SECONDARY NEWS
Meridian Trust schools achieve Gold Learning Outside the Classroom Award
Four schools within Meridian Trust have been awarded the Gold Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Mark in recognition of their outstanding commitment to embedding high-quality learning experiences beyond the classroom into everyday school life.
Secondary schools Ely College, Nene Park Academy, and North Cambridge Academy, plus specialist SEMH school for 8-16-year-olds, NeneGate School, have all achieved the highest level of the award, presented by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC). The LOtC Mark is a national award which recognises schools, and other educational settings that successfully embed learning outside the classroom across curriculum, culture and policy. It celebrates schools that provide rich and inspiring opportunities for students to learn both indoors and outdoors, on and off-site, through experiences such as educational visits, cultural activities, residentials, visiting speakers and community engagement. The awards reflect the Meridian Trust’s wider vision of “Extending the Boundaries of Learning”, ensuring that all young people benefit from a breadth of experiences through and beyond the curriculum. Across the Trust, LOtC is embedded strategically to support not only academic achievement, but also confidence, resilience, wellbeing and personal development of every student.
Research highlighted by CLOtC shows that high-quality learning beyond the classroom can improve engagement, motivation, wellbeing and social development, while helping young people develop stronger connections with the world around them.
Jason Coe from Ely College said: “We are proud of the rich variety of opportunities we offer, from extracurricular activities to international visits and trips. Since achieving our previous Silver award, we have continued to strengthen our provision and invest in staff training to ensure students benefit from purposeful, high-quality and safe learning experiences beyond the classroom.”
Clarion School shortlisted for national teaching award for football-based learning model
A North London school’s use of football coaching within its curriculum is gaining national recognition as a model for engaging disadvantaged pupils and improving outcomes. Clarion School in Barnet and charity Football Beyond Borders (FBB) have been shortlisted for Schools Partnership of the Year at the Pearson National Teaching Awards 2026. The partnership embeds FBB’s social and emotional learning programme into the school curriculum, using football to develop skills such as resilience, self-regulation and teamwork. It combines classroom sessions, pitch-based learning and one- to-one support, targeting pupils who are disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
The need is significant. Nationally, only 7% of permanently excluded pupils achieve good passes in GCSE English and Maths, compared with 43% of disadvantaged pupils overall and 73% of their more affluent peers. Around 95% of young people supported by FBB are eligible for free school meals. Independent research from the University of Manchester found measurable improvements in mental wellbeing among participants, while economic analysis suggests the programme delivers £2.20 in wellbeing benefits for every £1 invested, with £5.5 million in estimated societal benefits in 2022/23. At Clarion, which relaunched under its current name in September 2025 with a focus on ambition, respect and effort, the partnership reflects a wider commitment to whole- child education. School leaders have presented the model at Parliament and national education events, and it has attracted interest from schools across the country. The approach will also be shared at the UK Festival of Education 2026.
Loughborough High School pupils trial football-inspired physics programme
Pupils at Loughborough High School have been involved in the trial of a football and physics outreach initiative led by Loughborough University ahead of this summer’s World Cup, with the scheme now set to roll out to secondary schools across the UK.
The World Cup edition of the initiative, titled ‘Get World Cup Ready’, was developed by researchers at Loughborough University, in partnership with Adidas and funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Building upon the already successful ‘Subject in a Box’ scheme running at Loughborough University, two Product Design Engineering students created the highly engaging activity boxes.
The initiative was then shared with teachers at Loughborough High School, who provided valuable feedback to further develop the interactive learning lesson before it is rolled out to schools across the UK, with 50 boxes becoming available.
Teaching pupils the link between football and physics, schools have the unique opportunity to undertake some of the same tests used to approve elite match balls. Each box contains footballs of different sizes, football pumps, pressure gauges and weighing scales, supported by practical summary cards and worksheets for a hands-on and scientific exploration of the physics of football.
Mr Mark Harper-Williams, Teacher of Physics at Loughborough High School, who led the trial World Cup in a Box lesson, said: “The World Cup in a Box initiative proved a fantastic way to get our girls thinking about possible career paths. Not only that, but the interactive lesson
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encouraged them to think logically about the science behind sport. With the upcoming World Cup, the initiative effectively highlighted the real- world link between large-scale sporting events and physics.” Year 8 pupils at Loughborough High School trialled the scheme during the spring term, undertaking a series of experiments tested according to FIFA Quality Programme Standards.
The Subject in a Box initiative also aims to provide secondary school pupils with an insight into university-level study. The World Cup edition of the initiative encouraged pupils to think about university courses that are related to the lesson, such as Sports Technology, Engineering Physics and Product Design Engineering.
June 2026
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