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 umbrella, has teamed up with Stockton Teacher Training Partnership to run the programme.

The teaching apprenticeship scheme will see a number of current Ad Astra teaching assistants embark on the one-year programme to become fully qualified teachers.

The apprenticeships are being created at Ayresome and Sunnyside primary schools in Middlesbrough and West View Primary School in Hartlepool.

Andy Brown, OBE, Chief Executive Officer at Ad Astra said: “The teaching apprenticeship scheme provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our own talent and enable teaching assistants to progress their education careers.

“It enables teaching assistants and higher teaching assistants to receive high-quality training on the job and become a fully qualified teacher without having to pay course fees.

“The apprenticeship route should also appeal to existing graduates who are considering applying for a teaching assistant role within the Trust in the knowledge that they can progress to be a fully qualified teacher.”

Under the scheme, apprentices are assessed against a national framework called Teachers’ Standards.  They spend around 70% of the year in school and 30% off-site training at Stockton Teacher Training Partnership.

Chris Jackson who is currently a higher level teaching assistant has been at Sunnyside Academy in Middlesbrough for 11 years. He said: “It’s a great scheme. It enables me to continue in my job and be paid whilst progressing my career. I can’t wait to get started.”

Melissa Wright is a former pupil at West View Primary School where she has been a teaching assistant for the past nine years. She said: “I’ve worked in Early Years for all of my career so the apprenticeship scheme will enable me to branch out and work with different year groups and get more experience.”

Maddy Wake was a community carer for 10 years but has spent the last 12 months as a teaching assistant at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Primary School. She commented: “I have three children and a husband at home so taking a year out to train wasn’t an option for me. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher so this is a fantastic opportunity.”

Gemma Neil has spent the last four years at Ayresome Primary School – two years as a teaching assistant and two years as a cover supervisor. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed been a cover supervisor but the apprenticeship scheme provides career progression and enables me to focus on my own class of children.

To access the apprenticeship programme in primary schools, teaching assistants need to already hold an undergraduate degree as well as GCSEs in Maths, English and Science.

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last eight years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and 525 employees in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool.

The other primary schools within Ad Astra Academy Trust are Barnard Grove, Brougham and West Park in Hartlepool and Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees.

Andy Brown OBE, (left) CEO of Ad Astra Academy Trust with teaching apprentices and apprentices and Stockton Teacher Training Partnership staff.

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 Speaker at Ad Astra Academy Trust’s Festival of Education 2023 Conference.

The eight primary schools under the umbrella of Ad Astra are Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool.

Over 250 teachers and school leaders attended the day-long event, held at Teesside University, Middlesbrough.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Sir Steve Redgrave has a proven track record of sustained success at the highest level and that can only be achieved through hard work, resilience, and determination.

“These are just some of the attributes which we want to instil in our teachers and staff and Sir Steve Redgrave is a fantastic role model to demonstrate how success can be achieved against a backdrop of the daily challenges we all face.”

The event was chaired by leading educationalist Maggie Farrar CBE and included a series of workshops and discussions throughout the day on key current issues and challenges for schools.

Sir Steve Redgrave spoke about how one of his teachers at school had given him the opportunity to have a go at rowing.

He said: “Teachers are so important to guiding young people and one of my teachers gave me the opportunity to be a rower. If you ask any Olympian who their inspiration was, most will say one of their schoolteachers.”

He added: “Work ethic is the key to success. Even if you have talent you have to work hard; the harder you work, the better you become.”

Former newspaper editor and children’s author Peter Barron MBE hosted the question-and-answer session with Sir Steve Redgrave and also spoke at the event along with Anthony Daulphin of the Standing Ovation Project – a multi award-winning national education body.

Pupils welcomed guests at the start of the event which included an address from 10-year-old Janna Oyedeji from Rosebrook Primary School and a music and dance display by Crooksbarn Primary School.

Pupils also produced a range of artwork depicting Sir Steve Redgrave’s hugely successful rowing career which he was really impressed with.

