Jesmond Park Academy is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £125,000 from the Wolfson Foundation. This funding will support the construction of two state-of-the-art laboratory "cubes," enhancing the delivery of practical science education for GCSE and  A Level students.

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity that provides funding to organisations across the UK. Their mission focuses primarily on supporting education and research.

Jesmond Park Academy’s application stood out due to its innovative approach to creating dedicated laboratory space. The award highlights the project's ambitious nature and the Foundation's recognition of its potential impact on students' science education.

The new laboratory facilities will address the need for additional specialised environments that promote high-quality teaching and learning. This expansion is crucial for Jesmond Park Academy as it continues to grow, offering more GCSE and A Level science groups in response to increased student interest and its outstanding reputation in the community. The new facilities will not only enhance the learning experience for current students but also attract external students eager to pursue A Level science at the academy.

Steve Campbell, Principal, commented, “We are committed to fostering an environment that prioritises innovative education and exceptional student outcomes, and we are delighted to have been successful in our application to the Wolfson Foundation. As a Trust, Gosforth Group strives to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education and learning environments so that, regardless of their abilities and backgrounds, they can achieve their ambitions and aspirations. The cubes are due to be installed in school by summer 2026, and I know students will truly benefit from this facility and enjoy their practical science lessons in these innovative spaces.”  

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: We are very pleased to support Jesmond Park Academy, enabling them to create these new facilities for their students. We hope the new science laboratories will encourage and inspire students to develop their interest in science while at school and in the future.”

On a very cold and early Christmas Eve morning, volunteers from Jesmond Park Academy Sixth Form joined other Streetworx volunteers to hand out gifts, cards, drinks and essentials to those on the streets in Newcastle. There was a tremendous student turn out and students were able to see firsthand how their kind Christmas donations help those people currently homeless in Newcastle. The Streetworx volunteers were very impressed with the work students have done, both as a school collecting items and also with the conduct of the students who volunteered that morning with one volunteer commenting that the students were ‘a credit to the school’.