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Welcome to our final newsletter of the academic year. As we bring the summer term to a close, we reflect on an incredible final week filled with remarkable student achievements.
Highlights included the extraordinary work experience placements completed by our Sixth Form students, alongside student innovation at the Ignite Showcase, academic success at the Scholars Programme Graduation, inspiring cultural experiences at the Etihad Stadium Languages Conference and the high-energy excitement of the Second Annual Northern Schools Trust Sports Day.
Furthermore, our Year 10 students gathered for their end-of-year assembly, led by their Head of Year. We would like to express our thanks to students, staff, partners, and sponsors for making this academic year so memorable.
We wish you all an enjoyable summer break and look forward to welcoming our students back in September.
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Important Information From Principal Jill Davies
Dear Parent/Guardian,
As another magnificent school year reaches an end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. It has been an incredibly positive year with so many opportunities and experiences for students to enjoy.
Several staff will be available in school from Wednesday 12th August should you need to contact us, and as always, a member of the safeguarding team will be available throughout the summer break.
Results Day
- A Level Results Day will take place on Thursday 13th August.
- GCSE Results Day will take place on Thursday 20th August.
Important: September Return Arrangements
As in previous years, we will be running a staggered return for students in September. This helps us to introduce our new students to the building in a calm and organised way.
Staggered Return Dates: Please Check the Time and Date for Your Year Group
Wednesday 2nd September
- Ignite (Year 9) Cohort will start at 9AM and finish at 3PM.
Thursday 3rd September
- Ignite second day start at 9AM and finish at 4PM.
- New Year 10 students (joining us for the first time in September 2026) start at 9AM and finish at 4PM. Please note this group also includes our cohort of new starters that arrived in June 2026.
- All Year 12 students start at 9.30AM and finish at 4PM.
Friday 4th September
- Ignite third day start at 9AM and finish at 4PM.
- All Year 10 students (including those returning from Ignite) start at 9AM and finish at 4PM.
- Year 12 students start following their timetable
Monday 7th September
Everyone in
- Year 11 start at 9AM.
- Year 13 start at 9AM (or in time for their first timetabled lesson).
In preparation for the return to school in September, please check that your student’s uniform or sixth form clothing meets the required dress code. A reminder that shoes must be school shoes, not black trainers or boots. Your child's ID card and lanyard carries over into the next academic year. For safeguarding reasons, their face must be fully visible on their card. If it has faded, a new one can be purchased from student services.
We have a brilliant range of second-hand uniform available for parents to purchase or borrow in the building. If you have any doubts that the items you are purchasing ahead of September meet the dress codes, please do keep the receipts and tags and check with us before the items are worn and can no longer be exchanged.
A reminder for students who intend to explore their creativity this summer with alternative hair colours and piercings. Hair must be returned to a colour within the natural colour range before the return to school. Facial piercings are not permitted in school, so please do allow sufficient time to heal and ensure blanks are fitted before the return to school in September.
We have a team of staff on call over the summer break. If you have any concerns over the summer, please call reception in the first instance, who will ensure you are contacted by the appropriate member of staff.
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Free School Meals Important Update For September 2026
National regulations for Free School Meals (FSM) eligibility are changing.
Because national transitional protections are coming to an end, all current FSM recipients, as well as new applicants, must undergo a new eligibility check before 1st September 2026, to qualify for the 2026/27 academic year.
Find out more here.
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Supporting Lemmy’s World Scout Jamboree Fundraising
Huge congratulations to our student, Lemmy, who has been selected for the Merseyside contingent at the 2027 World Scout Jamboree.
To help fund this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and support Scouts from less fortunate countries to attend, Lemmy is actively fundraising. On Sunday 7th June, he completed the 20km Wirral Coastal Walk from New Brighton to Thurstaston.
Lemmy would be extremely grateful for any sponsorship or support you are able to give. Donations can be made here. Thank you for supporting Lemmy with this fantastic achievement and opportunity.
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School and Sixth Form Highlights
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Sixth Form Work Experience Round-Up: June & July
Our Sixth Form students have had an exceptionally busy and successful summer term, stepping out of the classroom throughout June and July to gain invaluable, real-world industry experience.
Securing practical in-person, real-world skills needed from work experience placements for our CUC Careers Programme and Pathways are very important, as we believe that they give our students opportunities and also the incentive for students to think about the working world in a very positive way.
Explore Students' Recent Placements Across Our Specialist Pathways
Life Sciences & Applied Science Pathway
- AstraZeneca – Twelve students recently completed week-long placements at AstraZeneca. They explored a diverse range of departments, including biopharmaceutical development (BPD) labs, QC labs, manufacturing, and engineering, concluding each week by presenting their key takeaways to senior leaders.
