In May 2024, Ofsted conducted an ungraded inspection of Spring Common Academy. The report was released in June 2024, and can be viewed here.
We were delighted to received the following comments that truly represent Spring Common Academy at its heart.
Consultation for Horizons Education Trust to de- amalgamate the two sites at Riverside Meadows Academy into two separate Academies as part of the Trust and remove sixth form placements.
Morgan Sindall Construction's March progress update regarding the construction of Prestley Wood Academy captures some spectacular drone images of the site as a whole.
As World Book Day approaches, we turn our focus to the enduring value of literature in shaping our understanding of the world. In this article, staff members across Horizons Education Trust have taken the time to share their no-nonsense book recommendations in a bid to share and inspire!
No frills, just practical insights into books that have left a lasting impact. Join us in acknowledging the significance of reading and the knowledge it imparts ahead of World Book Day, 2024.
Amy Spittle, Communications Executive – Horizons Education Trust:
I have too many favourite books, it seems, so it is hard to list one, but I can earmark favourite books from different parts of my reading life. I used to devour pony-books throughout school until my mum bought me Harry Potter the week it launched. She bought it to amuse me on a plane journey, and was somewhat dismayed to see me read it in one sitting, before we made it as far as the departure gate.
Later, I undertook an English Literature degree, and spent a few years wading through worthy books which started to affect my joy of reading – a hobby became a chore, and so I turned to old friends, Stephen King, Wilbur Smith and Jilly Cooper, who were all heavy hitters in their own right, but significantly less commendable in the lecture hall.
Now, I read most genres and try to change what I’m reading each time, so I never feel stale or like I am reading the same book twice in a row. A book that I always return to, however, is Stephen King’s The Long Walk (published as Richard Bachman). It’s a novella with a dystopian setting where 100 boys embark on a walk that you won’t ever forget. Think Lord of the Flies meets the Hunger Games – but no spoilers. Check it out!
I used to feel that all books must be finished, be it a pleasure or a hardship, otherwise one wasn’t “a reader”. Later in life I have learnt to give a book 20%. If you aren’t gripped by then, it’s ok to part as friends and try something else.
With that in mind, I would like to give an honourable mention to Life of Pi and White Tiger. I read both books in the same period of time, and I was blown away. Do you ever get that feeling when a book is so good, you can’t bear to start another? You are still in their world, and revelling in the story that sadly had to come to a close.
I hope that you find some inspiration in the list below compiled by our resident bookworms at Horizons Education Trust, and this opens up opportunities to talk about what you’re currently reading with those that you know and love. As the inimitable George R. R. Martin once said…
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.”
George R.R. Martin
It is our mission to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.
We enrich the lives and educational experience of learners with special educational needs, preparing them for their future contributions to a dynamic society, and with that ethos, professional development is at the heart of what we do.
Horizons Education Trust was delighted to host teachers representing all the Trust Academies at Spring Common Academy, Huntingdon for a training conference presented by Gemma Aukett – Thinking Matters, “Understanding the Science of Learning”.
Kim Taylor, CEO, Horizons Education Trust shared that, “Exciting news today is that teachers across Horizons Education Trust are receiving training from ‘Thinking Matters’ on the Science of learning to develop wider understanding of metacognition and how to support our pupils to become self – regulated learners. Research evidence indicates that this metacognitive knowledge about the brain and thinking can make a difference and enable teachers to deepen the effectiveness of teaching for all learners.”
Morgan Sindall Construction's November progress update regarding the construction of Prestley Wood Academy captures some spectacular drone images of the site as a whole.
Operations Manager, Jon Panther, shares,
"The trust is excited for the on-track opening of our new SEND special area school, Prestley Wood Academy, which will be opening its doors to students in September 2024."
November Progress Update
At Academies across Horizons Education Trust, we enjoyed fun-filled afternoons on Friday 17th November all in the name of Children in Need, 2023.
Staff and students raised a brilliant grand total of £595.62 by wearing non-uniform, baking cakes, guessing puppies’ names, wall sitting, creating a penny trail, water toilet roll game playing and so much more…phew!
Morgan Sindall Construction's October progress update regarding the construction of Prestley Wood Academy captures some spectacular drone images of the site as a whole.
www.morgansindallconstruction.com/our-projects/live-projects/prestley-wood-academy/news-and-updates/october-progress-update/
Following a robust recruitment process, the trustees and CEO Kim Taylor, OBE are delighted to announce the appointment of a new Head Teacher for Spring Common Academy. It is with great pleasure that we can now introduce our new Head Teacher to you.
Rebecca is currently working in a similar special school in Guilford, Surrey that has recently been inspected as an ‘Outstanding’ special school. Rebecca is looking forward to meeting parent/carers and leading the school from 1 January 2024.
Rebecca will be moving to live close to our area and is very much looking forward to building on the work of the whole staff team and the leadership of Alex Tomkins. Rebecca will introduce herself to you in due course, but for now, I am sure you will join us in welcoming her to Spring Common Academy and Horizons Education Trust.
The topping out ceremony, which took place Thursday 21st September, 2023 celebrates the ongoing construction of the multi-million-pound Prestley Wood Academy school site in the heart of Alconbury Weald. The development is due to be completed in Summer 2024.
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