Latest News

Latest News

17 Dec West Park completes leadership team A Hartlepool’s primary school has completed its leadership team with the appointment of a new deputy headteacher. Sam Marino, who has been Head of School at Crakehall Primary School in… Read More
12 Dec Gold award marks the end of 38-year school career A Middlesbrough specialist teaching assistant has received a Gold Award after serving the same school for almost four decades. Pam Richards started as a parent volunteer at Sunnyside Academy in… Read More
11 Dec Ofsted rates school good in all areas Ofsted inspectors have praised a Hartlepool primary school for providing “exceptional” support to pupils and families and described the approach to staff development as “exemplary”. Brougham Primary School was inspected… Read More
6 Dec Pupils get a taste for world foods Children from primary schools across Teesside, County Durham and Hartlepool came together recently (4 December) to host their very own International Food Festival. Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools… Read More
2 Dec Celebrating the Stars in our Schools A group of primary schools across Teesside, Hartlepool and County Durham have teamed up with UNISON to acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by school support staff. ‘Stars in our Schools’… Read More
26 Nov Ofsted praise for Barnard Grove A Hartlepool primary school has received praise from Ofsted following a recent inspection. Inspectors visited Barnard Grove Primary School on 5/6 November 2024 as part of Ofsted’s national programme of… Read More
11 Nov New headteacher for West Park One of Hartlepool’s biggest primary schools has appointed a new headteacher. Louise Sheffield, who has been Deputy Headteacher at Crook Primary School in County Durham for the last seven years… Read More
14 Oct Forty school staff join growing Trust A group of schools across Teesside and County Durham have welcomed forty new staff during a special event. Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has ten primary schools under its umbrella,… Read More
8 Oct Schools commit to Wellbeing Charter A group of schools across Teesside and County Durham have launched a new charter to ensure the wellbeing of all staff. Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has ten primary schools… Read More
4 Sep School nursery rises from the ashes A school nursery in Hartlepool has officially re-opened a year after it was destroyed by fire. The nursery and preschool classrooms at Brougham Primary School suffered significant damage following an… Read More
20 Aug Schools team up to support bed charity A group of schools across Teesside and County Durham have pledged their support to a charity that provides free beds for struggling families. Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has ten… Read More
13 Aug School raises over £6000 for good causes A Hartlepool primary school has raised over £6000 for two very worthy causes. Children and staff at Barnard Grove Primary School took part in the ‘Mini Miles for Men & Women… Read More
24 Jul Valued school employee bows out after 38 years’ service A Hartlepool higher level teaching assistant has waved goodbye after serving a primary school for over thirty-eight years. Colette Richardson, who has worked in a number of roles at Barnard… Read More
15 Jul School staff receive recognition for long service A group of staff from schools across Teesside and County Durham have been recognised for their commitment and long service. The 64 staff members have accumulated over 1000 years between… Read More
11 Jul School is recognised for “Outstanding” commitment to nature A Stockton-on-Tees primary school is celebrating after receiving national recognition for its commitment to nature and protecting the environment. Rosebrook Primary School is the only school in the North-East to… Read More
10 Jul Pupils praised for exhibition Pupils at a Hartlepool primary school have been praised for their “exceptional” standard of work in a school exhibition. Art club members at West Park Primary School spent 20 weeks… Read More
9 Jul Inspirational leader stands down from education role A well-known Hartlepool public figure is to stand down from a key education role which he has held for the last nine years. Chris Simmons has been Chair of Ad… Read More
5 Jul Pupil Power is theme for school conference Pupil power was one of the central themes at an education conference which took place in Middlesbrough recently (Monday 1 July). Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has ten primary schools… Read More
11 Jun Pupils demonstrate their sporting prowess Children from ten primary schools across Teesside and County Durham came together recently (7 June) to demonstrate their sporting talents. Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools met up for… Read More
10 Jun National recognition for Hartlepool primary school A Hartlepool primary school has been recognised by a national body for its commitment to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. West View Primary School in Davison Drive recently received… Read More
7 Jun West Park is judged to be a “good” school A Hartlepool primary school has been judged to be “good” following a recent visit from Ofsted. Inspectors visited West Park Primary School in Coniscliffe Road on 24/25 April 2024 as… Read More
23 Apr Pupils demonstrate Science skills Youngsters from primary schools across Teesside and County Durham came together this week (22 April) to demonstrate their science knowledge. Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools met up at… Read More
18 Apr Jason Manford helps boost school playground appeal Top comedian Jason Manford has helped to give a Teesside primary school playground appeal a huge boost. The famous entertainer headlined a sell-out comedy evening for Crooksbarn Primary School on… Read More
15 Mar Schoolchildren map out their future careers Schoolchildren map out their future careers   Children at a Teesside primary school have been finding out about the various career paths they may wish to pursue in the future.… Read More
11 Mar Harlem Globetrotters star urges children to aim high Former Harlem Globetrotters star Paul Sturgess met up with youngsters at a Stockton-on-Tees primary school last week to encourage them to achieve well in life. The 7 ft 8-inch former… Read More
