It’s been another busy and focused week for the Boroughbridge High School community. As you’re aware this week, having volunteered to do so, we’ve taken part in an Ofsted pilot inspection and were delighted to welcome five Senior HMIs and the National Director to look at all aspects of our school. Throughout the two days, Inspectors enjoyed visiting lessons, observing social time and speaking with our young people. As it was a pilot, we did not receive a judgement, formal feedback or a report, however the progress that we have made around behaviour, attendance and teaching and learning were certainly recognised. In conversations with Inspectors our young people said that they are known, felt valued and enjoyed coming to school, with genuine kind and caring interactions between staff and students being observed.
Mrs. Murphy held her Duke of Edinburgh Award parent/carer evening on Monday. The success of the award at BHS continues to increase and we’re delighted to have an even higher take up of students this year.
In Forest School this week, Mr. Woodward reports,
‘Autumn is now well and truly with us, so what better way to celebrate that with conkers and toffee apples (harvested from our own apple trees at BHS)?! Students worked together to use a traditional “bit and brace” drill to drill out the conker before the championship commenced, with James in Y9 being the overall champion of champions. We then moved onto siting and lighting campfires without matches (no mean feat after a weekend of heavy rain) before toasting our sugar-coated apples over the flames for a sweet autumnal snack!’
In sporting news, Mr. Field reports,
‘The York City Knights RLFC 9’s tournament took place at Fulford High School this week for the Yr11 boys. The squad was bolstered by some willing Yr10’s to help ensure that the team had the necessary strength in depth needed for this physically challenging event. The boys were in buoyant spirits after previous achievements in last year’s tournaments and were looking forward to getting involved in the games. Their first game saw them pitted against our Federated partners, King James’s School. A cagey start soon blossomed into a fantastic display of rugby as the Boroughbridge boys completed a 20-4 rout of the local rivals. Tries from King, Domleo, Bowes and Ramsden rounded off the superb display. The second group game followed straight after so the full squad was utilised to ensure fresh legs and sharp minds were present against Joseph Rowntree. The game shared moments of brilliance from both teams with scores being exchanged throughout the game and no team carving out a convincing advantage. The game finished as a 12-12 draw but the result meant that the Boroughbridge boys had won their group and were to face Archbishop Holgate’s School in the first place playoff game. The games had taken their physical toll on the squad and the remaining players put in a resounding display in their third consecutive game. The game was contested in good sporting spirit but unfortunately Archbishop’s edged the final in a 12-4 victory. The Boroughbridge team were the epitome of our school values throughout the tournament receiving positive comments from York City Knights’ staff and staff from opposing schools. Both myself and Mr Richardson, were exceptionally proud of their physical performance and their tactical awareness in the games. We look forward to the spring edition of this tournament and their last chance of playing at the tournaments organised by York City Knights.’

As part of our staff team, it’s not good enough just to support our school values but we also try to live by them. Mr. Field has demonstrated his resilience in, along with his friend, becoming the number one ranked male Swimrun team in Britain. The event was a 47km Swimrun from Coniston to Grasmere in the lake district. This incorporates alternating 9 runs (totalling 36km) & 9 swims (totalling 9km). The event is an adventure endurance race and you swim in your running kit and run in your swim kit, no changing – how you start is how you finish! Mr. Field says that this is without doubt his greatest sporting achievement and his advice is, ‘We always talk about the challenges faced during the event but none are as big as actually getting to the start line. Health, injuries and life logistics can often get in the way so if we make it to the start line we are assured our hard work in preparation will pay off and we’ll have a great day challenging ourselves.’ We can maybe see some parallels to a school day.
GCSE Geographers have been on location in Hornsea yesterday and today. The weather has been perfect for data collection! We’ll find out more about their fieldwork next week.
A reminder that it’s our Open Evening on Wednesday 8th October. As usual, we’ll be closing at 1.30p.m. to prepare and will look forward to welcoming back many students to talk to Year 5 and 6 students and their parents and carers about their experience of Boroughbridge High School.
Have a lovely weekend!