Chris Simmons, chair of the Ad Astra trustees gave a vote of thanks at the end. He said: “What a day it has been with excellent speakers and workshops. We have outstanding staff across all of our schools who provide inspiration and raise the hopes and aspirations of young children.”

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last eight years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and 525 employees in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees.

Sir Steve Redgrave CBE with Ad Astra Academy Trust CEO Andy Brown OBE

Delegates at Festival of Education 2023

Click below to view videos of Festival of Education 2023

Video – Andy Brown- Festival of Education 2023

Video – Sir Steve Redgrave – Festival of Education 2023

Video – Sir Steve Redgrave praises artwork

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 visited West View Primary School on Friday 9 June as part of a programme of school visits.

The school, in Davison Drive, was recently judged to be “good” in all areas by Ofsted with inspectors describing it as a happy school, that pupils like with high staff morale.

West View Primary School has 476 pupils on its roll between the ages of 2 and 11 and is one of eight primary schools across Teesside under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.

As part of the visit, Baroness Barran was given a tour of the school by headteacher Lauren Furness and Ad Astra Academy Trust CEO Andy Brown OBE.

Lauren Furness said: “It was great to be given the opportunity to talk first-hand to a government minister about the key aspects of our school and what we are doing to help our children get off to the best start in life. The Minister was really interested to hear about the steps we have taken to improve reading and phonics.

“She was also interested in our learning environment which is inspired by The Curiosity Approach.”

Andy Brown added: “West View Primary School has a long, proud record of positive pupil progress, against a backdrop of some significant challenges.

“The doors are always open at all of our schools to share good practice and I think the Minister was suitably impressed with everything which is being achieved at West View.”

The other Ad Astra Academy Trust schools are Barnard Grove, Brougham and West Park in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough.

Baroness Diana Barran MBE (left) with Lauren Furness

The tour took in several classrooms at the school

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A famous Olympic ski jumper and celebrity landed in Teesside this week (Monday 4 July) to help inspire teachers and education bosses.

Michael David Edwards, better known as ‘Eddie the Eagle’, was Guest Speaker at Ad Astra Academy Trust’s Festival of Education 2022 Conference at Teesside University, Middlesbrough.

Edwards rose to fame in 1988 when he became the first British ski jumper to appear in the Winter Olympics for over 60 years.

Despite finishing last, Edwards won the hearts of the nation for his effort and commitment, earning him celebrity status. He went on to carve out a successful career and in 2016 his life story was portrayed in the biographical film, Eddie the Eagle.

Over 200 delegates attended the annual event which has not been held for three years due to the pandemic.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “The theme for this year’s event was that you don’t need to be perfect to be a good teacher or education leader and Eddie the Eagle is a brilliant example of how you can be successful without being at the top of your game.

“The whole ethos throughout Ad Astra and across our eight schools is that we work hard to create a togetherness so that staff can learn from one another and support each other.

“We don’t expect staff to have all the answers and never make mistakes. We want them to learn from their failures as much as their successes.”

Eddie the Eagle told delegates that from the age of 13, when he started skiing, it was his dream to compete in the Winter Olympics.

He added: It was through determination, resilience, and perseverance that I made it to the Olympics – all traits that are vital to teachers and those working in education.

“If you have a dream, you have to hold on to it and you’ll get there.”

Andy Brown also spoke at the event which was being chaired by BBC Radio Tees presenter Rachel Teate.

Another key speaker was Andrew Hammond, brother of former Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond. Andrew is a headteacher and author of several children’s books.

Chris Simmons, chair of the Ad Astra trustees gave a vote of thanks at the end. He said: “Schools are at the centre of communities, and I want to thank you all for your hard work.

“You fly the flag for our children. You love them, you teach them, you care for them, and you play a huge part in shaping their lives.”

Just under £450 was raised during the day for the Russ Devereux Headlight Project – a charity providing mental health support.

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last seven years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,000 pupils and 500 employees in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool.

Eighty-six per cent of its schools are judged by Ofsted to be either “outstanding” or “good”.

There are eight primary schools within Ad Astra Academy Trust. They are Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees and Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough.

Eddie the Eagle and Andy Brown video