- Bachem UK – Year 12 student Jake is currently completing a prestigious four-week paid internship with our new employer partner, Bachem UK. Jake secured this highly competitive opportunity, our first-ever paid lab internship, after presenting his impressive research on a therapeutic peptide produced by the company.
- Bristol Myers Squibb – Six students completed placements at Bristol Myers Squibb, gaining a brilliant insight into the STEM roles that drive a major pharmaceutical company. Highlights of their week included learning how pills are coated and using scanning electron microscopy to examine drug particle sizes.
- Alfred H Knight
- Arrowe Park hospital – Acute hospital.
- Destination Vets | Study – University of Liverpool – Veterinary surgeon careers.
- Gilmore Veterinary Surgery – Independent veterinary practice.
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital – Specialist cardiothoracic centres.
- NHS AHP Cadets – 14 different hospital departments across 3 hospitals (Royal, Aintree University, and Broadgreen)
- North West Ambulance Service – Provide emergency medical services.
- Rodericks Dental Partners – Corporate dental provider.
- IntroMed Programme
- Hope University Healthcare – Twenty students completed five-day placements, gaining hands-on experience within the ambulance, health sciences and midwifery departments. They practised CPR, extracted DNA from strawberries, learnt how to conduct blood tests, and much more.
- Liverpool John Moores University School of Nursing and Advanced Practice – Eight students completed a one-day placement where they gained hands-on experience in venepuncture, catheterisation, and wound management, alongside shadowing emergency 999 responses and attending presentations on various healthcare roles.
- NHS - Healthcare system.
- The Walton Centre – Specialist neuroscience hospital.
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Ignite Student Showcase: Driving Change and Innovation
On Thursday, Ignite students listened to a talk by a representative from Liverpool City Council, who spoke about the work the council is doing to reach Net Zero by 2035. This was truly inspirational for the students and set the ideal tone for the day.
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After lunch, we hosted a showcase for all our Ignite students, where they could display their work and discuss their thinking. We had over 30 projects based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as animations and art by our amazing students on the ground floor, while our older students shared their research and EPQ projects in the sixth form area.
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Parents/guardians and friends of our schools joined us at 2pm for a packed afternoon, taking in all the incredible work our students have been producing over the last few months. Our students excelled when presenting their work and should be very proud of their ideas. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
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Scholars Celebration at the University of Manchester
On Tuesday, Ignite and Year 10 Scholar Programme students visited the University of Manchester for their Graduation Ceremony with the Brilliant Club. Our two groups were given wonderful introductions from Emilia and Jasper. The students then had a tour of the fantastic university campus, visiting the Student Union, the Engineering Building and the Faculty of Arts. The scholars then got to ask some questions to some current university students about what life at university is like.
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To finish the day, the Scholars got to listen to their Keynote speaker, and were welcomed onto the stage to celebrate their graduation from the Brilliant Club Programme. To finish receiving their award, Farah gave a speech about how it felt to be graduating, saying, “We made it, and I couldn't be prouder of all of us!”
Our students have worked so hard on their essays, with the whole cohort gaining a 2.1 or 1.1 grading on the assignments! Congratulations to you all.
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What Do Our Students Think About Their Experience?
Olivia: "We learnt about what studying a university course is like, how to structure/time manage an essay, how the teaching is at university, how to contribute in small and large groups."
Frank: "I had little to no knowledge regarding the Transatlantic Slave Trade beforehand, and engaging with this course has helped me develop my essay-writing skills. My favourite part was having the opportunity to learn a topic that we otherwise would not have within the boundaries of the school curriculum."
Hamdhan: "I really enjoyed how niche the topic was, this piqued my interest, making me read quite a bit of research papers about flood resilience."
Noah: "I have been taught a more professional technique for writing essays, able to be applied in A-level environments and onwards. This includes referencing pre-existing research and accrediting sources."
Jayden: "I have really enjoyed writing the essay. It isn’t often that we have to write an essay as long as 2000 words in school, and I find it unusually entertaining; I look forward to having to write more in future!"
Farah: "During the brilliant club programme, I have learnt the difference between university-style teaching and school learning. This experience has prepared me well for higher education and shown me what to expect."
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MFL Students Inspired at Etihad Stadium Languages Conference
On Tuesday, Modern Foreign Languages students enjoyed an inspiring trip to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester to attend the More than Words: Languages for the Future Conference.
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Throughout the day, they heard from a range of multilingual speakers, including Steve Eadon, Maciej Matusiak from Merseyside Police, YouTuber UnJaded Jade, Bollywood dancer Dr Ria Meera, and Manchester Evening News reporter Ramazani Mwamba, who shared how languages have shaped their careers and opened doors around the world.
