The E-ACT Venturers’ Academy in Bristol has been named a top three finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2024 in the category Overcoming Adversity.
This year’s winners of the World’s Best School Prizes, founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express and the Lemann Foundation, will share a $50,000 prize fund.
To celebrate, pupils, staff, parents and carers, as well as a host of special guests, gathered at the Bristol Beacon, where they learned the incredible news that they had been named one of the top three best schools in the world.
The Bristol Beacon generously offered E-ACT Venturers’ Academy the use of its world-class auditorium, Beacon Hall, after hearing that the school hall wasn’t large enough to accommodate children and staff from across the three school sites located in Withywood and St Anne’s Park.
The exciting event included musical performances from two of the school’s many talented students, with a further student taking to the infamous stage to read an original poem. Polar explorer and former Royal Marines Commando, Alan Chambers MBE, gave an inspirational keynote address, and students from The Big Act Academy of Theatre Arts in Bristol, wowed the audience with a fantastic performance of Step in Time from the musical Mary Poppins.
The audience of over 400 included special guests Peaches Golding, OBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, and Karin Smyth, Labour MP for Bristol South.
Describing the reaction when students and staff found out that their school is now one of the top three schools in the world, Executive Headteacher Trystan Williams said, “The joy and excitement in the room was unbelievable. Our wonderful pupils are amongst the most vulnerable children in the city, where the odds are all too often stacked against them – but with the unwavering support of their parents, carers and teachers, we all firmly believe that everything is possible, and the children embrace every opportunity and challenge with a positive mind set.
“Receiving this international recognition today really shows our pupils what they can achieve and how amazing they all are. It’s also a testament to the dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment of our entire school community, including our incredible staff, parents, carers and everyone involved in making our school a beacon of hope and excellence.”
A key initiative that Venturers’ Academy has been involved with from the start is the Extreme Classroom, which takes learning beyond traditional settings. For example, children from E-ACT Venturers’ Academy took part in the Wettest Classroom on Earth, an eight-week sailing challenge around the UK coast, where children undertook scientific experiments, alongside sea spotting dolphins, puffins, seals and minke whales.
This led to transformational developments in speech and communication skills, self-confidence and the ability to work as a cohesive team, highlighting the profound impact of these experiences. All expeditions are funded through sponsorship and enterprise schemes within the school.
Alan Chambers MBE, Polar Explorer and former Royal Marines Commando, who launched Extreme Classrooms, gave the inspirational keynote speech at today’s event. He said, “The students and staff at E-ACT Venturers’ Academy absolutely deserve this title, they really are a world-class school that changes the lives of children with autism.
“I’ve worked with the school for many years, taking students to far flung corners of the world as part of the Extreme Classrooms initiative, and I know first-hand that the sky’s the limit for these young people, they can achieve anything and everything they set their minds to.”
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, added, “This is a significant achievement for one of our schools in Bristol South. It is testament to the fantastic day-to-day work by students and teachers, and the important support provided by parents and carers.
“In challenging circumstances, teachers at E-ACT Venturers’ Academy provide a pathway to opportunity for children with specialist needs in south Bristol. I’m pleased that this good work has been recognised.”
Another Bristol-based organisation keen to help the pupils celebrate was Turners Coachways, who generously provided transport at-cost to and from the Bristol Beacon for all children, staff, parents and carers to ensure that no one missed out on such an exciting event.
Further congratulations came from the team at We The Curious, the science centre and educational charity located on Bristol’s harbourside, also home to the UK’s only 3D Planetarium and over 200 interactive exhibits. It extended a generous invitation for pupils at E-ACT Venturers’ Academy to visit, a trip that will take place next week and that is already a source of great excitement amongst pupils and staff.
CEO Donna Speed said, “We’re delighted to be able to welcome and celebrate with such a fantastic group of young people who, together with their teachers, have earned the incredible title of being one of the world’s best schools. Huge congratulations to everyone at E-ACT Venturers’ Academy for being recognised for all of your hard work with this award, what an achievement!”
Messages of congratulations were also received from the Rt Hon Lord Knight of Weymouth, the Chair of E-ACT; Sir Gareth Edwards CBE, Wales, Barbarians, British and Irish Lions Rugby Legend; the actor Nimmy March; and Thinus Delport, South Africa (Springboks) Rugby Legend and TV Sports Presenter.
Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said, “Unless the world takes urgent action, it is set to miss UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 of universal quality education by 2030. The global education crisis is multifaceted and so must be the solutions.
“That’s why we must look to the grassroots, to our schools at the coalface, for answers. Exceptional Bristol institutions like E-ACT Venturers’ Academy, whose work should make governments around the world sit up and take notice. By spreading its innovations far and wide, we can inspire change where it’s needed most.”
Should E-ACT Venturers’ Academy win the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity, the prize money will be used to expand its upcoming ‘Driest Classroom on Earth’ project in Oman. This initiative will further enhance students’ hands-on learning experiences and deepen their understanding of global environmental challenges, fostering a belief that anything is possible.