I am pleased to be able to present our Spring 2026 news roundup, which is full of updates and achievements from the last few months This termly newsletter showcases the hard work, success and community spirit that are the hallmarks of Winstanley College, and I hope students, parents and carers, staff, governors and members of our local community will find plenty to enjoy in this edition.
This has been another busy and successful term for the College We are delighted to be awarded Pathfinder status within the AiEd Certified framework and to be shortlisted for the Educate North ‘College of the Year’ category, both of which recognise the continued hard work of students and staff We are also very proud to see Sheila Wilding shortlisted as a finalist in The Pearson National Teaching Awards in the ‘Unsung Hero’ category, which is extremely well-deserved
Alongside these achievements, students have continued to take part in a wide range of extracurricular work including trips, competitions, performances, charity events, workshops and enrichment activities From university visits and academic competitions to performances, sporting fixtures and community events, it has been another term in which students have made the most of the opportunities available to them.
The success we see each term comes from talented and hardworking students, supportive families and the commitment of staff across all areas of the College Together, these create a community where students are supported to succeed and develop into confident, thoughtful and ambitious young people.
I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break and look forward to welcoming students back for the final term of the academic year
Best wishes,
Simon Lett Principal
NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
This term has seen a number of significant awards, nominations and achievements across the College community, reflecting the continued success of both students and staff
Winstanley College is pleased to be awarded Pathfinder status within the AiEd Certified framework, recognising the College’s commitment to supporting responsible and purposeful integration of artificial intelligence across education. This places the College at the forefront of preparing students and staff for an AI-powered future and demonstrates a willingness to innovate, learn and contribute, to best practice across the education sector.
The College has also been shortlisted for the Educate North FE and HE ‘College of the Year’ award, recognising the very best colleges across the North of England. This recognition reflects an exceptional year for the College community, including our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted judgement, strong academic outcomes, excellent student progression and continued commitment to wellbeing, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and STEM education.
THE PEARSON NATIONAL TEACHING AWARDS
We are thrilled to report that Sheila Wilding has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Unsung Hero’ category in The Pearson National Teaching Awards Sheila is Lead Cleaner at Winstanley College and has been working with us since 1995.
Sheila is one of the best managers in our College.She has a fantastic work ethic and would never ask her team to do anything she wouldn’t be prepared to do herself. Sheila understands how to get the best out of her colleagues Classrooms and social spaces are always maintained to the highest standard. She rolls up her sleeves without hesitation and never leaves a job until it is finished. College events present an opportunity for Sheila and her team to shine and to show Winstanley at its very best for visitors No-one takes greater pride in her work.
But Sheila makes an even bigger impact by going out of her way to engage with our staff and students. A staff member said: “Every time I see her, she makes me smile.” These are views shared by all who know her. One of our staff members summed up brilliantly as to why we think she is so deserving of this award: “Sheila embodies everything that makes someone an unsung hero: quiet strength, compassion and a selfless ability to lift others when they need it most ”
We will be proudly celebrating Sheila and all our colleagues on ‘National Thank a Teacher Day’ on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, when all the results will be announced
WELLBEING AND SUPPORT
Student and staff wellbeing has remained a key priortiy this term, with a number of initiatives and events taking place to support mental health, wellbeing and community connection across the College.
One of the most meaningful projects this year has been the creation of a crochet ‘hug blanket’ for the Nurture Room. The project was led by this year’s ‘Big Knit’ student and Nurture Room lead, Malaika Balock, with support from last year’s lead, Hollie Burrows. Staff and students from across the College contributed crochet squares, which were then combined to create the finished blanket
The College also hosted a large wellbeing event for students, staff and next of kin, bringing together a wide range of local organistions and College teams to create a wellbeing marketplace. The event included support and information from community groups, wellbeing services and College teams. The day reflected the strong partnerships the College has built with local organisations and the shared commitment to supporting young people and families.
Students also took part in a range of activities during British Science week, including competitions, guest speakers and practical activities, allowing students to engage with science in creative and applied ways beyond the classroom
In addition, students and staff supported both International Women’s Day and Comic Relief by wearing purple and red this term Our ‘Wear it Red’ fundraising activities included
STUDENT UNION UPDATES
This year, the Student Union has continued to play an important role in College life, organising charity events, representing the student voice, and working closely with College leadership to enhance the overall student experience.