1 Mar New schools join academy trust Headteacher Paul Newton (left) is welcomed by Andy Brown OBE   Two Durham primary schools have joined one of the North-East’s most successful academy trusts. Deaf Hill Primary School in… Read More
26 Jan Pupils excel in creative arts Children from eight primary school across Teesside came together this week (24 January) to demonstrate their creative art talents. Pupils from Ad Astra Academy Trust schools met up at Sunnyside… Read More
11 Jan Sunnyside is a “good” school A Teesside primary school has been judged to be “good” in all areas. Ofsted visited Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough in November 2023 as part of its national programme… Read More
19 Dec Pupils shine following support from education charity A two-year pilot project involving several Teesside primary schools has improved the speech, language and communication skills of nursery pupils (3 and 4-year-olds). Ad Astra Academy Trust, which oversees eight… Read More
24 Nov Parents swing into action to help create new playground Parents at a Teesside primary school are pulling out all the stops to help create a new playground. Parents of children at Crooksbarn Primary School in Norton have already raised… Read More
17 Oct School Celebrates 50th birthday A Hartlepool school has celebrated its 50th birthday with a week-long series of activities and events. West Park Primary School in Coniscliffe Road was officially opened on 12 October 1973… Read More
4 Oct National Recognition for School’s Commitment to Science A Middlesbrough primary school has been granted a prestigious award for its commitment to science. Staff and pupils at Ayresome Primary School in the centre of Middlesbrough are celebrating after… Read More
5 Sep Uniform boost thanks to NHS workers Dozens of Middlesbrough children will start school this week with smart new uniforms – thanks to kind-hearted NHS workers. Staff from Secure Inpatient Services (SIS) at Tees, Esk and Wear… Read More
5 Sep Headteacher praises school community following fire The headteacher of Brougham Primary School has paid tribute to everyone following the fire to the school nursery during the summer holidays. The nursery and pre-school area suffered significant damage… Read More
4 Sep Tees Valley Mayor impressed with new-look school library Tees Valley Mayor impressed with new-look school library Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has given his seal of approval to a new school library. Children at Sunnyside Academy in Coulby… Read More
17 Jul National recognition for Forest School initiative A Hartlepool primary school is celebrating after receiving national recognition for its commitment to nature and protecting the environment. Brougham Primary School has achieved ‘Young Tree Champion National Beacon School… Read More
11 Jul School is judged to be ‘Good’ in all areas School is judged to be ‘Good’ in all areas A Middlesbrough primary school has been judged to be ‘good’ in all areas following a recent Ofsted inspection. Four inspectors visited… Read More
8 Jul Schools create teaching apprenticeships A group of schools across Teesside is creating apprenticeship opportunities to enable teaching assistants to become fully qualified teachers. Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has eight primary schools under its… Read More
7 Jul Ad Astra Trust Dividend Video Ad Astra’s 2023 Trust Dividend video which was launched at the Festival of Education on the 3rd July 2023.   Read More
7 Jul Olympic gold medalist inspires Teesside teachers Five-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave CBE sailed into Teesside this week to help inspire teachers and education bosses. The most successful British rower in Olympic history was Guest… Read More
29 Jun Double success for Stockton primary school Two pupils at a Stockton-on-Tees school have scooped major national awards in a public speaking competition. Janna Oyedeji and Preston Earl of Rosebrook Primary School both won individual categories in… Read More
22 Jun Schoolchildren mark Refugee Week Pupils at a Teesside primary School have created a special exhibition and learning space to mark Refugee Week (19-25 June). It is the fifth successive year that Crooksbarn Primary School… Read More
21 Jun Double success for Stockton primary school Two pupils at a Stockton-on-Tees school have scooped major national awards in a public speaking competition. Janna Oyedeji and Preston Earl of Rosebrook Primary School both won individual categories in… Read More
13 Jun Minister impressed with Hartlepool Primary School A government minister has praised a Hartlepool primary school following a recent fact-finding mission. Baroness Diana Barran MBE, the government’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education… Read More
5 Jun Primary school applauded for parental links A Teesside primary school has received high acclaim for its commitment to involving parents in the day-to-day activities of the school. Rosebrook Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees has landed the prestigious… Read More
21 Mar Schools come together to spark climate action A group of Teesside primary schools will come together this Friday (24 March) to play their part in tackling climate change. The schools – which are all part of the… Read More
17 Mar Primary school children planning for the future Children as young as seven at a Teesside primary school are already starting to think about what kind of jobs they would like to pursue in the future. Sunnyside Academy… Read More
7 Mar Hartlepool School Launches Tree Project Pupils at a Hartlepool primary school have embarked on a tree and hedgerow planting initiative to help protect the environment. Brougham Primary School has been accepted onto The Tree Council’s… Read More
20 Dec School Award in memory of leading businessman School award in memory of leading businessman A group of schools across Teesside has launched an annual award in memory of a leading local businessman. Ad Astra Academy Trust, which… Read More
29 Nov Primary school hosts roadshow bus A Middlesbrough primary school has teamed up with the leading charity for deaf children and young people to host a roadshow bus event. Sunnyside Academy in Coulby Newham joined forces… Read More