Category : Headteacher’s Blog

With climate change currently a hot topic in the news, it was great to welcome eighteen Year 6 students from Kirby Hill Primary School to take part in practical activities with Mr Inglis as part of the Polar Explorer cross phase project. The focus of their investigation? The science of climate change! They produced a chromatogram of the earth’s atmosphere, discussed glacial movement and why we should be concerned about it, investigated the effects of the increasing acidity of our seas due to increased levels of carbon dioxide and investigated the effects of acidity in seashells. The work will be continued when they get back to their own school.

Meanwhile, on one of my regular walks around school, I came across a Year 7 Science class who were teaching themselves about climate change! Loucia took to the floor and presented her carefully constructed research around climate change whilst being asked questions from her peers. Keiran asked a very pertinent question ‘Which is worse, plastic finding its way to the sea or being burnt and releasing carbon dioxide?’ Perhaps one for you to have a weekend ponder about. Year 7 were going to discuss it in more detail later in the lesson.

Year 9 will have an exciting weekend of packing ahead as many of them are going to Bewerley Park on Tuesday. We’re hoping to show a daily photo on the website so that you can see what they’re up to.

In Showjumping success this week, Imogen in Year 7 won the northern Bronze league gaining the highest number of points in the country for the 148cm ponies (16 years and under riders). Congratulations Imogen.

Advance warning that our production of ‘We Will Rock You’ will take place on Friday 12^th July from 7-9p.m.

Finally, best wishes to Mrs Donnelly who goes off on maternity leave today. From Monday, Mrs Godsell-Wright will be stepping in to look after Year 10 and Mrs Williams will be looking after Year 9.

Have a lovely weekend.

Well it’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a week! A-Level and GCSE exams have continued apace and on Wednesday morning, as Year 11 were avidly revising for their Science exam in the afternoon, excitement was mounting for the Year 8 football team and their many supporters. Kitted out in their new numbered shirts sponsored by ‘2 h Storage Solutions’, the team made their way to the ground in the school minibus closely followed by the coach of supporters. So imagine the scene, the Hawthorns, the spectators, the atmosphere then walking out on to the pitch were Claremont School (worth a google) followed by Team BHS for the final of a national competition! How many of you are imagining how you would have felt to play in a national final at such a prestigious location at their age?

It soon became clear that we were up against very strong opposition but our team got stuck in and played with energy and determination, demonstrating that they’d taken on the advice of Aaron Williams (Harrogate Town AFC) to never give up. The BHS supporters were there every step of the way singing ‘Boroughbridge’ in the style of the 90s ‘Vindaloo’ football chant. There were many highlights along the way including Will’s strike which hit the goal post, Harry’s passing skills and Alex’s phenomenal goalkeeping.  The BHS team played a committed game until the final whistle was blown. We’d lost the match but still had medals to collect to mark the great achievement of reaching the final and being runners up.

Up in the VIP box a governor and I had a half time conversation with the ESFA officials who revealed that our goalkeeper, Alex, was the best that they’d seen over the two days (that’s 12 matches with students of differing ages) so it was no surprise to see him awarded a unique special recognition award, never given before, for his goalkeeping excellence before runner up medals were presented.

So we’d gone from being 1 of 127 teams from across the country at the beginning of the tournament to being runners-up. We’re so proud of our team for reaching the final and for playing such a good match, representing Boroughbridge High School in the most positive of ways.

In the post-match interview Head of PE, oops I mean Manager, Simon Collings said ‘I’m super proud. The boys have done exceptionally well.’ He speaks for us all.

You can watch the full thing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to69iW8nF18 (from 8hrs 21)

The team with their runner up medals

On Thursday following the English Literature exam, Year 11 carried out the annual shirt signing leaving ritual. With signatures, inspiring messages for the future and the occasional diagram that it’s best I don’t mention, shirts soon became fully decorated. The Leavers’ Assembly was the focus for the afternoon with poignant words from Form tutors, certificates celebrating both the serious and amusing, performances from Bertie, photos spanning the last five years and messages of best wishes for the future. Some students then had a final game of football whilst others enjoyed the afternoon sun. A very happy sad moment. We’ve got around two more weeks of exams then we can all celebrate our time together at BHS at the Prom.

