The Flying High Trust, which runs The Flying High Academy in Mansfield; Peafield Lane Academy in Mansfield Woodhouse; and Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy, was labelled the Oxbridge of primary education at its first awards ceremony.

Seven groups of awards — aspiration, responsibility, creativity, pride, confidence, perseverance and enjoyment — reflecting the trust’s ethos were given.

Andrew Garner, the former chairman and chief executive of Boyden World Corporation who also taught at Harvard University, said the trust had courage and vision.

“There is no Oxford and Cambridge in primary education — there is now, and it’s The Flying High Trust,” he said. “You must see this as an opportunity to build on this phenomenon and the spirit behind it that you have all witnessed tonight.”

Entertainment at the Trent Vineyard Conference Centre, Nottingham, included singing and dancing from pupils within the trust.

Chris Wheatley, chief executive of the trust, said: “Our first annual awards evening has been a huge success — celebrating our values as a trust with our children, staff, parents, wider members of the community and our industry partners.

“Our values represent everything our schools look to develop within children by the time they leave their school. We want our schools to ensure that their children look back with pride and forward with confidence.”

Pictured are Peafield Lane Academy pupils at the awards evening.