UK

Global Academy has reported the best exam results in its history, with record achievements across both academic and creative subjects.

Headline results for 2024/25 show that 33% of all grades awarded were at the top level of 7-9 or Distinction/Distinction*, compared with a national average of around 22%.
In Media Production, 43% of grades were at Distinction+, more than double the national benchmark. Music Production achieved 48.5% Distinction+, while Creative Digital Media reached 34.9%. In Drama, 42% of grades were between 9-6.
Principal James Murray-Walsh said: “These are the best results in our history, and they belong to our incredible students.
“A third of all grades were at the very top level – far above national averages – which is an extraordinary achievement. At Global Academy we do education differently – our students don’t just sit exams, they build futures.”
From this September, every student will receive an iPad to support digital learning, and the Academy is already oversubscribed for September 2025.
Looking ahead, a new Media Scholars programme will launch in 2026, offering aptitude-based places for 10% of Year 10 students with outstanding creative skills.
Two new Saturday Schools are also set to open this November in South London and Scotland, providing opportunities for younger students from Year 8 to gain hands-on media experience.

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The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has confirmed the full cast for Haywire, a new play telling the story of how BBC radio created The Archers.

Written by long-standing Archers scriptwriter Tim Stimpson and directed by Joseph O’Malley, Haywire is licensed by the BBC and staged in the lead-up to the programme’s 75th anniversary on BBC Radio 4 in January 2026.
The play focuses on the early years of the drama, when a small Birmingham team recorded the very first episode above a used car showroom in December 1950.
The cast includes Liam Horrigan as Sam, Geebs Marie Williams as Jessica, Rosanna Miles as Fiona, Olivia Bernstone as Abbie, Anthony Glennon as Martin, Kieran Brown as Adrian and James Mack as Jonty.
Speaking about the project, Tim Stimpson said: “It’s been a long-standing ambition of mine to tell the story of how a small team recording above a car showroom created what is now the world’s longest running continuing drama.”
The Archers Editor Jeremy Howe said the Barn Theatre “bit our hands off” to stage the play, calling it “a love song to the early years of The Archers.”
Barn Theatre CEO Iwan Lewis added that staging the premiere recognises one of the most important moments in British radio history and a landmark in BBC broadcasting.
The production runs from 1st September to 11th October, with a press night on 4th September. Find out more by visiting the Barn Theatre website.

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Radiocentre has confirmed the first names appearing at Tuning In 2025, which takes place on Tuesday 23rd September at Kings Place in London.

The event will run with the theme of Radiocentre’s new ‘Advertising Amplified’ campaign, celebrating the power and impact of radio and audio.
Actress, comedian and writer Diane Morgan, who voices the campaign, will be among the highlights. Best known for her role as Philomena Cunk, she also stars in Motherland and Mandy, which returns for a fourth series this summer.
Diane will join Magic Radio’s Tom Price in conversation about her career in comedy and broadcasting, the art of creativity and the role of voice in both acting and advertising.
Jane Christian, EVP of Analytics for Choreograph UK, will present new Radiocentre ROI research. The study looks at how brands can use multi-platform audio to strengthen campaign performance.
Bauer Media’s Content Director Paul Sylvester will also appear alongside Magic Radio presenters Gaby Roslin and Nicki Chapman, discussing the station’s “Glow Time” strategy and how it is connecting with listeners.
Radioplayer Worldwide CEO Yann Legarson will present updates on in-car innovation and international partnerships designed to keep radio central in the connected car era.
Bauer Media Advertising Managing Director Simon Kilby will examine key audio advertising trends through to 2030, including the role of synthetic voices and AI in content creation.
The morning will open with a market overview from Radiocentre CEO Matt Payton. Client Director Lucy Barrett said: “We’re so pleased to welcome these speakers to the Tuning In agenda. They bring a dynamic mix of industry insight, forward-looking analysis, and entertainment.”
Tuning In is Radiocentre’s flagship event and is free for UK advertisers, agencies and member stations, with the option to attend in-person or online. You can find out more and sign up on Radiocentre’s website.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Tyler West – Presenter, KISS
Diane Morgan – Actress, comedian and writer
Tom Price – Presenter, Magic Radio
Jane Christian – EVP Analytics, Choreograph UK
Gaby Roslin – Presenter, Magic Radio
Nicki Chapman – Presenter, Magic Radio
Paul Sylvester – Content Director, Bauer Media
Yann Legarson – CEO, Radioplayer Worldwide
Simon Kilby – MD, Bauer Media Advertising
Matt Payton – CEO, Radiocentre

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BBC Radio 1Xtra is marking Notting Hill Carnival 2025 with a full week of special programming and a Carnival Weekender across the August bank holiday.