Current President, Ryan Cain, has provided a roundup of the achievements of this year’s Student Union. With hustings taking place this week, we will share an update as soon as the new cohort has been elected
Ryan said: “Throughout the year, the Student Union has organised a range of charity events, including a pyjama day for Children in Need, ‘Wear it Red’ and the ‘1% Club’ quiz for Comic Relief, a Valentine’s bake sale, and a week-long ‘Spirit Week’ in October. These events not only raised money for important causes but also brought the College community together through a variety of engaging activities ”
“The Student Union has also continued to represent the student voice through surveys, student surgeries, and meetings with senior leadership, catering providers, governors, and other stakeholders. Through this work, the Union has helped support improvements in sustainability, enrichment opportunities, and the overall student experience ”
“One of the most significant opportunities this year was meeting with local MP Josh Simons to discuss transport issues affecting students and the wider community This demonstrated the Student Union’s commitment not only to College life but also to making a positive impact beyond it.”
The Student Union has made a highly positive contribution to College life this year, and we would like to thank all members for their hard work, dedication, and commitment.
The Student Union has also been carrying out student surveys to identify areas where the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) can support further improvements across the College. This work will be highly beneficial, providing valuable insight into how students experience College life and where changes can be made
The SLT has made a significant effort to listen to student feedback and better understand what students are looking for from their College experience The following pages outline the SLT’s responses to the questions raised by the Student Union.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM (SLT) -
RESPONSE TO STUDENT
UNION FEEDBACK
Earlier this term, the Student Union gave a presentation to the College’s Board of Governors on what they liked about Winstanley College and what could be improved. The Governors tasked the Senior Leadership Team with producing a response to these areas for improvement. This has been reproduced here, so that all students and parents/carers can read it.
Guidance and Progression
Communication
Curriculum and enrichment
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Students at Winstanley College have continued to achieve outstanding success across a wide range of academic and creative areas this term
24 students successfully completed the OCR Entry Level Latin certificate, following weekly enrichment sessions exploring Roman theatre, art, gladiators and Pompeii. Students demonstrated excellent commitment and enthusiasm throughout the course.
Students also performed extremely well in national mathematics compeitions, including the Senior Kangaroo Challenge and the British Mathematical Olympiad, with several students achieving bronze and silver awards, and one student achieving a merit in the Olympiad.
We are also delighted that 20 students received offers from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge for entry in September 2026, across subjects including Medicine, Natural Sciences, Education and History. This represents an outstanding achievement and reflects the hard work of both students and staff involved in the Oxbridge preparation programme.
Art students also achieved success through a competition linked to the Walker Art Gallery exhibition ‘Turner: Always Contemporary’, where two students were selected as catergory winners and had their work displayed on large-scale billboards across Liverpool city centre.
Students also achieved success in the Economics Olympiad and the UK Biology Olympiad, with a large number of students receiving awards and two students progressing to the national final of the Economics Olympiad.
In addition, the first group of students successfully completed the College’s new ESI AI prompting skills online unit, developing important skills linked to the growing
WORKSHOPS AND VISITORS
Students benefited from a wide range of workshops, guest speakers and careers events during the Spring Term, providing valuable insight into higher education, careers and industry.
Former Winstanley student Poppy Potter returned to College to deliver a Polymers in Industry workshop for first year Chemistry students. Currently completing a degree apprenticeship with Crown Paints, she shared detailed insights into how polymers are used in real industrial applications, clearly linking classroom theory to careers in materials science, manufacturing and product development. Students also carried out a practical experiment creating polymers using borax and PVA glue, reinforcing their theoretical learning through hands on application and helping them to see the real world impact of what they study.
The Careers team also organised a Work Taster Day, welcoming five employers into College to deliver workshops linked to a range of careers. Professionals joined us from a wide variety of sectors including sports media, orthoptics, graphic design, finance and laboratory sciences. More than 100 students participated in the workshops, gaining valuable insights into the world of work and exploring potential career pathways These opportunities are an important part of College life, helping students to explore future pathways and develop confidence and independence beyond the classroom.
EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
There were a number of trips and visits across the Spring Term, supporting students’ academic studies and providing cultural and educational experiences beyond the classroom.
Art and Photography students visited Liverpool, where they explored galleries and exhibitions and gathered primary research for their coursework projects. Liverpool continues to provide an excellent resource for students studying creative subjects Students also visited Cambridge University as part of the Oxbridge preparation programme, where they experienced university life, attended subject sessions and explored the city and colleges
Performing Arts students visited the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester to watch a live theatre performance, helping to support their coursework and understanding of staging, performance and theatre production.
