Ad Astra Academy Trust Archives - Sunnyside Academy

Children from ten primary schools across Teesside and County Durham came together recently (7 June) to demonstrate their sporting talents.

Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools met up for the day-long sports event at Middlesbrough Sports Village where they competed in a range of events including running, long jump, hurdles and distance throwing.

Pete Wiley and Helen Durnion, School Improvement Leads with Ad Astra, helped co-ordinate the event.

Pete Wiley said: “We organise regular collaborative events for our schools and the sports event was a huge success.

“All of the pupils showed their determination to succeed. They gave their all and competed in a very respectful manner.

“One of our primary schools (Ayresome) hold their annual sports day at Middlesbrough Sports Village so we modelled their programme and it worked really well.

“Performing at such a notable regional sporting venue like Middlesbrough Sports Village can only help inspire our pupils to achieve high in their chosen sports.”

Around 150 youngsters aged between 7 and 11 took part in the event and they all received a medal.

A rosette was also awarded to a child from each school who was judged to best reflect the Ad Astra Academy Trust STARS (Support, Togetherness, Achieve, Respect, Success) values.

The ten schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust are Sunnyside and Ayresome in Middlesbrough, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees, Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool and Deaf Hill and Kelloe in County Durham.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “This was a wonderful event, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to its success.

“As a Trust we encourage our pupils to participate in sport and physical activity as part of our overall approach to promote healthy lifestyles.

“Events like this are also important because they provide an opportunity for our children to meet their counterparts from other schools.”

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last nine years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and 525 employees in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool.

Children from eight primary school across Teesside came together this week (24 January) to demonstrate their creative art talents.

Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools met up at Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham for the day-long event where they made ceramic tiles from clay.

Prior to the event, pupils were tasked with designing their tiles to reflect the principles and values of individual Ad Astra schools.

Helen Craggs, Art Leader at Sunnyside Academy, who helped co-ordinate the event, said: “This is the first time that Ad Astra schools have collaborated on an event like this.

“Sunnyside Academy is the only school within Ad Astra to have its own kiln, so it is an ideal location.

“The event has given children the opportunity to demonstrate their creative talent and all of the ceramic tiles will be displayed at Ad Astra’s Festival of Education later this year.”

The eight schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra are Sunnyside and Ayresome in Middlesbrough, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, added: “Creative arts features strongly in all of our schools and is an important part of the curriculum.

“All of the children have fully embraced the event. The artwork is of an exceptional standard, and I am very proud of all the pupils who participated.”

Click the link below to hear Art Leader Helen Craggs talking about the event

Video

Issued by Alastair Rae, on behalf of Ad Astra Academy Trust. For further information, call 07581239557.

25 January 2024

A Teesside primary school has been judged to be “good” in all areas.

Ofsted visited Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough in November 2023 as part of its national programme of school inspection.

The Ofsted report says: “The school has made huge strides in the quality of education provided for pupils.

“This is a highly inclusive and caring school. Pupils with additional needs work alongside each other and their classmates with a smile. Pupils say this is one of the best things about school. Pupils accept each other for being just the way they are.

“Teachers expect pupils to do their best. Pupils make an effort with the presentation of work and take pride in their books. Most pupils achieve well and demonstrate a love of reading. Pupils benefit from a calm and supportive environment in which they can learn.”

Sunnyside Academy is home to 282 pupils between the age of three and 11. It is a mainstream school with provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly those with visual and hearing impairments.

The report continues: “The school’s provision for pupils with SEND is excellent. Pupils are supported by staff with great skill, passion and knowledge. Whether in the resource bases or mainstream classes, pupils thrive.

“The school’s curriculum is ambitious and of good quality. In most subjects, the key knowledge pupils need is spelled out clearly and linked intelligently by broad themes.

“In lessons, pupils behave very well. They are attentive and keen to learn. They say lessons are fun. Children show curiosity and imagination.

“The school works hard to make sure that pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education, promoting ambition and aspiration. A careers fair helps to make pupils aware of different career paths, widening pupils’ understanding of the world of work.”

The report concludes by describing systems of governance as “highly effective”.

It says: “The local governing committee provides objective oversight and challenge. The trust provides high-quality support. School staff talk of a team approach based on mutual support and an ethos of positivity.”

Julie Sutton, Headteacher of Sunnyside Academy said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole school community, pupils, parents and staff. We have worked hard together to make Sunnyside Academy such a vibrant and inclusive school where everyone is welcome.”

Sunnyside Academy became the eighth primary school under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust when it joined in April 2022.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, commented: “This is a really pleasing report and is testimony to the fantastic progress that Sunnyside has made.

