Following a successful summer at Boroughbridge High School, we were delighted to welcome students back into school on Tuesday. It’s always lovely to see students again and hear about their Summer adventures and this year was no exception. Uniform standards were high, as ever, with students arriving well prepared for learning. So all round, we’ve had an excellent start to the term supported by our early start of our timetable in June. Thank you for the contribution that you have made to this.
The Expectations assemblies on Tuesday enabled me to share our GCSE and BTEC success with students. We then talked about the part that our school values, that we are ambitious, resilient and respectful, have in securing success. For example, it will come as no surprise to you that students with the highest attendance had the most positive outcomes. We’ve also enjoyed welcoming our new Year 7 students who, after only four days with us, look like they’ve settled in extremely well, quickly becoming familiar with our routines and expectations and already making a positive contribution to our school community.
In Year group assemblies this week Mrs. Godsell-Wright has been talking with students about safeguarding including how to keep themselves and others safe both in and beyond school, along with the actions that we take in school to support all to be safe, happy and successful. Students have been brilliant in answering questions and in demonstrating their understanding.
We had great fun on Thursday morning when school photos took place for all year groups. They’ll certainly make an excellent Christmas present!
Next week, we have Parent/Carer Expectations Evenings where we outline key information including curriculum, phases of learning, behaviour for learning, attendance and using My Child at School. You will also have the opportunity at these evenings to ask questions about any aspect of school life. These will be held at 6p.m. on Monday 8th September for Year 7, Wednesday 10th for Years 8 and 9 and Thursday 11th for Years 10 and 11. It’s not too late to book a place. If you wish to attend, please e-mail schooladmin@boroughbridgehigh.com.
Have a lovely weekend!

Our service students have had a fantastic opportunity this week to visit Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge organised by Inspiring Choices. Mrs. Murphy reported on the first day, ‘Everyone is doing well and enjoying the residential. We had a really interesting tour around Anglia Ruskin Campus after some thought-provoking sessions on transferable skills yesterday. The students then had a bit of time to explore their accommodation and chill out before heading out for pizza. We got there in the nick of time as it started pouring down. Luckily it mostly stopped by the time we finished, so we got to go on a really interesting tour around Cambridge, some highlights were the richest college, Trinity College and also Kings College. There were a lot of very impressive buildings and architecture.’ During the second day, students were involved in a stop motion workshop to create an animation showing the advantages of University. They’d clearly had a fantastic time and a great opportunity to consider their possible futures. Inspiring Choices commented that the success of the trip was ‘due mainly to the enthusiasm, interest and participation from the young people.’ Our thanks go to Mrs Murphy and Mr. Lough for accompanying the students and to Inspiring Choices for giving our students this opportunity.

This week, we’ve been delighted to welcome Year 6 from Boroughbridge Primary School to BHS for a DT and Maths workshop. In DT, precise use of tools and creativity was at the fore as students created their own spinners. Once constructed they then had competitions to see who could keep spinning for longest. This morning, in Maths, they explored Happy Numbers. Next week, we’ve got a Geography session to look forward to.
There was much excitement from both students and staff on Thursday morning as everyone congregated for our annual rewards trip, this year to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Students enjoyed seeing 42 species of animal from polar bears to giraffes and lions to wallabies. It was lovely to welcome students off the coaches laden with fluffy toy versions of the animals they’d seen and full of stories of their great day out. To capture it, we’re having a photo competition with the winner being announced at our whole school assembly next week.
Whitby was the destination for our Year 8 Geographers last Friday. Mrs. Gomersal reports ‘, ‘Year 8 students recently took part in an exciting Geography fieldwork trip to Whitby, where they investigated the key question: Should Whitby be protected from coastal erosion?
The weekend then saw our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students on their qualifying expedition. Mrs Murphy reports ‘On Saturday 23 year 9 students commenced the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Qualifying Expedition. The weather conditions made the expedition particularly challenging, although not as hot as was predicted, it was very muggy and it made the walking hard work. The students worked well as teams and with all but one group having some navigational challenges it really tested their resilience and ambition to succeed. There was a little shower in the afternoon which helped cool the students down and everyone utilised the lovely showers at the campsite after a long day walking. The students were up pretty early on Sunday; the windy start to the day meant the tents were all dry, but it was a bit more interesting packing them away. All groups managed better on the Sunday and were very relieved at seeing the coach at the car park at the end of the day. A great success for all. A special thanks to Stan, who is a Duke of Edinburgh Young Leader and supported the participants throughout the weekend. He was absolutely brilliant helping advise and support the students and really helpful for all the volunteer staff on the trip. We also had a number of adults who commented on what lovely, polite and respectful students we had. Thank you to Mr Lough, Mrs Bauwens, Mr Groves and Mrs Webb for their support on the weekend.’ Our thanks go to Mrs. Murphy too, not only for the expedition but for her work on the Duke of Edinburgh award throughout the year.