Geography students completed fieldwork visits to support their coursework, collecting data and developing research skills required for the These trips play an important role in helping studen contexts and develop independence, confidence an
MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS
The Spring term was another busy and successful period for Music and Performing Arts students, with a number of performances, workshops and events taking place
Students were involved in performances and practical assessments throughout the term, demonstrating the high standard of performance that continues to be a strength of the College. Students worked on a range of performances including acting, musical theatre and live music, performing to audiences of staff and students
One of the highlights of the term was the annual Dance Show, which showcased the talent, creativity and hard work of our dance students The show included a wide range of performances featuring different dance styles and choreographed pieces, many of which were created by the students themselves. The performances demonstrated not only technical ability but also confidence, teamwork and creativity, and the show was extremely well supported by students, staff, families and friends. Events such as the Dance Show are always a reminder of the confidence and professionalism our students develop during their time at College.
The Performing Arts workshop with Frantic Assembly was another particular highlight, giving students the opportunity to work with a professional theatre company and experience new styles of performance and movement.
Music students also continued to rehearse and perform throughout the term, developing their performance skills and preparing for upcoming concerts and assessment performances
The performing arts continue to play a major role in College life and it is always a pleasure to see so many students involved in performances and creative projects.
SPORT
College sport continued to be very successful during the Spring Term, with teams competing in a range of fixtures and competitions
A number of teams performed well in league fixtures, with students showing excellent commitment to training and representing the College. Sport continues to play an important role in enrichment and student wellbeing, and it is always encouraging to see high levels of participation across a range of sports
A particular highlight this term was the Winstanley College Netball Club, which celebrated the end of a fantastic season with an elite workshop led by Elia McCormick from Manchester Thunder. The session focused on positional play and provided students with valuable insight into high-performance netball through a series of practical drills and game scenarios Players developed their tactical awareness, movement and decision-making, while experiencing the demands of an elite training environment. Coach Claire Clarke reflected positively on the session, noting that it not only gave students a clear understanding of top-level coaching but also provided useful ideas to take forward into next season.
In addition, a number of A-level PE students visited Lancaster University, where they took part in a taster day including campus tours and practical sessions. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to explore potential Higher Education pathways and to experience aspects of university-level study.
LOWER SIXTH MOCK EXAMS
Our Lower Sixth exams begin on Thursday, 30 April. If you have any questions about your upcoming exams please get in touch with your Personal Tutor or the Exams team
Students also continued to make good use of the College gym and fitness facilities, and enrichment sport sessions remained popular throughout the term. We would like to thank all students who represented the College in sports teams this term for their commitment, teamwork and positive attitude.
ALUMNI
Our alumni continue to excel in their careers. Pixey made her debut on BBC Radio 1 and secured chart success Alexandra Lowe performed to critical acclaim at the Longborough Festival Opera. Olivia Kate Holding took a swing role in the West End production of ‘Hamilton’. Ryan Latimer premiered his orchestral composition with the London Symphony Orchestra Holly Chapman released debut singles and toured with Inspiral Carpets Their achievements are a testament to the quality of education and support they received at Winstanley.
We also had some alumni visit for the Mock Interviews during Progression Day, and present workshops throughout the year If you would like to join our Alumni Community please visit the link below or look on the Alumni Section of our website:
Winstanley College Alumni Community
We also feature former students each week on our social media as part of our ‘Throwback Thursday’ series If you are a former student and would like to be included, please email the Marketing Team.
ESI AFTER HALF TERM
Our students have been very engaged this term in our extracurricular ESI activities, with a wide range of enrichment sessions taking place across sport, creative activities, academic support and wellbeing.
The ESI timetable for the first week back after Easter is shown below Students are reminded that the College recommends completing 40 hours of ESI activities each year, and using free time during the College day is a very good way of working towards this
We look forward to seeing the activities and opportunities students get involved in during the Summer Term
STAY CONNECTED WITH COLLEGE NEWS
We have continued to post regularly on Instagram and Facebook throughout the year, sharing updates, student achievements and highlights from College life We will also be posting during the spring, particularly with any important information for our Upper Sixth A Levels beginning and Lower Sixth mocks upcoming.
Earlier last year, we launched our TikTok account where we have been sharing a range of content, from staff introductions to student activities and behind-the-scenes insights
We would love to see more people following us across our platforms to stay connected with College life and to hear the latest news
Instagram and Facebook: @WinstanleyCollege TikTok: @winstanleycollege
NEXT STEPS FOR APPLICANTS
If you have any questions over the half term break, there will be members of staff available to respond to queries via email
After Easter, students should begin to receive information about booking their Enrolment Appointment for August, as well as a form to register interest for transport for next year. Keep an eye on your emails (and don’t forget to check your junk folder!)
For any queries regarding applications or enrolment, please contact the Admissions Team directly via admissions@winstanley.ac.uk.