“I would like to congratulate staff, pupils, parents/carers and everyone else who has contributed to such a positive report.”

The other primary schools within Ad Astra are Ayresome in Middlesbrough, Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool and Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees.

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last nine years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and over 500 employees in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool

Children and staff at Sunnyside Academy celebrate their “good” Ofsted rating.

The link below will take you to the full Ofsted report.

[google-drive-folder cfid=”1331″ title=”Ofsted”]

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave CBE sailed into Teesside this week to help inspire teachers and education bosses.

The most successful British rower in Olympic history was Guest Speaker at Ad Astra Academy Trust’s Festival of Education 2023 Conference.

The eight primary schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra are Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool.

Over 250 teachers and school leaders attended the day-long event, held at Teesside University, Middlesbrough.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Sir Steve Redgrave has a proven track record of sustained success at the highest level and that can only be achieved through hard work, resilience, and determination.

“These are just some of the attributes which we want to instil in our teachers and staff and Sir Steve Redgrave is a fantastic role model to demonstrate how success can be achieved against a backdrop of the daily challenges we all face.”

The event was chaired by leading educationalist Maggie Farrar CBE and included a series of workshops and discussions throughout the day on key current issues and challenges for schools.

Sir Steve Redgrave spoke about how one of his teachers at school had given him the opportunity to have a go at rowing.

He said: “Teachers are so important to guiding young people and one of my teachers gave me the opportunity to be a rower. If you ask any Olympian who their inspiration was, most will say one of their schoolteachers.”

He added: “Work ethic is the key to success. Even if you have talent you have to work hard; the harder you work, the better you become.”

Former newspaper editor and children’s author Peter Barron MBE hosted the question-and-answer session with Sir Steve Redgrave and also spoke at the event along with Anthony Daulphin of the Standing Ovation Project – a multi award-winning national education body.

Pupils welcomed guests at the start of the event which included an address from 10-year-old Janna Oyedeji from Rosebrook Primary School and a music and dance display by Crooksbarn Primary School.

Pupils also produced a range of artwork depicting Sir Steve Redgrave’s hugely successful rowing career which he was really impressed with.

Chris Simmons, chair of the Ad Astra trustees gave a vote of thanks at the end. He said: “What a day it has been with excellent speakers and workshops. We have outstanding staff across all of our schools who provide inspiration and raise the hopes and aspirations of young children.”

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last eight years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and 525 employees in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees.

Sir Steve Redgrave CBE with Ad Astra Academy Trust CEO Andy Brown OBE

Delegates at Festival of Education 2023

Click below to view videos of Festival of Education 2023

Video – Andy Brown- Festival of Education 2023

Video – Sir Steve Redgrave – Festival of Education 2023

Video – Sir Steve Redgrave praises artwork

A Middlesbrough primary school has teamed up with the leading charity for deaf children and young people to host a roadshow bus event.

Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham joined forces with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) to host the day-long event on Wednesday 30 November.

Sunnyside Academy is home to over 270 pupils between the age of three to eleven. It is a mainstream school with specialist provisions, including a base for children who are deaf.

As part of the event, the children met Ellie who is a working hearing dog for one of the NDCS roadshow officers. The pupils got the opportunity to meet Ellie during the whole school assembly on Deaf Awareness and then pupils took it in turn during the day to board the NDCS roadshow bus.

Julie Sutton, Headteacher of Sunnyside Academy, said: “The school works closely with the NDCS, but unfortunately due to Covid we have not been able to hold an NDCS Roadshow event like this for some time.

“Events like this are hugely important as it provides an opportunity to raise the profile throughout our school community of the support available for deaf children and our commitment to them.

“Deaf children in our school are valued in exactly the same way as every other child and we make sure that they have the same equal opportunities as everyone else, overcoming any social or educational barriers.”

Every pupil in the school is taught British Sign Language (BSL) in place of a modern foreign language.

The school has supported the national campaign alongside the NDCS and others to try and persuade the Government to make BSL a recognised qualification in secondary schools, just like any other additional language.

Sunnyside Academy is one of eight primary schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “We are very proud of the work undertaken at Sunnyside Academy to ensure that all pupils are given an equal opportunity to get the best possible education and reach their potential.

“We have twenty five pupils at Sunnyside with varying degrees of deafness plus a number of deaf staff and parents so it is so important that language and communication skills are central to everything that the school does.”

The other seven primary schools within Ad Astra Academy Trust are Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool and Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Ayresome in Middlesbrough.

Amy Oakden of BBC Radio Tees visited Sunnyside Academy to find out more about the NDCS roadshow bus event. Click the link below to listen

BBC Radio Tees – Sunnyside – Roadshow Event