Goodness, there goes the penultimate week of the Summer term! Our annual school production ‘Aladdin and Jasmine’ transported pupils from Hollinwood Academy and New Bridge to Agrabah in a pure genie-us of a show with a fabulous cast! If you were looking for Summer family fun, your wish was our command!

Your own copy on DVD available to order here will see you enter the Cave of Wonders, rub the magic lamp and be transported to an enchanting world that is sure to be New Bridge’s highlight this Summer. It was an amazing production that brought the two schools together. Staff and pupils worked hard to combine drama, art, dance and music. The sound and lighting was professionally orchestrated to maximum effect. Well done to all the staff and pupils, job well done!!

Our Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award pupils returned from their gruelling expedition in one piece – they looked well but were absolutely shattered, they had walked miles as Mr Taylor explains in his report here. After rain on the first day the weather was kinder to the groups and the young people certainly seem to have enjoyed the experience..

You can view our full album on Facebook here but we couldn’t resist adding a few pictures now..

On Wednesday our Year 14 students enjoyed their final trip with us as Miss Morris reports..

Our Year 14 leavers thoroughly enjoyed their day out this week. They showed off their skills at ten pin bowling with a lot of good natured banter. Everyone wanted to win, both the young people and staff especially Mr Maycock who bowled his highest ever score of 167. Afterwards they enjoyed a meal at the Sandbrook where they sampled the carvery, pizzas, burgers and wraps. Everyone had a fantastic time..

Our young people were a pleasure to take out and spend time with. We wish them all the very best in their future placements and every success in the future. Be happy all of you, we will miss you!

Mr Maycock has an update for us on our Hortus pathway who have had a very busy term outdoors, whatever the weather..

The lads in Hortus have been at full speed as the Summer term has seen exceptionally warm temperatures. The students have been maintaining the grounds of both sites using a range of machinery including lawn tractors, hand mowers, strimmers, etc.  Jack has been busy on the lawn tractor..

..and John fly-mowing..

A variety of vegetable and flower seeds were sown, brought on and planted in prepared beds. Here you can see Matthew raking prior to sowing the seeds outside..

..Ryan pricking out young seedlings..

..and Ellis sowing basil..

The students have then maintained the beds in preparation for harvesting in September when they return to school. Liam has been watering his potatoes..

..and Jake his runner beans..

Our New Bridge Prom on Friday night provided the opportunity for our Year 11 and Year 14 girls to get their hair done and wear beautiful dresses whilst the boys came suited and booted! We rolled out the red carpet and our young people all looked amazing! There were also some very classy vehicles on display – we can’t wait to bring you all the pictures next week! It was when speaking to one of our students that you realise the difference New Bridge can make to our young people’s lives – we have to share a particularly moving comment from an emotional student towards the end of the evening..

 I can’t believe how far I have come from the person I was in Year 7! I owe it all to the staff here at New Bridge!

So, on to our last week of term which promises to be a rather busy one, although thankfully there are no more late finishes. We are privileged to be able to watch our young people mature into amazing individuals and our leavers’ events allow us to celebrate this. Emotions will be running high as we welcome parents to our Year 11 Leavers’ Celebration Assembly on Tuesday and our Year 14 Record of Achievement Ceremony on Wednesday, both very poignant events – warning, hankies may be required!

We are also looking forward to our Super Learning Day on Wednesday with the theme of Buddhism; we are celebrating the key principals of the faith and in addition we will be welcoming Jo Turner from Mind to the school site who will be addressing our young people in assembly. Thursday is Sports Day (fingers crossed for sun!) and Friday will be a non-uniform day at school with a pupil talent show in the afternoon.

At the Learning Centre there will be a whole host of end of term activities and Miss Allison can’t wait to share with you results of our pool, badminton, table tennis and boccia competitions! We are also looking forward to Mr Taylor and Mr Howard’s double act running our Learning Centre inter year group games – we promise there will be photos! Miss Allison would like to thank this year’s Student Council who met for the final time this week. They have conducted themselves in a manner which does credit to New Bridge and shows their fellow students’ trust in them was deserved.

If you have not yet had chance to fill in our quick parent questionnaire, we’d be very grateful if you could click on the link here to let us know how we’re doing.

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

Judith and Dawn

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