An East Midlands Academy Trust has marked 320 years of educating children in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, bringing together hundreds of pupils under one roof for an evening of celebration, performance and creativity.
Archway Learning Trust academies united at the Albert Hall in Nottingham for an evening to showcase the talent of its students, encompassing the Trust’s values of excellence, inclusion and collaboration.
Known as Archway Together, the event also marked the Trust’s 320th year of education and commitment to improving lives and outcomes for children in the region and beyond. Founded beneath the stone archway of St Mary’s Church in Nottingham, the Trust continues to champion its core founding principle that every child deserves opportunity, dignity and the chance to learn.
All school choirs, made up of 300 children from across the Trust, took to the stage on the evening of Tuesday, March 17, alongside other performances from drama and dance students, school bands and soloists. The Trust was also proud to share a large exhibition of student art.
Martha Toogood, Arts Enrichment and Enhancement Coordinator at Archway Learning Trust, said: “We actively celebrate and encourage the arts at all of our schools across the East Midlands, and we were incredibly proud to organise this opportunity for our children to share their love for visual arts, theatre and musical performances.
“It was a truly uplifting and heart warming event for our students, helping to foster a real sense of a Trust-wide community and collaboration. We’d like to thank our headline sponsor, Zen Education, for their generosity towards this event and to Tradewind for supporting the art exhibition of students' work.”
Archway’s story began in Nottingham in 1706 and is steeped in more than three centuries of belief in a simple yet transformative idea that education can change lives. What started as a member of the local clergy offering free lessons to children who would have otherwise been denied access to learning, has now developed into a thriving family of academies, serving diverse communities with shared purpose and ambition.
James Higham, CEO at Archway Learning Trust, added: “Archway was founded with a clear vision, and this has not been lost over the last 300 years. Events such as these bring our values to life, ensuring every child feels welcomed, valued and included increasing opportunity and unlocking talent. The arts can reach places that words alone cannot, and what moved me most was seeing pupils from across our academies come together so wholeheartedly, lifting each other up, celebrating each performance, and sharing the stage with such generosity and pride. To witness that collective talent and togetherness was extraordinary, and they should be immensely proud.”
Archway Learning Trust is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) with 11 academies across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire.