At NCEAT, we’re incredibly proud of our rich and varied curriculum and the opportunities we offer through our extra-curricular and enrichment activities to broaden our pupils’ cultural capital and expand their horizons.

One of the beautiful things about working as part of a multi-academy trust is that by sharing best practice and pooling our facilities when needed, we can ensure that all of our Trust schools can offer equal opportunities for our pupils.

We recently saw this in action when a cohort of Year 3 and Year 4 pupils from NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School paid a visit to our Robert Stephenson Campus in Ashington to take part in a range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) workshops.

Over the course of two days, pupils enjoyed sessions in Design Technology and Food Technology with our dedicated teaching staff and gained a range of new skills.

In Design Technology, the children created a design for a reflective endangered animal badge. They sanded down materials, shaped them and also learned how to safely use a drill machine with an adult. The children then attached lights to the back of their shapes to complete their badges.

On their first day in Food Technology, pupils learned about the ingredients and method to make cheese scones and then worked in pairs to cook batches of them, all the while learning about what they needed to do to stay safe in the kitchen. On their second day, the children learned how to use knives and peelers safely to prepare vegetables for vegetable soup, which also taught them how to safely use a hob.

Laura Ritson, Headteacher at NCEA Warkworth C of E Primary School, commented:

“Being able to access additional, high-quality facilities as part of an academy trust is so valuable to us at Warkworth Primary.

“The children had a wonderful time during their STEM days in Ashington and we’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the teachers who led the workshops and to the staff behind the scenes for making it possible!”

To find out more about the benefits of joining Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, visit https:/www.ncea.org.uk/about-us/trust-services