As you are aware the National Education Union (NEU) has announced both National and Regional dates for industrial action. The remaining Strike dates are scheduled below.
• Tuesday 28th February 2023 – Ellesmere Port Church of England College and Handforth Grange Primary School
• 1st March 2023– Birches Head Academy
• Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 2023 – Birches Head Academy, Ellesmere Port Church of England College and Handforth Grange Primary School
Congratulations to student, Nazib in Year 8 who is co-winner of the Edge Transport (@edgetransport) truck livery design competition, celebrating 90 years of excellence!
Our school newsletters are full of interesting information about what’s going on in school and includes useful information and key dates for your diary.
If you require further information about any of the items shown please contact the school and we will do our best to help.
Please click here to download a copy of the BHA Learning Programme 2 Newsletter
As you are aware the National Education Union (NEU) has announced both National and Regional dates for industrial action, of which five encompass the locations of our Schools. These are detailed below.
Wednesday 1st February 23, Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 23 – Birches Head Academy, Ellesmere Port Church of England College and Handforth Grange Primary School
Tuesday 28th February 23 – Ellesmere Port Church of England College and Handforth Grange Primary School
Wednesday 1st March – Birches Head Academy
Thank you to everyone who came and visited Santa at Hadlow Road Station in his signal box Grotto which was held at Hadlow Road Station on 11th December 2022 with the signal box grotto looking really fantastic for Santa to welcome all the children. It was a very cold day, but the sun was shining and it was dry, so we can't complain.
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.
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
the impressive Chester Town Hall, as part of our Be More Co-Curriculum.
Pupils from Handforth Grange Primary School, Birches Head Academy, and Ellesmere Port C of E College came together to showcase their creativity and geographical understanding.
This year’s challenge invited pupils to design an A3 poster or physical model exploring their local area and what it means to them. The standard of entries was exceptional, making the judges’ task of selecting winners incredibly difficult!
FFET is working with leading education charity Teach First, to provide School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), allowing the teachers of the future to train within the local community.
The SCITT programme is a one-year teacher-training course for people eager to learn on the job, enabling those who want to train at one of the Frank Field Education Trust schools, making a difference in the community from day one.
In September 2025, the Trust held its annual conference, bringing together staff from across all schools within the Trust to celebrate and explore our shared purpose, culture, and approach.
The event provided an invaluable opportunity for collaboration, reflection, and professional growth.
Staff took part in a series of workshops exploring this year’s theme, focusing on how our shared values and consistent practice can continue to drive improvement and success across the Trust.
Frank Field's Poetry Festival is back for 2025 - Enter Now!
Theme: Justice
Deadline for Entries: 23 October 2025
Finals: 19 November 2025
Finals will be held at Manchester Central Library
What to Do
Write an original poem exploring the theme of Justice and what it means to you.
Enter one of the age categories: Year 2 & 3, Year 4 & 5, Year 6 & 7, Year 8 & 9, Year 10.
Submit your poem using the form below.
Pupils from Ellesmere Port C of E College (EPC) had an incredible opportunity to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer this September, ahead of the Labour Party Conference, taking place in Liverpool.
Our students were invited to take part in the event, where the Prime Minister answered questions on the landmark Hillsborough Law, which the government laid before Parliament in September.
During the meeting, pupils ad the opportunity to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversation with the Prime Minister on a range of important topics, including their local community, student finance, and education.
