Trust Parents/Carers Update

On Friday, 13th February, 20 members of the Pinnacle Learning Trust community joined educators from across the region for the Racial Equity Network Dinner (REND) Manchester. Held at the iconic Royal Nawaab Pyramid in Stockport, the evening was much more than a networking event; it was a powerful call to action for everyone committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within education.

Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s poignant question—“Is it in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it?”—the event provided a vital space for candid, courageous conversations. Amidst a warm and authentic atmosphere, staff engaged with colleagues to share personal experiences and explore the realities of racial equity in our schools.

The evening focused on elevating underrepresented voices and strengthening the community of educators who are leading the charge for change. Discussions delved into what it truly means to lead with fairness and how we can ensure representation is woven into the fabric of our educational systems.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such an inspiring night. The energy from the evening serves as a brilliant catalyst as we continue our work to make the Pinnacle Learning Trust a truly inclusive place to learn and work.

We are delighted to be hosting our third annual Trust Student Eco Conference at Hathershaw on Wednesday 22 April 2026. All of our student Eco Groups will be coming together to work on a number of activities, including a special workshop created by OSFC Primary Education Students.

There will be a number of internal and external speakers on the day, and we're looking forward to seeing the students across all of our age groups working together and inspiring each other once again.

We're confident our Conference will be a success, as are all as part of this annual event. This year's conference coincides with Earth Day, the theme will be: "Our Power, Our Planet".

The sports partnership continues to thrive. Please see a selection of images below.

Each week, there is a different competition for all age groups. Our Cluster is run by Lorna Philip (Hathershaw) and Pete Jackson (Oldham Active)'.

We meet at the start of every term to plan events and at that meeting we invite relevant PE/Sport Reps from a large network, e.g.: Greater Sport, Football Foundation, School Games OACT. At the end of each academic year we hold a sports presentation evening for pupils and parents. The Cluster now boasts probably the best state of the art facilities in the town with two new 3G pitches.

Werneth Primary school was incredibly proud to receive an acknowledgement from the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, and the DfE.

The letter was sent to Executive Principal, Jonathan Bell and Head of Academy, Sarah Chandler. to acknowledge that their school demonstrates strong attainment outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. The letter recognises the school's significant achievements and encourages Werneth Primary to share the effective practice that has contributed to their success.

Well done to everyone at Werneth Primary School, for all your hard work and dedication! The full letter can be read below.

We are delighted to announce that Susie Fraser will be the next Principal of Hathershaw College. Susie is currently the Director of Education at Greater Manchester Academies Trust based at Manchester Communication Academy. Manchester Communication Academy is a well established successful school in Harpurhey, Manchester serving a highly disadvantaged community. It is currently rated as Good with Outstanding Features by Ofsted.

Susie was born and raised in Oldham and has previously been a senior leader at Bluecoat School. She has been a Director of Research School and has also published a book on leading CPD. She brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise in the areas of curriculum development, pedagogy and school leadership.

Thank you to everyone who supported the process over the last few days. A special thank you to Rob, who has done and continues to do an impressive job as the Acting Principal.

Susie will start on April 20th.

The Pinnacle Learning Trust has a portfolio of sports pitches and other facilities available for community, grassroots and commercial lettings. Our facilities help us to transform the life chances of our children and young people.

Our principal sports facilities consist of two brand-new FA-compliant 3G pitches: our OSFC Sports Campus and our 3G Pitch at The Hathershaw College, following an exciting refurbishment project.

We have a wide variety of other lettings available at these sites, plus at the OSFC Main Campus:

OSFC Sports Campus

for information, contact the team: sportscampus@osfc.ac.uk

FA-compliant 3G pitch

Classroom

The Hathershaw College

for all bookings on all facilities, contact pd@hathershaw.org.uk'

FA-compliant 3G pitch

Sports halls and gym space

Netball courts

Classrooms

OSFC Main Campus

for information, visit: https://vivifyvenues.com/venues/oldham-sixth-form-college

Dance studio

Sports hall

Large lecture theatre

Classrooms

Broadfield Primary School for information contact: pd@hathershaw.org.uk

Small-sided 3G football pitch

The Pinnacle Learning Trust is proud to appoint one of its alumni as a Member.

Megan Bruton studied at OSFC from 2018-2020. She then went on to study at Oxford University, where she was later joined by her brother, Joshua, an OSFC first! (see picture).

You can read more about Megan, in her own words, below:

"My role is to build relationships with non-selective state schools, to help inspire and empower students to access Higher Education. I co-ordinate and deliver Access Visits at St John’s College, where students are able to experience talks, workshops, and tours, to support them in their knowledge of Higher Education, and Oxford specifically.