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Students also took part in the exciting Languages Got Talent showcase, where Angelica, dressed in a wonderful flamenco dress, confidently performed a poem by Federico García Lorca.
Reflecting on the day, Saja in Year 10 shared:
"The speakers really inspired me and made me realise that languages create opportunities. It made me think about my future and encouraged me to keep learning languages to give myself the best chances."
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Year 10 Leavers Assembly
On Wednesday, our Year 10 students attended their end-of-year assembly, led by their Head of Year, Ms. Durrance. The session set out key expectations for Year 11 and featured a short video highlighting their top moments and achievements over the past academic year. We look forward to welcoming them back in September for the start of their final GCSE year.
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Message from Head of Year:
"As we come to the end of another successful year, I want to congratulate all of Year 10 on everything you have achieved. Throughout the year, you have shown resilience, determination and maturity, and you should be incredibly proud of the progress you have made.
Your hard work, commitment and willingness to challenge yourselves have been evident in so many ways, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether through academic success, extracurricular activities or supporting one another, you have made this a year to remember.
As your Head of Year, it has been a pleasure to watch you grow and develop. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved break over the summer, and I look forward to welcoming you back in Year 11, where I know, you will continue to build on this year's successes and make the most of every opportunity."
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Northern Schools Trust Sports Day Showcases Outstanding Student Athletics
The Second Annual NST Sports Day took place last week at Wavertree Athletics Centre, with around 200 students from across the trust's secondary schools taking part. Despite the heat, there were some seriously impressive feats of athletics on display, with track events in the 200m, 300m, and 800m, alongside the field events of Shot Put and Long Jump.
There was close competition throughout the morning for the two shields on offer; however, there could only be two winners. For the KS3 trophy, North Liverpool Academy edged out Gateacre School to take first place. In the KS4 event, Gateacre came back strongly to win the shield comfortably, with North Liverpool Academy in second place and Liverpool Life Sciences UTC / The Studio School in third.
Huge congratulations to all the students who took part, as well as the teachers who helped to deliver another memorable event in the NST calendar.
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The Puzzle Designer resource can be found here.
To find out more about MyPath careers, click here.
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Sickness Procedure
From a safeguarding perspective, students who indicate they are feeling unwell will not be sent out of class as an unwell/injured student unaided may faint on the stairs or corridor. Staff will call first aid and first aid will go to the student. Students should not contact home themselves when they are unwell; staff will call parents/guardians if needed.
Personal Electronic Devices Policy Reminder
All personal electronic devices, including mobile phones, are not permitted to be used during the school day. We expect all devices to be switched off and kept out of sight during lessons unless the pupil is using the device as part of a lesson with the permission of their class teacher.
Mobile phones will be confiscated if they are seen, heard or used during the school day unless a pupil has been given permission. The headteacher will determine the length of time they deem proportionate for confiscation.
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Liverpool City Council Autism Training Team
The Liverpool Autism Training Team are providing a series of drop-in advisory sessions via zoom or telephone. They are for parent/carers wishing to talk in private and who have questions or concerns they may want to discuss. You do not require a diagnosis of Autism to book your place but must have concerns.
Dates in July:
- 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 27th and 29th, all at 2PM.
To book your place please email [email protected] with a choice of your date and time, and you will be emailed a zoom link.
For more information about their services, please view the Liverpool Local Offer Page/ Liverpool ASD Training Team for future training and workshops.
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Parental Courses for ADHD/ASD
1. Social Communication & Social Behaviour Workshop
Dates: 23rd and 24th July, 9:30AM – 12PM (Virtual Zoom), or 4th and 5th August 9:30AM – 12PM.
If you have early concerns about social communication and interaction or your child is awaiting assessment from the ASD pathway, ASD Training Team are offering an opportunity to attend this workshop (Both session dates need to be attended, either 23rd and 24th July, or 4th and 5th August.
2. ASD Course
Dates: 27th, 28th and 29th July, 9.30AM – 12PM (Virtual Zoom). All three sessions need to be attended to complete the course).
Opportunity to attend a course on Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Your child must have an ASD diagnosis). The course will allow you to build your knowledge on autism and meet/share information with other parents.
If you wish to attend, please contact the team via email.
If the above dates for the workshop are not suitable, please view the Liverpool Local offer Page / Liverpool ASD training team for future training and workshops.
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Opportunities Outside of School
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ERIC Career Library: Creative Careers Free Events (Virtual)
Quick, bite-sized career insights straight from the brands and professionals shaping the creative world. Whether you’re a young person trying to navigate your future, or a parent/guardian looking to support them, there is something valuable for everyone.
