CORE Education Trust

21/07/2026

📚✨ Students at Rockwood Academy have taken part in the 2026 Carnegies, one of the UK’s most respected book awards for children and young people.

Members of the Rockwood Reads Shadowing Group joined thousands of students across the UK in reading, discussing, and reviewing books from this year’s shortlist, before taking part in a live-streamed celebration to find out the winners.

As part of the experience, every student received a Carnegie title to keep, while their reviews were published in a special magazine now available in the school’s Learning Resource Centre and on the school website.

The Carnegies celebrate outstanding writing and illustration for young people, giving students the chance to discover new authors, share recommendations and celebrate the joy of reading.

A fantastic opportunity for Rockwood students to be part of a national celebration of books 📚

01/07/2026

🏆✨ Students at Rockwood Academy have been celebrated at a special Citizen Awards ceremony recognising behaviour, attendance and attitudes to learning.

Forty students were recognised for consistently demonstrating the school’s core values and making a positive contribution to school life and the wider community.

Senior leaders, pastoral staff, students, parents and carers came together for a shared meal and celebration, followed by an awards presentation highlighting achievements across categories including behaviour, attendance, commitment to interventions and the Rockwood Citizen Award.

Students were recognised for living out the academy’s values of collaboration, opportunity, respect and excellence.

The evening celebrated not only achievement, but the everyday choices that help shape the culture of the school 💙

18/06/2026

From RAF museums to Shakespeare’s birthplace: Students enjoy a day of discovery

Students at City Academy have enjoyed a memorable day of learning beyond the classroom as they took part in the school’s CORE Explore day.

“It was wonderful to see students engaging so enthusiastically with the activities"

10/06/2026

This August, the National Youth Orchestra are visiting Birmingham!

There will be an exciting opportunity for local young people to join musicians from The National Youth Orchestra in a Side-by-Side rehearsal on the concert day. This will run at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Wednesday 5 August at 12.00 - 13.15.

This is open to all musicians aged 12-19 playing an orchestral instrument at a Grade 4+ standard. The sign up is available directly from the flyer attached, or by visiting the website: https://www.nyo.org.uk/events-and-performances

16/05/2026

King Charles met Birmingham musical theatre students - and revealed his secret passion for dance👑.

He disclosed he owned a pair of tap shoes as he joined Sir Idris Elba at an event celebrating young talent in the industry.

Charles met National Youth Music Theatre performers and students from Birmingham CORE Education schools to mark NYMT's 50th anniversary in Victoria, central London, yesterday, Thursday, May 14.

Bill, an NYMT member, told the Press Association the King had mentioned owning tap shoes. He said the King asked him "Do you learn to tap dance?", and added: "He said he owns his own tap shoes and we offered to teach him."

Asked whether a lesson had been scheduled, the 21-year-old said: "We failed, but we will follow up."

The King also shared his thoughts on Shakespeare with the students, insisting the best way to understand the playwright's work was to "actually act it".

Addressing a group taking part in a workshop, Charles asked: "Are you all keen on Shakespeare?" The students nodded and responded enthusiastically with "yes".

The King then enquired "have you actually acted in a Shakespeare play?" and upon learning they hadn't, Charles remarked: "The best way to understand it is to actually act it."

At The Other Palace studio, the King and Sir Idris met students participating in drama and musical theatre workshops, before watching a performance by a choir comprising young NYMT performers in the theatre's main auditorium.

14/05/2026

🎭 CORE Students Meet The King and Sir Idris Elba in London 👑✨

Students from City Academy, Arena Academy, Rockwood Academy and Jewellery Quarter Academy have taken part in a theatre workshop with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) in London this week where they also met with King Charles III and actor Sir Idris Elba. 👑🎬

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the NYMT, the King met with students taking part in the workshop, which was designed to give young people opportunities and experiences in musical theatre. 🎭 The King was joined by Sir Idris Elba who used a grant from The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust) to attend NYMT aged 18. 🌟

The workshop this week was the final of four access workshops for the CORE students. The sessions have been led by NYMT creative practitioners and funded by the Garek Trust. This generous financial support has supported NYMT’s aspiration to make inclusion and access the focal point of its 50th year celebrations. ✨ NYMT designed the workshops to develop the confidence, communication and performing skills of young people, including in improvisation. 🎤🎬

CORE Education Trust places equity, inclusion and social justice at the centre of its mission, with its schools relentlessly focused on the removal of barriers to learning, not only to raise educational outcomes, but to disrupt cycles of disadvantage and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to opportunity and the chance to succeed. 💙📚

National Youth Music Theatre Idris Elba The King's Trust The Royal Family

16/04/2026

16/04/2026

Our Year 7 Rise Awards are underway! An evening of celebration and recognition for an excellent first two terms at City Academy. Students have collected awards in each subject as well as recognition for outstanding behaviour and attendance

CORE Education Trust

02/04/2026

💙 Thursday 2nd April is World Autism Awareness Day

This year's theme is "Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value", a call to recognise the dignity, equal rights, and unconditional worth of every autistic person.

Across CORE Education Trust, Arena Academy, City Academy, Jewellery Quarter Academy and Rockwood Academy, we are committed to building schools where every student feels seen, valued, and supported to thrive. That means creating environments that are flexible, welcoming, and built around the needs of every individual.

Autism exists on a broad and diverse spectrum. No two autistic individuals experience it in exactly the same way. What matters is that every person in our community knows they belong here.

This April, we stand with the global autism community. Every life has value. Every learner has potential.