Jamie’s dyslexia made it difficult for him to learn and led to him trying to avoid the classroom, but a few years ago he realised that he needed to change his mindset. It’s clear that Jamie’s passion for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been instrumental in helping him focus.

Jamie attends his gym six times a week and has developed an admirable amount of discipline from his training - which in turn has helped him in his school life.

Jamie talks about the support he has received from his father and mother who challenged him when he was making poor decisions and supported him in every way to focus on his goals.

In school he has worked extremely hard in lessons, building strong relationships with his teachers and his SEND key worker Mr Jowett. What is striking about Jamie is how he has taken responsibility for his future and pushed himself to make the most of every opportunity.

Jamie aspires to pursue his passion for MMA at some of the world’s most prestigious training centres and he hopes to travel to succeed in his hobby. He has a plan in place to get there - studying Business in college next year alongside one day a week of work; earning and learning to set himself up in business and ultimately to continue his MMA journey.

During the week-long residential scheme, she made new friends and challenged herself to speak in front of a large audience. Her time at Co-op Academy Manchester has allowed her to interact with diverse people, cultures, and ideas, which prepared her well for meeting young people from across the country.

Initially, Stephanie felt the pressure during her first mock exams and found it daunting to enter the exam hall. However, she felt much calmer and confident approaching her GCSEs.

She has attended countless booster sessions organised by her teachers and even reached out for extra work to ensure she is thoroughly prepared. Stephanie is determined to exceed her predicted grades wherever possible.

Stephanie has been offered places at some of Manchester’s most prestigious colleges, where she plans to study Physics and Maths. She aims to build on these A Levels with a university course in Engineering or Architecture while continuing to explore her talent in art.

Toby has particularly enjoyed his studies in science, maths, music and business and intends to study biology, physics and maths at Connell Co-op College.

He has his sights set on being a paramedic, having been inspired by his father to go into the profession, and he intends to go on to study paramedic science at university.

Toby has always juggled his studies alongside a number of extra-curricular commitments. He plays the trombone to a very high standard and plays in the academy’s Big Band. He has also supported the Matilda production as stage crew and, as a prefect, has volunteered to help at various school events, including Progress Evenings.

Outside of school, Toby is a Sergeant in the Air Cadets and has played the trombone with the Royal Marines at the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace. He is rifle trained and a qualified rifle coach. He has also demonstrated his leadership skills by planning an introductory programme for new recruits to the Army Cadets.

Toby has admitted that it has been difficult to remain focused on his GCSEs with all of his other interests but he has managed to do this very successfully and is an excellent ambassador for the academy.

She has a particular interest in Sport and envisions a future in fields such as Sports Journalism, Archaeology, or Art Therapy. To pursue her passions, Amira plans to undertake a Level 3 BTEC in Sport, Art, and History, approaching her studies with an open mind and a commitment to making the most of her educational experience.

From the start, Amira immersed herself in the academy's extra-curricular activities, attending clubs like Art, Rounders, and Debate Mate. She has also taken on leadership roles, serving as a Sports Leader and Lunchtime Activities Leader in Year 9. Currently, she is a prefect and regularly volunteers to support school events.

Outside of school, Amira is a talented tennis player, having been ranked number one in Bermuda for under-12s and number two for under-14s. Her passion for tennis began at the age of three, and she now trains rigorously, with four sessions per week. Amira has competed in numerous competitions, including the prestigious David Lloyd tournaments. She was chosen to represent Bermuda on two occasions, but funding issues and a serious triceps injury prevented her from participating. Despite these setbacks, she dreams of representing her country in the near future and aspires to watch the Grand Slam at Wimbledon, having already attended the Davis Cup at the AO Arena.

This healthcare profession focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and their effects on the nervous system and overall health and Maci becomes the first Connell student to enrol in a chiropractic course at university.

Upon graduation, she aspires to work in New Zealand, where Teesside University has established contacts to support her transition.

During her time at Connell, Maci has actively engaged in various enrichment activities. She has participated in volleyball, gained valuable work experience shadowing a physiotherapist, completed a first aid course at the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance, and volunteered as a referee for children’s tournaments at Manchester City Football Club.

While she currently trains with the team twice a week, she will soon join full-time and follow their rigorous training schedule. By the end of the year, Lily hopes to secure a professional contract with the club. If unsuccessful, she plans to pursue her football coaching badges or become a physical trainer.

Her dedication and talent have not gone unnoticed. Lily won the Sportswoman of the Year award at our end-of-year awards ceremony, due to her involvement with MCWFC's first team and her selection to represent England Women’s Under-19s in recent competitions.

Lily has also been actively involved in volunteering. She has coached football at local primary schools within Manchester City’s indoor dome and has refereed several local primary school matches.

Her commitment to excellence has driven her to grow into a confident young person who is always willing to seek and accept support to achieve her goals.

Mei's journey has not been without challenges. Despite facing social barriers in her early years at Failsworth, Mei's warm personality and genuine interest in others helped her build strong friendships.

Mei's achievements reflect her unwavering commitment to excellence and her remarkable ability to overcome formidable obstacles. She embodies the spirit of perseverance, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and learning. Her contributions to the school community have been invaluable, and her positive influence will be missed.

