Exceed Learning Partnership celebrates pupils and staff alike at Festival of Arts and Ambition Awards 2025

Exceed Learning Partnership proudly hosted its first annual Festival of Arts and Ambition Awards - a vibrant celebration of creativity, talent, and personal achievement across our Trust. Held at CAST Theatre in the City Centre, the festival brought together pupils, staff, families, and community members to showcase and honour the incredible artistic and personal accomplishments of our children and staff. 

The Festival of Arts featured a stunning exhibition of pupil artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces that reflected imagination, individuality, and the diverse themes explored across our academies. Performances throughout the evening included musical performances from Sandringham Primary School Orchestra, Hall Cross Academy's Sophie Naylor and the Exceed Trust Choir, who sang a song that they had composed for the event entitled 'We Will Build A Ladder'. The atmosphere was one of joy, pride, and celebration, as each child’s creative voice was given the platform it deserved. Alongside the arts celebration, the Ambition Awards recognised pupils, students and staff who have gone above and beyond in areas such as leadership, resilience, creativity, and community spirit. 

Our deputy CEO, Andy Hibbitt compared the event, with speeches from our CEO Beryce Nixon OBE, guest speaker Adrian Sullivan, founder and CEO of Pass Logistics and Ros Jones CBE, Mayor of Doncaster. Nominated by teachers, peers and the CEO, award winners were celebrated for their exceptional contributions and personal growth, with the wider Trust community cheering them on as they accepted their well-deserved honours. 

The winners were announced on the evening and received their awards from Beryce Nixon OBE and Adrian Sullivan. The winners were:

• Outstanding KS3 Curriculum - Science Department, Hall Cross Academy 
• Outstanding GCSE Results - Maths Department, Hall Cross Academy
• Outstanding A Level Results - Art, Design and Technology Department, Hall Cross Academy
• Longstanding Service Award - Paul Stead, Hall Cross Academy
• Contribution to Reading - Nichola Rossall, Willow Primary School
• Trust Leadership for Maths - Kelly Pearce, Bentley High Street Primary School
• Trust Leadership for Music - Louise Sutton, Sandringham Primary School 
• Pedagogical Primary Development - Amanda John-Baptiste, Carr Lodge Academy and Lauren Richardson, Sandringham Primary School
• Wider Contribution to all aspects - Miriam Micklethwaite, Rosedale Primary School
• Unwavering Dedication to SEND - Debbie Lowry, Bentley High Street Primary School
• Dedication to Safeguarding - Matt Copestick, Central Team
• Contribution to Early Years/Foundation Stage - Sophie Scurfield, Carr Lodge Academy
• Contribution to KS1 - Michelle Steeper, Sheep Dip Lane Academy
• Contribution to Lower KS2 - Antonia Rowntree, Edlington Victoria Academy
• Contribution to Upper KS2 - Antonia James, Hill Top Academy and Vicky Hewitt, Rosedale Primary School
• Contribution to Secondary and Post-16 - Shaun Hossack, Hall Cross Academy
• Contribution as an ECT - Sam Day, Hall Cross Academy

This special event marked the beginning of a new tradition within Exceed Learning Partnership—one that places equal value on character, creativity, and ambition, and recognises that success takes many forms. We look forward to making next year’s festival even bigger, as we continue to celebrate the incredible potential within our Trust.