The station will showcase the music, culture and community with on-air shows, mixes, artist takeovers and live reports from the event.
The build-up began on 17th August with a 1Xtra Talks special exploring the legacy of sound system culture in the UK.
A new on-demand programme, Beyond the Music, is also available on BBC Sounds, celebrating the vendors, designers, organisers and sound system operators behind the carnival.
Daily mixes are being added to the 1Xtra Carnival Collection, offering sets inspired by Caribbean and UK sounds.
From Friday, 1Xtra’s programming will include themed features and mixes. Saturday’s shows will include DJs Swarzy, Nick Bright, Sian Anderson with Manga Saint Hilare and Snoochie Shy, who will focus on Panorama, the UK’s National Steelband Competition.
On Sunday and Monday, DJ Private Ryan, Elephant Man and DJ Puffy will bring exclusive carnival sets.
There will also be live updates from Notting Hill, with Kash & Pharoah reporting from the streets across Sunday and Monday. Highlights from the Rampage Stage will air on Monday afternoon between 4pm and 6pm.
BBC News will live stream the carnival on Monday between 1pm and 4pm, with CassKidd and Claira Hermet providing coverage. The stream will be available on BBC News online and BBC iPlayer.
Throughout the weekend, 1Xtra’s Carnival Collection will be available on BBC Sounds for more bespoke music and shows.

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Bauer has renewed its partnership with Virgin Bet for a fourth year, with the sponsorship of Rock and Roll Football on Absolute Radio throughout the 2025/26 season.

The campaign kicks off with a new ‘Subs for Subs’ promotion, giving five listeners and their nominated friends the chance to have all their TV sports subscriptions paid for across the year.
For the first time, the collaboration goes beyond Absolute Radio into a multi-channel campaign.
On Greatest Hits Radio, Virgin Bet will sponsor GHR Sports News for six months, marking the station’s first-ever sponsorship of its sports news output.
Virgin Bet will be the official sponsor of the Sports News segment with sports presenter Matt Williams during Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show.
The campaign also includes Illuminate, Bauer’s data-led advertising platform, delivering targeted branded content and digital display activity.
Additional editorial support will come from Bauer’s golf media brand Today’s Golfer, while the sponsorship of Rock and Roll Football will continue to feature live, reactive moments and interactive content on-air.
Simon Kilby, Managing Director of Bauer Advertising, said: “As the nation is gripped by football fever at the start of the new season, it’s fantastic to see the continuation and expansion of this campaign.
“This partnership delivers a strategic, creatively integrated solution that reflects our unique ability to create impact by bringing together multiple Bauer brands and platforms.”
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director at Virgin Bet, added: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Bauer Media into a fourth season.
“This year’s multi-channel strategy – from GHR Sports News sponsorship to print and digital activations – gives us the opportunity to reach new audiences alongside our core Absolute Radio activity.”

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Hospital Radio Swindon will celebrate its Diamond anniversary this year with a special 12-hour live broadcast on Saturday 20th September.

Beginning at 8am and continuing until 8pm, the special programme will feature requests, dedications, quizzes and live guests throughout the day.
The station first began entertaining patients in 1955 with football commentary before launching a full radio service more than a decade later. Its roots, however, go back to 1938, making it one of the UK’s oldest hospital radio services.
Since 2007, the station has broadcast from a studio on the second floor of the Great Western Hospital, providing a 24-hour service for patients in Swindon hospitals.
Programme and Content Editor Dave Woods said the team wants the community to be part of the day.
“We would really like the town to get behind our all-day request show by tuning in and choosing the music for us throughout our live 12 hours,” he explained. “We would especially like for family and friends of those who are staying at the Great Western Hospital or local nursing homes to join in and let us send a special message to their loved ones.”
Chairman Arthur Perkin added that the celebration marks an important milestone. “Hospital Radio Swindon celebrates an amazing 60 years of visiting and entertaining patients in Swindon’s hospitals this year, so we wanted to mark the occasion with something special on air,” he said.
Requests for the live programme can also be emailed to request@hospitalradioswindon.org.

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