Looking ahead, Mei has ambitions to become a paediatric nutritionist. Her dedication and passion for helping others makes her well-suited for this career path. We are all incredibly proud of Mei and confident that she will go on to achieve great things.

Her journey is an inspiration to us all, and we eagerly anticipate hearing about her future successes.

Despite this, Taylor has shown remarkable resilience and determination. Upon his return to the academy on a phased schedule, Taylor worked closely with the pastoral team and his teachers to catch up on missed work and focus on areas for development.

Taylor's commitment, perseverance and positive attitude throughout his final year has served as an inspiration to his peers and teachers alike. Looking ahead, Taylor plans to study Bricklaying at Oldham College after his GCSEs.

We are all incredibly impressed with the progress he has made and are confident that he will continue to impress everyone around him with his dedication and skill. 

Not only has Luke demonstrated these qualities in school but he has managed to do this whilst balancing his training commitments for Salford City as a very gifted swimmer with Olympic ambitions; an incredible achievement and one that we are all very proud of.

Teaching staff describe Luke as hardworking, polite and mature.

Luke now goes on to Pendleton College to study engineering and we wish him every success

student, Stephanie has demonstrated a positive attitude and an infectious enthusiasm for learning.

Over the years, she has blossomed into a confident, articulate, and engaging young lady.

Stephanie’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Her business teacher noted how Stephanie consistently shows she cares by supporting her peers whenever she can. This compassionate nature, combined with her academic dedication, has made her a cherished member of the school community.

Stephanie’s hard work and determination have truly paid off. She has seized every opportunity offered to her, and she is now going on to study Psychology, Health and Social Care, and Modern History at Winstanley College.

We wish her every success in her future endeavours and know that she is going to go on to great things.

At this point he considered enrolling on a Level 2 vocational qualification at the local college, however he felt that his learning journey with Co-op Academy Bebington was not complete and that academically he was capable of more.

He enrolled in a one-year Level 2 programme and excelled, completing his Work Skills programme to a high level and working exceptionally hard to gain grade 4s in both resits of GCSE English and Mathematics. As a result of this exceptional performance he was accepted onto Level 3 courses, studying A Level Media Studies and Level 3 BTECs in Business and IT.

There was a question at the time of whether he would be capable of progressing into Level 3, however, we felt he deserved the opportunity due to his consistent hard work. Since progressing to Level 3, Joe has really embraced the step up to higher level courses and he is predicted to achieve good grades in all three subjects in the summer. This has encouraged Joe to apply for university and he has been offered a conditional place at Liverpool John Moores to study Business Management.

Three years ago, this option would have seemed unlikely and shows how hard he has been working. 

Choosing to pursue a Level 3 BTEC in Performing Arts, as well as A Levels in Film and English Combined. During his transition to KS5, Billy participated in the National Citizenship Service (NCS) programme in partnership with the school.

After successfully completing the programme and raising significant funds for local charities, he was invited to join the NCS youth panel, contributing to the organisation's future direction. This involvement also allowed him to follow his passion for performing arts, leading to his recruitment for NCS's national moving image advertising campaign. This provided vital experience in a professional environment and cemented his desire to pursue a career in performing arts.

Thanks to the school's close links with the Liverpool Empire, Billy was offered the opportunity to join the Liverpool Empire Youth Group, an organisation that provides high-quality theatre placements and master classes with industry professionals, funded by the school.

Billy has since participated in two high-quality productions, gaining invaluable experience and further solidifying his career aspirations in performing arts. At school, Billy has applied to Queen Mary College in London to study performing arts.

With each passing year, Mia's unwavering commitment and hard work has transformed her into a model student who has smashed her academic targets. She embraced her studies, pouring herself into every lesson, assignment and intervention.

Initially showing an interest in law, Mia managed to organise her own work experience in a law firm in Year 10. She has now set her sights on a career as a doctor. Her self-belief is an inspiration to others and we challenge anyone to stand in her way.

She has a hilarious dry-witted humour and is a good friend to many in her year group. Staff always comment on how conscientious she is and how she strives to achieve her potential.

Through sheer hard work and determination, Mia has improved her maths by two grades since the start of year 11. She has attended every single online tutoring session, after school, holiday intervention and maths masterclass, in addition to working independently through some of the higher tier topics in order to achieve a better maths grade.

With her sights set firmly on the future, Mia is poised to continue her academic journey, eager to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Mia's story serves as a reminder that it's never too late to turn things around.

We are very proud of you, Mia.

During this difficult time, she missed many hours of school. Her worried form rallied around her, sending positive affirmations and well-wishes. Everyone missed her terribly and eagerly awaited her return to school.

At the start of Year 10, the school proposed starting Lilly on a reduced timetable to ensure she felt supported and not overwhelmed. But Lilly had other ideas, and was determined to fully immerse herself in her studies. This marked the beginning of Lilly’s remarkable comeback.

Academically, Lilly’s performance has been exemplary. She excels in all her subjects and is ranked among the top performers in Year 11. Concerned for others, she shares her knowledge with peers to help them improve.