Year 13 were also saying their farewells to staff and other students at Cake Friday, marking the start of their study leave.

It’s been a short but momentous half term. I hope that you and your families have a lovely break.

Years 7 and 8 were our focus on Monday when Mr Grierson and I carried out a number of learning walks. We saw it all, from an experiment and write-up to Educake revision in Science. Mathematicians were thinking of the future as they calculated interest instalments to determine whether they could buy a Fiesta or a Ferrari. In Geography, students were exploring local maps to locate tourist attractions, once they’d found their own house, of course! Meanwhile, co-construction of descriptive writing was at the fore as students got lost in the maze of a rainforest in English or showed empathy for novel characters. Up in RE, students were timed as they completed sentences describing the characteristics of God. A challenging questioning session then provoked deeper thought. Artists were exploring art genres before beginning their own artwork whilst also discussing the suspicion around new art forms until they become more familiar. So, if you asked your children what they’d done at school and they said ‘Nothing’, don’t you believe it.

In Assemblies, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Mr Grierson shared the World Health Organisation fact that mental illness affects 1 in 4 people. Students were reminded of the importance of talking about mental health and seeking help when needed. Staff at Boroughbridge High School have all received Compass BUZZ training with the aim of strengthening the mental health and well-being of the children and young people in our care.

Well done to Years 10, 11 and 13 this week for their focused approach to their exams.  With one week completed there are only 3 more exam weeks (and a half term week!) to go. Spirits were lifted this morning when Year 11 received their Leavers’ hoodies, a very strong tradition at Boroughbridge High School.

So, we’re hurtling towards the big one, the final of the ESFA Boys Under 13 PlayStation Small Schools’ Trophy at the Hawthorns Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. We’re all looking forward to watching the match and wish Alex, Harry, Josh, Nathan, Archie, Ryan, Matt, Harry, Will, Adam, Keane, Reuben, Monty and Dan the very best of luck.

Have a lovely weekend!

Following a lovely long weekend, Years 10 and 11 returned to their Art exam this week and, with the French speaking exams last week, the exam season has now officially begun. Not surprisingly, there’s lots of revision taking place in and outside of lessons with teachers and students alike keeping their focus on the weeks ahead. Year 11 parents will have received a letter about Study Leave and a quick reminder for parents of students in Years 10 and 11 that you can access your child’s exam timetable on My Child at School and general information about the exam period shared at the Parent Information Evening can be found at the following link http://www.boroughbridgehigh.com/parents/educational-updates/.

Assemblies this week have focused on Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for Muslims where they fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of learning self-control, gratitude and compassion for those less fortunate. Students were asked to think both about the discipline involved and the commitment it takes before being asked to consider the questions, ‘What can you improve over the next month?’ and ‘Can you do anything to help someone less fortunate than you?’

Last night parents, teachers, governors and students assembled in the Hall for the Summer Concert. It was a total treat to hear an eclectic mix from Elvis to Elbow with performances by Constantly Vocal, Polarised, the Choir and vocal duets alongside soloists Jack (Piano), Eliza (Violin), Dan (Trumpet) and Bertie (Keyboard). To bring the concert to a rousing conclusion, Mr Grierson and Mrs Helmn joined the musicians, including Mrs Webb, and choir on the stage to sing ‘One Day Like This’. An excellent evening all round and thanks go to Mrs Skilbeck.

Looking ahead, an advance reminder that students do not attend school on our Professional Development Day on Thursday 11^th July. Please note that, similarly to last year, this date was chosen to coincide with the final day of the Great Yorkshire Show to enable you to take your child without them missing school. Please note therefore that requests for absence to attend on Tuesday 9^th or Wednesday 10^th will not be approved.

Have a good weekend.

I hope you all had a lovely Easter break. It was great to see so many of our students taking advantage of Easter School to help them with their revision as the exams rapidly approach.

Assemblies this week have focused on attitude and resilience with a recognition that those who have a positive attitude and are prepared to persevere after setbacks are much more likely to be successful. This gave us the opportunity to recognise that our students display these characteristics on a daily basis and to celebrate the success of the Year 8 football team, reaching the final of the ESFA Boys Under 13 Play Station Small Schools Trophy.

Talking of sporting success, over the holidays two Year 11 students, Josh and Jack competed in a 15k Yorkshire Warrior event, finishing 12^th and 13^th. Impressive! Meanwhile, Sam in Year 11, after years of hard work, training and commitment has signed his scholarship with Leeds United, an opportunity given to only a select few. Congratulations Sam.

With the environment at the forefront of the news at the moment, a reminder that we would be grateful for any used batteries which we’re collecting as part of The Big Battery Hunt and any used stamps which we’re collecting for UK’s Air Ambulance Services. Thanks for your donations to date.

Events next week include the Summer Concert which will take place from 7-8.30pm on Thursday 9^th May. You’ll have the pleasure of hearing the choir, string quartet, A Capella group, Polarise, The Boppers and soloists from Years 7 to 12. An evening of entertainment awaits. Tickets on the door are £2 or £1 for concessions.

Advance warning of an event you may be interested in. The ‘This is Me’ festival, a celebration of Inclusion organised by Nidderdale Childrens’ Resource Centre, is on 23^rd June at Ripon Rugby Club. To find out more press this link:

https://www.harcvs.org.uk/events/%E2%80%98-me%E2%80%99-festival

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend.

Well, the waiting is finally over. The Year 8 Boroughbridge High School football team will be taking on Claremont School in the final of the ESFA Boys Under 13 PlayStation Small Schools’ Trophy on May 22nd at the Hawthorn’s Stadium which, for those unfamiliar with the Premier League, is the West Bromwich Albion ground. I know, exciting times indeed! In order to reach the final the team have had to secure 6 wins against a wide range of teams. A fantastic achievement. Congratulations to Alex, Harry, Josh, Nathan, Archie, Ryan, Matt, Harry, Will, Adam, Keane, Reuben, Monty, Dan and Mr. Collings, of course.

By way of preparation, Harrogate Town AFC have been very kindly showing their support. It was a great privilege to meet Aaron Williams and Iain Service when they joined a training session at Boroughbridge High School on Tuesday afternoon. As you can see, they also brought with them last season’s play off trophy, a clear representation of what can be achieved through hard work and determination. After watching the boys in action, the team had a chance to ask Aaron, a man who’s scored at Wembley, some searching questions. He revealed that part of his preparation for big matches was to imagine winning, describing the feeling of scoring a critical goal in front of family and friends and the deep sense of emotion. Tips for the big match were simple, ‘Don’t give up and remember that you’ve got this far as a team and whether you win, lose or draw, you do that as a team.’ Genuinely inspiring words. We’re really grateful to Aaron and Iain for their time and input.

So the team will be travelling down to the West Midlands on 22nd May in their new kits which have been very kindly sponsored by ‘2 h Storage Solutions’ based in Wetherby. This is such a momentous occasion that we’re hoping to take as many students from Years 7, 8 and 9 who would like to support the team. We’ll send out a letter and further details following the Easter break.

Thank you for your support throughout this Spring Term. I hope that you and your families have a lovely Easter break and we’ll look forward to welcoming Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students for Easter Revision School from Tuesday 23^rd to Thursday 25^th April. Further details can be found on the website.

