Latest news with #HarbourLearningTrust
BBC News
14-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two Lincolnshire schools to finish at lunchtime on Fridays
Two schools in Lincolnshire will finish at lunchtime on Fridays following a consultation with Learning Trust said William Barcroft Junior School, in Cleethorpes, and Woodlands Academy, a primary school in Grimsby, had opted to make the trust said there would be "a comprehensive offer of support and activities" in and out of school on Friday afternoons for children impacted by the said the principals of William Barcroft and Woodlands Academy would write to parents with more details about the proposed changes and when they would be introduced. Following the consultation, the trust said the principals had made the final decision on which approach to take for their options were put forward and the organisation said it had received over 500 were asked for their views on plans to move the school start time forward 15 minutes with lessons starting at 08: second option was to reduce the length of the lunch break from an hour to 45 minutes, resulting in an earlier finish to the school day. Accelerate learning The third option was to end school on a Friday at 12:45 or 13:00 with after school activities for some children until 15: trust said option three would give teachers time for planning and preparation and support staff with their workload and also said it would ensure that pupils are taught by a fully qualified teacher in every lesson during the week which would accelerate children's learning Barcroft said they were confident the school would be able to accommodate at least 180 pupils on a Friday afternoon for extra-curricular to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
ITV News
30-05-2025
- ITV News
Former teacher in Grimsby barred from profession after 'sexual activity with pupil'
A former teacher has been barred from teaching ever again after a disciplinary panel found he had sexual relations with a pupil and sent inappropriate messages and photos to another. A Teaching Regulation Agency professional conduct panel has issued an order to ban Cheyne Phillips, 34, who taught at Healing Academy near Grimsby between 2016 and 2022, from teaching indefinitely. Findings included that Mr Phillips fell significantly short of professional standards, sent comments of a sexual or inappropriate nature, and had sexual relations with one pupil. One message Mr Phillips is alleged to have sent to one of the pupils, highlighted by the panel for its inappropriate nature, said: "Times ticking baby cakes [emoji] u either want ur eyes to water or you don't [emoji].' The Harbour Learning Trust, which runs the school says the incident was dealt with swiftly under a previous headteacher and chief executive officer, and it complied fully with the investigation. The Teaching Regulation Agency panel viewed the misconduct findings as particularly serious as they "include a finding of sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and activity involving viewing and possessing indecent photographs of a child". Both pupils reported Mr Phillips' behaviour towards them changed as they entered the last months of their time at school. Screenshots showed Instagram messages between Mr Phillips and one of the pupils, including him sending one which read: 'Is this the part where I get lucky and get a few pics and videos? [emojis].' Messages with the other pupil were alleged to have occurred by Snapchat, a social media app where screenshotting notifies the other person of this action. Consequently, the pupil copied and pasted messages sent by Mr Phillips, such as 'Times ticking baby cakes'. The panel found Mr Phillips was sexually motivated in pursuing entirely inappropriate lines of communication with both pupils. It was found on the balance of probabilities he had sexual relations with one pupil on one or more occasions, and received one or more explicit photographs of the pupil. This pupil stated in her evidence that Mr Phillips would request explicit images. This was not a finding of fact made by the panel, but it did find Mr Phillips requested pictures from the other pupil. There was no doubt from the panel that both pupils had been harmed and Mr Phillips' actions "were having a serious and continued effect" on them. The teaching ban will last for life, unless it is appealed at High Court within 28 days of the order's issuing. Mr Phillips chose not to attend the hearing as he did not feel in a position to properly respond to the allegations, the panel heard. But in a written statement, he had denied the allegations and a large amount of the factual assertions surrounding them. He also stated regardless of the outcome, he did not wish, or intend, to return to teaching. In a statement, Harbour Learning Trust, which runs Healing Academy, said it is :committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all of our students and expects all our staff to share this unwavering commitment". It continued: "We wish to make it unequivocally clear that the behaviours attributed to this individual do not align with the values, professional standards, or expectations held by our Trust. "We are deeply committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all students, and any actions that undermine this commitment are viewed with the utmost seriousness. "We can confirm that this incident was dealt with swiftly by the Trust, under the previous CEO and Headteacher, and the school and Trust have complied fully with the investigation. "Harbour Learning Trust do not condone behaviour that compromises the well-being, trust, or safety of our students in any way. Our primary concern remains the protection and education of the young people in our care."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Harbour Learning Trust proposes half-day Friday plans
