We are excited to announce the new partnership between Birches Head Academy and Hupan Road Middle School, Tianfu New District, China. The signing ceremony took place on Thursday 24th November between Principal Ms K. Dixon and Principal of Hupan Road Middle School, Tianfu New District.
The partnership, organised through the Global School Alliance, supports our plans for regular exchange trips between our students , teachers and Principals
Ms Lynn Kidwell of Stoke-on-Trent has been named the winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize. Nominated by her peers, Ms Kidwell was chosen by the RSC’s prestigious panel of judges as one of the most inspirational, innovative and dedicated people in education.
Based at Birches Head Academy, Ms Kidwell has now become a winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize, For significant and sustained contributions to safe chemistry practical education..
Students studying Spanish at BHA had the opportunity to put their language skills to the test during an October exchange visit with our partner school, Escolapios Granada Genil, in the beautiful city of Granada.
Students experienced first-hand what it's like to be a student living in Spain. This trip was the first exchange with the school in Granada, and was a great opportunity to learn language outside of lessons and truly experience a whole new lifestyle and culture.
We are excited to announce the new partnership between the Handforth Grange Primary School and The Primary School Affiliated to Tianfu No.3 Middle School today.
This morning our signing ceremony took place between Head Teacher, Andrea Booth and Principal of The Primary School Affiliated to Tianfu No.3 Middle School. We are delighted to begin our plans for regular exchange trips between our pupils, teachers and Principals.
Staff and students at Handforth Grange Primary School (HGPS) are delighted to announce they have won the Most Inclusive Practice Across a School award at The National SEND awards @SENDawards
Thank you to all the wonderful teachers and teaching assistants who work across the school to support all the children and families each day
We are excited to announce our new partnership with Zhengxing Middle School Of Sichuan Tianfu New Area today. This morning our signing ceremony took place between Principal Cath Green and Principal Fang and we are delighted to begin our plans for regular exchange trips between our students , teachers and Principals. This momentous occasion will provide opportunities for our students to work collaboratively on a whole range of curricular activities and to develop life long partnerships. We are excited to trial blaze this collaborative partnership with China in our town.
In honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee we are encouraging pupils across the Trust to plant a tree for the jubilee. Order your free whips at https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/
Celebrate your tree planting at https://queensgreencanopy.org/map-education-hub/qgc-map/#/
On 5 May 2022, Lord Frank Field of Birkenhead celebrated a special investiture by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE as a member of the Order of Companions Honour.
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an award given to people who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine or the government over a long period of time. The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded by George V in 1917 to recognise services of national importance.
Prayer Spaces in Schools is a national organisation which encourages churches to work together with schools to provide creative opportunities for prayer. Most of the activities used in the prayer space where based on resources from Prayer Spaces in Schools.
Liz Connolly (Director of Standards for EPC) and Ali Rice (independent advisor) worked together with Jen McIlveen (Chester Diocese) to plan and create the prayer space which was designed to link into the school’s vision and moral virtues.
Lord Frank Field of Birkenhead who served as an MP for 40 years is to receive one of the UK's most exclusive accolades in the Queen’s New Year's Honours list.
Lord Field of Birkenhead becomes a Companion of Honour, a title shared by a maximum of 65 people at one time. Lord Field was given the award for his “lifetime of public service”.
As admission authority, this means that The Frank Field Education Trust are responsible for the admission arrangements for these schools. When an admission authority wishes to make changes to their admission arrangements, they must consult to ensure all views are heard.
The Frank Field Education Trust is consulting on changes to the admission arrangements for the 3 schools within its MAT. This consultation invites you to give your views.
Two volunteer elves from Ellesmere Port Church of England College did a superb job at escorting each child and parents from the Waiting Room along the platform and into the signal box grotto where they met Santa. Each child came away with a gingerbread man and a carton of juice having fully enjoyed this magical experience; judging by the smiling children's faces that came out of the grotto!
Students and staff from Birches Head Academy recently welcomed the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner, Mr Andrew Warren, to witness the Academy’s journey since joining the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET).
During the visit, Mr Warren had a tour of the facilities, met with students and staff including the Principal Ms Katie Dixon, the Trust Chief Executive, Tom Quinn, and the Trust Chair, Dr Chris Hampshire.
