wickersley partnership trust newsletter

WPT SEND Conference 2026

On the first day of term, over 900 colleagues from across the Trust came together at Magna Science Adventure Centre for our first WPT SEND Conference, Understanding Neurodiversity. The day deepened understanding and sparked discussions about inclusive practice, featuring keynote talks from Stephen Connolly, who highlighted how behaviour is a form of communication, and Dr Alexandra Leedham, who explored neurodiversity masking, particularly in girls. The conference concluded with Step Into Their Shoes, a moving documentary showing the dedication of parents advocating for their neurodiverse children, leaving staff inspired to approach their work with empathy and understanding.

Mega Danceathon Fundraiser
Our students showed their energy and community spirit on Friday 13th March as they took part in a sponsored danceathon! Dressed in bright neon colours, they took to the dancefloor in the hall to raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity. 

We’re super proud that we raised over £1300!

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service Visit

Sandhill had a visit from Gareth from Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service as part of Careers in the Curriculum Week. Pupils learned about the different roles and responsibilities of staff within the service, and explored photographs of the distinctive yellow helicopter. Mrs Deakin and Miss Tims even had the opportunity to try on a pilot’s helmet.

Building Digital Resilience
Recently, Thrybergh Academy hosted three sessions for Rotherham secondary schools, including students from Arran Hill and Cranworth Road.

A total of 38 students attended across the day, taking part in sessions focused on online radicalisation and extremism. The project was funded by the Home Office and led by the Groundswell Foundation.

STEM Event at Magna

Clifton students attended their annual visit to the Get Up to Speed with STEM event at Magna Science Adventure Centre.

The event was once again packed with local STEM industries, offering valuable insights into the sector and inspiring our future scientists and engineers. Opportunities like this are a great example of Wickersley Partnership Trust’s Enrichment Promise in action.

Brinsworth Whitehill Cub
At Brinsworth Whitehill, work has officially begun on our very own cub! The children have been busy transferring their designs onto the model and starting to bring their creative ideas to life. It has been fantastic to see their enthusiasm and teamwork as the project begins to take shape.

We can’t wait to see the finished cub!

Y5 Magna Trip

Year 5 had a fantastic time during their visit to Magna! They started the day with an exciting light workshop linked to their science curriculum. During the session, the children experimented with different light sources and explored how light can be manipulated using a variety of materials. They were fully engaged throughout and worked brilliantly as a team.

Y9 Gymnastics Success

Recently, a Year 9 student achieved a fantastic silver medal at a county gymnastics competition in Spalding. This was especially impressive as she was performing her new floor routine in competition for the very first time.

This is an outstanding achievement and a real testament to Lily’s hard work and dedication to her training. Well done, Lily – we are very proud of you!

Wickersley Orchestra

Recently, members of our school Orchestra represented Wickersley School and Sports College at the Modulo Orchestras for All Spring Meet at the Victoria Hall, Sheffield.

Wickersley joined forces with other schools from across South Yorkshire to perform as part of a large orchestra of 125 music students. Orchestras for All is a charity that encourages students from all backgrounds to take part in orchestral music, helping them develop their skills while building confidence, teamwork, and a sense of community.

Hatching Chicks in EYFS
Recently EYFS have been exploring the life cycle of a chick, and this week they were lucky enough to witness something truly incredible: chicks hatching right before their eyes! From learning about eggs and incubation to seeing the chicks break free from their shells, the children experienced the wonder of new life in real time.

WPT Nominated for Two National Awards

We’re proud that Wickersley Partnership Trust has been shortlisted for both the SEND Award and Wellbeing Trust of the Year in this year’s MAT Excellence Awards, delivered by Optimus Education.

The awards celebrate innovation, impact and excellence across multi-academy trusts, recognising those making a real difference to students, staff and communities across the country.

Science Week 2026

Rawmarsh recently celebrated Science Week 2026, the question for this year was ‘Curiosity: What’s your question?’

All KS3 students had the opportunity to take part in a special lesson where they were given a question and carried out experiments to discover the answer. The questions included: ‘What makes a balloon rocket go?’, ‘What’s the mystery powder?’, and ‘Is oobleck a solid or a liquid?’

Plus many more activities across the week!

Sponsored Walk

On Friday 27th February, the entire Aston Lodge community came together for a Sponsored Walk to support Sheffield Children’s Hospital and to raise money for our Pride of Yorkshire lion cub.

Despite the rainy weather, everyone had a wonderful afternoon, showing fantastic determination and school spirit as they walked together for a great cause. The children, staff, and families all contributed to making the event such a success, and thanks to everyone’s efforts, we managed to raise nearly £2,000!

Sheffield Children’s Hospital Fundraiser

We are absolutely thrilled to share that Monkwood have raised over £2,600 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity! In March, all pupils took part in a Sponsored Safari Treasure Hunt, raising money for this fantastic cause. It was an amazing day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Careers Mark at Ashwood

At Rawmarsh Ashwood Primary School we are delighted to have achieved the national Quality in Careers Standard using the Career Mark approach provided by Complete Careers.

This prestigious award recognises our commitment to providing top-tier careers education, advice, and guidance for all our pupils. At Ashwood, we believe it’s never too early to start dreaming big! By introducing our children to the world of work and diverse career paths now, we are building the foundation for their future success.

Wickersley Sixth Form Tops Rotherham for A-Level Point Score Results

We are incredibly proud to share that Wickersley Sixth Form has once again achieved the highest average A-level point score in Rotherham, according to the Government’s officially published 2025 performance data.

This means that, on average, students who study with us achieve higher grades than those at any other college or sixth form in the local area. It is a fantastic accomplishment for our students and staff, and one that reflects the hard work, resilience and ambition shown across our Sixth Form community.