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Careers in Live Entertainment & Events 15th September
Exploring the full range of careers across the live entertainment and events industry.
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Creator Economy Day 21st September
A deep dive into the creator economy, what it is, how it works, and the careers being built inside it.
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CreaTech Careers Festival 23rd–25th September
A three-day event exploring careers at the intersection of creativity and technology.
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Media & Comms Careers 30th September
A one-day event covering careers across advertising, marketing, PR, journalism, and communications.
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Choosing a Creative Degree & Uni 5th October
Connecting students exploring creative higher education with universities, courses, and pathways.
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Careers in the Screen Industries 14th October
Exploring the full range of careers across film, TV, animation, games, and the wider screen industries.
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Backstage & Tech Careers 26th October
Shining a light on the behind-the-scenes careers in live events, production, and creative tech.
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Creative Careers Week 2nd–6th November
A broad look at the full spectrum of creative careers, from design and film to gaming and fashion.
Register here.
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National Apprenticeship Week 1st–5th February
Helping young people understand and access apprenticeship routes into creative, tech, and digital industries.
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Careers in Retail 16th February
Showcasing the full range of careers available across retail — from buying and e-commerce to brand and tech.
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National Careers Week 1st–5th March
ERIC's biggest annual campaign, a week of career content, inspiration, and industry access.
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AI Tools for Creatives 6th April
Exploring how AI tools are changing creative work and the careers emerging as a result.
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Careers in Culture & Community 22nd April
A spotlight on careers across museums, galleries, arts organisations, charities, and community projects.
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Immersive Tech & Events Careers 3rd May
Exploring careers at the cutting edge of immersive technology, XR, and experiential events.
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National Freelance Careers Week 8–12th June
Helping young people understand what freelancing looks like across the creative industries, and how to get started.
Register here.
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Work Experience Opportunities: Sixth Form Students Only
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Futures For All Work Experience Finder
Helping young people access real-world experiences and hear from inspirational speakers.
You can browse by industry to find opportunities listed here.
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Virtual Work Experience Springpod
Their free online work experience programme gives students a structured introduction to civil engineering and the different career paths within it. It’s flexible and self-paced, meaning students can complete it around their timetable, and it finishes with a certificate they can use for UCAS, CVs or apprenticeship applications.
Students explore:
- Real civil engineering projects and case studies.
- The roles involved in design, construction and sustainability.
- Core skills used in the industry.
- Pathways into engineering (university, apprenticeship and technician routes).
Find out more here.
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Uptree Work Experience Events
Uptree partner with schools to provide engaging employer sessions, industry insight events and work experience opportunities that support students in developing essential skills, confidence and career readiness. To search for opportunities, click here.
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Apprenticeship Opportunities
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The Liverpool City Region Be More
Find your perfect apprenticeship in the following sectors.
- Construction and the built environment
- Care services
- Business and administration
- Health and science
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Education and childcare
- Transport and logistics
- Creative and design
- Digital
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Legal, finance and accounting
- Sales, marketing and procurement
- Protective services
- Catering and hospitality
- Hair and beauty
Explore more here.
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Access Industry
A leading apprenticeship provider is currently recruiting for a range of apprenticeship opportunities across growing sectors, including:
- Creative & Digital.
- Business & Leadership.
- Sport, teaching assistant & Active Leisure.
- Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner.
These programmes help students gain industry experience, develop future-ready skills, and progress into long-term careers.
Current apprenticeship vacancies can be viewed here.
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The Essential Guide to Degree Apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships offer an alternative route to university, combining study with paid, real-world experience. The Sixth Formers’ Guide to Degree Apprenticeships is an online resource showcasing opportunities with leading UK employers.
How can I stay up to date? Follow on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest employer opportunities, application advice and degree apprenticeship updates.
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Parents/Guardians Guide to University
Released this month by UniTasterDays, the 2026 edition is the biggest yet, featuring 115 pages of practical advice from more than 80 university and education experts. Parents/Guardians will be able to:
- Find open day travel scholarships
- Learn how to access student finance, funding and free money
- Understand the latest changes to the UCAS personal statement
- Pick up application tips from current university students
Read more here.
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University Open Days
Great way to explore the facilities and decide whether studying there is a good fit. Explore all open days here.
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Zero Tolerance of Abuse
Northern Schools Trust has a zero-tolerance approach to abusive language, violence, aggression or harassment towards employees, governors and volunteers.
Vaping
We would like to remind you that we do not allow students to bring items such as cigarettes, lighters, matches or e-cigarettes/ vapes into school.
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