Lilly goes above and beyond, participating in every intervention, masterclass, and revision session, often bringing originality and flair. Lilly’s story is a powerful reminder that with perseverance, it is possible to overcome life’s challenges and achieve greatness.

We are incredibly proud of how far she has come. Lilly, you deserve every success and happiness.

Well done, you’ve smashed it!

Undeterred by the pandemic and lockdown, she taught herself operatic singing using YouTube which led to her talent taking her to various events, including a prestigious awards dinner in Telford where she performed for world champion heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Despite initial academic challenges, Clara persevered.

Clara made the most of all the opportunities available to her at Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent, eventually becoming Head Girl after years of involvement in community projects and volunteering.

We can’t wait to hear about her progress at Durham and see her performing opera on the world stage one day!

Not only has he trained as an official FA referee, but he has also fully committed to his classwork, going above and beyond by completing extra mock papers and consistently prioritising his studies.

Ashley's hard work and dedication have made him a shining example in his PE class and beyond. His involvement as a referee in grassroots football leagues for the FA showcases his commitment to the sport, and we have no doubt that he will continue to excel in his sports qualification in college.

Moreover, Ashley's positive attitude and exemplary conduct make him a superb ambassador and role model for sport. He is going on to study Level 3 BTEC PE at college, and we are confident that his early success as a referee will continue into his professional career.

As the youngest of three siblings, he found it difficult to manage everyday tasks and masked his emotions while dealing with such profound loss at a young age. Despite the immense grief, Sameer’s supportive family helped him find the strength to take each day as it came.

His friends were also a source of love and comfort during his toughest times. At school, Sameer’s mentor encouraged him to pursue counselling and open up about his feelings, providing him with the wraparound care he needed. This support gave him the confidence to move forward.

Sameer is now on track to complete 8 GCSEs this summer and has never felt so good. He was recently part of a group of students who attended a careers fair at Elland Road, where he spoke with various tutors and graduates.

A conversation with a business student inspired him to study business, marking a turning point in his life. Sameer now aspires to pursue a career in marketing and dreams of one day being on The Apprentice.

Every school holiday, Nour volunteers at a local charity in Bradford City Centre that supports refugees. She provides support for young people who have escaped war-torn countries, distributes food packs to families in need, and helps young people access Maths and ESOL classes. Nour finds joy in volunteering because she is "helping people."

Through her volunteer work, Nour discovered an interest in childcare. One of the charity managers introduced her to the field, explaining what she needed to do to become a qualified childminder. Nour is on track to study Level 2 Childcare at Bradford College in September 2024. She is passionate and driven, eager to give back to the country that has given her so much.

Well done, Nour. You are amazing!

Ali is set to achieve outstanding academic results and is a valued member of the school football, softball, and basketball teams.

In addition to her academic success, Lillia is an extremely talented musician and she won the Key Stage 4 Vocalist of the Year award at this year's Co-op Academies Trust Young Musician of The Year.

Darren was hindered by his low self confidence and fear of failure. He wore his hair long so that it covered his face almost entirely and rarely spoke to anybody other than to a small handful of trusted adults.

When work became difficult and Darren lost confidence, he would simply stop. He wouldn't argue, become abusive or abscond. He would just politely put his equipment down and stop working. There was really nothing to be done about it and he would calmly remind staff " Don't get wound up about it, you're wasting your time. I'm not doing any more so there is no point in falling out" At this stage Darren was heavily reliant on the support structures around him and his mum's aspirations were for him to be able to maintain 'normal relationships' and manage stressful situations in a positive manner.

Darren is now in year 14 and his journey through Southfield has been unimaginable. This year he will sit his Level 2 qualifications in numeracy and literacy. He has engaged with a thorough transition programme to Bradford College where he has been accepted onto a Level 2 computing course and has a close network of trusted friends who he plans to keep in regular contact with when he leaves school.

Last year, Darren attended a week long outdoor activity residential in the lake district where he really pushed himself, attempting a number of activities that put his courage and resilience to the test.

Darren plans to get into the world of work within the next year and states that his main motivation for this is so that he can pay for his mum to go on holiday as a thank you for all of the support that she has given him over the years.

She has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the years, consistently trying her best with the support of teachers, support staff, and carers, who have all found ways to adapt learning and supporting Khansa to be as independent as possible.

Throughout her school life, Khansa has faced and overcome numerous challenges. Her health requires frequent absences for treatment and appointments, yet she quickly catches up with her learning upon her return.

Communication has been another hurdle, but Khansa now confidently uses her AAC eye gaze device, which includes a vast array of symbols to support her communication both at home and at school. This device allows her to fully engage and participate in every lesson.

Khansa’s confidence in expressing her wants and needs has significantly progressed, and she can write sentences and ask questions using her device. If technology fails, she effectively uses an E-Tran frame.

Khansa has built strong friendships with her classmates and enjoys socialising, listening to music, and talking about beauty.

Now, Khansa is preparing for the next step in her learning journey. “I am excited to go to college and meet new friends,” she shares.

She plans to leave Co-op Academy Southfield to attend Shipley College, and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.