Ambition has been the focus of our assemblies this week as we’ve considered future careers by looking at the alumni of Boroughbridge High School and their many and varied destinations. We have former students who have gone into dentistry, veterinary science, events management, the arts, architecture and teaching to name but a few! We talked about the importance about being ambitious for what we can achieve during our school years along with our future lives.
Year 11 have been thinking about their next steps visiting Sixth Forms and colleges to experience their post-16 provision so that they can make an informed choice. Parents and carers will have the opportunity in the additional online Parent/Carer evening next week to discuss the progress that they’re making.
We’ve had our first Local Adviser visit of the term this week with a focus on students with SEND and Pupil Premium students. As ever, as we continue on our journey of improvement, we value all feedback so that we can chart our progress and continue to improve. This is the first time that this adviser has visited BHS and he commented on the high standards of behaviour. As you’ll be aware, whilst behaviour will continue to be a priority, we are at the end of our work with the Behaviour Hub and we’ll be sending out a questionnaire next week to capture your feedback on our progress.
Today a group of our Year 10 students have taken part in a public speaking workshop working with the Speakers Trust charity. Students have participated in activities to give them the skills and confidence to develop and deliver a speech on a topic that they feel passionate about.
In sporting news this week Mr. Field reports, ‘Wednesday saw a return to football fixtures for the PE department as the District Cup Competition gathers pace. The Yr11 boys, with assistance from some Yr10 boys, made the arduous journey to South Craven to play this round of the Cup. The long journey did not phase the boys and they started positively against the home team dominating early proceedings. A. Nunns opened the Boroughbridge account finishing well from some intricate passing play from the midfield. The home team were on the back foot after conceding as Boroughbridge pushed for the second goal before half time. South Craven worked their way back into the match and despite some fine defensive play they broke through the Boroughbridge ranks to equalise before half time. The home team started the second half with their tails up which soon led to them scoring a deflected goal giving them the lead. The game ebbed and flowed providing great entertainment for those on the sidelines. In the dying moments of the game I. Burland forced an opening and capitalised with a lobbed finish to draw the game level. The game entered the tense final minutes with penalties looming to settle the draw. The inevitable end to the game presented itself as penalties were needed to settle the tie. Boroughbridge started the shoot out positively netting the first spot kick, South Craven struck the woodwork handing the advantage to the visiting team. Both teams took some great penalties but it was the home team who managed to hold their nerve and secure the tie winning 8-7. The boys played some fantastic passing football and are hopeful for their next fixture before the exam season kicks in.’
Have a lovely weekend!
I hope that you had a lovely Christmas break and we send our best wishes for 2025. We certainly returned with an icy blast on Monday and it was lovely to see how one of our students and his dad had been helping in the community. Â Settling straight back into routine, we had assemblies to reinforce our values (ambitious, respectful, resilient) and expectations ensuring a smooth start to the Spring Term. Uniform standards were high as usual and we thank you for your support with this. Mrs. Godsell- Wright has continued to reinforce our values in assemblies by thinking about the year ahead and how we can approach it to maximise impact.
Wednesday was a triumph of a day! The inter form Tug of War competition took place for different year groups throughout the day. Everyone was involved including those participating and those supporting. Mr. Field and Mrs. Bradford had taken on the serious Christmas challenge as you can see and Festive music was played throughout with an occasional moment where all in the year group came as one to sing and dance. Points were awarded for wins and the quality of the support, resulting in an excellent event where our school values of being ambitious, respectful and resilient were seen in action.
Finally, in the evening, it was our Awards Evening where we welcomed back the class of 2024. It was lovely to welcome ex-students and families back into school and to see what they’ve been up to since they left in June. Certificates were given out and prizes presented by members of our local community to students for their remarkable achievements.
As anticipated, the Christmas Concert on Tuesday evening was a great event with a range of fantastic performances. We heard solo performances from James (guitar), Charlotte (piano), Larisa (vocal) and Rosey (piano), before hearing duets from Charlotte (vocal) and Rosey (piano) and Olivia (vocal) and Darcy (vocal). Austin (Piano), Bodie (drums) and James (guitar) gave a band performance. The Keyboard Club showcased an Abba classic and the Pop Choir showed their ever increasing confidence with harmonies in a number of songs. The student technical team made sure that all ran smoothly and for the finale the audience was invited to participate in ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’ so we finished with joyous singing all round. Well done to the students who participated and we thank Mr. Jackson for organising the event.
Following on from Year 7 last week, Year 8 have received their Book Buzz books and, as you can see, they couldn’t wait to get started! The English team are looking forward to discussing their choices during lessons in the coming weeks.
In sporting news this week, Mr. Field reports, ‘Monday saw the Yr7 boys compete in their 7 a side football tournament at St Aidan’s school. The boys played 6 games against Queen Ethelburga’s, Ermysteds, King James’s, St Aidan’s, Ashville and St John Fisher. The boys showed great resilience throughout their matches as they found the opposition from the larger schools challenging. They did manage to find the back of the net but unfortunately not enough times to register a victory. The squad enjoyed their evening competing and are looking forward to future matches where they can showcase their talents.
Some students started the week with a cross country experience. Mr. Field reports ‘Monday saw 27 pupils from Boroughbridge High School take part in the Harrogate & Craven Cross Country Championships at Ripon Grammar School. The bracing weather and the length of the course provided an ample challenge for the pupils as they competed against pupils from a multitude of schools from the area. The course length of 2700m for the girls and 3400m for the boys tested their ambition and resilience as the undulations and soft ground proved more of a challenge than the qualifying school course at Boroughbridge. Although not challenging for the qualifying positions for the Harrogate & Craven representative team, the pupils enjoyed partaking in the event and competing against other good athletes from the area. J. Godley in Yr8 secured the best placing for the Boroughbridge team finishing 17th in the Junior boys (Yr8 & 9) category. The wind swept students were glad to be back in lessons later in the afternoon away from the biting cold conditions!’
A highlight of this term has been the Year 9 players coming up with an ambitious target to raise money for new netball bibs for the season. They organised a bake sale and successfully raised the money. The PE department matched the money raised and bought a second set of bibs and a new match ball. Last week, the Year 9 netballers and super star Rova (Year 7) played Tadcaster Grammar School’s A Team. This was their first fixture of the season so there were a few nerves amongst the team. Unfortunately, we did not secure the win but the last quarter was a draw, so that’s a win in itself. I have to say I was really impressed with the amount of turn-overs that the team managed during the game. With more competitive experience I am more than confident we will be able to contest a re-match in the New Year. The player of the match was our captain, Daisy, always driving to get free into space. A special mention to Rova who played a fantastic half at GK, marking her player closely, despite being two school years younger. Well done, Alice W, Bella, Bodie, Daisy, Georgina, Millie, Maddie, Rova!’
‘The journey north was made in good spirits and the boys were greeted with a fantastic pitch to demonstrate their footballing prowess. The game was a close affair in the early stages of the first half as Hurworth showed their credentials as quarter finalists in the competition last year. The deadlock was broken shortly before half time by Burrell, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range after the Hurworth goalkeeper had saved his earlier effort. The half finished with Boroughbridge dominating proceedings with the midfield starting to gain control of possession. The second half started much the same as the first with chances for both teams in front of goal, some superb goalkeeping by Searle protected the Boroughbridge advantage and it wasn’t long until the lead was doubled. Burrell played a delightful cross field ball to B Godley who plucked the ball out of the air with a scintillating first touch before then going on to finish with aplomb. This set the tone as confidence grew within the Boroughbridge team, Farnworth expertly dispatched a penalty low into the corner after excellent forward play in the penalty box by Godley drew a foul. Burrell then completed his brace with a galivanting run down the wing before cutting inside to finish leaving the Hurworth goalkeeper no chance of stopping his driven shot. The result was completed when Marshall proved his goal poaching instincts to prod in a goal at the far post after the Hurworth goalkeeper had been forced into another fine save. The boys were commended by the staff at Hurworth for their composed approach to the game and the fine football that they showed in the game. The next round will be played at home before the end of term with the fixture yet to be arranged.
