Fundraising News

We are excited to announce that River Learning Trust has joined forces with the University of Oxford and regional leaders as a founding signatory of The Equinox Charter.

What is Equinox?

Equinox (Equitable Innovation Oxford) is a collaborative initiative created by the University of Oxford, government, and regional stakeholders. It is designed to position Oxfordshire as a globally competitive innovation hub, attracting investment and accelerating growth that benefits the entire region.

By bringing together investors, local communities, policymakers, and researchers, Equinox acts as an engine to:

• Attract inward investment to fuel our local economy.
• Bridge the gap between world-class research and real-world impact.
• Unlock growth that is regionally anchored, yet nationally significant.

Our Shared Commitment

For us, this is more than just a title - it’s a commitment to making Oxfordshire a global leader in equitable innovation. Together, we are:

• Breaking down barriers so that new talent and ideas can flourish.
• Driving sustainable growth that lasts.
• Ensuring world-class ideas make a positive impact on our communities and businesses.

Power in Partnership

Equinox is powered by partnership. We believe our region’s strength lies in collective ambition, and we are proud to stand alongside a diverse group of signatories to drive Oxford forward.

We look forward to collaborating with this incredible community and showcasing themilestones that make our ecosystem world-class.

What a day! On Wednesday 6th May, the sun shone and the energy was high as five schools from the River Learning Trust (New Marston, Wolvercote, Cutteslowe, Tower Hill and Garsington) descended on the beautiful fields of St Edward’s School for our annual KS2 Fun Run.

More Than Just a Run

This course was designed for maximum fun, there was no running round and round a track, the children raced around the field navigating a sensory area with hay bales and nets to test those agility skills and a giant inflatable bouncy castle (definitely the favourite!).

The finish line was complete with bubbles, upbeat music, and most importantly a hard-earned medal and a refreshing ice lolly for everyone!

Collaboration at Its Best

One of the loveliest parts of the day was seeing our RLT schools enjoying the race together. It was also great to see the older students at St Edward’s, helping with everything from the initial setup to running alongside the younger children to keep their spirits high. 

While the focus was on participation, we did have some winners to celebrate! The afternoon finished up with an awards ceremony for the fastest boys and girls in each year group.

A huge thank you to all the staff members at St Edward’s who worked behind the scenes to coordinate this wonderful event. 

Well done to all of the runners. You’ve made your schools proud, and we’re already counting down the days until next year!

Fifteen of our Year 12 students from TOA attended the Thames Valley Leadership Summit on Tuesday, 28th April, themed "Building Tomorrow, Today - Inclusive Leadership for a Flourishing Thames Valley," hosted by the University of Reading.

The summit explored vital themes including Faith, Civic Life & Flourishing Societies; Trust, Belonging & Resilience; and Youth & Civic Innovation.

Our students made us incredibly proud. They actively participated in the sessions, and five spontaneously formed a panel to share their perspectives on issues concerning them in the region. They spoke with confidence and clarity, demonstrating excellent public speaking skills and showcasing their emerging leadership potential.

The event was a wonderful demonstration of the value placed on the voices of our young people. Therefore, the organisers are committed to involving young people in any future leadership summits.

This success was possible thanks to the willingness of our students to engage, the dedicated support of our Sixth Form staff, and community support in creating this valuable opportunity.

Yesterday, representatives from River Learning Trust had the privilege of attending the Growing Minds Learning Day at the Earth Trust, exploring the future of early years support and the power of community partnerships.

A Holistic Approach to Early Development

Growing Mind is an innovative partnership project jointly delivered by Peeple, Home-Start Oxford, and The Berin Centre. The initiative provides a vital safety net for families with children aged 0–5, offering:

• Literacy Support: Providing books and home-learning guidance.
• Holistic Intervention: 1-to-1 support to address complex challenges.
• School Readiness: Targeted help to improve the "Good Level of Development" (GLD) for children starting their primary education.

Bridging Research and Reality

The event featured insights from Alex Hendry (University of Oxford & University of Birmingham), who presented on the START programme. This research focuses on supporting toddlers’ attention, regulation, and thinking skills—foundational blocks for lifelong learning.

Beyond the data, the day was defined by the moving, real-life stories of families. These testimonials highlighted the life-changing impact that high-quality, early intervention has on both children and their parents.

The Power of Trusted Relationships

The core takeaway from the day’s discussions was clear: Information alone is not enough. While signposting is helpful, families thrive when they have trusted relationships. It is these genuine, human connections that act as the true gateway to opportunity and support.

"Our biggest takeaway is that parents don’t just need more information and signposting; they need trusted relationships. These connections truly open up opportunities for families." Benedicte Yue, CFO

Looking Ahead

We would like to extend our admiration to Katharine Barber, Laura Harte, and Dr. Sally Smith for their dedicated leadership of the Growing Mind programme, as well as their entire team.

It was also a pleasure to connect with Donna Husband, River Learning Trust Trustee, who continues to lead vital early years and health initiatives at Oxfordshire County Council.

As we look to the future, we are excited to explore how our schools can further leverage these fantastic initiatives to ensure every child has the best possible start to their educational journey.

For more information on the Growing Minds project and the partners involved, please visit the website.