An academy trust is considering finishing early on a Friday to allow teachers more time to plan for Learning Trust, which runs schools in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Lincoln, has sent a letter to parents and carers asking for their views on the proposals, which include a formal finish time of 12:45 BST on changes would also see primary schools start 15 minutes earlier, with lunch breaks reduced from an hour to 45 minutes, with a finish time of 14:45 Monday to said the changes would impact working families and mean less classroom time for pupils. According to the letter, seen by the BBC, teachers currently spend one afternoon a week away from class to plan these times, pupils are taught by other school staff, or external sports introducing the revised timetable, pupils would only be taught by a fully qualified teacher in their lessons, it would also run until 14:45 BST on a Friday, but would not be part of the formal school for a proposed reduction to the hour-long lunch break, the letter stated that this was often a time when pupils "make poor behaviour decisions".By cutting it to 45 minutes, there would be less opportunity to "get it wrong", it trust's chief executive officer Richard Briggs said: "This is a genuine consultation and we are seeking the views of our parents on these planned changes."If these proposals go ahead, our pupils will spend all of their time in school in front of a fully qualified teacher, which means they will make more progress and increase their life chances."We understand that some parents may have childcare concerns, which is why we have started this consultation early and will make final decisions early in June to allow parents nearly three months to make alternative arrangements if necessary." 'Financial hit' However, parent Joe Barker, who is campaigning against the plans, told the BBC: "One of the big gripes parents have is more households than ever have two working parents - with the motto at the moment to 'get Britain working again'."One of the arguments they have is this will create more family time. It won't because it will force parents to alter their working patterns and either make the time up elsewhere, or take a financial hit," he the plans, Mr Barker said each child would have considerably less learning time and miss out on "play time", which he said was an "absolutely essential part" of a child's learning."They are dressing it up as a benefit to the children - when there is no real benefit," he shared similar views on social parent wrote: "I have already discussed with my daughter about potentially moving schools as both myself and her dad work full time."Another said: "Absolutely shocking idea. Reduced dinner times, kids will be rushed to eat. They don't get long enough as it is."Harbour Learning Trust consists of eight academies: Healing Academy, Healing, GrimsbyErmine Primary Academy, LincolnHartsholme Academy, LincolnGreat Coates Primary School, GrimsbyHealing Primary Academy, Healing, GrimsbyWilliam Barcroft Junior School, CleethorpesSt Giles Academy, Healing, GrimsbyWoodlands Academy, GrimsbyThe trust's secondary school, Healing Academy, is not affected by the proposals, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A consultation runs until 2 June, and any changes would only come in at the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Grimsby pupils design new special needs hub at Healing Academy
Children have helped to design a new specialist learning facility for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Two music rooms at Healing Academy, in Grimsby, are being transformed into classrooms, breakout spaces and a sensory room for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The new facility, called the Hive@Healing, will offer support for children who may have difficulty learning in a mainstream school without specialist is part of a wider programme to develop school places for children with EHCPs in North East Lincolnshire. Healing Academy educates more than 800 children aged between 11 and 16 and is run by Harbour Learning Trust. The trust said it had consulted children on the design, testing materials and the logo for the new from Healing Academy and Cambridge Park Academy, a special school, formed working parties to develop the concept. Stephen Logan, the principal at Healing Academy, described it as an "exciting step". "This is not just a new provision, it's a gateway to brighter futures, and we can't wait to see the incredible opportunities it will bring," he Margaret Cracknell, the portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council said it was "wonderful" to see children taking part in the project and praised the school for doing "a tremendous job".Hive@Healing is due to open in September. Details of the admission criteria for SEND pupils can be found on the school's to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
