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Case Study: St Mary's Menston Academy
West Yorkshire
First published: May 2026
St Mary's Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy is an 11–18 mixed, secondary school and sixth form in Menston, West Yorkshire. It is part of the The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust.
- From resource-hunting to real learning
- Accelerating independent learning
- Data that drives decisions
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Faster, smarter task setting
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The ‘X’ factor in daily teaching
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A classroom that keeps moving
- Supporting lifelong learning habits
Introduction
At St. Mary’s Catholic Academy in Northwest Leeds, PE isn’t just about physical performance, it’s about building independent thinkers, confident learners, and students who take ownership of their progress.
Craig Thornton, Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology, leads a department that supports over 1,300 students across KS3 and KS4, as well as 200 in the sixth form. Over the years, he’s watched both the demands of teaching and the expectations on students increase and alongside that, he’s seen The EverLearner evolve to meet those growing needs.
Today, it’s become an essential part of how his team teaches smarter, supports more students, and keeps learning moving forward, in and out of the classroom.
From resource-hunting to real learning
"It was a constant search on Google - finding images, trying to make PowerPoint slides without the answers. It involved a lot of copying and pasting just to create resources that were accessible to everyone in the class. And that was a real challenge."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
Before The EverLearner, preparing for independent learning took up hours of planning time. Craig and his team were constantly piecing together resources, trying to make everything accessible, differentiated, and relevant.
Now, that time is better spent where it matters - supporting students to dive deeper into topics like the cardiovascular system and complex sports theory, with trusted content ready to go.
Accelerating independent learning
"The greatest impact is, I would say, a greater natural flow within a classroom. And it creates a classroom that's continuously moving forward with independent learning."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
What once felt like stop-start lessons have become smoother and more purposeful. Students are used to learning independently, navigating content at their own pace, while Craig and his team focus their time where it's needed most.
The platform has become a key part of lesson flow, removing bottlenecks, keeping students engaged, and giving the teacher space to teach.
Data that drives decisions
"That’s one of the most powerful tools I have - I can almost see a student’s study style through the number of attempts or time spent on certain sections."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
The EverLearner doesn’t just present data for the sake of it. For Craig, the insights are practical, showing him which students are actively engaging, which ones need a nudge, and where intervention might be needed.
It’s a way to personalise support, recognise effort, and understand not just *what* students are doing, but *how* they’re learning.
Faster, smarter task setting
"The amount of time you can save when setting tasks is massive. You can set work for an entire class, you can differentiate… set different challenges for different students within the class."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
In a busy department, time matters. The EverLearner allows Craig and his team to set tailored work for individuals, groups, or whole classes in just a few clicks.
That flexibility has made it a go-to tool for everything from mixed-ability lessons to cover work, taking the stress out of preparation and making differentiation feel effortless.
The 'X' factor in daily teaching
"The speed at which it can support your daily work, for me that’s the ‘X’ factor."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
Whether it’s planning, monitoring progress, or setting homework, The EverLearner makes everyday teaching tasks quicker and more efficient. It’s not just a learning tool, it’s a system that lightens the load and frees up time for high-impact teaching.
Supporting lifelong learning habits
"I know because they've told me, that they can sit with their earphones in and get some work done on the bus."
Craig Thornton
Faculty Leader of Science, PE and Psychology
Whether it’s during a quiet moment at home or on the way to school, students are using The EverLearner to study in their own time. It’s become part of their daily routine, a trusted tool that fits into their lives and encourages independent learning well beyond the classroom.
Craig’s experience shows that when learning feels relevant, accessible, and personal, students don’t just use it because they have to - they choose to.
Watch the full testimonial video