Creative Careers was the focus of a trip for some Year 9 and 10 students, nominated by their teachers to attend the BBC Bitesize Roadshow last Friday. Presenter Jonny Nelson, who recently fronted CBBC’s live Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Mash-Up, was the host. Jonny introduced three guests, a researcher who has been working for 999 Rescue Squad and the BBC1 River Walks series, a Freelance Lighting Director, who has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, Sky and on shows including X Factor, Strictly and The Apprentice and a Visual Effects Supervisor, who has experience in period dramas, sci-fi and worked for Netflix. They all talked about their career ideas when they were at school and how their aspirations changed over time. The theme running through the morning was that you should take opportunities even if they seem scary. You can find out more on the website.

Nidderdale was the location for a highly successful Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifying expedition last weekend. Two teams were in action, both working well with navigating the highways and byways above Pateley Bridge and camping at How Stean Gorge. Students were complimented by many fellow walkers and the campsite team. Well done all.

In assemblies this week, Miss Ingham has been talking to students about stress. She explained that we all need a certain level of stress to motivate us (would teenagers revise for exams without the motivation of a little stress?) but also what to do if you feel overwhelmed. Talking, taking action and spending time in natural environments were top tips for managing stress.

Year 7 have been fully focused on exams this week whilst Year 8 will be looking forward to Parents’ Evening next Wednesday where conversations will focus on progress and recent Year 8 exams. Please accept my apologies, I’ll be representing BHS by presenting a workshop at a national conference in Manchester on Wednesday. Mr Grierson will be available to answer any questions.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cressida Cowell, Anthony Horowitz, Misa Sugiura and David Walliams were the authors of choice for our most improved readers in Year 7, Immanuel, Natasha, Jessica, Herbie, Verity and Jack. For them the week started with hot chocolate with marshmallows and croissants in order to celebrate the excellent progress that they’ve made. They’re likely to spend some of this weekend reading their new book as they continue on their literary journey.

Challenge Day on Wednesday saw a vast range of educational experiences. Year 7 had the delights of the Rocket Car Challenge led by the Science team. Having had two teams in the National Finals last year, ending as joint runners-up, the stakes are high. Year 7 spent the morning designing, sawing, filing, colouring and attaching wheels before moving out to the tennis courts where the racing took place. There were some speedy cars so let’s hope we have some qualifying times.

Year 8 were engaging in the topic of Fairtrade discovering how their buying decisions in the UK can have a global impact. Year 9 travelled to the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire. It was a reflective day with students having the chance to spend time in the memorial garden, making their own contribution to the children’s memorial where a stone is placed by each child visiting the centre to represent the 1.3 million Jewish children who died in the Holocaust. Currently, there are c500,000 stones on the memorial. In the afternoon, students had the privilege of hearing Arek and his wife Gena share their story. Arek is 90 years old and survived two camps including Auschwitz. His story was inspirational and our students were lucky to be able to hear his testimony live as there are only five survivors of the camps still alive in England.

With exams on the horizon, Years 10 and 11 were engaged in a number of core and option subject double lessons focusing on exam technique and revision. Some Year 11 students had their Speaking and Listening exam. Year 12 were visited by Newcastle University representatives discussing all things connected to University life, finance and courses. Meanwhile, Year 13, Mrs Rainbow and Mrs Lake headed off to London on one of the most politically exciting days of the year. Mrs Rainbow reports

‘An early 6.30 start saw us dropped on Park Lane and with a brisk walk through Green Park, past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall, students were given free time to explore the West End sights. These included Covent Garden, Leicester Square, China Town and the area around

Westminster. We were booked for a tour of Parliament in the afternoon and were able to witness history in the making, with time in the public viewing gallery. Students saw the Prime Minister and many other MPs going about their work. We had a private meeting with our local MP, Andrew Jones, and learnt about pressure groups in a workshop. The Palace of Westminster was a very busy place both inside and out on Wednesday, and it was an exciting experience for students to see history in action, as well as many iconic areas of our capital.’ Our students said “I really enjoyed meeting our MP. He had interesting views. I could have listened to him for ages” and “It was amazing actually going into Parliament and seeing Teresa May. The artwork and architecture of the building was fascinating.’

