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.

Nominations now open for the Lord Field Social Justice Awards. To commemorate the life and service of our founder, the Frank Field Education Trust has created the Lord Frank Field Community and Social Justice Awards. Lord Field spent his adult life fighting against poverty and social injustice and served his community with distinction for over 40 years.

The purpose of the annual awards is to celebrate the pupils in our community who have gone above and beyond, during the last 12 months, to make a difference in school or in their communities by helping and supporting others.

The Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) proudly hosted its first-ever Chess Competition, bringing together students from schools across the Trust, including Birches Head Academy, Ellesmere Port C of E College and Handforth Grange Primary School.

The competition also welcomed external challengers, with students from Ormiston Horizon Academy, Excel Academy, Clayton Hall Academy Our lady and St Werburgs Primary School and Heron Cross Primary School also joining in the tournament.

The Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) is proud to announce the launch of the Lord Frank Field Community and Social Justice Awards, created to honour the life, legacy, and values of the Trust’s late founder, Lord Frank Field.

Lord Field devoted more than four decades of his life to public service, tirelessly championing the fight against poverty and social injustice. His work touched countless lives and inspired a generation to believe in the power of compassion, fairness and community action.

To honour the memory of the late Lord Frank Field, an award will be named after him to mark his legacy and remarkable contribution to education and social justice.

Through a collaboration with the Educate Awards – the largest education awards in the North West – the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) will commemorate its founder, the Rt. Hon. Lord Frank Field, who served as the Member of Parliament for Birkenhead for over 40 years.

The esteemed ‘Community Partnership Award’ will now be known as the ‘Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award’.