I work closely with secondary schools and sixth forms in our link areas in the South East, as well as with primary schools in Oxfordshire. Working with schools is incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to meet so many brilliant students and members of staff. I am committed to ensuring that the University is a representative, welcoming, and forward-thinking institution. Crucial to this is the prioritisation of access and outreach.

Prior to taking up this role, I worked on other access programmes run by the University, such as UNIQ and OxNet, and benefitted from access programmes myself, whilst an applicant.

I graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford, in 2024".

Hathershaw College students delighted audiences this November with a vibrant and heartfelt production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical Jr., staged at Oldham Sixth Form College on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November 2025.

Following the runaway success of last year’s Bugsy Malone, students from Years 7 to 11 once again proved their theatrical talent, filling the stage with colour, energy and confidence. Across two evening performances, audiences were transported into the world of Matilda Wormwood, as she and her classmates took on the fearsome Miss Trunchbull, celebrating imagination, courage and standing up for what’s right.

The production was directed by Mrs L. Lott, with choreography by Mrs L. Young, musical direction from Miss K. Dawson, and stage management by Mrs A. Jones. Together, the creative team guided a large cast through an ambitious and fast-paced musical, showcasing not only strong performances but also teamwork, resilience and professionalism.

With Matilda The Musical Jr., Hathershaw College has delivered another unforgettable whole-school production, full of heart, humour and just the right amount of mischief, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating what the students will bring to the stage next.

Hathershaw Year 9 students have been attending some very interesting events across Manchester recently.

Students attended the JDUP Careers event in Manchester. They had a fantastic time discovering all of the career pathways. There was lots of great discussions and they got to hear from guest speakers including Angryginge!

French students also attended an inspiring MFL Careers Event. Hearing from Sanako CEO David Binns, they learned that studying languages isn’t just about speaking another language, it’s about gaining transferable skills and standing out with a Languages GCSE in a competitive job market.

Students also explored careers with organisations including the Army, Alliance Française, universities and the legal profession, discovering just how many doors languages can open.

OSFC and Hathershaw have both taken part in community fasts or Iftars this half term.

Staff and students at OSFC, organised a charity fast in support of Oldham Foodbank and the Humanitarian Appeal in the Middle East. Thank you to this years sponsors The Eastern Pavillion, HR Security & Protection Services, Charcoal Grill, HFC, Raja's Pizza Bar and Fatima Women's Association. So far they have raised £459.

Hathershaw College aimed to raise money for Save the Children. In the spirit of belonging, unity, and understanding during Ramadan, staff took part in a sponsored fast. On the same day, there was also a Community Iftar at the European Islamic Centre, where staff broke their fast along with members of the community, and other schools and organisations who have taken part. The evening will include a tour, a short talk, and a shared meal 4pm -7.30-pm. Students have responded well and have been able to support the cause by donating their epraise points.

You can support both causes by donating what you can below:

Hathershaw

OSFC

OSFC held their annual Parents' Conference on February 7th. It is an opportunity for current applicants and their parents to spend a morning in college and experience samples of lessons, in the subjects they are thinking of studying, while their parents got to know the college better in a conference setting hosted by the senior leadership team.

It was another incredibly successful event, with the highest attendance of any event previously held! Thank you to all the amazing staff and students who helped make the day the success it was.

Feedback included:

"Very organised from start to finish with lots of emails and information. Very informative!"

"It was a great event. The leadership team are strong and focused. Their commitment to the students and drive for success is commendable. Well done guys."

"Very informative, I didn't have any additional questions as I felt everything had been covered in detail. There was lots of information but not too much. The varied speakers were great and kept everyone's interest. Thank you for all the refreshments".

On 11 and 12 February, drama, music, performing arts and Xtras students performed two outstanding performances of this year's college production, Lights Across The Hudson.

This original jukebox musical tells the story of a crew working in The Suds Bucket, a seedy car wash in the Bronx. They have big dreams... but the car wash is no place to work if you're looking for a clean break. Can Kitty make it on Broadway? Will Candy and Crystal ever overthrow big boss man Morales? Will Vinnie ever get the girl and will Valentina ever fall for a guy like Cricket (absolutely not!)? Working at the car wash is no easy ride, but the view of Manhattan reminds them that their dreams lie just over the river. With huge hits like Can't Hold Us Down, Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves, Empire State of Mind and, of course, Car Wash.

The show was certainly a splash! Outstanding performances on both nights!

We are very proud to be recognized as a Google for Education Premier Reference Institution, joining a global community of forward thinking and leading educators. This designation highlights our commitment to shaping the future of learning by deploying next-generation tools and creating personalized learning environments where every student and educator can reach their full potential.

At OSFC, this includes:

• Pioneering advanced AI tools, like Gemini for Education, to enhance learning

• Championing dynamic teaching practices that engage and inspire
• Fostering a personalized learning environment where every student and educator can thrive.