In recent sporting success, Izzy (Year 8), competed in the British Showjumping National Schools’ Winter Championships in Wales. She took an incredible second place and two, third places with her young pony who has only been jumping six months. Last Wednesday evening, Izzy was awarded the regional Schools Award at the British Showjumping Yorkshire Area Awards. Well done Izzy.

Year 8 have also focused on their exams this week, learning expectations around completing an exam under formal exam conditions. Year 7 will have their opportunity next week.

So there are only ten school days until the Easter break! Have a lovely weekend.

‘When did Comic Relief start?’ was one of the questions asked in assemblies this week before students explored how money has been raised over the years, what it’s been used for and what they can do to raise money. Our contribution has included numerous cake sales and, as you’ll be well aware, we’re having a non-uniform day today. The total collected so far is £511.65. Thanks everyone.

Year 9 have been thinking about their futures over the past few weeks and on Wednesday evening had the opportunity to discuss their Option choices with their parents and teachers. We’re pleased to be able to offer a wide and rich curriculum with our overall aim to ensure that all students leave our school, not only with the qualifications they need to access the next stage of their education or career of choice, but with the skills and confidence to make an active contribution to the communities to which they belong. So, Year 9 have a few more days to do their thinking before Options Forms are due in on Thursday 21^st March. Parental feedback gathered during the evening will be shared on the school website.

In lessons this week Year 9 have been doing preparatory work for their Yorkshire pudding making next week whilst Year 8 Scientists were reminding themselves that their 5-a-day means a full complement of pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and calculator! Looking at the 5-a-day of the usual kind were Year 8 students in Food Technology where Chinese cuisine was being cooked with great expertise. Meanwhile, Year 7 have continued to read following the Accelerated Reader programme and making great progress whilst Year 11 have been completing Science mock exams and reflecting on their recently completed Maths exam paper, working out what they need to do to improve.

A final reminder that it’s a Professional Development Day on Wednesday 20^th March when students do not attend school.

We may see some of you on Sunday when we’ve been kindly invited to the Civic Ceremony by the Mayor and Mayoress of Boroughbridge at St James’s Church. Representing the school with me will be Head Girl, Niamh and Year 11 prefect, Ruby.

Comic Relief started in 1985 with the first Red Nose Day in 1988. I know, just where has that time gone!?

Have a lovely weekend.

We’re taking part in the Big Battery Hunt this year in order to do our bit for the environment by recycling batteries. Students in Years 7 to 9 have a battery recycling box ready for filling or you can send your used batteries in to School Reception. 4 million batteries were collected across the nation last year so let’s hope our contribution will help to beat that.

There was an air of focus at Year 13 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday as teachers, students and parents discussed required actions in the coming weeks to secure maximum success. There are literally only 9 weeks until Year 13 students go on Study Leave with exams starting on 13th May. But the next few weeks won’t all be about work with students having a trip to London including a visit to the Houses of Parliament on 27th March.

Parents of Years 10 and 11 were hearing about the rules and regulations for the forthcoming exam season at the Parent Forum on Thursday evening. From the requirement of a transparent pencil case to leaving your mobile outside of the Exam Hall, parents were given details to help them to support their children through the exam session. If you weren’t able to attend the session then the PowerPoint presentation containing the information can be found on the parent section of the website under ‘Educational Updates’.

Mr Grierson’s assemblies this week for Years 7 to 10 have focused on World Book day whilst Year 11 have been thinking about effective ways to revise.

Next week’s events include Year 9 Options Evening on Wednesday 13th March at 5pm. We’ll start with a talk in the Hall before moving to subject discussions. Parents of Year 9 should have already received the Options booklet so that you have time to study it in advance of the evening.

A reminder that Wednesday 20th March is a Professional Development Day when students do not attend school and I’m sure that your children need no reminder that next Friday is a non-uniform day to raise money for Comic Relief.

Have a lovely weekend!