The Early Life Programme, is a unique collaboration between the Frank Field Education Trust, local schools and the Starting Well service in Ellesmere Port. It is the vision of Lord Field of Birkenhead for a Foundation Years project that works with babies from birth to the moment they start nursery school, providing them and their parents with help and stimulus in the most important period of life.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK’s leading gardening charity which aims to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
Pupils from schools across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) took part in the event, including Handforth Grange Primary School, The Ellesmere Port Church of England College and Birches Head Academy.
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) encourages schools across the UK to get involved and “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. There are many ways schools can get involved, from planting a tree to developing curriculum-based activities related to tree planting to explain to young people why trees are important.
To help inspire schools The Queen’s Green Canopy will be working with the Frank Field Educational Trust (FFET) to develop materials and lesson plans for classrooms and extra curricular clubs. Lord Field of Birkenhead is the Founder of the Trust and is also one of the originators of the QGC, sitting on their board.
We are delighted to announce Handforth Grange Primary School, part of the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET), has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2021 TES Primary School of the Year Award.
Staff and students at Handforth Grange Primary School have been celebrating the announcement, being just one of eight schools from across the UK selected for their outstanding work over the last year.
The award recognises Handforth Grange for its high expectations; the incredible opportunities that the children enjoy; the school’s response to the pandemic and the school’s commitment to Inclusion.
This is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. Each year the Foundation continues to set the theme, organise and host the Week. The event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.
Pupils at Handforth Grange Primary School have been working with The Savage Foundation to allow youngsters access to free grassroots football, regardless of their background or ability, with the aim that no child should be disadvantaged.
Former footballer, Robbie Savage, has unveiled his new foundation created to give children access to grassroots football. The Foundation allows inspirational opportunities for young people to enjoy being physically active in a safe, fun and engaging environment - eliminating barriers to level the playing field.
Staff from schools across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) embarked on an incredible trip to New Delhi, India, marking the beginning of a new international partnership with PRATYeK - a charity dedicated to supporting and educating street-connected children.
As part of this inspiring collaboration, a group of teachers from across the Trust travelled to New Delhi in November for a week-long visit.
During their stay, they explored PRATYeK’s community projects, worked alongside local educators, and gained first-hand insight into The National Inclusive Children’s Parliament and the charity’s approaches to children’s rights and education.
We are delighted to publish the FFET Autumn Term 1 Newsletter, showcasing some of the incredible work taking place across the Trust.
This edition highlights a term full of inspiring moments, including pupils meeting the Prime Minister, a Trust-wide conference, Be More events, international partnerships, and the everyday achievements happening across our classrooms, schools, and communities.
As part of its Handforth Experience theme, ‘Earth Conscious’, Handforth Primary School proudly participated in the first-ever live assembly broadcast from Antarctica.
The assembly featured Robert Swan OBE, the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles, who engaged with students about environmental stewardship and polar exploration. Jenny Cooke from the 2041 Schools charity also joined the session to launch their new education program, encouraging children worldwide to become Antarctica Champions.
Staff from across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) recently travelled to Sweden to partner with two schools within the Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) Trust — in Kista (Stockholm) and Eskilstuna.
The partnership aimed to explore how schools in socially vulnerable areas have achieved remarkable success. The visit centred on the theme:
From Special Measures to Success in a Socially Vulnerable Area – The Swedish Free School Context.
Over three days, staff from the Trust, Ellesmere Port C of E College, Birches Head Academy and Handforth Grange Primary School
In November 2025, pupils from across the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) gathered at Manchester Central Library for the second annual Trust-wide Poetry Festival—a celebration of creativity, talent, and core values. This year’s festival showcased an impressive collection of poems, all reflecting the FFET Core Value of Justice.
The event brought together talented young poets from Birches Head Academy, Ellesmere Port C of E College, and Handforth Grange Primary School. Pupils not only performed their original poetry but were also featured in the 2025 Poetry Anthology.
The Frank Field Education Trust proudly held its 2025 Art Challenge & Exhibition at Chester Town Hall this November, showcasing the incredible creativity and talent of young artists across the Trust.
This year’s theme was “Compassion”, encouraging participants to explore and express this important value through their artwork. Students were invited to submit entries across a variety of mediums, including photography, drawing, sculpture, digital art, and mixed media.