Thursday saw the Yr10 boys take part in the Harrogate & Craven District 7 a side football tournament. The boys braved the bracing weather conditions at Ripon Grammar school playing Ripon Grammar, Outwood Ripon, St John Fisher’s and Rossett. The tournament started against the host school and the Boroughbridge boys displayed some nice passing football and steely determination to secure a 0-0 draw providing a boost of confidence. Outwood Ripon proved to be a very competitive game with both teams having some good chances in front of goal and strong defending. The Boroughbridge squad were tested throughout but proved resilient to secure yet another 0-0 draw. The third game saw some of the best football played by the players and the first goals for Boroughbridge. Wilson executed an exquisite turn and shot to fire the ball into the top corner of the Rossett goal. The team pushed forwards with great effect and allowed Wilson to again find the back of the net with an opportunist strike that caught the whole opposition off-guard. The win provided the valuable points needed to top the tournament table leading into the last round of games, Boroughbridge needed to draw or win to secure the glory, their opposition, St John Fishers, needed victory to snatch the title. The game was fraught with both teams being edgy with the title on the line, strong attacking play by Fishers was equally met by Boroughbridge defending and the game seemed destined to play out in the favour of Boroughbridge as a draw loomed. With time ebbing away Fishers had one last attack. With 10 seconds remaining they managed to find the target to the dismay of the whole Boroughbridge squad. The team finished second overall in the tournament which they were duly proud of on reflection. This gives a great timely boost to the squad after the County Cup exit to Sherburn and just before their upcoming fixture against Ermysted in the District Cup.’
‘Another busy week for the pupils and the PE department, 161 pupils have engaged in the extra curricular activities this week – a new record for the department (and over 1/3) of the school cohort). 
 The annual small sided tournaments have now started, the Yr9 boys were first up and traveled to St John Fisher School to play. The team needed to be bolstered by the Yr8 boys who performed outstandingly against older, more experienced opposition. They narrowly lost against the host school and Rossett but held the eventual winner, St Aidans, to a well deserved 1-1 thriller. This gave the Yr8 boys a bit more challenge and provided a great learning experience that they can take forward into their match next week against Hurworth in the ESFA Small Schools Trophy.’
With Remembrance Day on Sunday, Mrs. Ennis has led assemblies this week looking at the importance of Remembrance Day by focusing on the Royal British Legion theme for 2024 to remember D-day and the people who keep us safe along with discovering how service still protects us today. In each assembly we’ve observed a two minute silence. On Wednesday afternoon 27 of our Service students attended the North Yorkshire Service Children – Festival of Remembrance’ at Ripon Cathedral. Mrs Murphy reports,’ The students had a lovely time today at Ripon Cathedral. This year’s theme was ‘All together Now’ and we were lucky to have been invited to attend the Green Howard’s Museum in Richmond to learn about a soldier who gave their life in World War 2 prior to the event. The soldier we were given to remember was Captain Verity Hedley, who was originally from Leeds and a professional cricketer before he enlisted in the Army. He unfortunately was wounded in battle in Italy and later died of his wounds, at the age of 38, before he arrived at a Prisoner of War camp. Chloe, Gethin, Daniel and Libbie got to go on the visit and gave a presentation to the other forces children prior to the service. During the service Gethin and Libbie presented the photo, a poppy and a Boroughbridge High School sign to the alter in the cathedral. We got to sing some songs, alongside other schools and choirs and listen to some readings. Charlie Milson and Paa Kofi Akomea-Barnie read a reading from the bible. We listened to some really emotive letters written from serving personnel to their children and also the replies of the children and we got to celebrate ‘ all together now’. Thanks to Mrs Webb and Mrs Mannion who accompanied me on the trip.’ 
Year 7 Geographers have been out on location in Boroughbridge carrying out primary fieldwork to investigate the hypothesis ‘The function of Boroughbridge is a resort town’. Collecting evidence through field sketches, traffic counts, pedestrian counts and a land use survey, students began to form their own conclusions which they will follow up back in class. Their approach and focus was excellent throughout. Well done Year 7!
The boys’ first game against Selby was a close encounter with Boroughbridge edging a 12-8 victory. This proved to be a good basis for honing their teamwork as they rose to the challenge against York High. A domineering performance saw the boys run in six tries in a well disciplined game. The final result of 24-12 was just reward for the hard work applied by all team members. The unrelenting fixtures began to take their toll as the boys moved onto their third consecutive match against Joseph Rowntree. The game ebbed and flowed between the two teams, both demonstrating some good committed rugby. Jo-Ro edged the latter stages of the game and were leading 24-20 into the last minute. A great drive forward by T King saw the boys draw level with less than 60 seconds remaining. Two promising drives forward by Jo-Ro put pressure on the Boroughbridge defensive line but the resilience shown by the boys paid off with a handling error leading to a turnover of possession. An exquisitely executed kick from C Walsh turned Jo-Ro on their heels and with the blistering pace of I Buliruarua victory was snatched from the grasps of the York team, 28-24.