Category : Front Page News

On Friday 19^th November, we carried out our annual fundraising for Children in Need. Rowan (Y8) won the cake competition, Harry (Y7) won Name the Teddy and Matthew (Y8) accurately guessed the number of sweets in the jar. This, along with a non-uniform day and sponging of teachers and prefects (our thanks go to Mr. Grierson, Mr Field, Amelia, Carli and Toby), has resulted in us raising a total of £614.30. Thank you very much for your kind contributions

It’s been a day of celebration at Boroughbridge High School as students collected their GCSE and BTEC results. Students have worked hard to secure some outstanding achievements.

In these unprecedented times, throughout two periods of lockdown, students quickly adapted to the challenges of remote learning maintaining their focus and putting themselves in a strong position to take on the new approach to assessment on their return. This year, following the cancellation of exams, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards.

The motivation of these students was such that many of them stayed on at school to complete National Citizen Service.

Notable achievements include Ella Brophy and Martha Charlton who each achieved eight Grade 9s and two Grade 8s and Poppy Beasley who achieved seven Grade 9s and three Grade 8s. All are going on to study A Levels.

Headteacher Kathryn Stephenson said, ‘It has been an absolute pleasure to congratulate students on their excellent achievements and we are very proud of the way in which they have approached the challenges of the last eighteen months, showing great resilience throughout. Along with their results, the skills that they have developed in these challenging circumstances will ensure their continued success. The results also reflect the commitment of the staff team, who have worked tirelessly, and the continued support of our parents, carers and governors. We are delighted that our students are now able to move confidently into further study, apprenticeships and employment and we wish them well for the future.’

We are delighted to report that students are celebrating some outstanding achievements in their A Level qualifications this year. Students have demonstrated great resilience, working with commitment throughout lockdowns and in school to secure excellent results.

For example, Bertie, who gained three A* grades will be studying Computer Science at Newcastle University following a gap year.  Kirsten who also gained three A* grades is going to the University of Bristol to study Engineering Mathematics. Harvey (A*AA) will be studying Medicine at the University of Manchester, Emma (A*AA) will be studying Psychology at the University of Lincoln and Izzy (A*AA) will be studying Environmental Science at the University of Manchester.

This year, following the cancellation of exams, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved an awarded by the exam boards.

Kathryn Stephenson, Headteacher, said ‘We are incredibly proud of the achievements of all of our students and of the way in which they have approached the challenges of the last eighteen months.  The results also reflect the commitment of our staff team and the continued support of our parents, carers and governors.  We are delighted to see students gain university places and employment of their choice. The class of 2021 will be producing the engineers, doctors, lawyers and psychologists of the future and we wish them well.’

Whilst Covid has dramatically changed the experience of Sixth Form for our Year 13 students they were determined, as they have been throughout, to make the most of their final few days.

They had a celebration trip to Flamingo Land, spending some quality time with each other and the staff who’ve supported them during their time in the Sixth Form. They had a great time and continued their celebration with a pizza party on their return.

On their final day they had a Leavers’ Presentation where staff and students had the opportunity to reminisce and celebrate all that they’ve achieved in their time at Boroughbridge High School.

Despite the challenges of the last two years, these students have shown remarkable resilience throughout and demonstrated their strength as a Year group team. This group of young people exemplify all that is in our mission statement, ‘To ensure that all students leave our school not only with the qualifications 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.’ Not only were their GCSE results two years ago above average but they have also developed the skills to ensure future success whilst having an incredible impact on our whole school community. They have performed at many concerts, supported in Key Stage 3 lessons, taken part in the appointment of new staff, led numerous lunchtime clubs for younger students and above all been excellent role models. So we give our thanks to Year 13 and wish them all the best for the future.

Poetry has been the focus in Year 8 English lessons where students have been writing poems to enter in the Miller Home competition open to all local schools. The challenge was to write individual poems with a focus on what makes living in Boroughbridge special. Having written their poems, students shared them and then began their own judging to establish their favourites. Mrs. Macadam was hugely impressed by the enthusiasm of students and the creativity that they displayed. In the top three were Year 8 students, Lily, Joseph and Kaela.

We were absolutely delighted to hear on Wednesday that Kaela had won first prize. Well done indeed!

Click Here To Read The Three Competition Poems

Please click this link to read the article about former student Cora who features in the National Trust magazine

Friday 13^th November was a Children in Need extravaganza with a non-uniform day and many children participating in a sponsored walk. Following the deluge of rain in the early hours, we were very relieved to see the rain clouds part and a beautiful crisp autumn day appear. Students enthusiastically walked or ran around the field enjoying the fresh air, safe in the knowledge that they were also raising money for a very good cause whilst, at lunchtime, Key Stage 4 students were also involved in a 5 a-side football competition. Our thanks go to Mr. Field for organising this day long event. Meanwhile, over in the Sixth Form, a Bake-off competition was underway with prizewinners, Ethan, Charlotte and Rosey in Year 7 and Aimee in Year 8. Here is Aimee’s cake

Remembrance Day 2020

This a very important time of year for our community and so we are finding ways, despite current challenges, to mark Remembrance Day taking on the British Legion’s theme for 2020 to pay tribute to the men and women of the Second World War generation and to those of today’s who have served and sacrificed to defend our nation. Whilst we are unable to attend a Remembrance Service this year, we have laid a wreath at the war memorial in Boroughbridge. We will also be marking two minutes silence across school at 11am on 11^th November. Each form group has been making their own poppies to decorate classroom windows and, in Key Stage 3 Art lessons, students have been developing their own take on the poppy symbol as you can see.

In a year that will never be forgotten, we are delighted that the hard work of our staff and students over the last couple of years has been recognised and that our students can now progress to the next stage of their life.

Mrs Penny Town, Head of Sixth Form stated “ We are so proud that all our university applicants got their first choice university place, including top Russell Group Universities such as Liverpool and York. Our small and supportive Sixth Form continues to add value and improve the life chances of our young people.”

Miss Stephenson, Headteacher said “It’s important that we celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our young people who have worked so valiantly during these most unusual of times.   Our thanks also go to our families, staff and governors for their continued commitment and support.”

Mr. Woodward writes, ‘We all know that running benefits our physical health, but the benefits to our mental health are sometimes overlooked. Year 10 and 11 found out how neuroscience has shown links between running and increased brain capacity, levels of concentration, focus and feelings of well-being through the release of endorphins and endocannabinoids. Having discussed the benefits of distance running in developing a resilient state of mind which keeps going despite difficulty, we put this knowledge into practice and went for a 12km run around the local fields, paths and tracks. The route was muddy. Really muddy. However, spirits only heightened as the mud and exhaustion levels rose, further proving the point the distance running in a natural environment is good for both the body and the mind: a vital lesson to be remembered by our GCSE students as the approach they progress exams next week and the “real thing” in just a matter of months. ‘