectfully to support all members. We take pride in our diverse and inclusive network of schools and communities. As we know, together, we are stronger.

NPQ Leadership Success

7th August 2024

Cumbria Education Trust (CET) is thrilled to announce the continued success of its National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). Our October 2022 cohorts have recently completed their leadership NPQs in Early Years Leadership (EYL) and Senior Leadership (SL). CET deliver NPQs in partnership with Ambition Institute. The accomplishment of completing an NPQ is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all participants. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and recognise the significant milestone this represents in their professional journeys. Special recognition and thanks are due to our Visiting Fellows for their exceptional and comprehensive facilitation of these programmes. Their dedication and professional guidance has been instrumental in achieving these excellent outcomes and has positively impacted our School Improvement agenda