Latest News

Well-being Team Deliver Care Packs to the Elderly

Mon 28 Oct 2024 L Cassidy

A big thank you to all of the staff, children and parents who donated to our autumn term fund raising. We hit the target of raising enough money to buy 20 cosy cares packs for the residents of Plains Farm. Read the full article below.

Watch as Sunderland children deliver cosy care packages to pensioners following scrapping of winter fuel payments (Sunderland Echo)

British Council International School Award

Tue 09 Jul 2024

British Council International School Award success for

Plains Farm Academy

Plains Farm Academy in Sunderland has been awarded Foundation level of the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom.

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools, so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work in today’s world.

Shannon West, Head of UK Schools for the British Council, said: ‘Plains Farm Academy’s international work has earned the school well-deserved recognition with the British Council International School Award - Foundation Certificate.

We are delighted and proud that Plains Farm are committed to developing a whole school approach to embedding and celebrating international work. The dedication from everyone is enriching education and supporting globally aware young people and the development of key skills.

We thank all involved in this important work; embedding an international ethos across a school can lead to International School Award accreditation, which is the highest level of the award. Schools looking to join this supportive and engaging global network should contact us at the British Council.”

The Award is now available worldwide in countries such as Greece, India and Nigeria. Over 6000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.

The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop:

An international ethos embedded throughout the school
A whole school approach to international work
Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
Year-round international activity
Involvement of the wider community

Library Opening

Thu 20 Jun 2024 L Cassidy

We were delighted to welcome Dan Neil into school to open our new library. The library would not have been possible without the support of our Plains Farm community and all of the fundraising activities we do in school. The children enjoyed a story, read by Dan, and he even played football with some of our year 6 children.

Dan loved the library and we can't wait to invite him in again.

Sunderland star Dan Neil goes back to school to open new library (sunderlandecho.com)

Secret Garden Completion

Thu 20 Jun 2024 L Cassidy

Back in May, we received an email from Rob Wilkinson, Production Manager for AESC. They were offering local schools an opportunity to have free labour and support as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility project.

We obviously snapped their hands off and Mrs Quill, who already had ideas for the secret garden, came up with an initial design and worked with the team to transform the area.

We received donations from local firms and individuals to support us with project.

We look forward to building further relationships with AESC through their offer of STEM opportunities.