As far as we are aware, we are the first UK institution to achieve this level of award!

Pupils at Alexandra Park have been stimulating their brains with various themed days and educational visitors to school!

Annual occasions, such as French Day, took place. Throughout the day, children were learning about the French language and exploring different aspects of French culture. To make the experience even more exciting, a French-themed lunch was made available, for everyone to enjoy. A range of fun French-inspired activities were explored by children, at school and home, helping to continue their learning in a creative and enjoyable way.

The school was visited by Mr. Egypt! Who turned the school into a fascinating marvel of Egyptian adventure and mystery, sharing stories and fun educational activities with pupils of all ages. Some truly fascinating conversation was had, as well as the opportunity to dress up as a mummy, using household items!

A fantastic Number Day was had! The purpose of the day was to celebrate maths, promote positive attitudes towards numbers, and raise money for the NSPCC, supporting their vital work in keeping children safe. The costumes were fantastic, and we would like to say a big thank you to all our families for helping us raise nearly £100 for the NSPCC

Pupils at Broadfield Primary have been on many an adventure this term! So many locations visited, near and far.

Woodlands class stepped back in time and experienced life as Roman soldiers, dressed the part and ready for action! The children loved learning what it was like to be a soldier defending the fort. This was complimented by tours and observations of the local landscape. What a fantastic day of history, geography and outdoor learning all in one.

Year 5 & 6 had a fantastic morning exploring the incredible architecture of Manchester Cathedral! The children also enjoyed learning fascinating stories about its rich history and discovering how the building has changed over time.

A huge well done to our amazing Year 1 & 2 multi skills team who finished runner-up in tonight’s competition! The children had a fantastic time developing their skills, challenging themselves and scoring as many points as possible across all the activities. Their energy, teamwork and determination were brilliant to see throughout the event.

Acorns celebrated 10 years this term! Over the past ten years in Acorns, it has been a true privilege to be part of such an incredible start to so many children’s development. Working within the 2-year provision, Broadfield has seen countless children blossom in confidence and skill a transformation that remains a constant joy to witness. It has been an amazing decade of growth, and we look forward too many more years of supporting our little ones as they journey from tiny Acorns to mighty oaks.

Pupils at Werneth Primary School have been incredibly active this term! A whole host of activities have been taking place.

3A took part in a series of sessions at Gallery Oldham this week, with their friends from Willowpark. The children were so excited to be reunited and enjoyed creating a friendship banner, drawing portraits and exploring the exhibitions.

Year 6 took part in an exciting STEMbotics workshop! They built complex robots with sensors and actuators, programming them using block-based coding environments.

A special task group was set up with pupils from across school to consult with our school lunch provider, Taylor Shaw. Pupils gave them feedback on their menus and gave them tips on improving them - the main outcome was that they wanted things spicier!

Early Years, Nurture Provision and Reception had the exciting opportunity to take part in the immersive Wonder Dome planetarium experience! Pupils ventured inside to discover the wonders of outer space, shooting to the stars, singing their favourite songs. A wonderful audio/visual adventure!

At Werneth Primary School, pupils enjoyed an engaging World Book Day themed assembly, learning about why the day was created and discussing the best way to enjoy a good book. Pupils were encouraged to read in whichever way they felt most comfortable and took part in a parade with their teachers, showcasing each classes' costumes. Prizes were presented to the best in each class, as voted by teachers. The day was complimented by World Book Day themed lessons, aimed to engage young readers through a variety of gun activities.

At Broadfield Primary School, pupils were treated to a similar assembly that saw The Highway Ray come to life, embodied by Principal, Elizabeth Moran, narrated by Deputy Principal, Suzanne Despard. Following this, pupils mixed with different year groups to share stories and enjoy some of their teachers’ favourite books. It was fantastic to see everyone working together, reading their own favourite stories and spreading the joy of reading across the school. Families also got involved with lots of exciting activities with their children across the school, sharing stories and enjoying the magic of reading together.

Alexandra Park Junior School had a school wide celebration that saw children arriving in their best comfy clothes and taking part in craft activities across the school, as well as taking time to share their best and most favourite reads.

Hathershaw hosted a variety of activities taking place in school to mark World Book Day. Firstly, they ran the popular Masked Reader competition again for the fourth time. Pupils watched the videos in Home period and worked together to figure out who the masked readers are and what the mystery books are. During the week, pupils were able to swap their book tokens in the library. There were activities taking place in the library on the day at lunch and break. There was a World Book Day treasure hunt that took place in The Link too which pupils really enjoyed.

It is important to all schools within the trust that children have no, or as little, barriers to learning, engaging and having fun, especially when it comes to reading. It is safe to say that this was another successful year of sharing this ethos!

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