Children aged 4 to 16 recently took to the stage to wow a packed-out audience at the first ever Pendle Education Trust dance competition.

Over 200 children from Pendle Education Trust’s schools auditioned to take part in the competition with 76 making it through to the final – from EYFS to Key Stage 4. They performed amazingly on Primet’s stage in front of family, friends, staff and a panel of judges. The judges were Gemma Bynert from Sandersons’ Dance School and Janet Philbrook-Parkinson and Lucie Gillam from Stage Door Youth Theatre. Imogen School of Dance also supported the students from West Craven High School.

The event was hosted by Mrs Ansell, a Teaching Assistant at Casterton Primary Academy and a dance teacher in her spare time.

All children who took part in the competition received a medal and trophies for first, second and third were awarded in the EYFS and Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 and 4 categories. The winners were:  – these were sponsored by the judges!

EYFS and Key Stage 1

1st Place - CasterQuad - Casterton Primary Academy

2nd Place - Rose Girls - Castercliff Primary Academy

3rd Place - Muhammad - Castercliff Primary Academy

Key Stage 2

1st Place - Casterton Primary Academy Communication Crew

2nd Place - Moonlight Girls - Castercliff Primary Academy

3rd Place - The Baddies - Castercliff Primary Academy

Key Stage 3 and 4

1st Place - Tech Evolution - Colne Primet Academy

 2nd Place - Katie - West Craven High School

3rd Place - West Craven High School Contemporary Team

Jude Evetts, Pendle Education Trust’s Strategic Marketing and Development Manager, said: “We were blown away by the talent of the children in our schools from the very first audition right through to the final event. They all performed so confidently, and it was fantastic to see the pride, joy and tears of the families supporting in the audience.

“A huge thank you to all of the children who took part and to the staff and judges who supported the event. We can’t wait to do it all over again next year!”

1,000 children from Pendle Education Trust’s family of schools met with a wide range of local employers at the Trust’s annual Careers Day, which was held as part of National Careers Week.

Year 5 children from Castercliff Primary Academy, Casterton Primary Academy and Pendle Primary Academy, Year 9 students from West Craven High School and students from years 7 – 11 from Colne Primet Academy visited the event, held at Primet.

The Trust’s sponsor, Nelson and Colne College, brought along representatives from all of its curriculum areas at the Nelson and Accrington sites, from A Levels to Motor Vehicle and Hair and Beauty to Engineering. They were joined by employers including the RAF, Department for Work and Pensions, Pendle Leisure Trust, Teaching Personnel, Taylor Shaw, Burnley FC in the Community, the Army and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust to discuss the wide range of career opportunities available in their organisations.

Jude Evetts, Pendle Education Trust’s Strategic Marketing and Development Manager, said: “This is the fourth time we have held our Trust wide Careers Day, but the first that we have tied it in with National Careers Week, a one-week celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education across the UK.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the staff from Nelson and Colne College and local companies who gave up their time to share their experiences with our children, inspiring them to consider a wide range of careers.

“As a Trust, it’s really important to us that we encourage all of our children to dream big when it comes to their futures and it was fantastic to see them all coming away from the event full of inspiration.”

Pendle Education Trust has created a pledge of opportunities which all of its children will complete before they leave school. One element of the pledge is to explore careers so all children who attended the Careers Day will receive their Careers certificate.

Colne Primet Academy’s Head of Creative Arts has been highly commended in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Mrs Goldie, who is a Performing Arts teacher, was presented with her certificate and personal letter from Pearson National Teaching Awards’ President, Michael Morpurgo, by Primet Principal, Mrs Pilkington.

Mrs Goldie was nominated for the award for the outstanding job she has done in bringing together colleagues from a range of creative subjects to develop a strong and collaborative team. She has also been instrumental in the school being reaccredited with the Silver Artsmark Award for a further two years.

She is always looking at ways to develop the creative curriculum and widen the experiences of students, whether this is offering African drum workshops or securing new musical instruments through the East Lancashire Music Services.

Mrs Pilkington said: “Mrs Goldie is really deserving of this commendation. She has supported students in using music therapy to successfully support their behaviour and, in addition to her timetable and weekly extra-curricular activities, she gives up her own time to ensure students have as many opportunities as possible to be exposed to the arts.

“Recent examples of this include whole school productions of Oliver and Elf, choir performances at Nelson and Colne College’s Festive Market and at local care homes and dance performances at The National Theatre Festival held at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool.”

If your child is currently in Year 6 and you would like to find out more about Primet’s creative curriculum and the opportunities available to students, you can attend its open event on Thursday 26^th September by registering at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/909747317717. Applications for a 2025 Year 7 place need to be submitted by 31^st October at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/apply-for-a-school-place/starting-secondary-school