With the final GCSE exam on Wednesday, it’s been another eventful week for our Year 11s. On Monday, the end of year traditional football match between Year 10 and Year 11 boys, affectionately known as ‘El Classico’ took place, ending in a thumping 5-1 win for the departing Year 11s. Then last night we had the Prom in what has become our favourite venue over the years, the Bridge Inn. Students arrived in many modes of transport, all looking incredibly smart and ready for the red carpet. Following a lovely meal, there was much dancing, laughing and hugging. As a year group they have always been kind and supportive of each other and this was very much in evidence last night, And so we say our farewell to the Class of 2025, the year group who began their life at Boroughbridge High School in a pandemic ‘bubble’ and leave ready to make their mark on the world. We wish them well.
Year 10 had been showing their commitment earlier in the day by arriving in smart business dress ready for their annual careers networking event. It was a very productive and successful day with Mrs. Town reporting, ‘Yesterday, all year 10 students were involved in our annual careers day where we welcomed 9 local and national employers into school. As they begin to consider their post-16 pathways, students were able to find out about a range of different careers and interview the employers before learning more about the world of work, interview skills, post-16 pathways and career planning. The students were a credit to the school and many of the employers commented on how mature their questioning had been. We would like to thank the employers who came in and, in particular, our Enterprise Adviser, Mrs Lorraine Kirbitson who organised the event. Lorraine has worked with the school for many years and is stepping down from the role this year so she will be sadly missed.
In sporting news, Miss Robson reports, ‘Last week a Year 8 girls team played a hybrid rounders friendly with Ripon Grammar School. They joined forces to create two ‘Ripon-Borough’ teams to compete against RGS. In one match the Hybrid team won 11.5 rounders to 11 and in the other match RGS won 15.5 to 5.5 rounders. Highlights included Daisy’s bowling and catches out, Anabelle’s speed when running from base to base and Ava’s quick and effective fielding skills around 3rd base. A fun-filled afternoon out, demonstrating our values of ambition, respect and resilience, as well as a creative team photo.’
On Wednesday, it was the Year 8 boys turn to face Nidderdale High School. The boys were incredibly ambitious with high expectations of a win, to which they succeeded, 15.5 to 4.5 rounders! MVP was Max C, fearlessly cruising around the bases to score multiple rounders. Several outstanding catches were made throughout the game from multiple players. The boys were treated to a very high standard of umpiring from Nidderdale’s PE teacher who is a qualified regional umpire and England Rounders player.’
We’ve enjoyed hearing about the Year 9 Bewerley Park trip this week. Mr. Field reports, ‘The trip proved to be a great success. The pupils fully immersed themselves in the experience from the moment they arrived at the centre and quickly began to impress the Bewerley staff with their enthusiasm and their budding resilience. Comfort zones were challenged from the offset but the pupils rose to the occasion and showed great ambition in their endeavours. The range of activities satisfied the pupils’ appetite for adventure with mountain biking, ghyll scrambling, climbing, leap of faith, Jacob’s ladder and canoeing amongst the day activities undertaken. The pupils were also kept busy in the evenings with orienteering, team building initiatives, walking to explore the local countryside and a games night including the traditional country sport of Welly Wanging.



In assemblies this week, Mrs. Godsell-Wright focused on our school values and why these values are important for all aspects of student life, helping students to be successful. Everyone was also excited to hear of the reward point winners of the rewards points issued by teachers. These are
It was commitment all the way last weekend when the Duke of Edinburgh bronze practice expedition took place. Mrs. Murphy reports,
As it’s Safeguarding Awareness Week, Mrs. Godsell-Wright has been leading assemblies on this theme. Students have had the opportunity to reflect on how they use the internet i.e. through social media, online gaming, messaging apps, YouTube and TikTok. With 2 in 3 children nationally reporting experiencing online harms, they explored how to stay safe. You can see top tips for staying safe online here.
As you’re aware, we have been working on reinforcing our school values and we thought you’d enjoy seeing the photo from our ‘Respectful’ assembly last week.
Meanwhile, Mr. Field reports, ‘Monday evening saw the Yr9 boys proudly take on King James’s School in the semi-final of the Harrogate & Craven District Cup. The excitement before the game was palpable as the boys could taste the prospect of representing the school in a cup final. The game was an edgy affair at the start with both sides showing nerves from the occasion. L Pitts produced some fine goalkeeping to keep the visitors’ advancing attack at bay but even his efforts couldn’t stop KJS taking a 0-3 lead into the half time break. The second half saw some tactical and personnel changes in which saw the Boroughbridge boys take the game by the scruff of the neck and forced the KJS goalkeeper to make some brave saves as the confidence grew within our team. The efforts were rewarded with a close range finish by T King, as the game drew to a close the KJS lead proved a bridge too far for the Boroughbridge boys to overcome and with more committed to the attack some gaps in defence were exposed with further goals added to their tally. The game finished 1-5 but despite the loss the Boroughbridge team held their heads high knowing that they had shown great resilience throughout the game and gave their all to achieve their ambition of reach the final. The boys will be ready to prove their worth next year and hope to take that next step in reaching a final.’

Exams are now well underway with the GCSE Art exam, MFL speaking exams, PE moderation and BTEC Travel and Tourism exam taking place this week. Taking that into context, Sandra from the Wellbeing in Mind Team took the opportunity to have a stall in the Dining Hall at lunchtime so that she could discuss with students the strategies that they can use if they are feeling exam stress. As you’ll be aware, the Wellbeing in Mind Team are based in the Bungalow at BHS and work with young people in schools across our area.